Relationship between Dietary Fatty Acid Intake with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Fibrosis in People with HIV.

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between food intake of lipids with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and/or liver fibrosis in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In this cross-sectional study, transient elastography was used to detect the presence of NAFLD and/or liver fibrosis. The dietary intake of fats and fatty acids (FA) were assessed by two 24 h dietary recalls (24-HDR) (n = 451). Multivariate logistic regression models were performed. Participants with higher intake of total fat were associated with higher odds for NAFLD compared to those with lower consumption [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.91 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.06-3.44)]. Furthermore, participants with intermediate intake of n6-PUFA (n6-poly-unsaturated FA) and lauric FA had lower odds for NAFLD, respectively aOR = 0.54 (95% CI 0.3-0.98) and aOR = 0.42 (95% CI 0.22-0.78). Additionally, a higher intake of myristoleic FA (fourth quartile) was a significant protective factor for NAFLD [aOR = 0.56 (95% CI 0.32-0.99)]. Participants with higher intake of lauric FA [0.38 (95% CI 0.18-0.80)], myristic FA [0.38 (0.17-0.89)], palmitoleic FA [0.40 (0.19-0.82)] and oleic FA [0.35 (0.16-0.79)] had positively less odds of having liver fibrosis. On the other hand, higher intake of n-6 PUFA was significantly associated with fibrosis [aOR = 2.45 (95% CI 1.12-5.32)]. Dietary assessment of total fat and FA should be incorporated into HIV care as a tool for preventing NAFLD and fibrosis in PLWHA.

Nutritional status of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 patients: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The nutritional status of people with human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) infection has been poorly described because it involves a neglected disease. The few studies that have been conducted mostly involve people with neurologic consequences and the possible clinical evolutions of the disease. The aim of this study was to describe the nutritional status of patients with HTLV-1, including those with associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, and to evaluate food security in these patients. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in people with HTLV-1 admitted to a referral hospital. We collected data from 17 medical records, including anthropometric data (i.e., body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and mid-arm muscle circumference), laboratory test results (i.e., haemoglobin, haematocrit, albumin, globulin, iron fixation capacity, and iron), the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) method, and food security (Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale) data. The data were analysed using the R-project software. To evaluate possible associations between the outcomes and predictors (age at hospitalisation, food security, presence of children <18 years of age living in the household, income, schooling, ANSG, BMI, difference between ideal weight and hospitalisation, TSF, MUAC ICU days, hospitalisation outcome, rehospitalisation in the first year after discharge, interval between readmissions, death, associated conditions, constipation upon admission), we used Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Fisher's exact, chi-square tests with continuity correction, and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Hypothesis tests were considered statistically significant when p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57 (52-60) years. The patients were predominantly women (59%) and had an income lower than the local minimum wage with at least 6 years of schooling (52.3%). Only 18.2% of patients were eutrophic according to their BMI and 23.5% of patients were malnourished based on the SGA method. Patients predominantly had food security (64.7%) and good intestinal functions (64.7%) during their hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Despite having a limited number of patients in this study, HTLV-1 patients admitted to hospital are at high risk of malnutrition based on the scores from the SGA method.

A protocol update for the Selenium Treatment and Chagasic Cardiomyopathy (STCC) trial.

Several studies evaluating clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease show that about one-third of patients present cardiac involvement. Heart failure, sudden death and cardioembolic stroke are the main mechanisms of death in Chagas heart disease. The impact of specific etiologic treatment on the prognosis of patients with chronic Chagas heart disease is very limited regardless of the presence or absence of heart failure. Patients with symptomatic Chagas heart disease present serum selenium (Se) levels lower than patients without Chagas heart disease. Moreover, Se supplementation in animal models showed promising results. The aim of this trial is to estimate the effect of Se treatment on prevention of heart disease progression in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy. However, we had to introduce some protocol modifications in order to keep trial feasibility, as follows: the primary outcome was restricted to left ventricular ejection fraction as a continuous variable, excluding disease progression; the follow-up period was decreased from 5 years to 1 year, an adjustment that might increase the participation rate of our study; the superior age limit was increased from 65 to 75 years; and diabetes mellitus was no longer considered an exclusion criterion. All of these protocol modifications were extensively debated by the research team enrolled in the design, recruitment and conduction of the clinical trial to guarantee a high scientific quality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials.gov, NCT00875173 . Registered on 20 October 2008.

Omega-3 supplementation on inflammatory markers in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been focusing on the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on modulation of inflammatory markers in several cardiopathies. Although immunoregulatory dysfunction has been associated to the chronic cardiac involvement in Chagas disease, there is no study examining the effects of omega-3 supplementation in these patients. We investigated the effects of omega-3 PUFAs on markers of inflammation and lipid profile in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy patients. METHODS: The present study was a single-center double-blind clinical trial including patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive omega-3 PUFAs capsules (1.8g EPA and 1.2g DHA) or placebo (corn oil) during an 8-week period. Cytokines, fasting glucose, lipid, and anthropometric profiles were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (23 women and 19 men) were included in the study and there were only two losses to follow-up during the 8-week period. Most of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were similar between the groups at baseline, except for the cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17α, and IFNγ. The omega-3 PUFAs group demonstrated greater improvements in serum triglycerides (-21.1 vs. -4.1; p = 0.05) and IL-10 levels (-10.6 vs. -35.7; p = 0.01) in comparison to controls after 8 weeks of intervention. No further differences were observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Omega-3 PUFAs supplementation may favorably affect lipid and inflammatory profile in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy patients, demonstrated by a decrease in triglycerides and improvements on IL-10 concentration. Further studies examining the clinical effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy are necessary. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01863576.

Educação alimentar e nutricional para o controle de comorbidades em pessoas com doenças infecciosas / Food and nutrition education for control of comorbidities among people with infectious diseases / Educación alimentaria y nutricional para el control de comorbidades en personas con enfermedades infecciosas

Objetivo: Relatar a experiência da implantação de práticas de educação alimentar e nutricional (EAN) em grupo, para melhoria de adesão às orientações nutricionais, para pessoas com doenças infecciosas. Síntese de dados: Trata-se de um relato de experiência de atividade de educação alimentar e nutricional realizada no período de abril a novembro de 2015, no Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI/ Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro. Doze indivíduos portadores de doenças infecciosas e parasitárias, de ambos os sexos, com diagnósticos de excesso de peso e de síndrome metabólica participaram de sete oficinas temáticas mensais. Foram abordados temas relevantes para o tratamento da síndrome metabólica e do excesso de peso por meio de rodas de conversa, dinâmicas e distribuição de folhetos explicativos. Durante as oficinas, foram identificados de forma clara comportamentos alimentares que não correspondiam à orientação nutricional prévia fornecida na consulta individual e que dificultavam o controle das condições clínicas presentes na síndrome metabólica e excesso de peso. Nas oficinas, os participantes consolidaram o conhecimento sobre práticas alimentares saudáveis e, com a troca de experiência, sentiram-se mais seguros e motivados para superarem as dificuldades durante o tratamento nutricional. Conclusão: Observou-se que os participantes consolidaram seus conhecimentos e a autonomia para escolhas alimentares saudáveis e, com a troca de experiência, sentiram-se mais seguros e motivados para superarem as dificuldades durante o tratamento nutricional. Portanto, a implementação da EAN em grupo foi efetiva na melhora da adesão às orientações nutricionais, refletindo em novos relatos de práticas alimentares saudáveis.

Objective: To report the experience of implementing Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) Practices in group, for improvement of nutrition counseling acceptance among patients with infectious diseases. Data synthesis: This is an experience report of food and nutrition education activity carried out from April to November 2015 at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI/Fiocruz). Twelve individuals carrying infectious and parasitic diseases, of both genders, diagnosed with overweight and metabolic syndrome, took part in seven monthly thematic workshops. Themes of relevance to the treatment of metabolic syndrome and overweight were approached by means of group chats and dynamics, and explanatory brochure distribution. During the workshops, eating behaviors were clearly identified, which were not in conformity with the nutrition counseling provided in previous individual appointments and hampered the control of the clinical conditions experienced in metabolic syndrome and overweight. In the workshops, the participants consolidated the knowledge of healthy eating habits and, by exchanging experiences, they felt more confident and motivated to overcome the difficulties during nutrition treatment. Conclusion: It was observed that the participants consolidated their knowledge and autonomy for healthy food choices and, with the exchange of experience, they felt more confident and motivated to overcome the difficulties during the nutrition treatment. Therefore, the implementation of FNE in group was effective in improving nutrition counseling acceptance, which brings forward new reports of healthy eating practices.

Objetivo: Describir la experiencia de la aplicación de prácticas de educación alimentaria y nutricional (EAN) en grupo para mejorar la adhesión de las orientaciones nutricionales en personas con enfermedades infecciosas. Síntesis de los datos: Se trata de un relato de experiencia de la actividad de educación alimentaria y nutricional realizada en el periodo entre abril y noviembre de 2015, en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas Evandro Chagas (INI / Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro. Doce personas com enfermidades infecciosas y parasitarias de ambos sexos y diagnostico de exceso de peso y del síndrome metabólico participaron en siete talleres temáticos mensuales. Fueron discutidos temas de interés para el tratamiento del síndrome metabólico y el sobrepeso a través de ruedas de conversación, dinámicas y distribución de folletos. Durante los talleres fueron claramente identificadas las conductas alimentarias que no correspondían con la orientación nutricional previa proporcionada en la consulta individual, lo que hace que sea difícil controlar las condiciones clínicas presentes en el síndrome metabólico y el sobrepeso. En los talleres, los participantes consolidaron el conocimiento sobre prácticas saludables de alimentación y con el intercambio de experiencias se sintieron más seguros y motivados para superar las dificultades en el tratamiento nutricional. Conclusión: Hemos observado con la aplicación del EAN en grupo, una mejora efectiva en la adhesión de las orientaciones nutricionales reflejadas en los nuevos informes de prácticas de alimentación saludables. También observamos que la frecuencia y la regularidad de la vigilancia nutricional tienen un papel crucial en el éxito del tratamiento nutricional.