Lipid profile and cost of enteral nutrition formula with addition of fish oil used in a public hospital.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The present study evaluated the lipid profile of enteral nutrition formulas with added fish oil used in a public hospital, with an emphasis on the fatty acid (FA) composition. METHODS: FA composition was determined using gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Nine enteral nutrition formulas were evaluated and the results obtained were compared with those reported on the formulas labels. RESULTS: The sample with the highest percentage of added fish oil according to the label information had the lowest total amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA) (p < 0.05). In the evaluation of the total amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids (ΣPUFA/ΣSFA) ratio, five samples were not within the values recommended by Brazilan and international health regulatory agencies. Regarding the n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio, five samples showed values higher than the recommended ratio. It was observed that EPA + DHA content was positively correlated with the cost of the diet. Importantly, we also found that there was a significant difference between the results of our analysis and the descriptions found on the labels for fatty acids n-6, n-3, EPA, DHA, SFA, PUFA and MUFA. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the discrepancies for fatty acids between the values obtained in the analyses and the values reported on the labels highlight the need for more rigorous inspection when public hospitals purchase enteral nutrition formulas with added fish oil, since the administration of formulas with inadequate levels of FA in hospitalized patients can compromise clinical results during the hospitalization period.

Eating patterns and food choice as determinant of weight loss and improvement of metabolic profile after RYGB.

OBJECTIVE: Significant changes in the preference for different dietary components have been observed after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The aim of this study was to evaluate the early post-RYGB changes in quality of eating patterns and their relationship to weight loss and metabolic parameters. METHODS: The sample was composed of 41 extremely obese individuals undergoing RYGB. Dietary data were collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire in Brazil. A food intake evaluation was conducted with a focus on the frequency of consumption (≥4 times/wk) of markers for healthy eating and markers for unhealthy eating. Furthermore, anthropometric and metabolic markers were collected before surgery and 6 mo post-RYGB. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the postsurgery body mass index was reduced by 12.9 kg/m2, corresponding to an excess weight loss of 63.5%. Blood glucose, insulin, ferritin, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), and hemoglobin were reduced 6 mo after RYGB (P < 0.05). The consumption frequency of many foods defined as unhealthy decreased after surgery (e.g., from 15.4% to 5.1% for pizza and 18% to 0% for hamburger), and some healthy food increased (e.g., from 0% to 5.1% for fish and from 0% to 25.6% for plain yogurt). There was a decrease in the frequency of individuals who reported consuming fruit and vegetables. Conversely, insulin, glucose, and TG levels were positively associated with intake of chocolates/truffles and ice cream/sundaes. CONCLUSION: Participants in the present study appeared to develop a healthier dietary pattern by 6 mo after RYGB. These results show that a healthier dietary pattern is associated with a significant improvement of metabolic profile and weight loss.

Early effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on peptides and hormones involved in the control of energy balance.

INTRODUCTION: Body weight varies depending on the prevailing direction of environmental pressures; however, physiological factors also play a significant role in the control of body weight. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on hormones and peptides involved in the control of energy balance and their possible implications in appetite/satiety. METHODS: The sample included 39 individuals with extreme obesity (37 women and two men) who underwent RYGB. Anthropometric and biochemical markers were collected before surgery and 6 months after RYGB. RESULTS: The BMI decreased from 44.3±6.4 to 31.7±5.7 kg/m (P<0.001) at the sixth month. Percentage of excess weight lost was 63.2±25.0%. Leptin and glucose levels decreased significantly 6 months after RYGB (P<0.001). Interestingly, a significant correlation was confirmed between the anorexigenic gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) and the central anorexigenic mediator α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone after 6 months of RYGB (r=0.35, P=0.004). In contrast, PYY concentrations were correlated negatively with BMI (r=-0.34, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: In the present investigation, it was found that there is a relationship between α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and PYY concentrations, and it supports the role of the PYY to POMC signal in appetite regulation after RYGB.

The high glycemic index diet was an independent predictor to explain changes in agouti-related protein in obese adolescents.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The role of diet glycemic index (GI) in the control of orexigenic and anorexigenic factors of the energy balance is still not clear. The present study aimed to assess whether the habitual diet, according to different GI foods, exerts influence on regulation of energy balance markers and the effects of interdisciplinary intervention in obese adolescents. METHODS: A total of 55 obese adolescents, aged from 14 to 19 years, were submited to one year of interdisciplinary therapy and were divided in two groups, according to the predominant dietary pattern of food intake: high-GI group (H-GI; n = 29) and moderate/low-GI group (M/L-GI; n = 26). RESULTS: The concentration of orexigenic factor AgRP (p < 0.01), visceral fat (p=0.04) and visceral/subcutaneous ratio (p = 0.03) were higher in the group of H-GI when compared with M/L-GI group. Moreover, the habitual consumption of H-GI foods was an independent predictor to explain changes in AgRP concentrations. After one year of interdisciplinary therapy, the adolescents presented significant reductions in body weight, total body fat (%), visceral and subcutaneous fat and HOMA-IR, as well as a significant increase of fat free mass (%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results may suggest that habitual H-GI diet could upregulate orexigenic pathways, contributing to vicious cycle between undesirable diets, deregulates energy balance and predispose to obesity. One the other hand, one year of interdisciplinary therapy can significant improves metabolic profile and central obesity in adolescents.

La Dieta de alto índice glucémico es un predictor independiente para explicar los cambios en la proteína relacionada al agouti en adolescentes obesos. Introducción y objetivos: El papel de la dieta de índice glucémico (GI) en el control de los factores orexigénicos y anorexígenos del balance de energía todavía no está claro. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar si la dieta habitual, de acuerdo con diferentes alimentos con IG, ejerce influencia sobre la regulación de los marcadores del balance de energía y los efectos de la intervención interdisciplinaria en adolescentes obesos. Métodos: Un total de 55 adolescentes obesos, con edades de 14 a 19 años, han sido sometidos a un año de tratamiento interdisciplinario y se dividieron en dos grupos, de acuerdo al patrón de dieta predominante de la ingesta de alimentos: el grupo IG alto (H-GI; n = 29) y GI moderada/bajo grupo (M/L-GI, n = 26). Resultados: La concentración de orexigenic factor de AgRP (p < 0,01), la grasa visceral (p = 0,04) y la relación visceral/ subcutánea (p = 0,03) fueron mayores en el grupo de HGI en comparación con el grupo M/L-GI. Por otra parte, el consumo habitual de alimentos H-GI fue un predictor independiente para explicar los cambios en las concentraciones de AgRP. Después de un año de tratamiento interdisciplinario, los adolescentes presentan una reducción significativa en el peso corporal, la grasa corporal total (%), visceral y la grasa subcutánea y el HOMA-IR, así como un aumento significativo de la masa libre de grasa (%). Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados pueden sugerir que la dieta H-GI habitual podría upregulate vías orexigénicos, contribuyendo al círculo vicioso entre las dietas indeseables, desregula el equilibrio energético y predisponen a la obesidad. Uno por otro lado, un año de tratamiento interdisciplinario puede perfil metabólico mejora significativa y la obesidad central en los adolescentes.