Long-term leucine supplementation reduces fat mass gain without changing body protein status of aging rats

Objective: Aging is characterized by alterations in body composition such as an increase in body fat and decreases in muscle mass (sarcopenia) and bone density (osteopenia). Leucine supplementation has been shown to acutely stimulate protein synthesis and to decrease body fat. However, the long-term effect of consistent leucine supplementation is not well defined. This study investigated the effect of leucine supplementation during aging. Methods: Six-month-old rats were divided into three groups: an adult group (n = 10) euthanized at 6 mo of age, a leucine group (n = 16) that received a diet supplemented with 4% leucine for 40 wk, and a control group (n = 19) that received the control diet for 40 wk. The following parameters were evaluated: body weight, food intake, chemical carcass composition, indicators of acquired chronic diseases, and indicators of protein nutritional status. Results: Body weight and fat were lower in the leucine group after 40 wk of supplementation compared with the control group but still higher than in the adult group. The lipid and glycemic profiles were equally altered in the control and leucine groups because of aging. In addition, leucine supplementation did not affect the changes in protein status parameters associated with aging, such as decreases in body and muscle protein and total serum protein. Conclusion: The results indicate that leucine supplementation attenuates body fat gain during aging but does not affect risk indicators of acquired chronic diseases. Furthermore, supplemented animals did not show signs of a prevention of the decrease in lean mass associated with aging. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dental caries associated factors in 12 year-old schoolchildren from a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Objective To analyze the possible association between dental caries, fluorosis and the need for treatment in 12 year-old schoolchildren and the socioeconomic conditions of parents/guardians in the city of Franca, in the state of São Paulo. Methods A random sample of schoolchildren aged 12 was obtained from the school records in Franca, using a systematic random technique. The epidemiological survey was carried out by a single calibrated examiner, on 258 public and private schoolchildren in order to obtain the prevalence of dental caries, the need for treatment and the severity of dental fluorosis. Parents/guardians were also interviewed to assess their socioeconomic conditions (education and per capita income). We used multiple correlation analysis to investigate associations between category variables. Results It was possible to identify two distinct groups, with associations between the variables: the first group, represented by schoolchildren with average prevalence of caries, need for treatment, low level of parental education and income; and a second group represented by schoolchildren with low prevalence of caries, no need for treatment, high parental education and income. The two dimensions explained approximately 35% of total inertia. The factors within each group are related. Conclusion High income and parental education are associated with the low prevalence of dental caries but there is no association with dental fluorosis.