Επισκόπηση ζιζανίων σε αμπελώνες Επαρχίας Λεμεσού

Από τα πιο σημαντικά, αν όχι το πιο σημαντικό πρόβλημα στη γεωργία σήμερα αποτελεί η παρουσία των ζιζανίων στις καλλιέργειες. Η εμφάνιση τους σε γεωργικές καλλιέργειες τα καθιστά ένα από τα πιο δυσεπίλυτα προβλήματα για τους παραγωγούς σήμερα. Η παρουσία τους οδηγεί σε άνισο ανταγωνισμό με τα καλλιεργούμενα φυτά σε θρεπτικά στοιχεία, φως, χώρο και νερό. Σ όλες τις χώρες τα ζιζάνια αποτελούν βασικό πρόβλημα στη γεωργία, έτσι και στη μικρή αλλά γεωργική Κύπρο, τα ζιζάνια δεν μπορούσαν να μην προκαλούν σοβαρές ζημιές. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν η επιτόπια επισκόπηση καθώς και η καταγραφή σε αντιπροσωπευτικά εδαφοδείγματα από κάθε περιοχή των ζιζανίων σε αμπελώνες της επαρχίας Λεμεσού, σε πεδινές και ημιορεινές περιοχές. Πραγματοποιήθηκε επιτόπια επισκόπηση σε 4 διαφορετικές περιοχές ( δύο πεδινές και δύο ημιορεινές) σε δύο ή τρεις διαφορετικές εποχές. Από κάθε περιοχή, πάρθηκαν τυχαία δείγματα εδάφους, από 4-5 αγρούς της κάθε περιοχής, βάθους 0-30 οπι, σε 5 σημεία σε κάθε αγρό, σε απόσταση περίπου 100 πι μεταξύ τους. Τα μικτά δείγματα από κάθε αγρό μεταφέρθηκαν στο εργαστήριο, τοποθετήθηκαν σε φυτοδοχεία (30 χ 5 οπι) όπου έγινε βλάστηση και καταγραφή ζιζανίων για τρεις διαδοχικές περιόδους, διάρκειας ενός μήνα η κάθε μια. Μεταξύ των καταγραφών μεσολαβούσε διάστημα 15 ημερών και αναμόχλευση του εδάφους. Στην επιτόπια επισκόπηση των ζιζανίων στους πιο πάνω αμπελώνες καταγράφηκαν συνολικά 24 διαφορετικά είδη ζιζανίων από τα οποία τα 20 ήταν πλατύφυλλα και τα 4 αγρωστώδη. Στα εδαφοδείγματα στο εργαστήριο παρατηρήθηκαν συνολικά 22 είδη ζιζανίων εκ των οποίων τα 20 ήταν πλατύφυλλα και τα 2 αγρωστώδη. Τα ζιζάνια με τη μεγαλύτερη συχνότητα από τα πλατύφυλλα ήταν το πορφυρό λάμιο, η στελλάρια και η τσουκνίδα με συχνότητα 3/4 (αριθμός χωριών με παρουσία του ζιζανίου). Από τα αγρωστώδη τα ζιζάνια με την μεγαλύτερη συχνότητα ήταν η ήρα 4/4

Sources of Dietary Protein in Relation to Blood Pressure in a General Dutch Population

Background - Little is known about the relation of different dietary protein types with blood pressure (BP). We examined whether intake of total, plant, animal, dairy, meat, and grain protein was related to BP in a cross sectional cohort of 20,820 Dutch adults, aged 20–65 y and not using antihypertensive medication. Design - Mean BP levels were calculated in quintiles of energy-adjusted protein with adjustment for age, sex, BMI, education, smoking, and intake of energy, alcohol, and other nutrients including protein from other sources. In addition, mean BP difference after substitution of 3 en% carbohydrates or MUFA with protein was calculated. Results - Total protein and animal protein were not associated with BP (ptrend = 0.62 and 0.71 respectively), both at the expense of carbohydrates and MUFA. Systolic BP was 1.8 mmHg lower (ptrend36 g/d) than in the lowest

Dietary Protein and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review

Background - Elevated blood pressure (BP), which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent worldwide. Recently, interest has grown in the role of dietary protein in human BP. We performed a systematic review of all published scientific literature on dietary protein, including protein from various sources, in relation to human BP. Methodology/Principal Findings - We performed a MEDLINE search and a manual search to identify English language studies on the association between protein and blood pressure, published before June 2010. A total of 46 papers met the inclusion criteria. Most observational studies showed no association or an inverse association between total dietary protein and BP or incident hypertension. Results of biomarker studies and randomized controlled trials indicated a beneficial effect of protein on BP. This beneficial effect may be mainly driven by plant protein, according to results in observational studies. Data on protein from specific sources (e.g. from fish, dairy, grain, soy, and nut) were scarce. There was some evidence that BP in people with elevated BP and/or older age could be more sensitive to dietary protein. Conclusions/Significance - In conclusion, evidence suggests a small beneficial effect of protein on BP, especially for plant protein. A blood pressure lowering effect of protein may have important public health implications. However, this warrants further investigation in randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, more data are needed on protein from specific sources in relation to BP, and on the protein-BP relation in population subgroup

Hoe berekenen we de eiwitbehoefte bij ondergewicht en overgewicht?: geeft de formule van Gallagher een betere schatting?

De eiwitbehoefte wordt voornamelijk bepaald door de hoeveelheid vetvrije massa (VVM) in het lichaam. In de praktijk wordt de eiwitbehoefte echter gebaseerd op het lichaamsgewicht. In dit onderzoek is de eiwitbehoefte op basis van gemeten VVM vergeleken met de eiwitbehoefte bepaald op basis van gemetenlichaamsgewicht, gecorrigeerd lichaamsgewicht en geschatte VVM met de formule van Gallagher. De onderzoeksvraag luidde: ‘Welke methoden om de eiwitbehoefte te berekenen zijn het beste vergelijkbaar met de referentiemethode: gemeten VVM x 1,5 g eiwit/kg?’MethodeDeze vraag werd onderzocht in twee populaties. De eerste populatie was de ANAC-populatie (Amsterdam Nutritional Assessment Center, Hogeschool van Amsterdam): relatief gezonde volwassenen met overgewicht en obesitas. De tweede populatie was de VUmc-populatie: klinische en poliklinische patiënten met zeer uiteenlopende ziektebeelden. De VVM werd gemeten met BOD POD (ANAC) en bio-elektrische impedantie-analyse (BIA) (VUmc). Drie methoden om de eiwitbehoefte te berekenen werden vergeleken met de referentiemethode (gemeten VVM x 1,5 g eiwit/kg):A. Gemeten lichaamsgewicht x 1,2 g eiwit/kgB. Gecorrigeerd lichaamsgewicht x 1,2 g eiwit/kg (correctie: gewicht bij BMI 20 voor personen met ondergewicht(BMI30))C. Geschatte VVM x 1,5 g eiwit/kg. De schatting is uitgevoerd met de formule van Gallagher.De gemiddelde afwijking met spreiding en standaardafwijking werd gebruikt om de validiteit te toetsen van de drie methoden om de eiwitbehoefte te berekenen. Een over- of onderschatting van 5% werd gedefinieerd als klinisch relevant.ResultatenDe afwijking bij methode A was klein in de groep met ondergewicht en groot bij de groep met overgewicht en obesitas. Slechts bij 1% van de obese personen werd de eiwitbehoefte met methode A juist geschat. Dit verbeterde met methode B naar 15-33%. Methode C was voor alle groepen, met uitzondering van depersonen met ondergewicht, het gunstigst. De afwijking varieerde van 14 gram onderschatting tot 28 gram overschatting. Bij 38-54% van de personen met overgewicht en obesitas werd de eiwitbehoefte juist geschat.ConclusieEr is vooral bij overgewicht en obesitas een forse variatie tussen de verschillende methoden voor het berekenen van de eiwitbehoefte. De berekening van de eiwitbehoefte op basis van de gemeten VVM heeft de voorkeur. Als dit niet mogelijk is, volstaat bij deze groep een aanpassing van het gewicht in de berekening naar een gewicht bij BMI 27,5 niet. Toepassing van de formule van Gallagher om de VVM te schatten en daarmee de eiwitbehoefte te berekenen, geeft vooral voor personen met overgewicht en obesitas een betereovereenkomst met de eiwitbehoefte per kilogram gemeten VVM

Spierbehoud bij ouderen met obesitas tijdens afvallen

Introductie Gewichtsverlies bij obese ouderen is een risicofactor voor spiermassaverlies en sarcopenie. Deze studie evalueert het effect van een hoog wei-eiwitsupplement met toegevoegd leucine en vitamine D op spiermassabehoud tijdens een gewichtsverliesperiode van 13 weken met krachttraining bij ouderen met obesitas. De resultaten van deze studie worden gepresenteerd en in een breder perspectief geplaatst. Methoden In deze gerandomiseerde gecontroleerde trial werden tachtig obese ouderen geïncludeerd. Alle deelnemers kregen gedurende 13 weken een hypocalorisch dieet (-600 kcal) en namen 3x/week deel aan een krachttrainingsprogramma. Deelnemers in de interventiegroep kregen 10x/week een hoog wei-eiwitsupplement met toegevoegd leucine en vitamine D (150 kcal, 21 g eiwit). Deelnemers in de controlegroep kregen een isocalorisch controlesupplement. De primaire uitkomstmaat was verandering in de spiermassa in armen en benen (DXA). Secundaire uitkomstmaten waren lichaamssamenstelling, handknijpkracht en fysiek functioneren. Resultaten Bij baseline was de gemiddelde leeftijd (±SD) 63±6 jaar en de BMI 33±4. Tijdens het gewichtsverliesprogramma was de eiwitinname in de interventiegroep 1,11±0,28 vs. 0,85±0,24 g/kg in de controlegroep. Zowel de interventie- als de controlegroep verloor gewicht (-3,4±3,6 vs. -2,8±2,8 kg) en vetmassa (-3,2±3,1 vs. -2,5±2,4 kg), zonder verschillen tussen de groepen. De verandering in spiermassa in armen en benen was wel verschillend (+0,4±1,2 vs. -0,5±2,1 kg, p=0,03). Spierkracht en spierfunctie verbeterden over de tijd, zonder verschillen tussen de groepen. Conclusie Een hoog wei-eiwitsupplement met toegevoegd leucine en vitamine D zorgt in vergelijking met een controlesupplement voor spiermassabehoud tijdens een gewichtsverliesperiode met krachttraining bij obese ouderen. Op basis van literatuur lijkt er voor deze doelgroep voldoende onderbouwing voor het adviseren van minimaal 1,0-1,2 g/kg hoogwaardige eiwitten en mogelijk zelfs hoger dan 1,2 g/kg in combinatie met een (kracht)trainingsprogramma

Bio-electrical impedance analysis: a valid means to diagnose low muscle mass in older adults

Rationale: Diagnosis of sarcopenia in older adults is essential for early treatment in clinical practice. Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) may be a valid means to assess appendicular lean mass (ALM) in older adults, but limited evidence is available. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the validity of BIA to assess ALM in older adults. Methods: In 215 community dwelling older adults (age ≥ 55 years), ALM was measured by BIA (Tanita MC-780; 8-points) and compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Hologic Discovery A) as reference. Validity for assessing absolute values of ALM was evaluated by: 1) bias (mean difference), 2) percentage of accurate predictions (within 5% of DXA values), 3) individual error (root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute deviation), 4) limits of agreement (Bland-Altman analysis). For diagnosis of low ALM, the lowest quintile of ALM by DXA was used (below 21.4 kg for males and 15.4 for females). Sensitivity and specificity of detecting low ALM by BIA were assessed. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 71.9 ± 6.4, with a BMI of 25.8 ± 4.2 kg/m2, and 70% were females. BIA slightly underestimated ALM compared to DXA with a mean bias of -0.6 ± 0.2 kg. The percentage accurate predictions was 54% with RMSE 1.6 kg and limits of agreements -3.0 – +1.8 kg. Sensitivity was 79%, indicating that 79% of subjects with low ALM according to DXA also had low ALM with the BIA. Specificity was 90%, indicating that 90% of subjects with ‘no low’ ALM according to DXA also had ‘no low’ ALM with the BIA. Conclusions: This comparison showed a poor validity of BIA to assess absolute values of ALM, but a reasonable sensitivity and specificity to diagnose a low level of ALM in community-dwelling older adults in clinical practice

A high whey protein-, leucine-, and vitamin D-enriched supplement preserves muscle mass during intentional weight loss in obese older adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intentional weight loss in obese older adults is a risk factor for muscle loss and sarcopenia. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the effect of a high whey protein-, leucine-, and vitamin D-enriched supplement on muscle mass preservation during intentional weight loss in obese older adults. DESIGN: We included 80 obese older adults in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. During a 13-wk weight loss program, all subjects followed a hypocaloric diet (-600 kcal/d) and performed resistance training 3×/wk. Subjects were randomly allocated to a high whey protein-, leucine-, and vitamin D-enriched supplement including a mix of other macro- and micronutrients (150 kcal, 21 g protein; 10×/wk, intervention group) or an isocaloric control. The primary outcome was change in appendicular muscle mass. The secondary outcomes were body composition, handgrip strength, and physical performance. Data were analyzed by using ANCOVA and mixed linear models with sex and baseline value as covariates. RESULTS: At baseline, mean ± SD age was 63 ± 5.6 y, and body mass index (in kg/m(2)) was 33 ± 4.4. During the trial, protein intake was 1.11 ± 0.28 g · kg body weight(-1) · d(-1) in the intervention group compared with 0.85 ± 0.24 g · kg body weight(-1) · d(-1) in the control group (P < 0.001). Both intervention and control groups decreased in body weight (-3.4 ± 3.6 kg and -2.8 ± 2.8 kg; both P < 0.001) and fat mass (-3.2 ± 3.1 kg and -2.5 ± 2.4 kg; both P < 0.001), with no differences between groups. The 13-wk change in appendicular muscle mass, however, was different in the intervention and control groups [+0.4 ± 1.2 kg and -0.5 ± 2.1 kg, respectively; β = 0.95 kg (95% CI: 0.09, 1.81); P = 0.03]. Muscle strength and function improved over time without significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: A high whey protein-, leucine-, and vitamin D-enriched supplement compared with isocaloric control preserves appendicular muscle mass in obese older adults during a hypocaloric diet and resistance exercise program and might therefore reduce the risk of sarcopenia. This trial was registered at the Dutch Trial Register (http://www.trialregister.nl) as NTR2751

Effect of a high protein diet and/or resistance exercise on the preservation of fat free mass during weight loss in overweight and obese older adults: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Intentional weight loss in obese older adults is a risk factor for accelerated muscle mass loss. We investigated whether a high protein diet and/or resistance exercise preserves fat free mass (FFM) during weight loss in overweight and obese older adults. METHODS: We included 100 overweight and obese adults (55-80 year) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 2 × 2 factorial design and intention-to-treat analysis. During a 10-week weight loss program all subjects followed a hypocaloric diet. Subjects were randomly allocated to either a high protein (1.3 g/kg body weight) or normal protein diet (0.8 g/kg), with or without a resistance exercise program 3 times/week. FFM was assessed by air displacement plethysmography. RESULTS: At baseline, mean (±SD) BMI was 32 ± 4 kg/m(2). During intervention, protein intake was 1.13 ± 0.35 g/kg in the high protein groups vs. 0.98 ± 0.29 in the normal protein groups, which reflects a 16.3 ± 5.2 g/d higher protein intake in the high protein groups. Both high protein diet and exercise did not significantly affect change in body weight, FFM and fat mass (FM). No significant protein*exercise interaction effect was observed for FFM. However, within-group analysis showed that high protein in combination with exercise significantly increased FFM (+0.6 ± 1.3 kg, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: A high protein diet, though lower than targeted, did not significantly affect changes in FFM during modest weight loss in older overweight and obese adults. There was no significant interaction between the high protein diet and resistance exercise for change in FFM. However, only the group with the combined intervention of high protein diet and resistance exercise significantly increased in FFM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register, number NTR4556, date 05-01-2014

Effect of a high protein diet and/or resistance exercise on the preservation of fat free mass during weight loss in overweight and obese older adults: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Intentional weight loss in obese older adults is a risk factor for accelerated muscle mass loss. We investigated whether a high protein diet and/or resistance exercise preserves fat free mass (FFM) during weight loss in overweight and obese older adults. METHODS: We included 100 overweight and obese adults (55-80 year) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 2 × 2 factorial design and intention-to-treat analysis. During a 10-week weight loss program all subjects followed a hypocaloric diet. Subjects were randomly allocated to either a high protein (1.3 g/kg body weight) or normal protein diet (0.8 g/kg), with or without a resistance exercise program 3 times/week. FFM was assessed by air displacement plethysmography. RESULTS: At baseline, mean (±SD) BMI was 32 ± 4 kg/m(2). During intervention, protein intake was 1.13 ± 0.35 g/kg in the high protein groups vs. 0.98 ± 0.29 in the normal protein groups, which reflects a 16.3 ± 5.2 g/d higher protein intake in the high protein groups. Both high protein diet and exercise did not significantly affect change in body weight, FFM and fat mass (FM). No significant protein*exercise interaction effect was observed for FFM. However, within-group analysis showed that high protein in combination with exercise significantly increased FFM (+0.6 ± 1.3 kg, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: A high protein diet, though lower than targeted, did not significantly affect changes in FFM during modest weight loss in older overweight and obese adults. There was no significant interaction between the high protein diet and resistance exercise for change in FFM. However, only the group with the combined intervention of high protein diet and resistance exercise significantly increased in FFM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register, number NTR4556, date 05-01-2014