Peripheral inflammation is linked with emotion and mental health in people with obesity. A “head to toe” observational study

BackgroundObesity is a significant worldwide health problem that is linked with mental health. The elucidation of the possible overlapping biochemical mechanism(s) involved in inflammation and oxidative stress is imperative to better understand and address obesity and related metabolic disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the associations between inflammatory and oxidative stress profiles with parameters that reflect metabolic, emotional, and mental health in a Greek metabolically unhealthy obese cohort.MethodsIn total, 122 metabolically unhealthy people with obesity were recruited. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were assessed. Quality of life was evaluated through questionnaires for insomnia, self-esteem, depression, physical and mental health.ResultsThe inflammatory biomarker tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the ratio oxidized low-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL/LDL) were higher in hypertensive (p=0.002, p=0.001 respectively) and hyperglycemic subjects (p=0.017, p=0.001 respectively). Furthermore TNF-α (p<0.001), oxLDL/LDL (p<0.001) and oxLDL/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p=0.016) increased significantly with the increase of metabolic syndrome components. Finally, a negative association between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Beta=-0.019, p=0.019) and a positive association between TNF-α and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (Beta=0.003, p=0.015) were found.ConclusionsThe results of the study suggest that obesity-related systemic inflammation is associated with worse self-esteem and depression symptoms, indicating an overlapping mechanism which can be utilized to the management of obesity

Micronutrient deficiencies in children with coeliac disease; a double-edged sword of both untreated disease and treatment with gluten-free diet

Introduction: In coeliac disease (CD) micronutrient deficiencies may occur due to malabsorption in active disease and diminished intake during treatment with a gluten-free diet (GFD). This study assessed the micronutrient status in children with CD at diagnosis and follow-up. Methods: Fifteen micronutrients were analysed in 106 blood samples from newly diagnosed CD and from patients on a GFD for <6 months, 6-12 months and with longstanding disease (>12 months). Predictors of micronutrient status included: demographics, disease duration, anthropometry, gastrointestinal symptoms, raised tissue transglutaminase antibodies (TGA), multivitamin use and faecal gluten immunogenic peptide (GIP). Micronutrient levels were compared against laboratory reference values. Results: At CD diagnosis (n=25), low levels in ≥10% of patients were observed for: vitamins E (88%), B1 (71%), D (24%), K (21%), A (20%) and B6 (12%), ferritin (79%), and zinc (33%). One year post-diagnosis, repletion of vitamins E, K, B6 and B1 was observed (<10% patients). In contrast, deficiencies for vitamins D, A and zinc did not change significantly post-diagnosis. Copper, selenium and magnesium did not differ significantly between diagnosis and follow-up. All samples for B2, folate, vitamin C (except for one sample) and B12 were normal. A raised TGA at follow-up was associated with low vitamins A and B1 (raised vs normal TGA; vitamin A: 40% vs 17%, p=0.044, vitamin B1: 37% vs 13%, p=0.028). Low vitamin A (p=0.009) and vitamin D (p=0.001) were more common in samples collected during winter. There were no associations between micronutrient status with GIP, body mass index, height, socioeconomic status, or gastrointestinal symptom. Multivitamin use was less common in patients with low vitamin D. Conclusions: Several micronutrient deficiencies in CD respond to a GFD but others need to be monitored long-term and supplemented where indicated