Does vegan diet influence umbilical cord vitamin B12, folate, and ferritin levels?

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of maternal diets on maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of vitamin B12, folic acid, ferritin, and hemoglobin. METHODS: A prospective observational study on women who maintained the same diet for at least 3 months prior to, and throughout current pregnancy. Women were divided according to their diet. Diet questionnaires were filled in during the 3rd trimester. Blood samples for complete blood counts and levels of ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, and albumin were taken from the women prior to delivery and from the umbilical cord immediately after delivery. RESULTS: The 273 enrolled women included 112 omnivores, 37 pescatarians, 64 vegetarians, and 60 vegans. There were no significant differences in the maternal B12 levels between the study groups (P = 0.426). Vegans had lower maternal ferritin levels compared to pescatarians (27 ± 17 vs 60 ± 74 ng/ml, respectively, P = 0.034), but not compared to vegetarians (P = 0.597), or omnivores (P = 1.000). There were no significant differences in the umbilical cord B12, folate, ferritin, and hemoglobin levels between the study groups. A sub-analysis that compared women who consumed multivitamins, B12 and iron supplements during pregnancy to women who did not, revealed differences in the levels of umbilical-cord B12 (1002 ± 608 vs 442 ± 151 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.000) and maternal blood B12 (388 ± 209 vs 219 ± 95 pg/ml, respectively, P = 0.030) only among vegans, but not among omnivores. CONCLUSION: Vegan diet does not change the umbilical cord levels of B12, folic acid, ferritin, and hemoglobin. Vegans who do not take any vitamin supplementation are at greater risk for B12 deficiency than omnivores.

Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease: Real-World Experience from a Tertiary Center.

The Crohn's Disease (CD) exclusion diet (CDED) has been shown to induce remission in pediatric and adult patients with CD. In this retrospective cohort study, we describe our real-world experience with the CDED at the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) unit of the Tel Aviv Medical Center between 2018-2021. CD patients with multiple clinical presentations and disease phenotypes who initiated the diet were included. Indications for treatment, medical and nutritional data were collected from dietician clinic visits and medical records. Clinical and biomarker responses were determined. The CDED was recommended to 220 CD patients. Seventy-two patients were included in the analysis for a clinically active disease (n = 48) or for remission maintenance (n = 24). Among patients with a clinically active disease, 62.5% of patients achieved clinical remission at week 6 and at week 12. A positive association between high adherence to the CDED and clinical remission at week 12 was observed (adjusted OR = 7.6, 95% CI 1.07-55.2, p = 0.043). Among patients treated for remission maintenance, remission at week 12 was maintained among 83.3% of patients. We conclude that the CDED may be a promising intervention for multiple CD presentations and indications. These findings should be further validated in larger, prospective, controlled studies.

Enteral n-3 fatty acids and micronutrients enhance percentage of positive neutrophil and lymphocyte adhesion molecules: a potential mediator of pressure ulcer healing in critically ill patients.

n-3 Fatty acids are recognised as influencing both wound healing and immunity. We assessed the impact of a fish oil- and micronutrient-enriched formula (study formula) on the healing of pressure ulcers and on immune function in critically ill patients in an intensive care unit. A total of forty patients with pressure ulcers and receiving nutritional support were enrolled (intervention group, n 20, received study formula; and a control group, n 20, received an isoenergetic formula). Total and differential leucocyte count and percentage of adhesion molecule positive granulocyte and lymphocyte cells (CD11a, CD11b, CD18 and CD49b) were measured on days 0, 7 and 14. Percentage of positive lymphocytes for CD54, CD49b, CD49d and CD8 were also measured on days 0, 7 and 14. The state of pressure ulcers was assessed by using the pressure ulcer scale for healing tool score on days 7, 14 and 28 of treatment. No between-group differences in patient demographics, anthropometry or diagnostic class were observed. Patients who received the study formula showed significant increases in the percentage of positive CD18 and CD11a lymphocytes and of CD49b granulocytes as compared to controls (P < 0·05). While the severity of pressure ulcers was not significantly different between the two groups on admission, severity increased significantly over time for the control group (P < 0·05), but not for the study group. The present study suggests that a fish oil- and micronutrient-enriched formula may prevent worsening of pressure ulcers and that this effect may be mediated by an effect on adhesion molecule expression.

Assessment of patients' understanding of inflammatory bowel diseases: Development and validation of a questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Educating patients regarding thier inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is important for their empowerment and disease management. We aimed to develop a questionnaire to evaluate patient understanding and knowledge of IBD. METHODS: We have developed the Understanding IBD Questionnaires (U-IBDQ), consisting of multiple-choice questions in two versions [for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)]. The questionnaires were tested for content and face validity, readability, responsiveness and reliability. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the U-IBDQ score with physician's subjective assessment scores. Discriminant validity was assessed by comparison to healthy controls (HC), patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions other than IBD, and to GI nurses. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine factors associated with a high level of disease understanding. RESULTS: The study population consisted of IBD patients (n = 106), HC (n = 35), chronic GI disease patients (n = 38) and GI nurses (n = 19). Mean U-IBDQ score among IBD patients was 56.5 ± 21.9, similar for CD and UC patients (P = 0.941), but significantly higher than that of HC and chronic GI disease patients and lower than that of GI nurses (P < 0.001), supporting its discriminant validity. The U-IBDQ score correlated with physician's subjective score (r = 0.747, P < 0.001) and was found to be reliable (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.867 P < 0.001). Independent factors associated with high U-IBDQ scores included academic education (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.33, P < 0.001), biologic therapy experience (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.01-1.53, P = 0.046), and IBD diagnosis at <21 years of age (OR = 2.97, 95% CI 1.05-8.87, P = 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: The U-IBDQ is a validated, reliable and short, self-reported questionnaire that can be used for assessing understanding of disease pathophysiology and treatment by IBD patients.

The impact of a vegan diet on pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a maternal vegan diet on pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective observational study. Women with a singleton pregnancy who maintained the same diet prior to, and throughout current pregnancy were enrolled. Stratification was performed according to diet type: vegans, lacto-ovo-vegetarians, fish-eaters, and omnivores. RESULTS: Overall, 273 women were enrolled, of them, 112 omnivores, 37 fish-eaters, 64 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and 60 vegans. The vegan diet was significantly associated with an increased risk of small-for-gestational-age newborns compared only to an omnivore diet (RR = 5.9, 95% CI, 1.2-21.8). The incidence of preterm birth was similar in all groups. Vegans had lower birthweight compared to lacto-ovo-vegetarians (3015 ± 420 g vs. 3285 ± 482 g, P = 0.004), and to omnivores (3328 ± 495 g, P < 0.001), but not to fish-eaters. Vegans also had a lower mean gestational weight gain compared only to omnivores (11.6 ± 4.2 kg vs. 14.3 ± 4.6 kg, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The vegan diet is associated with an increased risk for small-for-gestational-age newborns and lower birthweight.

Risk Factors for Malnutrition among IBD Patients.

(1) Background: Malnutrition is a highly prevalent complication in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It is strongly associated with poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. Screening for malnutrition risk is recommended routinely; however, current malnutrition screening tools do not incorporate IBD specific characteristics and may be less adequate for screening these patients. Therefore, we aimed to identify IBD-related risk factors for development of malnutrition. (2) Methods: A retrospective case-control study among IBD patients attending the IBD clinic of the Tel-Aviv Medical Center for ≥2 consecutive physician consultations per year during 2017-2020. Cases who had normal nutritional status and developed malnutrition between visits were compared to matched controls who maintained normal nutritional status. Detailed information was gathered from medical files, including: demographics, disease phenotype, characteristics and activity, diet altering symptoms and comorbidities, medical and surgical history, annual healthcare utility, nutritional intake and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) score. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify malnutrition risk factors. The independent risk factors identified were summed up to calculate the IBD malnutrition risk score (IBD-MR). (3) Results: Data of 1596 IBD patients met the initial criteria for the study. Of these, 59 patients developed malnutrition and were defined as cases (n = 59) and matched to controls (n = 59). The interval between the physician consultations was 6.2 ± 3.0 months, during which cases lost 5.3 ± 2.3 kg of body weight and controls gained 0.2 ± 2.3 kg (p < 0.001). Cases and controls did not differ in demographics, disease duration, disease phenotype or medical history. Independent IBD-related malnutrition risk factors were: 18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 22 kg/m2 (OR = 4.71, 95%CI 1.13-19.54), high annual healthcare utility (OR = 5.67, 95%CI 1.02-31.30) and endoscopic disease activity (OR = 5.49, 95%CI 1.28-23.56). The IBD-MR was positively associated with malnutrition development independently of the MUST score (OR = 7.39, 95%CI 2.60-20.94). Among patients with low MUST scores determined during the index visit, identification of ≥2 IBD-MR factors was strongly associated with malnutrition development (OR = 8.65, 95%CI 2.21-33.82, p = 0.002). (4) Conclusions: We identified IBD-related risk factors for malnutrition, highlighting the need for a disease-specific malnutrition screening tool, which may increase malnutrition risk detection.

Anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 fatty acids in critical illness: novel mechanisms and an integrative perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Fish oil-based nutrition is protective in severe critical care conditions. Regulation of the activity of transcription factor NF-kappaB is an important therapeutic effect of the major omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the articles obtained by a Pubmed research, this article reviews three aspects of NF-kappaB/inflammatory inhibition by fish oil. (1) Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway at several subsequent steps: extracellular, free omega-3 inhibits the activation of the Toll-like receptor 4 by endotoxin and free saturated fatty acids. In addition, EPA/DHA blocks the signaling cascade between Toll-like/cytokine receptors and the activator of NF-kappaB, IKK. Oxidized omega-3 also interferes with the initiation of transcription by NF-kappaB. (2) The altered profile of lipid mediators generated during inflammation, with production of the newly identified, DHA-derived inflammation-resolving mediator classes (in addition to the formation of less pro-inflammatory eicosanoids from EPA). Resolvin D1 and Protectin D1 are potent, endogenous, DHA-derived lipid mediators that attenuate neutrophil migration and tissue injury in peritonitis and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Their production is increased in the later stages of an inflammatory response, at which time they enhance the removal of neutrophils. (3) Modulation of vagal tone with potential anti-inflammatory effects: vagal fibers innervating the viscera down-regulate inflammation by activating nicotinic receptors upon infiltrating and resident macrophages. Stimulation of the efferent vagus is therapeutic in experimental septic shock. Fish oil supplementation increases vagal tone following myocardial infarction and in experimental human endotoxinemia. CONCLUSION: It remains to be shown whether these pleiotropic actions of EPA/DHA contribute to fish oil's therapeutic effect in sepsis.

Comparing the adequacy of the MNA-SF, NRS-2002 and MUST nutritional tools in assessing malnutrition in hip fracture operated elderly patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Malnutrition is common in hip fracture elderly patients. There is no gold standard for screening nutritional risk. We compared the adequacy of 3 screening tools, their association to nutritional measurements and their ability to predict outcome. METHODS: The Mini Nutrition Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) were prospectively determined. Length of stay (LOS), complications, 6 months readmission and up-to 36 months mortality were recorded. RESULTS: 215 operated patients were included: 154 (71.6%) were women; mean age was 83.5 ± 6.09 years (66-104). According to the MNA-SF, 95 patients were well-nourished, 95 were at risk of malnutrition and 25 were malnourished. Based on the MUST, 171 patients were at a low risk of malnutrition, 31 at a medium risk, 13 at a high risk. According to the NRS-2002, 134 patients were at a low risk of malnutrition, 70 at a medium risk, 11 at a high risk. A significant relationship between the nutritional groups of the 3 scores (p < 0.001) was found. In all screening tools, body mass index, weight loss and food intake prior to admission were found to be related to the patients' nutritional status (p < 0.001). No differences in LOS and complications were found between the patients' nutritional status of each screening tool; only the MNA-SF predicted that well-nourished patients would have less readmissions during a 6 month follow-up (p = 0.024). During a 36 month follow-up, 79 patients died. According to the MNA-SF, mortality was lower in the well-nourished patients vs. the malnourished (p = 0.001) and at risk of malnutrition patients (p = 0.01). A less significant association was found between the NRS-2002 patients' nutritional status and mortality (p = 0.048). The MUST did not reveal this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: All screening tools were adequate in assessing malnutrition parameters in hip fracture operated elderly patients, however, only the MNA-SF could also predict readmissions and mortality.

Preemptive enteral nutrition enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and antioxidants in severe multiple trauma: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Severe injury triggers a complex systemic immune response which may result in significant respiratory compromise, including the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). No randomized clinical trial has assessed the role of nutritional interventions to limit respiratory complications. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, comparative, double-blind, controlled study of patients with severe trauma requiring mechanical ventilation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a control formula (n = 58) or a formula enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and antioxidants (n = 62) at time of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Primary outcome measures included the level of oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2 ratio, PF ratio) on days 4 and 8, incidence of acute lung injury (ALI) and/or ARDS and length of ventilation. The development of infectious complications and fatty acid red blood cell membrane composition were also assessed. RESULTS: In this intention-to-treat population, no significant differences between the control and study groups were found for the PF ratio at day 4 (213.7 ± 85.6 vs. 227.2 ± 67.7, respectively; P = 0.24) and day 8 (187.8 ± 65.2 vs. 188.9 ± 56.0, respectively; P = 0.82), the incidence of ARDS/ALI (24.1 vs. 29.0 %, respectively; P = 0.68), length of ventilation time (13.6 ± 10.7 vs. 17.0 ± 15.1 days, respectively; P = 0.15), duration of ICU stay (16.4 ± 11.3 vs. 19.5 ± 15.3 days, respectively; P = 0.21) and 28-day mortality (8.6 vs. 12.9 %, respectively P = 0.56). While the study group showed a significant increase in EPA and GLA concentrations at day 4 (P = 0.05) and day 8 (P < 0.001), the Omega-3 Index (O-3I) failed to reach those suggested as being optimal to obtain clinical efficacy. The significantly higher incidence of bacteremia noted in the study group (P = 0.03) was associated with a higher number of patients with multiple trauma and a higher red blood cell transfusion requirement (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: This study failed to show a significant benefit for the preemptive use of the study formula in patients with severe trauma. Additional studies need to be performed in which the amount of supplementation is targeted to a potentially measurable endpoint, e.g. the O-3I.

Effect of garlic on lipid profile and psychopathologic parameters in people with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutyaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitors on cardiovascular risk reduction has been clearly established. Concerns have been raised that lowering blood cholesterol by other hypolipidemic drugs or by a non-pharmacologic approach may have deleterious effects on psychopathologic parameters. Garlic is one of the most commonly used herbal remedies and is considered to have hypocholesterolemic as well as other cardioprotective properties. Its effect on psychopathologic parameters has never been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of garlic on lipid parameters and depression, impulsivity, hostility and temperament in patients with primary type 2 hyperlipidemia. METHODS: In a 16 week prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study, 33 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and no evidence of cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned to receive either garlic or placebo. Garlic in the form of alliin 22.4 mg/day was given to 13 patients, and placebo to 20. Both groups received individual dietary counseling. The changes in lipid profile and the various psychopathologic parameters were determined at the beginning and end of the trial. The differences in lipid parameters were evaluated by Student's t-test. The psychological data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Neuman-Keuls test. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides, or in the psychopathologic parameters evaluated. CONCLUSION: Short-term garlic therapy in adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia does not affect either lipid levels or various psychopathologic parameters.

Enteral nutrition.

Nutritional support is an integral part of the treatment of the critically ill patient. Enteral feeding is viewed as the first line of feeding of the intensive care unit (ICU) patient and has many benefits in maintaining the functionality of the intestine. When we consider the nutritional support of the ICU patient, we first define the calorie-protein target, and then then determine the route of feeding, timing for starting the feeding, and the most appropriate formula. Usually enteral feeding is started in the early stages of ICU hospitalization, after 24-48 h, in order to maintain the gut barrier functionality and support the immune system response. The patient population in the ICU is very heterogenic and the appropriate formula should be chosen with care. A right formula could positively affect clinical outcomes. Many available formulas, including formulas enriched with specific pharmaconutrients such as arginine, glutamine, fish oil, and antioxidants have proven to be beneficial. In this chapter, we will discuss the known properties and the different approaches of various formulas according to clinical conditions and will also estimate the possible complications of enteral feeding.

Impact of a nutritional formula enriched in fish oil and micronutrients on pressure ulcers in critical care patients.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are an important source of morbidity and suffering for patients and a formidable burden on caregivers. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a feeding formula enriched with fish oil on healing of preexisting pressure ulcers and serum levels of C-reactive protein in critical care patients. METHODS: Adult patients with pressure ulcers grade II or higher were randomly allocated to receive either a formula enriched with fish oil or an isocaloric control formula. Wound healing was assessed by using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing tool on days 7, 14, and 28. Blood levels of C-reactive protein were measured on days 0, 7, and 14. RESULTS: Baseline demographics did not differ between the study (n = 20) and the control (n = 20) groups. The mean score on the ulcer healing tool increased significantly (P = .02) from day 0 to day 28 in the control group (from 9.25 [SD, 2.12] to 10.75 [SD, 3.41]) compared with the study group (from 9.10 [SD, 2.84] to 9.40 [SD, 3.72]). Mean levels of C-reactive protein decreased significantly (P= .02) from day 0 to day 14 in the study group (from 191 [SD, 104.4] mg/L to 111.7 [SD, 97.8] mg/L) compared with the control group (from 145 [SD, 90] mg/L to 139 [SD, 62] mg/L). CONCLUSION: Administration of a feeding formula enriched with fish oil was associated with decreased progression of pressure ulcers and a decrease in blood concentrations of C-reactive protein.

The tight calorie control study (TICACOS): a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study of nutritional support in critically ill patients.

PURPOSE: To determine whether nutritional support guided by repeated measurements of resting energy requirements improves the outcome of critically ill patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, single-center, pilot clinical trial conducted in an adult general intensive care (ICU) unit. The study population comprised mechanically ventilated patients (n = 130) expected to stay in ICU more than 3 days. Patients were randomized to receive enteral nutrition (EN) with an energy target determined either (1) by repeated indirect calorimetry measurements (study group, n = 56), or (2) according to 25 kcal/kg/day (control group, n = 56). EN was supplemented with parenteral nutrition when required. RESULTS: The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Measured pre-study resting energy expenditure (REE) was similar in both groups (1,976 ± 468 vs. 1,838 ± 468 kcal, p = 0.6). Patients in the study group had a higher mean energy (2,086 ± 460 vs. 1,480 ± 356 kcal/day, p = 0.01) and protein intake (76 ± 16 vs. 53 ± 16 g/day, p = 0.01). There was a trend towards an improved hospital mortality in the intention to treat group (21/65 patients, 32.3% vs. 31/65 patients, 47.7%, p = 0.058) whereas length of ventilation (16.1 ± 14.7 vs. 10.5 ± 8.3 days, p = 0.03) and ICU stay (17.2 ± 14.6 vs. 11.7 ± 8.4, p = 0.04) were increased. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center pilot study a bundle comprising actively supervised nutritional intervention and providing near target energy requirements based on repeated energy measurements was achievable in a general ICU and may be associated with lower hospital mortality.