Eri Toda

Nutrition in Transition from Homo sapiens to Homo economicus

The food and nutrient intake among Paleolithic Homo sapiens, hunter-gatherers and among Asian and Homo economicus Western populations shows marked variations. Economic development and affluence may be associated with a decrease in the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids and significant increase in the intakes of carbohydrates, (mainly refined), fat (saturated, trans fat and linoleic acid) and salt compared to the Paleo- lithic period. The protein or amino acid intake was 2.5 fold greater (33 vs. 13%) in the Paleolithic diet Homo sapiens compared to modern Western diet consumed by Homo economicus populations. Approximately 10,000 years ago, prior to the Agricultural Revolution, our diet was based on an enormous variety of wild plants. However, today about 17% of plant species provide 90% of the worlds food supply which is mainly contributed by grains produced by fertilizer based on rapidly grown crops which may result in a decrease in nutrient density and increase in energy. Wheat, corn and rice ac- count for three fourths of the worlds grain production on which humans are dependent for their food supply. Grains are high in omega-6 fatty acids and carbohydrates and low in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants compared to leafy green vegetables. It has been estimated that diet of Homo sapiens was characterized by higher intakes by essential and non- essential amino acids, calcium, potassium, magnesium, flavonoids and w-3 fatty acids whereas modern Western diet of Homo economicus has excess of energy-rich refined carbohydrates, w-6, trans fat and saturated fat and low in protective nutrients. The consumption of such diets in wealthy countries in conjunction with sedentary behavior is associated with increased prevalence of morbidity and mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids in Relation to Glutamate

The protein intake during the Palaeolithic period has been estimated to be two and a half fold greater than current recommendations. Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon atoms are important components of essential and nonessential amino acids which are components of proteins. These simple molecules play an important role in the human body. The 22 known amino acids, essential and nonessential, affect a broad range of physical and mental processes. Recent studies indicate that amino acids are cell signalling molecules as well as being regulators of gene expression and the protein phosphorylation cascade. The majority of the neurotransmitters is composed of amino acids and can influence biological functions related to brain-body interactions. Amino acids are key precursors for syntheses of hormones and low-molecular weight nitrogenous substances with each having enormous biological importance. Physiological concentra- tions of amino acids and their metabolites; nitric oxide, polyamines, glutathione, taurine, thyroid hormones, and serotonin are required for the biological functions in our body. These metabolites are known to be protective against cardiovascular diseases and degenerative diseases of the brain. However, increased concentrations of amino acids and their products (e.g., ammonia, homocysteine, and asymmetric dimethylarginine) are pathogenic factors for neurological disorders, oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease. Glutamate is a nonessential amino acid present in many foods that is consid- ered protective against obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore a balance between amino acids and other nutrients appears to be important for normal physiological functions without any adverse effects.

Infl ammatory mediators in chronic heart failure in North India

Introduction Recent evidence shows that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be important in the assessment of severity and prognosis in congestive heart failure (CHF). In the present study, we examine the association of cytokines with causes, grade and prognosis of CHF patients. Subjects and methods Of 127 patients with CHF, 11 were excluded and the remaining 116 patients with different aetiologies of CHF, and 250 age- and sex-matched control subjects, were evaluated in this case study. Severity of disease based on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) standards, fell within functional classes II to IV. The diagnosis of HF was based on clinical manifestations as well as on echocardiographic heart enlargement. Cytokines were measured by chemiluminescence. Causes of death were assessed based on death certificates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors of heart failure. Results Echocardiographic ejection fraction was 39.1 ± 8.2% (mean ± SD) in the study group indicating class II-IV heart failure. Laboratory data showed increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress, among HF patients compared to healthy subjects. Pro-inflammatory cytokines; IL-6 and TNF-alpha were significantly higher among HF patients compared to healthy subjects. TNF-alpha and IL-6, showed significant increase among patients with CHF due to ischaemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy compared to levels among CHF patients with valvular heart disease and hypertensive heart diseases. The levels of the cytokines were significantly higher among patients with class III and IV heart failure and those who died, compared to patients with class II heart failure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CAD, cardiomyopathy, and IL-6 were strongly associated – and low ejection fraction and TNF-alpha – weakly associated with HF. Of 116 patients, 20 (17.2%) died during a follow-up of two years, and the deaths were mainly among NYHA class III and IV patients in whom the cause of CHF was CAD (10.9%) and cardiomyopathy (6.9%) which had greater levels of cytokines. Conclusions The findings indicated that pro-inflammatory cytokines may be important indicators of causes, severity of CHF and prognosis among these patients.

USE OF THE CHADS2 AND CHA2DS2-VASC SCORE IN JAPANESE PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A SUB-ANALYSIS OF THE JAPAN THROMBOSIS REGISTRY FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION, CORONARY OR CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS (J-TRACE)

Risk stratification of the patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in low risk patients, is important for selecting patients for oral anticoagulant therapy. We investigated the use of the new CHA2DS2-VASc score in comparison with older CHADS2 score in Japanese patients with AF using a

Effect of Diet and Nutrient on Cell Signaling: Is the Tissue the Main Issue,Proposes Dr. Wilson?

Western diet is characterized with energy dense, refined, ready prepared foods with a high glycemic index (e.g. refined starches; bread, biscuits, candies, cornflakes, pizza, potato chips, cola drinks and sugar) and unhealthy lipids (e.g. trans fats, saturated fat , w-6 rich oils) poor in w-3 fatty acids, phytochemicals and fiber that are abundant in the Mediter- ranean type of diet. Western type of diets are known to predispose inflammation and increase in free fatty acids causing endothelial cell and beta cell dysfunction leading to the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The cell signaling and the changes in cell membrane properties of the tissues induced by dietary lipids may have important consequences on the development of obesity, atherosclerosis and hypertension. The structural properties and function of cell membrane proteins appear to be modified in hypertensive humans and animal models of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Diet in- duced alterations in membrane lipid composition of hypertensive subjects have been associated with alterations in the transmembrane fluxes of Na + and K + , including Na + -Li + countertransport, which is a marker of essential hypertension, and in cell signaling proteins that participate in the control of blood pressure. It has been demonstrated that dietary lipids have an effect on membrane lipid composition and cell signaling proteins. Since changes in the dietary lipid composition yield to variations in the biophysical properties of the plasma membrane, it is likely that cellular functional changes could result from alterations in the structure of the lipid membrane properties under influence of the diet. Thus, the changes in mem- brane properties induced by dietary lipids may have important consequences on blood pressure regulation. The Mediterra- nean diet has been associated with changes in membrane structure and function. Consumption of olive oil-rich diets in- creases the concentration of oleic acid in plasma membrane lipids of different rat and human cells, with beneficial conse- quences on membrane functionality. In contrast, very little is currently known regarding the effects of nuts, another key ingredient of such diets, on membrane lipid composition and structure. CVD, diabetes mellitus and obesity, that are asso- ciated with increased production of thromboxane A2(TXA2), leukotrienes, prostacyclin, interleukins-1 and 6, tumor ne- crosis factor-alpha and C-reactive proteins in the tissues, is the major issue. Increased dietary intake of w-6 fatty acids is known to enhance all these biomarkers as well as atherogenicity of cholesterol in the tissues which have adverse pro- inflammatory effects resulting in CAD. Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, mustard oil, and olive oil char- acterized with low w-6/w-3 ratio in the diet, can modulate inflammation and endothelial dysfunction of the tissues and may be protective against risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and all-cause mortality. Inflammation appears to be an important unifying hypothesis, because in the absence of inflammation in the tissues, total cholesterol and other lipids may have neutral effects in the arterial tissues and myocardium. Therefore, it seems that endothelial dysfunction and in- flammation in the tissue is the main issue for treatment.