Lifestyle changes and risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases and immune system of sedentary women

OBJETIVO: Observar os efeitos de dois meses de um programa de reeducação de hábitos sobre variáveis do sistema imunológico e de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e as associações destas entre si e com a composição corporal. MÉTODOS: Cinqüenta mulheres sedentárias, com idade de 36 anos (DP=10), e índice de massa corporal de 31kg/m² (DP=12) participaram do estudo. Foram avaliados a composição corporal (antropometria e bioimpedância), o hemograma, o perfil lipídico, as concentrações plasmáticas das vitaminas A, C, betacaroteno, do zinco, do ácido úrico e da glicemia. O treinamento consistia de circuito de peso ou caminhada por 1h, três vezes por semana no primeiro mês e 1h, quatro vezes por semana no segundo mês, mais reeducação alimentar. RESULTADOS: A gordura corporal, as concentrações plasmáticas do ácido úrico, do colesterol total e da lipoproteína de alta densidade foram significativamente reduzidas. Os triglicérides, a lipoproteína de baixa densidade e as variáveis do sistema imunológico não foram alterados. O zinco não foi associado a qualquer variável. Os glóbulos brancos, os linfócitos, as plaquetas e a vitamina C foram positivamente associados à gordura corporal e negativamente, quando divididos pela massa corporal (kg). O colesterol total e a lipoproteína de baixa densidade divididos pela concentração de vitamina A e do betacaroteno foram negativamente correlacionados à gordura corporal. A vitamina C teve a maior correlação com outros fatores bioquímicos de risco. CONCLUSÃO: Houve redução dos fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, mas não nos marcadores do sistema imunológico. O aumento da gordura corporal foi associado negativamente aos marcadores do sistema imunológico e das vitaminas.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to observe the effects of two months of a lifestyle-changing program on the immune system and risk of non-communicable chronic diseases and how they associate with each other and with body composition. METHODS: Fifty women aged 36 years (SD=10) with a mean body mass index of 31kg/m² (SD=12) participated in this study. The following data were investigated: body composition (by anthropometry and bioimpedance), complete blood count, lipid profile, plasma concentrations of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, zinc, uric acid and glucose. The program consisted of circuit weight training or walking for 1 hour, three times per week during the first month and for 1 hour, four times per week during the second month and changes to their eating habits. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in body fat and plasma concentrations of uric acid, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein. Triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and immune system variables remained unchanged. Zinc was not associated with any variable. The leukocytes, lymphocytes, platelets and vitamin C were positively associated with body fat and negatively associated when divided by body mass (kg). Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein divided by vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations had a negative correlation with body fat. Vitamin C correlated the most with other biochemical risk factors. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases reduced, but immune system markers remained unchanged. Increased body fat was negatively associated with immune system markers and vitamins

Failure of carnitine in improving hepatic nitrogen content in alcoholic and non‐alcoholic malnourished rats

AIMS: To investigate the effect of carnitine supplementation on alcoholic malnourished rats' hepatic nitrogen content. METHODS: Malnourished rats, on 50% protein-calorie restriction with free access to water (malnutrition group) and malnourished rats under the same conditions with free access to a 20% alcohol/water solution (alcohol group) were studied. After the undernourishment period (4 weeks with or without alcohol), both groups were randomly divided into two subgroups, one of them nutritionally recovered for 28 days with free access to a normal diet and water (recovery groups) and the other re-fed with free access to diet and water plus carnitine (0.1 g/g body weight/day by gavage) (carnitine groups). No alcohol intake was allowed during the recovery period. RESULTS: The results showed: i) no difference between the alcohol/no alcohol groups, with or without carnitine, regarding body weight gain, diet consumption, urinary nitrogen excretion, plasma free fatty acids, lysine, methionine, and glycine. ii) Liver nitrogen content was highest in the carnitine recovery non-alcoholic group (from 1.7 to 3.3 g/100 g, P<0.05) and lowest in alcoholic animals (about 1.5 g/100g). iii) Hepatic fat content (~10 g/100 g, P>.05) was highest in the alcoholic animals. CONCLUSION: Carnitine supplementation did not induce better nutritional recovery

Urinary calcium excretion in short bowel syndrome patients receiving cyclic parenteral nutrition: Case report

Total parenteral nutrition is essential for the survival of short bowel syndrome patients. However, in the long term it is associated with complications such as metabolic bone disease. This complication has been attributed, among other causes, to an increased urinary calcium loss, which might be related to the amount of aminoacids, glucose and calcium present in the parenteral nutrition solution. Two case reports are here presented showing normal calciuria in short bowel syndrome adults, receiving parenteral nutrition for up to 5 years after extensive bowel resection

Esteatose experimental em diferentes tecidos induzida pela ingestão de dieta rica em carboidratos: efeito sobre o fígado, coração e indicadores do estresse oxidativo

CONTEXT: The western dietary pattern is characterized by a high calorie intake with a high proportion of simple sugars. This diet is associated with comorbidities such as hepatic fat deposition and is possibly related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capacity of a hyperglucidic diet to induce steatosis in adult male Wistar rats. After the administration of a carbohydrate-rich diet, we also evaluated the presence of hepatic and cardiac steatosis and the levels of intrinsic antioxidants in the liver. METHODS: Forty-six eutrophic adult male Wistar rats were used and 10 of them were chosen, at random, to serve as controls, while the remaining ones formed the experimental group. Control animals received the standard ration offered by the animal house and the experimental group received the hyperglucidic diet. The diets were offered for 21 days and, at the end of this period, tissue samples were collected for analysis of indicators of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, and reduced glutathione) and of vitamin E. The animals were then sacrificed by decapitation and their viscera were removed for analysis of liver and heart fat. RESULTS: The hyperglucidic diet used induced hepatic fat deposition, with lipid vacuoles being detected in 83% of the livers analyzed by histology. No lipid vacuoles were observed in the heart. Malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels remained unchanged when the animals were submitted to the hyperglucidic diet, probably because there was no liver development of fibrosis or inflammation. In contrast, the levels of vitamin E (antioxidant) were reduced, as confirmed in the literature for steatotic animals. CONCLUSION: The hyperglucidic diet induced hepatic steatosis. In the heart there was an increase in fat content, although no histological changes were observed. These alterations cannot be explained by the presence of malondialdehyde or reduced glutathione (indicators of oxidation), since the values were similar in the groups studied. However, a significant reduction of vitamin E was observed in the experimental group.CONTEXTO: O padrão alimentar ocidental é caracterizado pela ingestão de dieta rica em açúcares simples. Esta alimentação é associada com comorbidades como, por exemplo, deposição de gordura no fígado e possivelmente relacionada com a esteatose hepática não-alcoólica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a capacidade de uma alimentação hiperglicídica induzir esteatose em ratos Wistar adultos. Após administração de uma dieta rica em hidratos de carbono, foi avaliada a presença de esteatose hepática cardíaca e a presença de antioxidantes no fígado. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e seis ratos Wistar adultos eutróficos foram utilizados no experimento. Destes, 10 animais escolhidos por meio de sorteio simples (ao acaso) foram considerados controles e os demais pertencentes ao grupo experimental. Os animais controles receberam, durante todo experimento dieta usual do biotério. Os animais do grupo experimental, durante 21 dias, receberam dieta com 70% de sacarose. Ao final os animais foram sacrificados por decapitação e suas vísceras (fígado e coração) analisada quanto ao teor de gordura. As amostras de tecido hepático foram também analisadas quanto ao teor de antioxidantes (malondialdehido e glutationa reduzida) e vitamina E. RESULTADOS: A dieta hiperglicídica induziu a deposição de gordura no fígado, sendo os vacúolos lipídicos detectados em 83% das amostras no fígado (histologia). No coração foi detectado bioquimicamente aumento do percentual de gordura, sem a detecção de vacúolos lipídico por histologia. Os teores de malondialdehido e glutationa reduzida não foram diferentes entre os animais dos grupos controle e experimental. Por outro lado, os valores de vitamina E, no grupo experimental, foram significativamente inferiores ao do grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO: A dieta hiperglicídica induziu ao esteatose hepática. No coração houve maior deposição de lípides, embora a histologia não tenha mostrado alterações. Esta deposição, tanto no coração como no fígado, não pode ser explicada pelos indicadores de oxidação utilizados. No entanto, foram observados baixos níveis de vitamina E, que pode estar associada a esta indução de esteatose, principalmente, hepática.FAPESPCNP

Impact of Aging on Urinary Excretion of Iron and Zinc

Project Data about the influence of aging on urinary excretion of iron and zinc are scarce. The objective of the present study was to compare the concentration of zinc and iron in the urine of healthy elderly subjects and younger adults. Procedure Seven healthy elderly subjects and seven younger adults were selected and submitted to biochemical, clinical, and nutritional tests. After a fasting period, 12-hour urine was collected for the determination of iron and zinc concentrations by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results Urinary zinc and iron concentrations of the elderly subjects were not significantly different from that of younger adults. However, the total zinc and iron urinary clearance in 24 hours for the elderly was significantly higher compared with that of younger adults. Conclusion There is an increase in urinary iron and zinc clearance with aging. The values reported in this manuscript may be used as references in future studies

Amino acids in squamous cell carcinomas and adjacent normal tissues from patients with larynx and oral cavity lesions

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Fapesp) [2006/56010-0