Paula Perris

Inflammatory biomarker profile in children with cystic fibrosis: preliminary study

The aim of this preliminary study was to determine specific proteins, related to inflammation process and nutritional status as well as to total antioxidant capacity, in children suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). The study was performed on 17 nonhospitalized children (12 boys and 5 girls) with CF aged 3 months to 10 years, who were assisted at the Nutrition Service from Pedro de Elizalde Hospital. Transferrin, transthyretin, ceruloplasmin (Cp), haptoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were measured by single radial immunodiffusion techniques. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was determined by a decolorization assay. Statistical analyses were performed by the Students t test. Transferrin and transthyretin values were lower in CF patients in comparison with data obtained from healthy children (reference group, RG). The decreased transferrin concentration and the tendency towards low plasma transthyretin values suggested an abnormal nutritional status. However, higher Cp and haptoglobin levels were shown in patients than in RG. The fact that 23 and 50% of patients exceeded the desirable values for fibrinogen (<285.0 mg/dl) and CRP (<0.2 mg/dl), respectively, should be highlighted. The TAC (mM; Trolox equivalents) was shown to be lower in the CF group than in RG. The diminished TAC concomitant with an increased plasma Cp concentration would exacerbate the inflammatory status and could explain the depression of the immune system. These preliminary results could explain the need to include biochemical and functional parameters in the early nutritional status evaluation in CF patients in order to use appropriate nutritional and pharmacological therapies and consequently to improve their survival and quality of life.

Dietas con diferentes fuentes lipídicas: su efecto en el perfil de ácidos grasos séricos de la rata

El perfil de lipidos de una dieta es importante para prevenir enfermedades cronicas y mejorar la calidad de vida de los individuos. Objetivo: estudiar el efecto de dietas con diferentes fuentes y concentraciones lipidicas sobre el perfil de acidos grasos en suero de ratas en periodo de crecimiento activo. Las dietas experimentales, contenian 15 y 40 Kcal% de lipidos aportados por: manteca (M); aceite de oliva (O); aceite de girasol alto oleico (AO) y aceite de girasol (G). El control recibio dieta normocalorica (fuente lipidica: aceite de soja). Los grupos M, O y AO presentaron un aumento en los niveles sericos del acido oleico, con disminucion de los acidos grasos esenciales (AGE) con respecto al grupo C. Estos resultados se observan independientemente del F% de la dieta. El grupo G muestra aumento de acido linoleico solo cuando el F% de la dieta fue 40. La administracion de estas dietas provoco cambios en el perfil de acidos grasos en suero en respuesta a las diferentes fuentes aportadas por las dietas, solo algunos cambios observados en el grupo G fueron tambien en respuesta al alto porcentaje de grasa

Effects of high-fat diets from different sources on serum and thymus lipid profile: study in an experimental model.

BACKGROUND A balanced diet is important to maintain an optimal health status and to prevent noncommunicable chronic diseases. The principal objective of this study was to analyze the effect of diets containing high fat levels from different sources, on serum and thymus lipid profile, in adult rats. METHODS Experimental diets contained 50% kcal of fat, provided by butter (B) or sunflower oil (S); control diet (C) was isocaloric, with 15 kcal of fat per 100 total kcal, provided by soy oil. Diets were otherwise complete in all nutrients and were administered for 40 days. RESULTS Group B had higher levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides than C; S serum lipid profile did not differ from C, despite the higher fat content. Regarding serum and thymus FA profile, B showed an increase of saturated fatty acids and lower levels of ω6 and ω3 FA, and S had lower levels of ω3 fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS The administration of high-fat diets, during 40 days to adult rats, provoked specific variations on serum and thymus fatty acids, as a consequence of differences in FA profile of their lipid sources. These results reflect the impact that eating habits have on health status. It is important to put emphasis not only on the reduction of total fat intake, but also on choosing healthy sources of fat, replacing saturated fatty acids by polyunsaturated and including oils with higher content of ω3 to keep a balanced ω6/ω3 ratio.

ADENOSINA DEAMINASA: SU RESPUESTA ANTE DESEQUILIBRIOS NUTRICIONALES

Se ha demostrado que el estres nutricional provoca incremento en la actividad de adenosina deaminasa en timo de rata y ademas aumenta su actividad en el suero y otros fluidos biologicos de pacientes inmunocompro-metidos. En este estudio se analizo si la determinacion de la actividad de ADA en suero podria considerarse parametro bioquimico funcional en el seguimiento de poblaciones en riesgo nutricional. Se estudiaron mujeres con anorexia nerviosa (AN, 14-32 anos) y ninos obesos de ambos sexos (O, 5-13 anos). La actividad de ADA se determino por el metodo de Giusti y Galante. Los resultados se compararon con controles de igual edad. Los resultados (X±DE (UI/L)) fueron AN: 25.7±8.2* vs. 21.0±4.6 y O: 27.1±9.1*vs. 23.0±5.6 (*p<0.02). Estos hallazgos, avalarian la hipotesis surgida de estudios previos, de proponer la determinacion de la actividad serica de ADA, como un indicador funcional relacionado con los mecanismos de defensa en los estudios de nutricion