Nutrient Intake of Women 3 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Nutritional deficiencies, especially micronutrient deficiencies, can occur in obese individuals. Surgical treatment may aggravate or cause these deficiencies, depending on the type of procedure, food intake and the use of multivitamins, minerals or other supplements. The objective of the study was to evaluate the nutrient intake of women who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. A cross-sectional, controlled study was conducted among 44 women after RYGB (operated-group, OG; mean years post-operation = 3.4) and a control group of 38 healthy women (non-operated group, NOG) matched by age and economic condition. The women reported their dietary intake using a 4-day record. The Dietary Reference Intakes was used as a reference. The macronutrient contributions to dietary energy intake presented an acceptable distribution for proteins and carbohydrates. Lipid intake was high among women in the OG and the NOG (43.2 and 55.3 %, respectively). In the evaluation of micronutrients, a statistically significant difference was observed between the groups for iron, zinc and vitamins B1 and B12. Both groups were at high risk for inadequate calcium intake, and the OG was at risk for inadequate zinc, iron and vitamin B1 intake. The nutrient intake of women who had undergone RYGB is very similar to that of non-operated women, with the exception of a reduced intake of iron, zinc and vitamins B1 and B12, which may be due to the difficulty of consuming meat and a balanced diet. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of appropriate nutritional intervention and the regular use of multivitamin and mineral supplements for these patients.

Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxant Effect of Butanolic Fraction from Caryocar brasiliense Camb. Leaves in Rat Thoracic Aorta

Caryocar brasiliense Camb. "pequi" is a native plant from the Cerrado region of Brazil that contains bioactive components reported to be antioxidant agents. Previous work has demonstrated that dietary supplementation with pequi decreased the arterial pressure of volunteer athletes. We found that the crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) of C. brasiliense leaves relaxed, in a concentration-dependent manner, rat aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine, and that the butanolic fraction (BF) produced an effect similar to that of the CHE. Aortic relaxation induced by BF was abolished by endothelium removal, by incubation of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME, or the soluble guanylatecyclase inhibitor ODQ. However, incubation with atropine and pyrilamine had no effect on the BF-induced vasorelaxation. Moreover, this effect was not inhibited by indomethacin and tetraethylammonium. The concentration-response curve to calcium in denuded-endothelium rings was not modified after incubation with BF, and the vasorelaxation by BF in endothelium-intact rings precontracted with KCl was abolished after incubation with L-NAME. In addition, administration of BF in anesthetized rats resulted in a reversible hypotension. The results reveal that C. brasiliense possesses both in vivo and in vitro activities and that the vascular effect of BF involves stimulation of the nitric oxide/cyclic GMP pathway.

Anti-atherogenic and anti-angiogenic activities of polyphenols from propolis

Propolis is a polyphenol-rich resinous substance extensively used to improve health and prevent diseases. The effects of polyphenols from different sources of propolis on atherosclerotic lesions and inflammatory and angiogenic factors were investigated in LDL receptor gene (LDLr-/-) knockout mice. The animals received a cholesterol-enriched diet to induce the initial atherosclerotic lesions (IALs) or advanced atherosclerotic lesions (AALs). The IAL or AAL animals were divided into three groups, each receiving polyphenols from either the green, red or brown propolis (250 mg/kg per day) by gavage. After 4 weeks of polyphenol treatment, the animals were sacrificed and their blood was collected for lipid profile analysis. The atheromatous lesions at the aortic root were also analyzed for gene expression of inflammatory and angiogenic factors by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. All three polyphenol extracts improved the lipid profile and decreased the atherosclerotic lesion area in IAL animals. However, only polyphenols from the red propolis induced favorable changes in the lipid profiles and reduced the lesion areas in AAL mice. In IAL groups. VCAM, MCP-1, FGF, PDGF, VEGF, PECAM and MMP-9 gene expression was down-regulated, while the metalloproteinase inhibitor TIMP-1 gene was up-regulated by all polyphenol extracts. In contrast, for advanced lesions, only the polyphenols from red propolis induced the down-regulation of CD36 and the up-regulation of HO-1 and TIMP-1 when compared to polyphenols from the other two types of propolis. In conclusion, polyphenols from propolis, particularly red propolis, are able to reduce atherosclerotic lesions through mechanisms including the modulation of inflammatory and angiogenic factors. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Therapeutic strategies for modulation of the vaginal microbiota

The vaginal microbiota of healthy women consists of a wide variety of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, dominated by the genus Lactobacillus. The activity of lactobacilli is essential to protect women from genital infections and to maintain the natural healthy balance of the vaginal ecosystem. This role is particularly important during pregnancy because vaginal infection is one of the most important mechanisms for preterm birth. The most common vaginal disorder is bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is a polymicrobial disorder, characterized by a depletion of lactobacilli and an increase in the concentration of other bacteria, including Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobic Gram-negative rods, anaerobic Gram-positive cocci, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mobiluncus spp. An integrated molecular approach based on real-time PCR and PCR-DGGE was used to investigate the effects of two different therapeutic approaches on the vaginal microbiota composition. (i) The impact of a dietary supplementation with the probiotic VSL#3, a mixture of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus strains, on the vaginal microbial ecology and immunological profiles of healthy women during late pregnancy was investigated. The intake was associated to a slight modulation of the vaginal microbiota and cytokine secretion, with potential implications in preventing preterm birth. (ii) The efficacy of different doses of the antibiotic rifaximin (100 mg/day for 5 days, 25 mg/day for 5 days, 100 mg/day for 2 days) on the vaginal microbiota of patients with BV enrolled in a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study was also evaluated. The molecular analyses demonstrated the ability of rifaximin 25 mg/day for 5 days to induce an increase of lactobacilli and a decrease of the BV-associated bacteria after antibiotic treatment, and a reduction of the complexity of the vaginal microbial communities. Thus, confirming clinical results, it represents the most effective treatment to be used in future pivotal studies for the treatment of BV.

Einfluss von Resveratrol auf oxidative DNA-Schäden und Mutagenese in vivo

Oxidative DNA-Basenmodifikationen, wie 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanin (8-oxoG), werden endogen in allen Zellen gebildet. Die beobachtbaren Spiegel ergeben sich aus dem Gleichgewicht zwischen der Bildung durch reaktive Sauerstoffspezies (ROS), sowie der gleichzeitigen Reparatur der DNA-Schäden. Durch ihr hohes mutagenes Potential, tragen oxidative DNA-Basenmodifikationen zur spontanen Mutationsrate bei. Der Ausfall wichtiger DNA-Reparaturmechanismen führt in Ogg1(-/-)Csb(-/-)-Knockout-Mäusen zu einem Anstieg von 8 oxoG und der spontanen Mutationsrate.rnIn dieser Arbeit sollte untersucht werden, ob die basalen Spiegel an oxidativen Basenmodifikationen und die spontanen Mutationsraten in vivo durch die orale Gabe von Resveratrol moduliert werden können. Resveratrol ist ein Pflanzeninhaltsstoff (u.a. aus Rotwein) mit einer Vielzahl von Wirkungen, der bereits in zahlreichen Studien ein chemopräventives Potential gezeigt hat und antioxidativ wirkt.rnAn verschiedenen Mausgenotypen wurden zum einen eine Kurzzeit-Behandlung (7 Tage mit 100 mg/kg per Gavage) und zum anderen eine Langzeit-Behandlung (3-9 Monate mit 0,04% ad libitum) mit Resveratrol durchgeführt. Die oxidativen DNA Schäden wurden in primären Maushepatozyten mit Hilfe einer modifizierten Alkalischen Elution, mit der bakteriellen Formamidopyrimidin-DNA Glykosylase als Sonde, bestimmt. Zur Analyse der Mutationsrate wurde der BigBlue® Mutationsassay mit anschließender Sequenzierung der Mutationen verwendet.rnDie Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Kurzzeit- und die Langzeit-Behandlung mit Resveratrol die basalen Spiegel oxidativer DNA-Basenmodifikationen senken. Die Reduktion ist jeweils wesentlich ausgeprägter in den reparaturdefizienten Ogg1(-/-)Csb(-/-)-Mäusen zu erkennen. Auch die spontane Mutationsrate wird durch eine mehrmonatige Behandlung mit Resveratrol um ungefähr 20-30% reduziert.rnAnschließende mechanistische Untersuchungen zeigten, dass dieser Schutz wahrscheinlich auf einer Induktion der antioxidativen Schutzmechanismen begründet ist. So wurde gefunden, dass primäre Hepatozyten aus mit Resveratrol behandelten Mäusen wesentlich besser gegen exogen herbeigeführten oxidativen Stress geschützt sind, als Hepatozyten von unbehandelten Tieren. Ein weiterer Hinweis ist die Hochregulation der mRNA-Spiegel von verschiedenen antioxidativen Schutzenzymen, wie Superoxiddismutase 1 / 2, Hämoxygenase 1, Glutathionperoxidase 1, nach der Gabe von Resveratrol in Mäuselebern. Außerdem sind die oxidativen Markermutationen (GC->TA-Transversionen) stärker von der Reduktion der spontanen Mutationsrate betroffen, als andere Mutationen (z.B. GC->AT-Transitionen).rnDie Ergebnisse zeigen erstmalig, dass spontane Mutationen in vivo durch Fremdstoffe in der Nahrung reduziert werden können. Im Falle von Resveratrol wird diese Reduktion wahrscheinlich durch eine Stimulation der antioxidativen Schutzmechanismen ausgelöst.rn

Effects of different nutritional strategies on intestinal inflammation in pigs

Intestinal health is essential for the health of the body since the gastro-intestinal mucosa is the main site of interaction with the external environment, as well as the major area colonized by the microbiota. Intestinal health relies on proper barrier function, epithelial integrity and related mechanisms of protection (mucous layer, tight junctions, immune and inflammatory system). In pigs, during the weaning transition, intestinal inflammation and barrier integrity play a crucial role in regulating intestinal health and, consequently, pig’s health, growth and productivity. The aim of the project was to assess the impact of different nutritional strategies on the intestinal health of weaning piglets with reference to the inflammatory status and epithelial integrity. Therefore, in vivo trials were conducted to test the in-feed supplementation with zinc, tributyrin, or organic acids and nature-identical compounds (NIC) to weaning piglets. All the dietary interventions positively impacted the intestinal inflammatory status and, as a consequence, improved epithelial integrity by modulating tight junctions proteins (zinc or tributyrin) or by enhancing barrier properties measured with Ussing chambers (organic acids and NIC). These findings highlight that intestinal inflammation and barrier function are strictly linked, and that the control of inflammation is essential for adequate barrier function. In addition, in zinc trial and organic acids and NIC trial, better intestinal health could successfully result in better growth performance, as aimed for pig production improvement. To conclude, this work shows that dietary supplementation with bio-active substances such as zinc, tributyrin or organic acids and NIC may improve intestinal health of weaning piglets modulating intestinal inflammatory stress and barrier integrity and allowing better piglet’s health, growth and productivity.

Effects of probiotic bacteria in dogs with food responsive diarrhoea treated with an elimination diet

We evaluated whether a probiotic supplementation in dogs with food responsive diarrhoea (FRD) has beneficial effects on intestinal cytokine patterns and on microbiota. Twenty-one client-owned dogs with FRD were presented for clinically needed duodeno- and colonoscopy and were enrolled in a prospective placebo (PL)-controlled probiotic trial. Intestinal tissue samples and faeces were collected during endoscopy. Intestinal mRNA abundance of interleukin (IL)-5, -10, -12p40 and -13, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta1 and interferon (IFN)-gamma were analysed and numbers of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae and supplemented probiotic bacteria were determined in faeces. The Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index, a scoring system comprising general attitude, appetite, faecal consistency, defecation frequency, and vomitus, decreased in all dogs (p < 0.0001). Duodenal IL-10 mRNA levels decreased (p = 0.1) and colonic IFN-gamma mRNA levels increased (p = 0.08) after probiotic treatment. Numbers of Enterobacteriaceae decreased in FRD dogs receiving probiotic cocktail (FRD(PC)) and FRD dogs fed PL (FRD(PL)) during treatment (p < 0.05), numbers of Lactobacillus spp. increased in FRD(PC after) when compared with FRD(PC before) (p < 0.1). One strain of PC was detected in five of eight FRD(PC) dogs after probiotic supplementation. In conclusion, all dogs clinically improved after treatment, but cytokine patterns were not associated with the clinical features irrespective of the dietary supplementation.

Conservative treatment of asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis

This review article summarizes the currently available (poor) evidence of conservative treatment of asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis in the literature and adds the authors' experience with the particular technique. The use of dietary supplementation, viscosupplementation, platelet-rich plasma, nonsteroidal anti-inflammotory drugs, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, shoe modifications and orthoses, and patient's education in asymmetric ankle osteoarthritis is outlined. There definitively is a place for conservative treatment with reasonable success in patients whose ankles do not qualify anymore for joint-preserving surgery and in patients with medical or orthopedic contraindications for realignment surgery, total ankle replacement, and ankle arthrodesis.

Herbivory in Spiders: The Importance of Pollen for Orb-Weavers

Orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae) are commonly regarded as generalist insect predators but resources provided by plants such as pollen may be an important dietary supplementation. Their webs snare insect prey, but can also trap aerial plankton like pollen and fungal spores. When recycling their orb webs, the spiders may therefore also feed on adhering pollen grains or fungal spores via extraoral digestion. In this study we measured stable isotope ratios in the bodies of two araneid species (Aculepeira ceropegia and Araneus diadematus), their potential prey and pollen to determine the relative contribution of pollen to their diet. We found that about 25% of juvenile orb-weaving spiders’ diet consisted of pollen, the other 75% of flying insects, mainly small dipterans and hymenopterans. The pollen grains in our study were too large to be taken up accidentally by the spiders and had first to be digested extraorally by enzymes in an active act of consumption. Therefore, pollen can be seen as a substantial component of the spiders’ diet. This finding suggests that these spiders need to be classified as omnivores rather than pure carnivores.

Lowering blood homocysteine with folic acid based supplements: meta-analysis of randomised trials

Objective: To determine the size of reduction in homocysteine concentrations produced by dietary supplementation with folic acid and with vitamins B-12 or B-6.

Safranal, a saffron constituent, attenuates retinal degeneration in P23H rats

Saffron, an extract from Crocus sativus, has been largely used in traditional medicine for its antiapoptotic and anticarcinogenic properties. In this work, we investigate the effects of safranal, a component of saffron stigmas, in attenuating retinal degeneration in the P23H rat model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. We demonstrate that administration of safranal to homozygous P23H line-3 rats preserves both photoreceptor morphology and number. Electroretinographic recordings showed higher a- and b-wave amplitudes under both photopic and scotopic conditions in safranal-treated versus non-treated animals. Furthermore, the capillary network in safranal-treated animals was preserved, unlike that found in untreated animals. Our findings indicate that dietary supplementation with safranal slows photoreceptor cell degeneration and ameliorates the loss of retinal function and vascular network disruption in P23H rats. This work also suggests that safranal could be potentially useful to retard retinal degeneration in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Diabetes mellitus and serum carotenoids: findings of a population-based study in Queensland, Australia

Background: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that serum carotenoids are potent antioxidants and may play a protective role in the development of chronic diseases including cancers, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory diseases. The role of these antioxidants in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus remains unclear. Objective: This study examined data from a cross-sectional survey to investigate the association between serum carotenoids and type 2 diabetes. Design: Study participants were adults aged >= 25 y (n = 1597) from 6 randomly selected cities and towns in Queensland, Australia. Study examinations conducted between October and December 2000 included fasting plasma glucose, an oral-glucose-tolerance test, and measurement of the serum concentrations of 5 carotenoid compounds. Results: Mean 2-h postload plasma glucose and fasting insulin concentrations decreased significantly with increasing quintiles of the 5 serum carotenoids-alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene. Geometric mean concentrations for all serum carotenoids decreased (all decreases were significant except that of lycopene) with declining glucose tolerance status. beta-Carotene had the greatest decrease, to geometric means of 0.59, 0.50, and 0.42 mu mol/L in persons with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose metabolism, and type 2 diabetes, respectively (P < 0.01 for linear trend), after control for potential confounders. Conclusions: Serum carotenoids are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism. Randomized trials of diets high in carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruit are needed to confirm these results and those from other observational studies. Such evidence would have very important implications for the prevention of diabetes.

alpha-tocopherol and alpha-lipoic acid enhance the erythrocyte antioxidant defence in cyclosporine A-treated rats

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and alpha-lipoic acid on cyclosporine A (cyclosporine)-induced alterations to erythrocyte and plasma redox balance. Rats were randomly assigned to either control, antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol 1000 IU/kg diet and alpha-lipoic acid 1.6 g/kg diet), cyclosporine (25 mg/kg/day), or cyclosporine + antioxidant treatments. Cyclosporine was administered for 7 days after an 8 week feeding period. Plasma was analysed for alpha-tocopherol, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and creatinine. Erythrocytes were analysed for glutathione, methaemoglobin, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, alpha-tocopherol and malondialdehye. Cyclosporine administration caused a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05 control versus cyclosporine) and this was improved by antioxidant supplementation (P < 0.05 cyclosporine versus cyclosporine + antioxidant; P < 0.05 control versus cyclosporine + antioxidant). Animals receiving cyclosporine and antioxidants showed significantly increased (P < 0.05) catalase activity compared to both groups not receiving cyclosporine. Cyclosporine administration induced significant increases in plasma malondialdehyde and creatinine concentration (P < 0.05 control versus cyclosporine). Antioxidant supplementation prevented the cyclosporine induced increase in plasma creatinine (P < 0.05 cyclosporine versus cyclosporine + antioxidant; P > 0.05 control versus cyclosporine + antioxidant), however, supplementation did not alter the cyclosporine induced increase in plasma malondialdehyde concentration (P > 0.05 cyclosporine versus cyclosporine + antioxidant). Antioxidant supplementation resulted in significant increases (P < 0.05) in plasma and erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol in both of the supplemented groups compared to non-supplemented groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and alpha-lipoic acid enhanced the erythrocyte antioxidant defence and reduced nephrotoxicity in cyclosporine treated animals.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation in Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder which has been characterised with genetic (apolipoproteins), protein (ß-amyloid and tau) and lipid oxidation/metabolism alterations in its pathogenesis. In conjunction with the Dementia Research Group, Bristol University, investigation into genetic, protein and lipid oxidation in Alzheimer’s disease was conducted. A large sample cohort using the double-blind criteria, along with various clinical and chemical data sets were used to improve the statistical analysis and therefore the strength of this particular study. Bristol University completed genetic and protein analysis with lipid oxidation assays performed at Aston University. Lipid oxidation is a complex process that creates various biomarkers, from transient intermediates, to short carbon chain products and cyclic ring structures. Quantification of these products was performed on lipid extracts of donated clinical diseased and non-diseased frontal and temporal brain regions, from the Brain Bank within Frenchay Hospital. The initial unoxidised fatty acids, first transient oxidation intermediates the conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxides, the endpoint aldehyde biomarkers and finally the cyclic isoprostanes and neuroprostanes were determined to investigate lipid oxidation in Alzheimer’s. Antioxidant levels were also investigated to observe the effect of oxidation on the defence pathways. Assays utilised in this analysis included; fatty acid composition by GC-FID, conjugated diene levels by HPLC-UV and UV-spec, lipid hydroperoxide levels by FOX, aldehyde content by TBARs, antioxidant status by TEAC and finally isoprostane and neuroprostane quantification using a newly developed EI-MS method. This method involved the SIM of specific ions from F-ring isoprostane and neuroprostane fragmentation, which enabled EI-MS to be used for their quantification. Analyses demonstrated that there was no significant difference between control and Alzheimer samples across all the oxidation biomarkers for both brain regions. Antioxidants were the only marker that showed a clear variance; with Alzheimer samples having higher levels than the age matched controls. This unique finding is supported with the observed lower levels of lipid oxidation biomarkers in Alzheimer brain region samples. The increased antioxidant levels indicate protection against oxidation which may be a host response to counteract the oxidative pathways, but this requires further investigation. In terms of lipid oxidation, no definitive markers or target site for therapeutic intervention have been revealed. This study concludes that dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids or antioxidants would most likely be ineffective against Alzheimer disease, although it may support improvement in other areas of general health.