A synbiotic-containing amino acid-based formula improves gut microbiota in non-IgE-mediated allergic infants

BACKGROUND: Prebiotics and probiotics (synbiotics) can modify gut microbiota and have potential in allergy management when combined with amino acid-based formula (AAF) for infants with cow's milk allergy (CMA). METHODS: This multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of an AAF including synbiotic blend on percentages of bifidobacteria and Eubacterium rectale/Clostridium coccoides group (ER/CC) in feces from infants with suspected non-IgE-mediated CMA. Feces from age matched healthy breastfed infants were used as reference (HBR) for primary outcomes. CMA subjects were randomized and received test or control formula for 8 weeks. Test formula was a hypoallergenic, nutritionally complete AAF including a prebiotic blend of fructo-oligosaccharides and the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve M-16V. Control formula was AAF without synbiotics. RESULTS: Thirty-five (test) and 36 (control) subjects were randomized; HBR included 51 infants. At week 8, median percentage of bifidobacteria was higher in test group vs control group (35.4 vs. 9.7%, respectively P<0.001), whereas ER/CC was lower (9.5 vs. 24.2%, respectively; P<0.001). HBR levels of bifidobacteria and ER/CC were 55 and 6.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: AAF including specific synbiotics, which results in levels of bifidobacteria and ER/CC approximating levels in HBR group, improves the fecal microbiota of infants with suspected non-IgE-mediated CMA

Periprandial changes of the sympathetic–parasympathetic balance related to perceived satiety in humans

Food intake regulation involves various central and peripheral mechanisms. In this study the relevance of physiological responses reflecting the autonomic nervous system were evaluated in relation to perceived satiety. Subjects were exposed to a lunch-induced hunger-satiety shift, while profiling diverse sensory, physiological, and biochemical characteristics at 15 min intervals. Sensory ratings comprised questionnaires with visual analogues scales about their feeling of satiety, desire to eat, fullness, and hunger. Physiological characteristics included heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure, while biochemical markers such as cortisol levels and α-amylase activity were monitored in saliva. The four sensory ratings correlated with heart rate and salivary α-amylase suggesting a higher sympathetic tone during satiety. Furthermore, heart rate variability was associated with age and waist-to-hip ratio and cortisol levels negatively correlated with body mass index. Finally, neither chewing nor swallowing contributed to a heart rate increase at food consumption, but orosensory stimulation, as tested with modified sham feeding, caused a partial increase of heart rate. In conclusion, after meal ingestion critical physiological alterations reveal a elevated sympathetic tone, which is a potential measure of satiety

A specific synbiotic-containing amino acid-based formula in dietary management of cow's milk allergy: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background: Here we report follow-up data from a double-blind, randomized, controlled multicenter trial, which investigated fecal microbiota changes with a new amino acid-based formula (AAF) including synbiotics in infants with non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA). Methods: Subjects were randomized to receive test product (AAF including fructo-oligosaccharides and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V) or control product (AAF) for 8 weeks, after which infants could continue study product until 26 weeks. Fecal percentages of bifidobacteria and Eubacterium rectale/Clostridium coccoides group (ER/CC) were assessed at 0, 8, 12, and 26 weeks. Additional endpoints included stool markers of gut immune status, clinical symptoms, and safety assessments including adverse events and medication use. Results: The trial included 35 test subjects, 36 controls, and 51 in the healthy reference group. Study product was continued by 86% and 92% of test and control subjects between week 8-12, and by 71% and 80%, respectively until week 26. At week 26 median percentages of bifidobacteria were significantly higher in test than control [47.0% vs. 11.8% (p < 0.001)], whereas percentages of ER/CC were significantly lower [(13.7% vs. 23.6% (p = 0.003)]. Safety parameters were similar between groups. Interestingly use of dermatological medication and reported ear infections were lower in test versus control, p = 0.019 and 0.011, respectively. Baseline clinical symptoms and stool markers were mild (but persistent) and low, respectively. Symptoms reduced towards lowest score in both groups. Conclusion: Beneficial effects of this AAF including specific synbiotics on microbiota composition were observed over 26 weeks, and shown suitable for dietary management of infants with non-IgE-mediated CMA.Trial Registration NTR3979

Effect of Ramadan fasting on heart rate variability as a measure of cardiac stress in a Lebanese cohort

Contains fulltext : 225320.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)BACKGROUND: Intermittent fasting is an annual religious practice of Muslims worldwide, which affects the physiology of the body due to lifestyle alterations. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on the HRV, an indirect measure of cardiac sympathetic stress. METHODS: This study included 80 healthy Lebanese females (aged 18-25 years old) monitored for 24 h when following normal routine; 38 and 42 females were enrolled before and during Ramadan, respectively. RESULTS: Our results reveal no effect of fasting on HRV; there was insignificant change in HRV between the first and last weeks of Ramadan (P > 0.05). Morning fasting was significantly the least stressful period (lowest HR, P < 0.001), with lower HR compared with non-fasting day (P < 0.001). Therefore, Ramadan fasting does not alter the autonomic nervous activity of the heart, neither HRV levels. CONCLUSIONS: This may imply that intermittent fasting is a risk-free practice, which does not interfere with the cardiac autonomic nervous system function

Síndrome do comer noturno: aspectos conceituais, epidemiológicos, diagnósticos e terapêuticos Night eating syndrome: conceptual, epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects

O comportamento e o padrão alimentar são complexos, envolvendo aspectos metabólicos, fisiológicos e ambientais, e apresentando ritmicidade circadiana, herdada e espécie específica, sendo a humana essencialmente diurna. Este estudo tem como objetivo descrever a Síndrome do Comer Noturno, caracterizada por um atraso circadiano do padrão alimentar, mediado por alterações neuroendócrinas ao estresse. Procedeu-se à revisão da bibliografia existente, a partir do exame de artigos publicados pela literatura internacional nas bases de dados dos sites Pubmed, Lilacs, Sirus, referentes ao período de 1955 até as últimas publicações em 2007. Realizou-se um levantamento bibliográfico usando os seguintes descritores: night eating syndrome, sleep, circadian rhythm, appetite, nocturnal eating. Foram localizados 74 artigos e destes foram selecionados 26, cujo tema central era a Síndrome do Comer Noturno. Apesar dos estudos realizados, ainda existe longo percurso a ser percorrido para compreender a gênese da Síndrome do Comer Noturno e as relações intrínsecas desta com outros processos fisiopatogênicos. Tendo em conta que esta síndrome está vinculada ao controle da fome e da saciedade e à dessincronização entre o ritmo alimentar e o ritmo sono/vigília, a compreensão do seu processo gênico poderá demonstrar o impacto da dessincronização dos ritmos circadianos da alimentação no processo saúde-doença, e auxiliar a compreensão de fatores implicados no índice crescente de obesidade da sociedade moderna.<br>Behavior and eating patterns are complex, involve metabolic, physiological and environmental aspects and have inherited and species-specific circadian rhythmicity, with humans being essentially diurnal. The aim of this study is to describe the night eating syndrome, characterized by a delay of the circadian eating patterns and mediated by neuroendocrine stress. A review of the literature found in the Pubmed, Lilacs and Sirus databases published between 1955 and 2007 was done. The keywords used were: night eating syndrome, sleep, circadian rhythm, appetite, nocturnal eating. A total of 74 articles were found of which 26 were selected, whose central theme was the night eating syndrome. Despite all the studies done, there is still long way to go to understand the genesis of the night eating syndrome and its intrinsic relation with other physiological and pathogenic processes. Given that this syndrome is linked to the control of hunger and satiety and to the desynchronization between the eating rhythm and sleep / wake rhythm, understanding its genetic process can reveal the impact that the desynchronization of circadian eating rhythms has on the health-disease process and help understand the factors involved in the rising rates of obesity in modern society