Binge eating disorder, frequency of depression, and systemic inflammatory state in individuals with obesity - A cross sectional study.

Introduction: Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder in individuals with obesity. Its association with factors that control hunger and satiety has not yet been elucidated. We evaluated whether levels of inflammatory markers, frequency of psychiatric comorbidities, and appetite-related hormones levels differ between individuals with obesity with and without BED. Subjects and methods: The Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 - Clinician Version (SCID-5-CV), Binge Eating Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were evaluated in 39 individuals with obesity. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, ghrelin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were measured. Results: Individuals of the BED group exhibited significantly higher percentages of altered eating patterns (hyperphagia, bingeing, post-dinner eating, feeling "stuffed", and emotional eating), higher depressive symptom scores and levels of leptin, CRP, and TNF-α, compared to those from the non-BED group. Logistic regression showed that BED was independently associated with depressive symptoms and CRP levels. Conclusion: Individuals with obesity and BED showed greater psychiatric comorbidity, worse eating patterns and worse inflammatory profile than those without BED. BED should be assessed as an indicator of clinical severity in patients with obesity.

Increase of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase activity in the small bowel brush-border membrane after massive intestinal distal resection in rats.

Phosphatidylcholine plays an important role for the structure and function of the cell membrane, and its synthesis from phosphatidylethanolamine is catalyzed by phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT). This study investigates changes in PEMT activity in the intestinal brush border membrane after extensive distal enterectomy (60%) in 40 Wistar rats. Four groups, each of 10 rats, were killed immediately after surgery (day 0) and on the 7th, 14th and 28th day postoperatively. Samples from jejunum were collected for histomorphometry and PEMT activity was determined by measuring the incorporation of [(3)H]-methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-(methyl-(3)H)-methionine into phospholipids. Enterectomy induced 30%, 48% and 21% increases in the jejunum villus cell population, and 32%, 81%, and 32% in the crypt cell population at postoperative days 7, 14, and 28, respectively. PEMT activity increased 41% at day 14, suggesting functional differentiation, remaining at this level until day 28, when a reduction in the epithelial cell population was observed, thus indicating that adaptation was completed. The observed increase in PEMT-specific activity in the residual intestine suggests that extensive enterectomy stimulates the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine by the PEMT-controlled pathway.

Binge eating disorder, frequency of depression, and systemic inflammatory state in individuals with obesity - A cross sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective: Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder in individuals with obesity. Its association with factors that control hunger and satiety has not yet been elucidated. We evaluated whether levels of inflammatory markers, frequency of psychiatric comorbidities, and appetite-related hormones levels differ between individuals with obesity with and without BED. Materials and methods: The Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 - Clinician Version (SCID-5-CV), Binge Eating Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were evaluated in 39 individuals with obesity. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, ghrelin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were measured. Results: Individuals of the BED group exhibited significantly higher percentages of altered eating patterns (hyperphagia, bingeing, post-dinner eating, feeling "stuffed", and emotional eating), higher depressive symptom scores and levels of leptin, CRP, and TNF-α, compared to those from the non-BED group. Logistic regression showed that BED was independently associated with depressive symptoms and CRP levels. Conclusions: Individuals with obesity and BED showed greater psychiatric comorbidity, worse eating patterns and worse inflammatory profile than those without BED. BED should be assessed as an indicator of clinical severity in patients with obesity.

Comparison of body composition methods in overweight and obese Brazilian women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare skinfold thickness (SKF) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of body composition using three different equations against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in overweight and obese Brazilian women. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty-four women (age 43.8 +/- 10.9 years; body mass index [BMI] 32.1 +/- 4.3 kg/m(2)) had percentage body fat (BF%), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) estimated by DXA, SKF and BIA (BIA-man: manufacturer's equation; and predictive obesity-specific equations of Segal and of Gray). Regression analysis, Bland-Altman plot analysis and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to compare methods. RESULTS: Absolute agreement between DXA and BIA-man was poor for all measures of body composition (BF% -6.8% +/- 3.7%, FM -3.1 +/- 3.6 kg, FFM 5.7 +/- 2.8 kg). BIA-Segal equation showed good absolute agreement with DXA for BF% (1.5% +/- 1.5%), FM (1.0 +/- 3.2 kg) and FFM (1.5 +/- 2.6 kg), albeit the limits of agreement were wide. BIA-Gray equation showed good absolute agreement with DXA for FM (2.3 +/- 4.1 kg), and smaller biases for BF% (0.05% +/- 4.4%) and FFM (0.2 +/- 2.9 kg), although wide limits of agreement. BIA-Gray and DXA showed the highest ICC among the pairs of methods. A good absolute agreement was observed between DXA and SKF for BF% (-2.3% +/- 5.8%), FM (0.09 +/- 4.7 kg), and FFM (2.4 +/- 4.4 kg), although limits of agreement were wider and ICC between DXA and SKF for BF% indicated poor degree of reproducibility. CONCLUSION: These findings show that both BIA-Segal and BIA-Gray equations are suitable for BF%, FM and FFM estimations in overweight and obese women.

Comparison of body composition methods in overweight and obese Brazilian women / Comparação de métodos da composição corporal em mulheres brasileiras com sobrepeso e obesidade

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare skinfold thickness (SKF) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of body composition using three different equations against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in overweight and obese Brazilian women. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty-four women (age 43.8 ± 10.9 years; body mass index [BMI] 32.1 ± 4.3 kg/m²) had percentage body fat (BF percent), fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) estimated by DXA, SKF and BIA (BIA-man: manufacturer's equation; and predictive obesity-specific equations of Segal and of Gray). Regression analysis, Bland-Altman plot analysis and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to compare methods. RESULTS: Absolute agreement between DXA and BIA-man was poor for all measures of body composition (BF percent -6.8 percent ± 3.7 percent, FM -3.1 ± 3.6 kg, FFM 5.7 ± 2.8 kg). BIA-Segal equation showed good absolute agreement with DXA for BF percent (1.5 percent ± 1.5 percent), FM (1.0 ± 3.2 kg) and FFM (1.5 ± 2.6 kg), albeit the limits of agreement were wide. BIA-Gray equation showed good absolute agreement with DXA for FM (2.3 ± 4.1 kg), and smaller biases for BF percent (0.05 percent ± 4.4 percent) and FFM (0.2 ± 2.9 kg), although wide limits of agreement. BIA-Gray and DXA showed the highest ICC among the pairs of methods. A good absolute agreement was observed between DXA and SKF for BF percent (-2.3 percent ± 5.8 percent), FM (0.09 ± 4.7 kg), and FFM (2.4 ± 4.4 kg), although limits of agreement were wider and ICC between DXA and SKF for BF percent indicated poor degree of reproducibility. CONCLUSION: These findings show that both BIA-Segal and BIA-Gray equations are suitable for BF percent, FM and FFM estimations in overweight and obese women.

OBJETIVO: Verificar a concordância dos métodos de impedância bioelétrica (BIA) usando três equações diferentes, e medida das pregas cutâneas (PC) com absorciometria de raios-X de dupla energia (DEXA), para análise da composição corporal de mulheres com sobrepeso e obesidade. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Em 34 mulheres (43,8 ± 10.9 anos; índice de massa corporal [IMC] 32,1 ± 4,3 kg/m²) foram avaliados: percentual de gordura total ( por centoGT), massa gorda (MG) e massa magra (MM) por DEXA, PC, BIA-Fab (equação do fabricante), BIA-Segal e BIA-Gray (equações para obesidade). Foram utilizados: análise de regressão, método de Bland-Altman e coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI). RESULTADOS: A concordância absoluta entre DEXA e BIA-Fab foi fraca para todas as medidas (BF por cento -6,8 por cento ± 3,7 por cento, FM -3,1 ± 3,6 kg, FFM 5,7 ± 2,8 kg). BIA-Segal apresentou boa concordância absoluta com DEXA para por centoGT (1,5 por cento ± 1,5 por cento), MG (1,0 ± 3,2 kg) e MM (1,5 ± 2,6 kg), mas com amplos limites de concordância. BIA-Gray teve boa concordância absoluta com DEXA para MG (2,3 ± 4,1 kg) e pequenos vieses para por centoGT (0,05 por cento ± 4,4 por cento) e MM (0,2 ± 2,9 kg), mas com amplos limites de concordância. BIA-Gray e DEXA tiveram maior CCI entre métodos. Houve boa concordância absoluta entre DEXA e PC para por centoGT (-2,3 por cento ± 5,8 por cento), MG (0,09 ± 4,7 kg) e MM (2,4 ± 4,4 kg), mas com amplos limites de concordância e pouca reprodutibilidade no CCI, entre DEXA e PC para por centoGT. CONCLUSÃO: A BIA, utilizando equação específica para obesidade, foi o método que melhor concordou com DEXA, para estimar por centoGT, MG e MM em mulheres com sobrepeso e obesidade.

Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase activity is increased in rat intestinal brush-border membrane by chronic ethanol ingestion.

AIMS: Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) catalyses the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine from phosphatidylethanolamine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic ethanol ingestion on PEMT activity in the jejunal brush-border membrane (BBM) of adequately nourished rats. METHODS: For this purpose, rats were fed a liquid diet containing ethanol [ethanol-fed group (EFG)] or an isocaloric liquid diet without ethanol [pair-fed group (PFG)] for 4 weeks. Diet ingestion, body weight, nitrogen balance and urinary creatinine excretion were monitored during the experimental period, and serum transferrin levels were determined at the end. BBM was isolated for the determination of PEMT activity. RESULTS: PEMT activity was significantly increased in the jejunal BBM of the EFG. Nutritional parameters, however, did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in PEMT activity may be attributed exclusively to chronic ethanol ingestion, since a major nutritional deficit was excluded.