Nutritional Characterization and Phenolic Profiling of Moringa oleifera Leaves Grown in Chad, Sahrawi Refugee Camps, and Haiti

Moringa oleifera is a plant that grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Its leaves are rich of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, several differences are reported in the literature. In this article we performed a nutritional characterization and a phenolic profiling of M. oleifera leaves grown in Chad, Sahrawi refugee camps, and Haiti. In addition, we investigated the presence of salicylic and ferulic acids, two phenolic acids with pharmacological activity, whose presence in M. oleifera leaves has been scarcely investigated so far. Several differences were observed among the samples. Nevertheless, the leaves were rich in protein, minerals, and \u3b2-carotene. Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides were the main phenolic compounds identified in the methanolic extracts. Finally, salicylic and ferulic acids were found in a concentration range of 0.14-0.33 and 6.61-9.69 mg/100 g, respectively. In conclusion, we observed some differences in terms of nutrients and phenolic compounds in M. oleifera leaves grown in different countries. Nevertheless, these leaves are a good and economical source of nutrients for tropical and sub-tropical countries. Furthermore, M. oleifera leaves are a source of flavonoids and phenolic acids, among which salicylic and ferulic acids, and therefore they could be used as nutraceutical and functional ingredients

Long-Term Effects of a Classic Ketogenic Diet on Ghrelin and Leptin Concentration : a 12-Month Prospective Study in a Cohort of Italian Children and Adults with GLUT1-Deficiency Syndrome and Drug Resistant Epilepsy

The classical ketogenic diet (cKD) is an isocaloric, high fat, very low-carbohydrate diet that induces ketosis, strongly influencing leptin and ghrelin regulation. However, not enough is known about the impact of a long-term cKD. This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month cKD on ghrelin and leptin concentrations in children, adolescents and adults affected by the GLUT1-Deficiency Syndrome or drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). We also investigated the relationship between the nutritional status, body composition and ghrelin and leptin variations. We carried out a longitudinal study on 30 patients: Twenty-five children and adolescents (15 females, 8 \ub1 4 years), and five adults (two females, 34 \ub1 16 years). After 12-monoths cKD, there were no significant changes in ghrelin and leptin, or in the nutritional status, body fat, glucose and lipid profiles. However, a slight height z-score reduction (from -0.603 \ub1 1.178 to -0.953 \ub1 1.354, p 64 0.001) and a drop in fasting insulin occurred. We found no correlations between ghrelin changes and nutritional status and body composition, whereas leptin changes correlated positively with variations in the weight z-score and body fat (\u3c1 = 0.4534, p = 0.0341; \u3c1 = 0.5901, p = 0.0135; respectively). These results suggest that a long-term cKD does not change ghrelin and leptin concentrations independently of age and neurological condition

Plasma Bisphenol-A concentration and body fat distribution : a pilot study in an urban area

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a potential endocrine disruptor impacting metabolic processes suspected to increase the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. The only data available on BPA exposure in Italy were collected in a rural area. Our aim was to determine BPA exposure in an urban area in northern Italy and to evaluate the association between plasma BPA level and nutritional status, body fat and its distribution. We examined 31 subjects (23 females), aged 20-47 years, with different degrees of body mass index (BMI). Total plasma fasting BPA concentration was measured by ELISA; BMI, waist circumference (WC) and body fat (BF) by anthropoplicometry. The sample presented mean age of 32,3\ub16,5 years, mean BMI of 25,9\ub17,1 kg/m2 and mean of WC of 87,6\ub118,0 cm. Males were younger than females (27,9\ub15,1 vs 33,9\ub16,3 years, p<0,05, respectively). Plasma BPA was measurable in all subjects with a mean concentration of 0,35\ub10,16 ng/ml (0,16-0,59 ng/ml, 10th and 90th percentile) without significant differences between genders. Total plasma BPA correlated with BMI (r=0,358, p=0,048) and WC (r=0,488, p=0,005). In linear regression models adjusted for sex and age, using BMI and WC as independent variables, only WC was associated with BPA plasma level (\u3b2=1,133, and 95%CI 0,001-0,025, p=0,038). In conclusion, the whole sample resulted exposed to BPA. Moreover, the results of this pilot study suggest that BPA plasma level is associated to central obesity

Triheptanoin supplementation does not affect nutritional status : a case report of two siblings with adult polyglucosan body disease

Objective: An anaplerotic diet with the odd-chain triglyceride (triheptanoin-C7TG) supplementation was tested as a therapy for Adult Polyglucosan Body Disease (APBD) and is currently being assessed for various metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to determine any unknown long-term effect of C7TG supplementation on the nutritional status, body composition, resting energy expenditure and biochemical parameters of two siblings with APBD.Methods: Two adult siblings with APBD were treated over a 2-year period with a high fat, low carbohydrate diet, with C7TG oil representing about 30% of the daily caloric intake. We carried out a long-term longitudinal study to determine weight, height, waist circumference; total, intra and extra cellular water by bioimpedance; body fat, lean mass, and bone mineral density by DEXA; resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimeter; glucose and lipid profiles.Results: C7TG supplementation failed to prevent APBD progression, corroborating recent literature. However, long-term C7TG supplementation did not produce any appreciable changes in nutritional status, body composition, resting energy expenditure or biochemical parameters, and no evidence was found of potential adverse effects.Conclusions: Our data suggest that maintenance of C7TG over a 2-year period still leaves a good safety profile in terms of nutritional status, body composition, resting energy expenditure, and biochemical parameters. However further studies involving larger sample sizes, also other diseases, are needed for a deeper understanding of its long-term effects

Dietary Habits of Saharawi Type II Diabetic Women Living in Algerian Refugee Camps: Relationship with Nutritional Status and Glycemic Profile

Diabetes is one of the main health problems among Saharawi refugees living in Algerian camps, especially for women. As is known, diet plays an important role in the management of diabetes. However, the dietary habits of Saharawi diabetic women are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the dietary habits and established their relationship with the nutritional status and glycemic profile of such women. We recruited 65 Saharawi type II diabetic women taking orally glucose-lowering drugs only. Dietary habits were investigated using qualitative 24 h recall carried out over three non-consecutive days. Anthropometric measurements were taken and blood parameters were measured. About 80% of the women were overweight and about three out of four women had uncompensated diabetes and were insulin resistant. The Saharawi diet was found to mainly include cereals, oils, sugars, vegetables (especially onions, tomatoes, and carrots), tea, and meat. Principal component analysis identified two major dietary patterns, the first one \u201chealthy\u201d and the second one \u201cunhealthy\u201d. Women in the higher tertile of adherence to the unhealthy dietary pattern had a higher homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA) index (b = 2.49; 95% CI: 0.41\u20134.57; p = 0.02) and circulating insulin (b = 4.52; 95% CI: 0.44\u20138.60; p = 0.03) than the women in the lowest tertile. Food policies should be oriented to improve the quality of diet of Saharawi diabetic women