The association between enteral nutrition with survival of critical patients with COVID‐19

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) results in several complications and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Limited studies have investigated the effect of enteral nutrition (EN) on the survival of COVID‐19 patients in the ICU. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of EN with biochemical and pathological indices associated with mortality in ICU patients with COVID‐19. Methods: This case–control study was conducted on 240 patients with COVID‐19 hospitalized in the ICU including 120 eventual nonsurvived as the cases and 120 survived patients as the controls. All of the patients received EN as a high protein high volume or standard formula. Data on general information, anthropometric measurements, and the results of lab tests were collected. Results: The recovered patients received significantly more high protein (60.8% vs. 39.6%, p = .004) and high volume (61.6% vs. 42.3%, p = .005) formula compared to the nonsurvived group. Mortality was inversely associated with high volume (odds ratio [OR]: 0.45 confidence interval [CI]95%, p = .008) and high protein (OR: 0.42 CI95%, p = .003) formula. The results remained significant after adjusting for age and sex. Further adjustment for underlying diseases, smoking, body mass index, and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score did not change the results. Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that there was a significant inverse association between mortality and high volume and high protein formula in patients with COVID‐19. Further investigation is warranted

Efficacy of a Comprehensive Weight Reduction Intervention in Male Adolescents With Different FTO Genotypes

Background: The FTO gene polymorphisms may influence the effects of lifestyle interventions on obesity. The present study aimed to assess the influence of the rs9930506 FTO gene polymorphism on the success of a comprehensive weight loss intervention in male adolescents with overweight and obesity. Methods: This study was carried out on 96 adolescent boys with overweight and obesity who were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 53) and control (n = 43) groups. The blood samples of the participants were collected, and the FTO gene was genotyped for the rs9930506 polymorphism. A comprehensive lifestyle intervention including changes in diet and physical activity was performed for 8 weeks in the intervention group. Results: Following the lifestyle intervention, BMI and fat mass decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group (both p < 0.05), while no change was found in weight, height or body muscle percentage between the groups. The participants in the intervention group with the AA/AG genotype and not in carriers of the GG genotype had a significantly higher reduction in BMI (−1.21 vs. 1.87 kg/m2, F = 4.07, p < 0.05) compared with the control group. Conclusion: The intervention in individuals with the AA/AG genotype has been significantly effective in weight loss compared with the control group. The intervention had no association effect on anthropometric indices in adolescents with the GG genotype of the FTO rs9930506 polymorphism. Trial Registration: Name of the registry: National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute; Trial registration number: IRCT2016020925699N2; Date of registration: 24/04/2016; URL of trial registry record: https://www.irct.ir/trial/2144

Does dietary intake of caffeine have an effect on transient global amnesia?

Abstract Aim Amnesia is a cognitive disorder that may lead to memory loss. Caffeine is a psychoactive substance which have an effect on memory and cognitive functions. This study aimed to assess the association of transient global amnesia (TGA) with dietary intake of caffeine. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted on the Sabzevar Persian cohort data of 258 patients with TGA and 520 healthy individuals in Sabzevar, Iran. The Nutritional data were gathered in face‐to‐face interviews using a valid Food Frequency Questionnaire. Different models of logistic regression were used to determine the association between TGA and dietary caffeine intake after adjusting the confounders including age, sex, education, job, marital status, physical activity, BMI, and calorie intake. Results There was no significant difference in terms of dietary calorie intake of (2279.5 ± 757.9 vs. 2365.5 ± 799.5, p = 0.19), protein (70.79 ± 25.27 vs. 72.94 ± 24.83, p = 0.31), fat (59.97 ± 23.79 vs. 60.13 ± 26.38, p = 0.93), carbohydrate (376 ± 134 vs. 393.1 ± 137.8, p = 0.14), and caffeine (196.4 ± 127.9 vs. 186.3 ± 128.5, p = 0.36) between the groups. No significant association was found between TGA and dietary intake of caffeine (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.99–1.01, p = 0.36). The results did not change after adjusting the confounders. Conclusions No significant association was found between TGA and dietary intake of caffeine. Further prospective studies are required to confirm this finding

The association between vitamin D intake with inflammatory and biochemical indices and mortality in critically ill patients with COVID‐19: A case‐control study

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) has become a worldwide health issue with widespread hospitalization and dependence on the intensive care unit (ICU). Vitamin D has a key role in modulating immune cells and modulating the inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the association of vitamin D supplementation with inflammatory, biochemical, and mortality indices in critically ill patients with COVID‐19. Methods This case‐control study was conducted on critically ill COVID‐19 patients hospitalized in the ICU including the survived >30 day patients as the case group and dead patients as the control group. The status of vitamin D supplementation and inflammatory and biochemical indices of the patients were retrieved from the medical records. Logistic regression method was used to assess the association between 30 days survival and vitamin D supplement intake. Results Compared to the group of COVID‐19 patients who died in <30 day, the survived patients had a lower eosinophile level (2.2 ± 0.5 vs. 6 ± 0.0, p < .001) and higher vitamin D supplementation duration (9 ± 4.4 vs. 3.3 ± 1.9 day, p = .001). Vitamin D supplementation had a positive association with survival in COVID‐19 patients (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15−3.40, p < .05). The association remained significant after adjustments fot age, sex, underlying diseases, and smoking. Conclusion Vitamin D supplementation in critically ill patients with COVID‐19 has the potential to increase survivability within the first 30 days of hospitalization

Role of rs9939506 polymorphism of FTO gene in resistance to eating in male adolescents

Abstract Background Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of the Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene may be associated with obesity by regulating appetite. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between FTO genotype and resistance to eating in male adolescents. Methods The present cross-sectional study included 246 adolescent boys in Tehran, Iran, who were assessed for self-efficacy related to weight control using the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle (WEL), questionnaire, food intake using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and anthropometric indices using Bio-Impedance Analyzer (BIA). Moreover, the participants underwent genotyping for the rs9930506 polymorphism of the FTO gene, and the relationship between FTO genotype and resistance to eating was investigated using different models of multiple linear regression. Results According to our findings, there was a significant reverse relationship between the FTO rs9930506 genotype and resistance to eating (β: -0.16, P = 0.01). Moreover, the relationship was still significant after adjusting for age, nutritional knowledge, BMI, and mother’s BMI, educational level, and occupational status. Conclusion According to our results, the FTO genotype had a significant effect on resistance to eating and food desires. However, there is a need for further studies to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of the effects of the FTO gene on appetite and obesity