Maria T. Spicer

Low-grade chronic inflammation perpetuated by modern diet as a promoter of obesity and osteoporosis

Abstract Some of the universal characteristics of pre-agricultural hominin diets are strikingly different from the modern human diet. Hominin dietary choices were limited to wild plant and wild animal foods, while the modern diet includes more than 70 % of energy consumed from refined sugars, refined vegetable oils, and highly processed cereals and dairy products. The modern diet, with higher intake of fat has also resulted in a higher ratio of omega-6 (n-6) to omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), contributing to low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) and thus promoting the development of many chronic diseases, including obesity and osteoporosis. In this review, we describe the changes in modern diet, focusing on the kind and amount of consumed fat; explain the shortcomings of the modern diet with regard to inflammatory processes; and delineate the reciprocity between adiposity and inflammatory processes, with inflammation being a common link between obesity and osteoporosis. We present the evidence that overconsumption of n-6 PUFA coupled with under-consumption of n-3 PUFA results in LGCI and, along with the increased presence of reactive oxygen species, leads to a shift in mesenchymal stem cells (precursors for both osteoblasts and adipocytes) lineage commitment toward increased adipogenesis and suppressed osteoblastogenesis. In turn, high n-6 to n-3 PUFA ratios in the modern diet, coupled with increased synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines due to adiposity, propagate obesity and osteoporosis by increasing or maintaining LGCI. Sažetak Pojedina univerzalna svojstva prehrane hominina prije pojave poljodjelstva izrazito se razlikuju od suvremene prehrane. Prehrambene navike hominina vjerojatno su bile ograničene na plodove divljeg bilja i lovinu; više od 70 % moderne prehrane odnosi se na konzumaciju rafiniranih šećera, biljnih ulja, žitarica i mliječnih prerađevina. Moderna je prehrana s višim unosom masti također dovela do nepovoljnijeg omjera omega-6 i omega-3 višestruko nezasićenih masnih kiselina (engl. krat. PUFA), koji pridonosi održavanju kronične upale niskoga stupnja, a time i nastanku mnogih kroničnih bolesti, uključujući pretilost i osteoporozu. U ovom se preglednom članku opisuju promjene uslijed modernog načina prehrane, s posebnim osvrtom na vrste i količine konzumirane masti. Također se objašnjavaju nedostatci moderne prehrane s obzirom na upalne procese te međusobna povezanost između pretilosti i upalnih procesa, koji su usto i poveznica između pretilosti i osteoporoze. U članku se iznose saznanja o tome da pretjerana konzumacija omega-6 masnih kiselina uz nedostatnu konzumaciju omega-3 masnih kiselina dovodi do kronične upale niskoga stupnja i povišenih vrijednosti reaktivnih kisikovih čestica (ROS), a time i do pomaka u mezenhimskih matičnih stanica (prekursora osteoblasta i adipocita) prema povećanoj adipogenezi i smanjenoj osteoblastogenezi. Uz povećanu sintezu upalnih citokina zbog pretilosti, moderna prehrana s nepovoljnim omjerom omega-6 i omega-3 kiselina u korist prvih nastavlja poticati pretilost i osteoporozu jer održava i pogoršava kroničnu upalu.

Effect of high-fat diet on body composition and hormone responses to glucose tolerance tests

To determine potential hormonal mediators of the effect of high-fat diets on the development of insulin resistance, blood leptin, growth hormone (GH), glucose, and insulin responses to a 2 g/kg BW oral glucose challenge were evaluated in weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats that were randomly assigned to a high-fat (HF, 39% of calories, 20% fat by weight; n=10) and moderate-fat (MF, 22% of calories, 10% fat by weight; n=10) diets. Oral glucose challenges were administered following 5, 7, and 9 wk on the feeding trial. Animals were provided diet in excess of their requirements for growth. Body mass analysis was conducted by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) on the 6th, 8th, and 10th weeks of the trial. HF animals gained more weight after 7 wk, had greater body fat than the MF animals, and similar glucose responses to the oral glucose challenges. HF rats secreted more insulin and leptin compared to MF animals. Lean body mass and serum GH and IGF-I concentrations were not different between the groups. Results of this study demonstrate that leptin but not GH or IGF-I is involved in the development of insulin resistance in growing rats as a result of excess energy intake in the form of dietary fat.

Combined whole-body vibration training and l-citrulline supplementation improves pressure wave reflection in obese postmenopausal women.

Postmenopausal women have increased wave reflection (augmentation pressure (AP) and index (AIx)) and reduced muscle function that predispose them to cardiac diseases and disability. Our aim was to examine the combined and independent effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) and l-citrulline supplementation on aortic hemodynamics and plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in postmenopausal women. Forty-one obese postmenopausal women were randomized to 3 groups: l-citrulline, WBVT+l-citrulline and WBVT+Placebo for 8 weeks. Brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, AP, AIx, AIx adjusted to 75 beats/min (AIx@75), and NOx were measured before and after 8 weeks. All groups similarly decreased (P < 0.05) brachial and aortic pressures as well as AP, and similarly increased (P < 0.05) NOx levels. AIx and AIx@75 decreased (P < 0.01) in the WBVT+l-citrulline and WBVT+Placebo groups, but not in the l-citrulline group. The improvement in AIx@75 (-10.5% ± 8.8%, P < 0.05) in the WBVT+l-citrulline group was significant compared with the l-citrulline group. l-Citrulline supplementation and WBVT alone and combined decreased blood pressures. The combined intervention reduced AIx@75. This study supports the effectiveness of WBVT+l-citrulline as a potential intervention for prevention of hypertension-related cardiac diseases in obese postmenopausal women.

Solar Drying of Mangoes: Preservation of an Important Source of Vitamin A in French-Speaking West Africa

Vitamin A deficiency, which is especially widespread among children younger than age 5 years, is a major barrier to reducing child mortality rates in French-speaking West Africa. A large amount of an indigenous plant source of provitamin A carotenoids are lost to postharvest waste. For example, the postharvest loss of mangoes in the region exceeds an annual total of 100,000 metric tons. In our study, 3.75 metric tons of fresh mangoes were dried using a solar dryer to a final moisture content of 10% to 12%, yielding a total of 360 kg dried mango. The product analysis revealed 4,000+/-500 microg beta carotene/100 g and 3,680+/-150 microg beta carotene/100 g after 2 and 6 months of storage, respectively. Thus, one greenhouse solar dryer is capable of reducing postharvest mango waste by 3.75 tons providing up to 1.15 million retinol activity equivalents of dietary vitamin A. The use of this technology that requires solar energy and manpower has the potential of increasing dietary vitamin A supply by up to 27,000-fold, compared to the currently available vitamin A in the region. Moreover, mango is a fruit that is well-liked by the population in this geographic area increasing the likelihood of its ready acceptance. Reducing postharvest loss of mangoes by using greenhouse model solar dryers is a promising strategy to help combat vitamin A deficiency in French-speaking West Africa.

Nutrition and Dysphagia in Older Adults

Swallowing disorders occur with chronic and acute medical conditions and frequently lead to nutritional deficits. Older people experience dysphagia and nutritional problems more than younger adults. Rehabilitation professionals must be aware of the potential for dysphagia and malnutrition when working with older adults and be able to identify risk factors and make appropriate referrals when necessary. Speech-language pathologists and registered dieticians play major and complementary roles in assessment and treatment of individuals with dysphagia. Dysphagia and malnutrition may lead to increased morbidity and mortality in this group and must be addressed to prevent complications and decreased functional abilities. Adequate nutrition and hydration cannot be achieved without appropriate intake for the individuals needs and unless a safe and effective method of intake can be determined. Nutritional and swallowing interventions can be implemented by all rehabilitation professionals involved with older patients with dysphagia.

Dietary advanced glycation end-products exacerbate oxidative stress in patients with diabetic foot ulcers

Abstract Background: This study examined the association between advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and serum markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic patients with or without diabetic foot

Deficiencies in Nutritional Intake in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Aims : This study examined the dietary and anthropometric components of diabetic patients with or without diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Methods : Eighty-two adult subjects were recruited in Tallahassee, FL (USA) and categorized into one of three groups: subjects without diabetes, patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) but not foot ulcers, and patients with DFU. Twenty-four hour food recalls, foot ulcer history and blood samples were collected from each subject. Dietary intake was evaluated with Food Processor. Biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured with ELISA kits. Results : DFU subjects in this study were mostly overweight or obese. DFU had inadequate intakes in protein, fiber, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and E; calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc. They had excessive intakes in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. Conclusions : Malnutrition is very common in the DM and DFU subjects. Protein and vitamin supplementation may be beneficial in prevention and management of DM as well as DFU.

The influence of green tea, caffeine, conjugated linoleic acid and branched chain amino acids on body composition and abdominal fat in overweight and obese individuals

Background Green tea, caffeine, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and branched chain amino acids (BCAA) have shown to individually improve body composition and metabolic rate in overweight and obese individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a multi-ingredient dietary supplement (MIDS) containing these ingredients on body composition, lipid profile, and metabolic rate in overweight and obese individuals.