Evolution and Therapy of Brain by Foods Containing Unsaturated Fatty Acids

About 6 million years ago, our ancestors had experienced a tremendous brain growth, widely viewed as a “major adaptive shift” in human evolution. Half of human brain composition is fat and 20% of its dry weight is long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). Consequently, improvements in consumption of dietary fat were necessary condition for promoting encephalization. Dietary fat quantity and quality have been subjected to tremendous change over the past 10,000 years with the introduction of industrially produced trans fatty acids and reduced intakes of ω‐3 fatty acids. The absolute human brain size reached its peak of approximately 90,000 years ago and has decreased by 11% since 35,000 years ago, most of it (8%) coming in the last 10,000 years. The shortfall in consumption of animal foods since the late Paleolithic and mainly consequent shortfall in consumption of preformed LCPUFA would be the plausible hypothesis for the brain size decreasing. Genetically, we are still adapted to the East African ecosystem on which our genome evolved, with some adaptations since the Out‐of‐Africa Diaspora. Dietary fat quantity and quality change has caused a conflict with our slowly adapting genome and this mismatch is likely to be at the basis of “typically Western” diseases. Many recommendations for the intakes of EPA + DHA have been issued, notably for prevention. However, the ultimate goal might be to return to the fat quality of our ancient diet on which our genes have evolved during the past million years of evolution

Metabolic syndrome and dietary components are associated with coronary artery disease risk score in free-living adults: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Coronary artery disease (CAD) is among the main causes of death in developed countries, and diet and lifestyle can influence CAD incidence.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To evaluate the association of coronary artery disease risk score with dietary, anthropometric and biochemical components in adults clinically selected for a lifestyle modification program.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>362 adults (96 men, 266 women, 53.9 ± 9.4 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria by presenting all the required data. The Framingham score was calculated and the IV Brazilian Guideline on Dyslipidemia and Prevention of Atherosclerosis was adopted for classification of the CAD risks. Anthropometric assessments included waist circumference (WC), body fat and calculated BMI (kg/m²) and muscle-mass index (MMI kg/m²). Dietary intake was estimated through 24 h dietary recall. Fasting blood was used for biochemical analysis. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) was diagnosed using NCEP-ATPIII (2001) criteria. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of CAD risks according to the altered components of MS, dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical components.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For a sample with a BMI 28.5 ± 5.0 kg/m²the association with lower risk (<10% CAD) were lower age (<60 years old), and plasma values of uric acid. The presence of MS within low, intermediary, and high CAD risk categories was 30.8%, 55.5%, and 69.8%, respectively. The independent risk factors associated with CAD risk score was MS and uric acid, and the protective factors were recommended intake of saturated fat and fiber and muscle mass index.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Recommended intake of saturated fat and dietary fiber, together with proper muscle mass, are inversely associated with CAD risk score. On the other hand, the presence of MS and high plasma uric acid are associated with CAD risk score.</p

Metabolic syndrome and components after a lifestyle changing program in free-living adults

A síndrome metabólica (SM) é um conjunto de patologias caracterizadas pela obesidade abdominal, resistência insulínica, hipertensão arterial e dislipidemia aterogênica. Pelos seus desfechos, ocupa posição de destaque dentre as doenças crônicas com impacto crescente na economia do SUS. Não há modelo curativo efetivo para SM, restando a atenção primária pelo combate ao sedentarismo e a inadequação alimentar, mediante modificação do estilo de vida (MEV). O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito de programa de mudança do estilo de vida (MEV) sobre a SM em adultos. Preencheram os critérios de inclusão 131 indivíduos (55 ± 9 anos), 74% do sexo feminino 68,7% abaixo de 60 anos. Todos foram submetidos a programa de MEV composto de exercícios aeróbios dinâmicos (caminhadas - 65-80% V02máx.)supervisionados, 80minutos/sessão, 3-5x/semana. Adicionalmente, houve aconselhamento nutricional mensal. A duração do MEV foi de 6 meses com avaliações nos momentos inicial (M0) e final (M1). As avaliações incluíram dados clínicos, antropométricos, dietéticos, capacidade aeróbia e bioquímica sanguínea. O diagnóstico de SM foi feito pelo ATP III - NCEP (2003). Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente pelas variáveis contínuas (teste t de Student ou de Wilcoxon) ou categóricas (qui-quadrado), mediante software Stat for Windows 6.0 p=0,05. Em M0 a SM era de 50,3% tendo como principal componente a adiposidade abdominal (63,4%). Os portadores (G1) diferiram dos não portadores (G2) de SM pelos maiores valores de IMC e uricemia, e menor desempenho físico em esteira. O programa de MEV aumentou a pontuação do índice de alimentação saudável (IAS) e da ingestão de fibras, e reduziu a ingestão energética. Adicionalmente, aumentou o tempo de esteira e reduziu os valores plasmáticos de proteína C reativa (PCR-us), &#947;-glutamil transpeptidase (&#947;-GT) e ácido úrico. A redução da SM foi de 6,8%, resultante da redução de circunferência abdominal (CA), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e aumento do HDL-colesterol. O aparecimento de SM durante a MEV decorrente da elevação da glicemia, trigliceridemia e uricemia, acompanhada da menor ingestão de fibras durante o programa. Os dados mostram as características dos pacientes que respondem positiva e negativamente a este programa de MEV na atenção primária à SM.Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and atherogenic lipid profile, having an enormous economic impact on the national health system. There is no curative model for the MS, being the primary prevention, such as the combat of sedentary behavior and food intake inadequacy the aim of the primary care system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle changing program (LFCP) on MS components in free-living adults. 131 individuais (55 ± 9 years, 74% females and 68,7% under 60 years of age) were submitted to the program, characterized by supervised aerobic exercise (65-80% V02max.) for 80 minutes per session, 3-5 times per week, additionally to monthly dietary counseling. The program lasted 6 months, involving clinic evaluations followed by anthropometric, nutritional and biochemistry, along with a maximal cardiorespiratory fitness test on a treadmill (Balke protocol), at baseline and at end (6 months). MS diagnosis was made according to ATP III - NCEP (2003), being the glycemic index altered as suggested (AHA, 2005). All results were analyzed with Statistic Software, with Student t test and Wilcoxon, when properly, being 5% the statistical level of significance (p<0,05). At baseline, MS prevalence was 50,3%, being elevated waist circumference the most prevalent component (63,4%). MS patients (G1) were different from non MS patients for higher BMI, high levels of uric acid and lower cardiorespiratory fitness. LFCP resulted in higher scores of health eating index (HEI) and dietary fiber intake, and lowered the caloric iintake. Additionaly, it improved the cardiorespiratory fitness and lowered C reactive protein (CRP-hs), &#947;-glutamil transpeptidase (&#947;-GT) and uric acid. MS prevalence dropped 6,8%, resulted from a reduction in waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure, and an increase in HDL-c levels. MS diagnosis after the program were due glycemic, tryclicerides and uric acid elevation, followed by reduction in fiber intake during the 6 months period. Datas presented in this study evidence patients characteristics with and without improvements with LFCP focusing MS prevention and treatment

Metabolic syndrome and components after a lifestyle changing program in free-living adults

A síndrome metabólica (SM) é um conjunto de patologias caracterizadas pela obesidade abdominal, resistência insulínica, hipertensão arterial e dislipidemia aterogênica. Pelos seus desfechos, ocupa posição de destaque dentre as doenças crônicas com impacto crescente na economia do SUS. Não há modelo curativo efetivo para SM, restando a atenção primária pelo combate ao sedentarismo e a inadequação alimentar, mediante modificação do estilo de vida (MEV). O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito de programa de mudança do estilo de vida (MEV) sobre a SM em adultos. Preencheram os critérios de inclusão 131 indivíduos (55 ± 9 anos), 74% do sexo feminino 68,7% abaixo de 60 anos. Todos foram submetidos a programa de MEV composto de exercícios aeróbios dinâmicos (caminhadas - 65-80% V02máx.)supervisionados, 80minutos/sessão, 3-5x/semana. Adicionalmente, houve aconselhamento nutricional mensal. A duração do MEV foi de 6 meses com avaliações nos momentos inicial (M0) e final (M1). As avaliações incluíram dados clínicos, antropométricos, dietéticos, capacidade aeróbia e bioquímica sanguínea. O diagnóstico de SM foi feito pelo ATP III - NCEP (2003). Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente pelas variáveis contínuas (teste t de Student ou de Wilcoxon) ou categóricas (qui-quadrado), mediante software Stat for Windows 6.0 p=0,05. Em M0 a SM era de 50,3% tendo como principal componente a adiposidade abdominal (63,4%). Os portadores (G1) diferiram dos não portadores (G2) de SM pelos maiores valores de IMC e uricemia, e menor desempenho físico em esteira. O programa de MEV aumentou a pontuação do índice de alimentação saudável (IAS) e da ingestão de fibras, e reduziu a ingestão energética. Adicionalmente, aumentou o tempo de esteira e reduziu os valores plasmáticos de proteína C reativa (PCR-us), &#947;-glutamil transpeptidase (&#947;-GT) e ácido úrico. A redução da SM foi de 6,8%, resultante da redução de circunferência abdominal (CA), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e aumento do HDL-colesterol. O aparecimento de SM durante a MEV decorrente da elevação da glicemia, trigliceridemia e uricemia, acompanhada da menor ingestão de fibras durante o programa. Os dados mostram as características dos pacientes que respondem positiva e negativamente a este programa de MEV na atenção primária à SM.Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors as abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and atherogenic lipid profile, having an enormous economic impact on the national health system. There is no curative model for the MS, being the primary prevention, such as the combat of sedentary behavior and food intake inadequacy the aim of the primary care system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle changing program (LFCP) on MS components in free-living adults. 131 individuais (55 ± 9 years, 74% females and 68,7% under 60 years of age) were submitted to the program, characterized by supervised aerobic exercise (65-80% V02max.) for 80 minutes per session, 3-5 times per week, additionally to monthly dietary counseling. The program lasted 6 months, involving clinic evaluations followed by anthropometric, nutritional and biochemistry, along with a maximal cardiorespiratory fitness test on a treadmill (Balke protocol), at baseline and at end (6 months). MS diagnosis was made according to ATP III - NCEP (2003), being the glycemic index altered as suggested (AHA, 2005). All results were analyzed with Statistic Software, with Student t test and Wilcoxon, when properly, being 5% the statistical level of significance (p<0,05). At baseline, MS prevalence was 50,3%, being elevated waist circumference the most prevalent component (63,4%). MS patients (G1) were different from non MS patients for higher BMI, high levels of uric acid and lower cardiorespiratory fitness. LFCP resulted in higher scores of health eating index (HEI) and dietary fiber intake, and lowered the caloric iintake. Additionaly, it improved the cardiorespiratory fitness and lowered C reactive protein (CRP-hs), &#947;-glutamil transpeptidase (&#947;-GT) and uric acid. MS prevalence dropped 6,8%, resulted from a reduction in waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure, and an increase in HDL-c levels. MS diagnosis after the program were due glycemic, tryclicerides and uric acid elevation, followed by reduction in fiber intake during the 6 months period. Datas presented in this study evidence patients characteristics with and without improvements with LFCP focusing MS prevention and treatment

(Mal) adaptações metabólicas ao treinamento contínuo: concepções não consensuais de terminologia e diagnóstico

Altos desempenhos esportivos demandam treinamentos pesados necessários ao estímulo adaptativo específico a cada esporte. A elevada carga de treino é geralmente acompanhada de discreta fadiga e reduções agudas no desempenho, mas caso acompanhada de períodos apropriados de recuperação, resulta em supercompensação metabólica ao treinamento, refletida como aumento na capacidade aeróbica e/ou força muscular. Visto como contínuo, os processos de intensificação do treinamento e o estresse relacionado à supercompensação, o aumento da sobrecarga ou do estresse poderá, em algum momento, acarretar a quebra da homeostase e a queda temporária da função (supra-alcance - OR ou supra-alcance funcional - FOR). Quando a sobrecarga excessiva de treinamento é combinada com recuperação inadequada há instalação do estado de supratreinamento (OT) ou supra-alcance não funcional (NFOR). O OT excede o OR, cujo pico é também o limiar do OT resultando em desadaptações fisiológicas e queda crônica do desempenho físico. A forma crônica de desadaptação fisiológica ao treinamento físico é chamada de síndrome do supertreinamento (OTS). A própria expressão da síndrome denota a etiologia multifatorial do estado e reconhece que o exercício não é necessariamente seu único fator causal. O diagnóstico de OTS é baseado na recuperação ou não do desempenho. Não há biomarcador objetivo para OTS. A distinção entre OTS e NFOR (supratreinamento extremo) é dependente de desfecho clínico e exclusão diagnóstica de doenças orgânicas, mais comuns na OTS. Também a diferença entre OR e OT é sutil e nenhum de seus marcadores bioquímicos pode ser universalizado. Não há evidências confirmatórias que OR evolui para OT ou que os sintomas de OT são piores dos que os de OR. Apenas pela fadiga aguda e queda de rendimento experimentada em sessões isoladas de treinamento, não é possível diferenciar presentemente os estados de OR e OT. Isto é devido, parcialmente, à variabilidade das respostas individuais ao treinamento e à falta de ambos instrumentos diagnósticos e estudos bem controlados.Sports top-level performance requires heavy training loads that provide a stimulus to sport-specific adaptation. Competitive training involving high workload is generally accompanied by minor fatigue and acute performance reduction, but when followed by appropriate recovery periods results in training-metabolic supercompensation reflected as increase in aerobic capacity and muscular strength. When the intensified training process leading to supercompensation and related-stress is seen as a continuum, the increased stress or overload might result in disruption of homeostasis and temporary decrease in function (overreaching - OR or functional overreaching - FOR). When excessive overload is combined with inadequate recovery, a state of overtraining (OT) or non-functional overreaching (NFOR) is installed. OT exceeds OR and the OR peak is also the OT threshold, resulting in stark physiological maladaptations and chronically reduced exercise performance. The chronic form of physiological maladaptation to training is called overtraining syndrome (OTS). The expression of the syndrome emphasizes the multifactorial etiology of the state and acknowledges that exercise (training) is not necessarily the sole causative factor. There is no objective biomarker for OTS besides the diagnosis based on performance recovery. Other distinctions between NFOR (extreme OT) and OTS depend on clinical outcome and exclusion diagnosis of organic diseases more common in OTS. Additionally, the difference between OR and OT is subtle and none of their biochemical markers should be considered universal. There is no evidence to confirm that OR will develop into OT or that OT symptoms are worse than those of OR. It is presently not possible to differentiate OR and OT states from the acute fatigue and decreased performance experienced from isolated training sessions. This situation is partially due to the variability of individual responses to training and to a lack of both diagnostic tools and well controlled studies

Treating Blood Hypertension in a Brazilian Community: Moving from Reactive Homeostatic Model to Proactive Allostatic Healthcare

The responsiveness of hypertensive subjects to different types of physical exercises and length of intervention, has been investigated in samples of our dynamic cohort study (&ldquo;Move for Health&rdquo; program) based on spontaneous demand for healthy lifestyle with supervised exercises and dietary counseling. After clinical selection and baseline assessments they were spontaneously assigned to exercise protocols of strength (PAc) isolated or combined with endurance (walking) exercises (PMi) daily or in alternated days(PMiA), hydrogymnastics(PHy) and tread mill high- intensity exercises(PHit), applied during 10(experiment 1) and 20(experiment 2) weeks of intervention. Baseline demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric and physical activity and fitness characteristics were similar among protocols. Ten-week training improved VO2max. Similarly in all protocols while hand grip increased only in PAc. In average, there was a 16% reduction rate of hypertension rate from baseline with both, SBP and DBP, reduced by PHy and only SBP by the PMi. After adjustments hypertension was more reduced by PAc, PMi and PHy. In the 20-week experiment, higher SBP was similarly reduced by PAc or PMiA and DBP by PMiA, after adjustments. Hence, so far, our generated data suggest physical exercises as an effective tool for hypertension reduction, from 10 weeks to 3 year-long supervised protocols composed by surface or aquatic activities with strength or endurance exercises. PAc takes longer and short-period responsiveness can be achieved by either combined (strength-endurance) or hydrogymnastic exercises. Thus, exercise training is a time-and type-dependent tool, feasible, costless and scientific-based rheostatic-allostatic alternative for the current &ldquo;sick-care&rdquo; drug-dependent homeostatic approach to hypertension med care