Postprandial lipaemia and endothelial adhesion molecules in pre- and postmenopausal Spanish women.

BACKGROUND: Postprandial hyperlipaemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVES: To compare postprandial lipaemia and fasting adhesion molecules levels in healthy young premenopausal(PrW) and postmenopausal (PoW) Spanish women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy PrW and 18 healthy PoW participated in a postprandial 7-hour intervention study. All participants were given a fat-rich standard meal (11.8% saturated, 39.7% monounsaturated, and 6.6% polyunsaturated) after a 12 h fast. Blood samples were taken at baseline and at 60, 120, 240, 360 and 420 min after eating. Triacylglycerols (TAG), total cholesterol (Chol), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were determined in fasting serum samples and TAG and total Chol postprandial levels were measured. RESULTS: Anthropometric data, serum lipid and sICAM-1 presented significant higher values in PoW compared to PrW, but sVCAM-1 did not significantly differ between groups. Postprandial TAG and Chol concentrations in PoW were significantly higher than in PrW (p < 0.0001). There was a significant time influence (p < 0.0001) in TAG in PrW and PoW, while time to peak and peak concentration were significantly higher in PoW than PrW. Chol concentrations showed a significant reduction after 1 h, to reach values similar to baseline after 6 h in PrW but not in PoW. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid postprandial response to a fat rich meal and soluble intercellular adhesion molecules concentrations indicate a higher cardiovascular risk pattern in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women. Soluble vascular adhesion molecule levels seem to be influenced not only by age and menopause, but also other factors like usual diet.

Sex-specific association between leptin receptor polymorphisms and leptin levels and BMI in healthy adolescents.

AIM: To examine the relationship of three common polymorphisms in the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene, implicated in the regulation of body weight, with leptin levels and obesity-related phenotypes in a population-based sample of healthy pubertal children in Spain. METHODS: The study included 806 boys and girls aged 12-16 whose anthropometrical data and body composition were recorded. Serum leptin levels were determined by ELISA. The LEPR Q223R, K109R and K656N polymorphisms were determined by TaqMan® allelic discrimination assays. RESULTS: When analysing the Q223R polymorphism, we observed that female carriers of the RR genotype had significantly higher plasma leptin levels (18.2 vs. 15.1 ng/mL p = 0.016) and significantly higher mean BMI values (22.5 vs. 21.3 Kg/m² p = 0.032) than QR carriers. Furthermore, the frequency of the RR genotype in overweight-obese girls was significantly higher than that found in normal-weight girls. No significant differences were observed in boys. Neither boys nor girls showed significant differences when comparing leptin levels, anthropometric variables or body composition by K109R or K656N genotype. CONCLUSION: The fact, that the Q223R polymorphism in the LEPR gene is significantly associated with leptin levels and BMI only in girls, suggests a sex-specific influence of this polymorphism on these variables.

Iron status biomarkers in iron deficient women consuming oily fish versus red meat diet.

Specific recommendations for anemic individuals consist in increasing red meat intake, but the population at large is advised to reduce consumption of red meat and increase that of fish, in order to prevent the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the effects of consuming an oily fish compared to a red meat diet on iron status in women with low iron stores. The study was designed attending the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement guidelines. It was a randomised crossover dietary intervention study of two 8-week periods. Twenty-five young women with low iron stores completed the study. Two diets containing a total of 8 portions of fish, meat and poultry per week were designed differing only in their oily fish or red meat content (5 portions per week). At the beginning and the end of each period blood samples were taken and hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, serum iron, serum transferrin, serum transferrin receptor-2 and the Zn-protoporphyrin/free-protoporphyrin ratio were determined. Food intake and body weight were monitored. During the oily fish diet, PUFA intake was significantly higher (p=0.010) and iron intake lower (mean+/-SD, 11.5+/-3.4 mg/day vs. 13.9+/-0.1 mg/day, p=0.008), both diets providing lower mean daily iron intake than recommended for menstruating women. Although there were no significant differences after 16 weeks, serum ferritin moderately decreased and soluble transferrin receptor increased with the oily fish, while changes with the red meat diet were the opposite. In conclusion, an oily fish diet compared to a red meat diet does not decrease iron status after 8 weeks in iron deficient women.

Does bicarbonated mineral water rich in sodium change insulin sensitivity of postmenopausal women?

AIM: To study the effects of drinking 0.5 L of two sodium-rich bicarbonated mineral waters (BMW-1 and 2), with a standard meal, on postprandial insulin and glucose changes. And to determine, if the effects vary depending on insulin resistance, measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). METHODS: In a 3-way randomized crossover study, 18 healthy postmenopausal women consumed two sodium-rich BMWs and a low-mineral water (LMW) with a standard fat-rich meal. Fasting and postprandial blood samples were taken at 30, 60 and 120 min. Serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triacylglycerols were determined. Insulin resistance was estimated by HOMA and insulin sensitivity was calculated by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKY). RESULTS: Glucose levels did not change. HOMA and QUICKY values were highly inversely correlated (r = -1,000; p < 0.0001). Insulin concentrations showed a significant time effect (p < 0.0001) and a significant water x time interaction (p < 0.021). At 120 min insulin levels with BMW-1 were significantly lower than with LMW (p = 0.022). Postprandial insulin concentrations showed significantly different patterns of mineral water intake depending on HOMA n-tiles (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Results suggests an increase in insulin sensitivity after BMWs consumption. This effect is more marked in the women, who have higher HOMA values. These waters should be considered part of a healthy diet in order to prevent insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.

A comparative study of iron bioavailability from cocoa supplemented with ferric pyrophosphate or ferrous fumarate in rats.

BACKGROUND: Food iron fortification can be a good strategy to prevent iron deficiency. Iron bioavailability from cocoa powder enriched with ferric pyrophosphate encapsulated in liposomes or ferrous fumarate was assessed in rats. METHODS: Three groups of rats consumed during 28 days either a control diet or two diets prepared with ferric pyrophosphate- or ferrous fumarate-enriched cocoa powder as the unique source of iron. Body weight and food intake were monitored and last-week feces were collected. On day 28, animals were sacrificed and livers and spleens were removed. Hemoglobin and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in body weight and food intake. Apparent iron absorption and % absorption/intake were significantly lower in rats consuming enriched cocoa compared to the control group, without significant differences due to the iron form. Enriched cocoa groups showed significantly lower spleen iron content and concentration than the control. Liver iron was lower in the ferric pyrophosphate group compared to the other two groups. Hemoglobin and TIBC values showed a deficient iron status in ferric pyrophosphate rats. CONCLUSION: Cocoa powder is a good vehicle for iron fortification when enriched with ferrous fumarate compared to ferric pyrophosphate encapsulated in liposomes.

Food, energy and macronutrient intake of postmenopausal women from a menopause program.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the food, energy and macronutrient intake of a group of postmenopausal women participating in a health-care-program. METHODS: Subjects included were 38 healthy postmenopausal women aged between 46 and 60 years, recruited from the Menopause Program of the Madrid City Council. Physical activity, some anthropometric data and dietary information was obtained using a modified version of the dietary history method, which contained a 24-hour-recall and a food frequency questionnaire covering the preceding month as reference period. Dietary quality indexes, including those of the energy provided by macronutrients, alcohol and fatty acids and PUFA + MUFA/SFA and PUFA/SFA ratios were calculated. RESULTS: This group consumed a diet very similar to the traditional Mediterranean diet. Intake of vegetables (415 +/- 165 g/d), fruits (396 +/- 178 g/d) and fish (131 +/- 69 g/d) was high and a wide variety of these products was consumed. Potato and cereal (157 +/- 76 g/d) intake was low. Dairy products, meat, poultry and eggs were only a modest part of this diet. The fat quality (PUFA + MUFA/SFA = 2.26) was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The diet of this group of postmenopausal women attending a prevention program closely conforms to current nutritional guidelines. Physical activity, body weight and intake of vegetable foods are adequate and may be very useful to counterbalance the increased risk of several pathologies after menopause. However, consumption of carbohydrate rich foods is lower than recommended. Participation in the menopause health-care-program is useful for weight control and dietary advice.

Relationship between biogenic amine contents and the size of dry fermented sausages.

Three trials were carried out to study the influence of the diameter on biogenic amine contents and related parameters (pH, humidity and proteolysis) in fermented sausages. The first trial was done on three groups of Spanish dry fermented sausages with different diameter. In the second, two sections (centre and edge) of salchichón sausages were examined. The last trial consisted in the study of the ripening of two batches of sausages fermented under the same conditions but with two different diameters. Biogenic amine contents varied among the different type of products as well as among the same type of samples. Generally, amine levels in the biggest diameter sausages were higher than in the thinnest sausages. Amine contents were higher in the central part of the sausages than in the edge. During the ripening, larger tyramine amounts were formed in sausages with the biggest diameter. Statistical correlations were found among the diameter, the pH, the proteolysis and some amines. The results of the three trials agree with the hypothesis that the diameter is a factor that may affect the formation of biogenic amines during sausage fermentation.