Yeong Rhee

Flaxseed supplementation improved insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people: a randomized crossover design

BackgroundObesity leads to an increase in inflammation and insulin resistance. This study determined antioxidant activity of flaxseed and its role in inflammation and insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people.MethodsUsing a randomized crossover design, nine obese glucose intolerant people consumed 40 g ground flaxseed or 40 g wheat bran daily for 12 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Plasma inflammation biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6), glucose, insulin, and thiobaribituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were measured before and after of each supplementation.ResultsFlaxseed supplementation decreased TBARS (p = 0.0215) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.0382). Flaxseed or wheat bran supplementation did not change plasma inflammatory biomarkers. A positive relationship was found between TBARS and HOMA-IR (r = 0.62, p = 0.0003).ConclusionsThe results of the study weakly support that decreased insulin resistance might have been secondary to antioxidant activity of flaxseed. However, the mechanism(s) of decreased insulin resistance by flaxseed should be further determined using flaxseed lignan.

Flaxseed Lignan Increased Glucose Uptake by Human Red Blood Cells

The objective of this study was to determine if flaxseed lignan (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, SDG) would improve glucose uptake by human red blood cells (RBCs). To measure glucose uptake of RBCs, the RBCs were pretreated, in vitro, with SDG (0, 10, 50, or 100 � M) and then were incubated with or without insulin (100 � U/ml). After incubation, 3-O-( 3 H-Methyl)-D-glucose uptake by the RBCs was measured. RBCs pretreated with 50 or 100 � M SDG showed an increase in glucose uptake compared to control (0 � M SDG) or RBCs pretreated with 10 � M SDG (p<0.0001). In addition, glucose uptake was increased in RBCs with insulin stimulation compared to RBCs without insulin stimulation (p<0.0001). An interaction between SDG and insulin was also observed (p<0.0001). Pretreatment of RBCs with SDG (50 or 100 μM) and insulin increased glucose uptake compared to those without insulin stimulation (p<0.0001). The results indicate potential beneficial effects of SDG on glycemic control by increasing glucose uptake of RBCs.

Celiac Disease and the Gluten-free Diet: Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Self-reported Knowledge Varies

Background: Adherence to the gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease (CD) and some patients report lack of expertise among registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Objective: To measure RDN self-reported celiac disease (CD) knowledge and preferences for resources for self-education and patient education. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to recruit RDNs from participating state affiliates Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Montana, Nebraska, and North Dakota in 2013. A 35 item internet-based survey was distributed via Survey Monkey and included Likert scale questions based on a previous RDN allergy survey. Demographic and gluten-free diet and CD multiple-choice questions were also included. Results: Four-hundred and five registered dietitians (RDNs) who volunteered from the seven participating affiliates responded to the survey. Chi-squares were used to determine frequencies and differences in responses per variable. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to determine the correlation of age, education level, years of practice, or number of CD patients seen per week and CD self-reported knowledge. RDNs reported either moderate or high levels of knowledge for all seven self-reported knowledge topics. Over 85% of RDNs selected correct answers for five CD knowledge questions. Professional and academic publications were the most commonly used resources by RDNs for self-education whereas handouts were the most commonly used resource by RDNs for patient education. Conclusion: RDNs may need more reinforcement on identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies of CD management.

Minimal impact of nutrition education and fruit and vegetable consumption on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Aims: To determine the effectiveness of a community-based fruit and vegetable education program and provision of fruits and vegetables on consumption of fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, and changes in biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress among overweight and obese adults. Study Design: Randomized controlled design. Place and Duration of Study: North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota; 14 weeks. Methodology: Forty-seven adults (31 women; 45.9 ± 11.8 y; body mass index 32.7 kg/m 2 ) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups. The control group received no intervention, the education group attended weekly nutrition education lessons, the fruit and vegetable group attended weekly nutrition education lessons and received one serving of fruits and two servings of vegetables per day for 10 weeks. Fasting blood was drawn and consumption of fruits, vegetables, Original Research Article Wagner et al.; EJNFS, 5(3): 179-189, 2015; Article no.EJNFS.2015.017 180 and antioxidants was assessed using three-day food records. Results: Increased consumption of fruit from preto post-test was indicated among fruit and vegetable group participants, P = .01, and among education group participants, although this difference was not significant, P = .11. In contrast, a significant decrease in fruit servings consumed from preto post-test for control group participants was observed, P = .02. Vegetable consumption was the same for control group participants, decreased by 0.3 serving among education group participants, and increased by 0.4 serving among fruit and vegetable group participants. No significant differences in plasma TNF-α, TBARS, or CRP concentrations from preto post-test were indicated among the three groups, although the largest decrease was observed among fruit and vegetable group participants, P = .07. Conclusion: Changes in fruit and vegetable consumption among participants were minimally associated with improvements in inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers. Adequate and varied fruit and vegetable consumption is recommended to aid in the prevention and regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress.