L Iacopino

Fat-free mass by bioelectrical impedance vs dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Body composition (BC) assessment is a useful tool for a careful evaluation of nutrition status. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a safe, low-cost and reliable method for BC assessment. For epidemiological and clinical research in children, paediatric-age specific formula for fat-free mass (FFM) prediction from BIA is needed. Thus, in 35 children (age 7.7-13.0 years) with different levels of body fatness (relative weight for age 70.6-133.8%), FFM was calculated from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A regression equation from BIA and DXA data was elaborated. The impedance index (ZI = height2/bioelectrical impedance) was the strongest predictor of FFM, explaining 89% of its variance. However, the variance increased to 96% when body weight was added with ZI in the regression model. No variable, including sex and age, contributed to the prediction of FFM in the presence of ZI and body weight. The regression formula [FFM = 2.330 + 0.588 ZI (cm2/omega) + 0.211 Weight (kg) (r = 0.96, SEE = 1.0 kg)], allows a reliable prediction of FFM in children from body impedance values.

Physical activity energy expenditure measured using a portable telemetric device in comparison with a mass spectrometer

Background: Several studies have evaluated the accuracy of portable metabolic gas analysis systems, which measure physical activity energy expenditure. Since the Cosmed K2 telemetric system, two K4 devices (RQ and b2) have been developed. Objective: To compare measurements using the Cosmed K4 RQ with measurements by a traditional method (mass spectrometer) for a sample of healthy subjects performing physical exercise of various intensities. Methods: Nine healthy male footballers (mean (SD) age 18.3 (2.2) years) performed an incremental exercise running test from 8 km/h to exhaustion, with an increase of 2 km/h for each level of the test protocol. The expired air was collected simultaneously using the Cosmed K4 RQ and Airspec QP9000 mass spectrometer. Oxygen consumption (Vo2) and carbon dioxide production (Vco2) were measured at rest and at each exercise intensity. Results: No significant differences were found between Vo2 and Vco2 measured by the two instruments, at rest or during exercise. Conclusions: The application of the Cosmed K4 RQ system for Vo2 and Vco2 measurements at rest and during both submaximal and maximal exercise may be of interest to sport physiologists, nutritionists, and doctors.

Intake of Red Wine in Different Meals Modulates Oxidized LDL Level, Oxidative and Inflammatory Gene Expression in Healthy People: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Several studies have found that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, including consumption of red wine, is associated with beneficial effects on oxidative and inflammatory conditions. We evaluate the outcome of consumption of a McDonalds Meal (McD) and a Mediterranean Meal (MM), with and without the additive effect of red wine, in order to ascertain whether the addition of the latter has a positive impact on oxidized (ox-) LDL and on expression of oxidative and inflammatory genes. A total of 24 subjects were analyzed for ox-LDL, CAT, GPX1, SOD2, SIRT2, and CCL5 gene expression levels, before and after consumption of the 4 different meal combinations with washout intervals between each meal. When red wine is associated with McD or MM, values of ox-LDL are lowered (P < 0.05) and expression of antioxidant genes is increased, while CCL5 expression is decreased (P < 0.05). SIRT2 expression after MM and fasting with red wine is significantly correlated with downregulation of CCL5 and upregulation of CAT (P < 0.001). GPX1 increased significantly in the comparison between baseline and all conditions with red wine. We highlighted for the first time the positive effect of red wine intake combined with different but widely consumed meal types on ox-LDL and gene expression. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01890070.

Body composition changes after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: what is the role of -174G>C interleukin-6 promoter gene polymorphism in the therapeutic strategy?

Background:There is growing evidence that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is linked to the regulation of fat mass (FM). Our previous data define the common −174G>C IL-6 polymorphism as a marker for ‘vulnerable’ individuals at risk of age- and obesity-related diseases. An association between −174G>C IL-6 polymorphism and weight loss after bariatric surgery has been demonstrated.Objective:We investigated the impact of −174G>C IL-6 polymorphism on weight loss, body composition, fluid distribution and cardiometabolic changes in obese subjects, after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) surgery.Design and Outcome measures:A total of 40 obese subjects were studied at baseline and at 6 months follow-up after LAGB surgery. Cardiometabolic and genetic assessment of −174G>C IL-6 polymorphism, anthropometric, body composition and fluid distribution analysis were performed.Results:After LAGB surgery, significant reductions in weight (Δ%=−11.66±7.78, P<0.001), body mass index (P<0.001), total and trunk FM (kg, %) (Δ% of total FM=−22.22±12.15, P<0.01), bone mineral density (T-score) (P<0.001), resting metabolic rate (RMR) (P<0.01), and total body water and intracellular water (TBW, ICW) (P<0.05) were observed. At baseline, C(−) carriers of IL-6 polymorphism had a significantly higher RMR (P<0.05), free FM (kg), but less total and trunk FM (%), higher body cell mass (BCM), content of TBW (L) and ECW (extracellular water)/ICW ratio compared with C(+) carriers (P<0.001). After LAGB, C(+) carriers had a significantly stronger reduction of total FM (kg), but lower bone density, compared with C(−) carriers (P<0.05).Conclusions:Beyond the relationship between −174G>C IL-6 polymorphism and body composition, this study provides first evidence about the association of IL-6 variant with fluid distribution, at baseline, and FM and bone density loss in obese subjects at 6 months follow-up after LAGB surgery. LAGB was less effective if the subjects were carrying risk genotypes, C(−) carriers, for obesity, suggesting a role of genetic variations on bariatric surgery outcomes.

Association between −308 G/A TNF-α Polymorphism and Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index as a Marker of Sarcopenia in Normal Weight Obese Syndrome

Background and Aim. Normal weight obese (NWO) syndrome is characterized by normal body mass index (BMI), but high amount of fat mass and reduced lean mass. We evaluated allelic frequency of the G/A −308 TNF-α polymorphism and prevalence of sarcopenia in NWO. Methods. We enrolled 120 Italian healthy women, distinguished into 3 groups: normal weight (NW); NWO, and preobese-obese (PreOB/OB) and evaluated anthropometric parameters, body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry, blood tests, and genotyping of G/A −308 TNF-α polymorphism. Results. We found a positive association between sarcopenic obesity and −308 TNF-α polymorphism. All obese women were sarcopenic and were no carrier of mutation (G/G). Among all G/G, NWO showed significant differences in lean mass and total body lean mass (TBLean) with respect to NW and PreOB/OB (P < 0.001). Regarding appendicular skeletal muscle mass index values, 4.21% of NW were sarcopenic (50% G/G and 50% G/A); the same percentage was observed in NWO subjects (100% G/G). Moreover, 2.10% of PreOB/OB were sarcopenic and all were G/G. Conclusion. Our study suggests that TNF-α polymorphism contributes to sarcopenic obesity susceptibility, in association with body composition. This is the first study that shows the importance of TNF-α polymorphism to determine TBLean variation in NWO syndrome.

A new predictive equation for evaluating women body fat percentage and obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk.

BackgroundObesity represents a global public health problem due to its association with cardiovascular diseases and reduced lifespan. The most widely used classification of obesity is expressed as Body Mass Index (BMI); however, this formula is an imprecise adiposity measurement that ignores several important factors involved. Body Adiposity Index (BAI) was more recently proposed as an indirect evaluation of percentage body fat (PBF). PBF is a direct measure of person’s relative body fat and a better predictor of obesity-related risk diseases than BMI and BAI. Since obesity and consequent diseases are considered epidemic, new accurate formulas for epidemiological studies are of interest to the scientific community. Because direct measurement of body composition could be quite expensive, the aims of our work were to analyse the distributions of PBF by Dual X-ray absorptiometry, and the creation of new predictive equation using only anthropometric measures that could be helpful to clinicians to assess easily body fat of female patients.Methods/resultsA sample of 1,031 Caucasian Italian women was recruited and BMI, BAI and PBF were evaluated. With the aim of developing a predictive model of PBF a multivariate regression model was fitted to observed data.ConclusionsThe definition of universally recognized PBF by gender and age could have public health implications. In this study, we developed a new predictive PBF equation that does not require the use of medical instruments or skilled measurement techniques and that may be easily applicable to Italian women.

Impact of the −174 G > C IL-6 Polymorphism on Bioelectrical Parameters in Obese Subjects after Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Background. Recent data demonstrated that the −174 G > C IL-6 polymorphism may account for differences in the therapeutic response to laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) surgery. Objective. We investigated the impact of −174 G > C IL-6 polymorphism on weight loss, body composition, and fluid distribution changes in obese subjects after LAGB. Design and Outcome Measures. Twenty obese subjects were selected and studied at baseline and 3 months after LAGB. Genetic assessment of −174 G > C IL-6 polymorphism and anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analysis were performed. Results. At baseline, C(+) carriers had a lower extracellular water (ECW) and higher intra-CW, phase angle (PA), reactance Xc, and Xc/height. LAGB surgery determined significant reductions in weight and BMI. After LAGB, in C(−) carriers, significant decreases in weight, BMI, and ECW and increases in BCM, BCMI, ICW, PA, and Xc/H were highlighted. In C(+) carriers, significant reductions in weight, BMI, ICW, and PA and increases in ECW, Na/K, resistance (R), and R/height were obtained. Significant higher reductions in BMI and Xc/H were observed in C(+) with respect to C(−) carriers. Conclusions. Genotyping of genetic variants, for example, the −174 G > C polymorphism of IL-6, gives the opportunity to predict therapeutic response, in terms of body composition outcomes after LAGB.

Use of foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis in children

Abstract.The aim of this study was to compare two methods of measuring body composition in children aged 6–10 years: with a traditional bioelectrical impedance analyser and a foot-to-foot impedance device. In 117 subjects (55 girls, 62 boys), bioelectrical impedance was measured using a Xitron 4000 device and a foot-to-foot impedance instrument (Rowenta); body fat mass and fat-free mass were then calculated and comparisons between means were performed using appropriate statistical tests.