Nutrition and Metabolic Insights最新文献

Differences in monolayer and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems have been recognized for several years. Despite the recognized importance of 3D systems, low cost and convenience of monolayer culture are still readily used for metabolic and nutritional studies. Here, we present part 1 of a 2-part series that will highlight (1) a novel and cost-effective model for culturing 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in 3D agarose as well as (2) an initial study showing the successful use of this 3D model for experimental analysis of these cells treated with cinnamon extract while suspended in agarose. In part 1, we provide a full characterization of the model system for the 3T3-L1 cells that demonstrate the functionality and convenience of this system. Importantly, we note spontaneous differentiation to adipocytes while cultured under these methods, independent of chemical induction. We present a 2.5-week time course with rounded cells forming vacuoles as early as 24 hours and accumulation of lipid detectable by Oil Red O stain at 0.5 weeks. Serum selection, lipid volume determination, and cell size are characterized. We conclusively demonstrate adipogenesis based on a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) detection using immunohistochemistry (IHC) of sections from these 3D cultures. Methods, materials and recommendations are described as well as proposed benefits to the use of this culture system for 3T3-L1 cells.

Adults with developmental disabilities face barriers to making healthy lifestyle choices that mirror the barriers faced by the direct support professionals who serve them. These two populations, direct support professionals and adults with developmental disabilities, are likely to lead inactive lifestyles, eat unhealthy diets, and be obese. Moreover, direct support professionals influence the nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health behaviors of the adults with developmental disabilities whom they serve. We piloted a cooking-based nutrition education program, Cooking Matters for Adults, to dyads of adults with developmental disabilities (n = 8) and direct support professionals (n = 7). Team-taught by a volunteer chef and nutrition educator, Cooking Matters for Adults uses an active learning approach to teach food preparation safety skills and nutrition knowledge to inform healthy food and beverage choices. We assessed healthy food preparation, intake of a balanced diet, healthy food and beverage choices, and cooking confidence and barriers at pre-test, post-test, and 6-months after the intervention. Among both adults with developmental disabilities and direct support professionals, positive trends in healthy food preparation, eating a balanced diet, and reduction in cooking barriers were observed at post-test and 6-months. We also qualitatively assessed knowledge of and attitudes toward healthy eating, frequency of food and beverage intake, knowledge about kitchen skills and safety, as well as overall satisfaction, cooking confidence, and acceptability of the dyad approach. Participants with developmental disabilities and direct support professionals reported that they learned about healthy food and beverage choices and various cooking skills. Participants reported confidence in skills learned and were satisfied with the intervention and approach of including adults with developmental disabilities and direct support professionals in the intervention together.

Background and aims: A worldwide increase in childhood overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) has been reported. OB is an inflammatory state which affects iron metabolism and the sensibility of the tests to detect iron deficiency (ID). Our aim was to evaluate the adequacy of current ferritin cut-offs to define ID in children with OW/OB.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 152 children (54% girls) aged (median [Q1-Q3]) 11 (8-13) years with OW/OB. Complete blood count and iron metabolism were evaluated. Low ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSat), and anemia were defined by age- and sex-specific cut-offs recommended by National Guidelines. Iron intake was assessed in a subgroup (n = 80) by a 24-hour dietary recall. Analyses were made according to pubertal development and ferritin tertiles.

Results: The overall prevalence of low ferritin, TSat, and anemia was 2.6%, 23.8%, and 5.2%, respectively. Among pre-pubertal children (n = 87), the frequency of low TSat rose across ferritin tertiles (P < .05), whereas it decreased among pubertal children (n = 65; P < .005). Cases of anemia among pre-pubertal children were found in the highest ferritin tertile, whereas 4/6 anemia cases in pubertal children were found in the lowest ferritin tertile (<39 µg/L). Pubertal children within the lowest ferritin tertile + low TSat (n = 11) showed lower hemoglobin (-9%; P < .005) and hematocrit (-8%, P < .01) than those in the same tertile + normal TSat (n = 16). The overall prevalence of children with ferritin < 39 µg/L + low TSat was 9.2%.

Conclusions: Higher ferritin cut-off values are required to define ID in children with OW/OB. Such cut-off remains to be validated in larger, multi-ethnic cohorts of children with OW/OB.

Background: This study was conducted to identify major dietary patterns and their association with level of asthma control among patients with asthma in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among a representative sample of Palestinian patients with asthma (both sex, aged 19-64 years) receiving care in chest department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex. Asthma control level was obtained using asthma control test. Data regarding other variables were obtained using an interview-based questionnaire and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.

Results: Two major dietary patterns were identified including (1) Prudent pattern characterized by a high intake of whole grains, beans and legumes, fish and shellfish products, vegetables, tomatoes, fruits, and vegetable oils, and (2) Western pattern characterized by a high intake of refined grains, red meat, poultry, fast foods, eggs, low-fat dairy product, high-fat dairy products, hydrogenated fats, olive, sugar, sweets, desserts, and snacks. After adjustment for confounding variables, patients in the lowest tertile (T1) of Prudent pattern had a lower odds for poorly controlled asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 0.044, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.002-1.316], P value < 0.05), whereas patients in the lowest tertile (T1) of Western pattern had a higher odds for poorly controlled asthma (OR = 2.499, 95% CI = [1.288-4.850], P value < 0.05), compared with those in the highest tertile (T3).

Conclusion: A Prudent pattern may be associated with a lower prevalence of poorly controlled asthma, whereas a Western pattern may be associated with a higher prevalence of poorly controlled asthma.

Nutritional considerations of many chronic diseases are not fully understood or taken into consideration in everyday clinical practice. Therefore, it is not surprising that high proportion of hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases remains underdiagnosed with malnutrition. Malnourished patients have increased risk of poor clinical outcomes, complications rate, prolonged hospital stay, more frequent rehospitalizations, and lower quality of life. The purpose of this review is to recapitulate recent data on nutritional considerations in cardiovascular medicine.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a biologically complex condition characterized by chronic, relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The relative incidence of this debilitating condition is increasing and sociologically damaging outcomes are a continued reality. Several etiological theories for UC are currently under investigation, spanning between genetic and environmental determinants. From an environmental perspective, previous literature reviews have demonstrated the independent effectiveness of specific diet and exercise patterns in modifying UC immuno-pathophysiology. This article explores the synergistic role of diet and aerobic exercise in the prevention, pathogenesis, and management of UC in the context of recent immunological research. Through a unifying mechanism-that is, microbial influence of colonic inflammation and immuno-pathophysiology-the simultaneous reduction of pro-inflammatory dietary sulfurous amino acid intake (ie methionine, cysteine, homocysteine, and taurine) and the upregulation of aerobic exercise frequency (which spurs the colonization of anti-inflammatory butyrate, acetate, and propionate producing microbial taxa) demonstrate the clinical efficacy of incorporating both diet and exercise modifications for UC prevention and management through pathogenic alterations.

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT)-fat stored deep in the abdominal cavity that surrounds vital organs-is associated with a variety of chronic health conditions. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the gold standards to quantify VAT. However, the high cost, limited accessibility, and potential exposure to radiation limit the use of these imaging modalities. In this commentary, we review the application of a previously validated regression equation that estimates anthropometrically predicted VAT (apVAT) to explain variance in blood-based biomarkers and predict mortality in a large sample of adults. In our first study (Brown et al. 2018 Eur J Nutr; doi:10.1007/s00394-016-1308-8), apVAT accounted for more variance in biomarkers of glucose homeostasis, inflammation, and lipid metabolism, than body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or the combination of BMI + WC. In our second study (Brown et al. 2017 Am J Hum Biol; doi:10.1002/ajhb.22898), compared with BMI, WC, and BMI + WC, apVAT more accurately predicted mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These studies demonstrate that apVAT can be used in clinical practice and in clinical nutrition and metabolism research when imaging modalities to quantify VAT may not be feasible.

Background: Muscle mass is an important determinant of metabolic health and physical function. It has previously been demonstrated that the postprandial rise in circulating essential amino acids (EAA) acts as the main stimulus for muscle protein synthesis (MPS). This study investigated postprandial plasma amino acid (AA) responses of 2 different forms of whey protein isolate (WPI) with iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous profiles to investigate plasma concentrations of EAA.

Methods: In all, 12 healthy men (n = 12) between 19 and 32 years of age were recruited for a randomized, cross-over design, which involved consumption of protein supplements on 2 testing days separated by a 6-day washout period between conditions. On each testing day, subjects consumed either 29.6 g of WPI or WPI + io (whey protein isolate plus Ingredient Optimized Protein^®) mixed with 236 mL of water. Plasma EAA and branch chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations were assessed from whole body donated by subjects at pre-consumption and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes post consumption.

Results: Plasma levels of total EAA concentration was significantly greater in WPI + io at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post consumption (P < .01, P < .001, P < .01, and P < .01, respectively). Plasma levels of total BCAA concentration was significantly greater in WPI + io at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post consumption (P < .01, P < .001, P < .01, and P < .05, respectively) compared with WPI. For leucine, only WPI + io had elevated levels compared with pre-test at 90 minutes post consumption (P < .001).

Discussion: Both conditions significantly elevated EAA, BCAA, and leucine from basal levels. However, we conclude that the consumption of the treated WPI significantly raises plasma EAA, BCAA, and leucine to a greater extent compared with WPI with no treatment. Thus, supplementation with WPI that has undergone Ingredient Optimized^® technology may be highly beneficial for those who partake in regular exercise, elderly individuals, or those affected by a reduced sensitivity to amino acids.

Introduction: Obesity affects more than 40 million children globally. Efforts to promote proper nutrition in an attempt to reduce childhood obesity should consider maternal beliefs and cultural customs around food. Little is known regarding child feeding, including weaning practices and foods consumed in the first years of life among Marshallese children, a sub-group of Pacific Islanders, residing in the United States.

Methods: This study aims to explore the influences on introduction of complementary foods among Marshallese mothers and caregivers residing in the United States, to serve as the basis for promotion of improved nutrition. Focus groups and demographic surveys were conducted with Marshallese mothers and caregivers (N = 27) to explore child-feeding beliefs, perceptions, and practices.

Results: All mothers reported breastfeeding their infants, and 80% reported using some type of milk supplementation. There was a difference in mother and caregiver responses regarding which first foods to introduce and average age of introduction.

Discussion: Analysis revealed three themes identified as being influential for child-feeding practices: Marshallese breastfeeding customs, introduction of solid foods, and Marshallese family feeding customs.

The measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE) is important to both human physiology and nutrition. There are several pre-conditions for the proper measurement of REE, but a key criterion is that it takes place in the thermoneutral zone (TNZ). Deciding whether a person is in his or her TNZ is not an easy task, and a suggested way forward is the monitoring of forearm to fingertip skin temperature gradients (FFG). In this commentary, we highlight our recent findings that FFG varies between individuals even when measured at a temperature within TNZ. Interestingly, FFG showed a consistent direct relationship with adjusted REE, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs. In addition, we provide new findings that FFG is sensitive to small ambient temperature variations within the TNZ, in comparison to visual analogue scale (VAS)-derived subjective measures of thermal comfort. While further research is needed in this area, our view is measurements of FFG should be included in REE protocols. This would inform investigators on how their participants are responding to the ambient room temperature and also allow appropriate statistical adjustments in REE for between-group comparisons.