Gabriela Villaça Chaves

Vitamin A deficiency in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with oxidative stress and vitamin A possesses antioxidant activity. The objective of the present study was to investigate vitamin A nutritional status in chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to biochemical, functional and dietetic indicators correlating these findings with liver function, liver damage and death. Vitamin A nutritional status was analysed by serum retinol levels, dietetic indicators and functional indicators. A total of 140 patients with HCV-related liver disease were enrolled. Vitamin A deficiency was detected in 54·3 % of all patients, and there was a progressive drop in serum retinol levels from chronic hepatitis C patients towards cirrhosis and HCC patients. Increased total bilirubin, liver transaminases and prothrombin time, presence of hepatic encephalopathy and ascites were related to reduced serum retinol levels, and values ≤ 0·78 μmol/l of serum retinol were associated with liver-related death. A high prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin A was observed in all stages of chronic liver disease. The functional indicator was not an adequate parameter for evaluating the vitamin A nutritional status. Therefore, serum retinol concentration is related to severity of the disease, liver complications and mortality. The effectiveness of nutritional counselling and measures of intervention in this group in improving vitamin A nutritional status should be examined further in a controlled study.

Antioxidant intake among Brazilian adults--the Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS): a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundAntioxidant nutrient intake and the lesser formation of free radicals seem to contribute to chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intake profile of the main dietary antioxidants in a representative sample of the adult Brazilian population and discuss the main consequences of a low intake of these micronutrients on overall health.MethodsThe sample comprised 2344 individuals aged 40 years or older from 150 cities and was based on a probabilistic sample from official data. The research was conducted through in-home interviews administered by a team trained for this purpose. Dietary intake information was obtained through 24-h recall. The Nutrition Data System for Research software program was used to analyze data on the intake of vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc, which was compared to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Differences in intake according to sex, anthropometrics, socioeconomic status and region were also evaluated. The SPSS statistical package (version 13) was used for the statistical analysis. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsHigher proportions of low intake in relation to recommended values were found for vitamin E (99.7%), vitamin A (92.4%) and vitamin C (85.1%) in both genders. Intake variations were found between different regions, which may reflect cultural habits.ConclusionThese results should lead to the development of public health policies that encourage educational strategies for improving the intake of micronutrients, which are essential to overall health and prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Assessment of the Relative Dose-Response Test as Indicators of Hepatic Vitamin A Stores in Various Stages of Chronic Liver Disease

Hepatic vitamin A stores should be the best early indicator of vitamin A status because more than 90% of total body vitamin A is stored in the liver. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the hepatic vitamin A stores in all stages of chronic liver disease (CLD), including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred forty-four patients (age 55.34 ± 9.38 years) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Vitamin A nutrition status was analyzed by serum retinol levels and relative dose-response (RDR) method. Patients with cholestasis were excluded from the sample group. Biochemical, clinical, and anthropometric evaluations were performed. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was detected in 51.4% of all patients. Patients with adequate levels of serum retinol presented adequate liver vitamin A reserves; in contrast, nearly half the patients with low serum retinol levels presented adequate levels of retinol in the liver, although none of the patients with hepatitis had this condition. Therefore, the effectiveness of the RDR method for evaluating vitamin A nutrition status was limited in patients with cirrhosis and HCC, perhaps due to the advanced age of these patients, since those in the chronic hepatitis group, who were younger, responded adequately to the test. Thus, the RDR method should be modified when applied to later stages of CLD, considering the time and dose of retinyl palmitate supplementation, as VAD may be a risk factor for the progression of the disease.

Ultrassonografia e ressonância magnética: estudo comparativo no diagnóstico da esteatose em obesos grau III

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the concordance between abdominal ultrasound and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and concordance of these two methods with the histopathological exam. METHODS: The population studied was comprised of 145 patients with morbid obesity (BMI > 40 Kg/m2), of both genders. NAFLD diagnosis was performed by MRI and Ultrasound. Liver biopsy was performed in a sub-sample (n=40). To evaluate the concordance of these two methods, the kappa coefficient was used. RESULTS: Concordance between both methods (MRI and Ultrasound) was poor and not significant (Kappa adjusted= 0.27; CI 95%= 0.07-0.39.) Nevertheless a slight concordance was found between diagnosis of NAFLD by ultrasound and the hepatic biopsy, with 83.,3% of concordant results and Kappa adjusted= 0.67.Results of an MRI and the histopathological exam were compared and results showed 53.6% of concordant results and kappa adjusted= 0.07. CONCLUSION: The concordance found in the diagnosis performed using the ultrasound method and the hepatic biopsy, shows a need to implement and perform more research on the use of ultrasound to validate and reconsider these methods. This would minimize the need to perform biopsies to detect and diagnose such disease.

Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver function/injury markers with metabolic syndrome components in class III obese individuals

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver function/injury markers with components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in class III obese individuals. METHODS The study population consisted of 144 patients with class III obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m²). MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria, by determining the lipid profile, blood glucose and basal insulin. Liver function/injury markers were also quantified. Insulin resistance (IR) was measured by HOMA-IR and NAFLD diagnosis was established by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Statistical calculations were performed by SPSS version 13.0. The association was assessed by the Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests, with a level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS There was a significant association between the diagnosis of MS and NAFLD (χ² = 6.84, p = 0.01). As for the diagnostic components of MS, there was a positive and significant association between HDL-C (p = 0.05), waist circumference (p < 0.05) and hypertension (χ² = 4.195, p = 0.041) with NAFLD. HOMA-IR (p < 0.001) also showed a positive association with liver disease. CONCLUSION A positive and significant association between NAFLD and components of metabolic syndrome in class III obese individuals was observed, suggesting the need and importance of monitoring these components for NAFLD screening.

Associação entre doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica e marcadores de lesão/função hepática com componentes da síndrome metabólica em indivíduos obesos classe III

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver function/injury markers with components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in class III obese individuals. METHODS: The study population consisted of 144 patients with class III obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 40 kg/m2). MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria, by determining the lipid profile, blood glucose and basal insulin. Liver function/injury markers were also quantified. Insulin resistance (IR) was measured by HOMA-IR and NAFLD diagnosis was established by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Statistical calculations were performed by SPSS version 13.0. The association was assessed by the Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests, with a level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: There was a significant association between the diagnosis of MS and NAFLD (χ2 = 6.84, p = 0.01). As for the diagnostic components of MS, there was a positive and significant association between HDL-C (p = 0.05), waist circumference (p < 0.05) and hypertension (χ2 = 4.195, p = 0.041) with NAFLD. HOMA-IR (p < 0.001) also showed a positive association with liver disease. CONCLUSION: A positive and significant association between NAFLD and components of metabolic syndrome in class III obese individuals was observed, suggesting the need and importance of monitoring these components for NAFLD screening.

Vitamin A liver store: a case–control study

The present study aims to assess the vitamin A liver store in individuals who died of several causes and to compare them with those who died of violent causes. A case–control study was performed with 60 individuals, where 30 died of violent causes (control) and 30 of other causes (cardiovascular diseases, infections, other chronic degenerative diseases, several causes). According to the cause of death, the mean retinol from liver stores was 281.5±63.50 mg/g for individuals who died of violent causes—a significantly higher amount (P<0.05) than those observed in the other group (105.4±87.54 mg/g by cardiovascular diseases, 88.1±78.03 mg/g by infections, 162.4±119.19 mg/g by other chronic degenerative diseases and 205.5±126.63 mg/g by several causes). The highest prevalence of low vitamin A was observed in individuals who died of infections and cardiovascular diseases, which emphasizes the role of vitamin A in these pathological processes.

Comparison of the prognostic value of different skeletal muscle radiodensity parameters in endometrial cancer

Background/objectivesRecent data have shown that dividing skeletal muscle (SM) into sub-ranges of radiodensity can improve the prediction of short-term outcomes in the oncology setting. We aim to investigate whether the skeletal muscle mass, when divided into sub-ranges of low or high-radiodensity, improves the prediction of short-term survival in endometrial cancer (EC) patients when compared to average muscle attenuation and to the overall skeletal muscle radiodensity.Subjects/methodsEC patients who had computed tomography (CT) images available within 30 days before treatment were enrolled in this retrospective cohort (n = 232). CT images at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) were used to assess overall skeletal muscle index (SMI). Then we divided SMI into sub-ranges of radiation attenuation: low-radiodensity skeletal muscle index (LRSMI) and high-radiodensity skeletal muscle index (HRSMI). The average muscle radiation attenuation was also assessed. Low SMI was defined when SMI was <38.9 cm2/m2. One-year survival was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier method and Cox Regression.ResultsSarcopenia was found in 25.8% of the patients. Roughly 80% of the patients in the highest quartile of LRSMI were obese. All the skeletal muscle parameters were significantly associated with shorter 1-year survival, LRSMI presented a trend for significance in the adjusted model. When the SM parameters were additionally adjusted for low SMI, only HRSMI and LRSMI remained in the model as early-mortality predictors.ConclusionsClassifying the skeletal muscle into sub-ranges of radiodensity have an additional value than using the average muscle attenuation of the overall skeletal muscle area and should be exploited in further studies.

Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Vitamin A

According to global estimates by Canadian organization The Micronutrient Initiative, the control and eradication of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) continue to pose a challenge for researchers because some two billion individuals are affected worldwide, thus compromising socioeconomic development in affected countries. Besides being the most common cause of preventable blindness, it also has a significant impact on to the rise in morbimortality rates associated with infectious processes, given its role in the immune system [1].