Effect of testosterone supplementation on sarcopenic components in middle-aged and elderly men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature of randomized controlled trials on the effect of testosterone (T) supplementation compared to the placebo group or lower dose on sarcopenic components (muscle mass, strength and physical performance) in middle-aged and elderly men. Major electronic databases were searched for articles published on or before December 2019. Studies including individuals with age ≥ 40 years and which described the effect of T supplementation on sarcopenic components were found eligible (11 studies). Outcomes were calculated as the difference in means between the experimental and control/placebo groups, and data were presented as effect size with 95% confidence limits (95%CI). The meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. Regarding lean body mass (LBM), eight studies evaluated the effect of T supplementation on this outcome, of these, seven reported gains after the intervention period. Our meta-analysis showed a beneficial effect on LBM of 2.54 kg (95% CI, 1.27 to 3.80) (p < 0.001). In muscle strength (MS), seven included studies evaluated the handgrip strength (HGS) and just one reported gain after the intervention period, but the meta-analysis showed an increase for HGS of 1.58 kgf (95%CI, 0.17 to 3.0) (p = 0.03). The second outcome for MS was leg strength (LS), where nine studies were included and five demonstrated gains in this parameter after the intervention period. In the meta-analysis, two out of three tests showed an effect on LS: T supplementation increase the leg press strength in 91.23 N (95%CI, 0.23 to 182.22) (p = 0.05) and leg extension in 144.10 N (95%CI, 44.21 to 244.00) (p < 0.01). In physical performance, four studies evaluated this outcome, with three of them showing positive effects in this parameter. In the meta-analysis, only two studies that reported the same assessment test (Physical Performance Test) were included, but no effect of T supplementation on this parameter was found. It can be concluded that T supplementation influences sarcopenic components in middle-aged and older men, because is associated with increased in muscle mass and strength in addition to physical performance.

Omega-3 fatty acids' supplementation in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration disorder characterized by progressive impairments of memory, language, reasoning, and other cognitive functions. Evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may act as a possible protection factor in AD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results available in the literature involving omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and its effect on cognitive function in AD patients. METHODS: A systematic review of MEDLINE (from PubMed), Excerpta Medica Database, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria consisted in original intervention studies, controlled by placebo, that assessed the impact of supplementation or dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive function, in humans with AD, without limitation for prime date of publication. RESULTS: Initial search resulted in 361 articles. Seven studies fully met the inclusion criteria. Most studies did not find statistically significant results for the omega-3 fatty acids supplementation compared to placebo, and those who show some benefit do it only in a few cognitive assessment scales. However, the effects of omega-3 fatty acids appear to be most effectively demonstrated in patients with very mild AD. CONCLUSION: The effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in mild AD corroborate epidemiological observational studies showing that omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial in disease onset, when there is slight impairment of brain function. Although some studies have shown changes in scales of cognitive function in more severe cases, they are not enough to support omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in the treatment of AD.

Feeding behavior and dietary intake of male children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A case-control study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with restrictive or repetitive behaviors and difficulties with verbal and interpersonal communication, in which some problems involving nutrition may be present. This study aims to evaluate dietary intake and identify feeding behavioral problems in male children and adolescents with ASD when compared to matched controls, as well as parents or caregivers' feelings about strategies for dealing with eating problems. A 3-day food record was performed and nutrient intake was compared to the Dietary Reference Intake according to age. To evaluate children feeding behavior and parents or caregivers' feelings, the Behavior Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFA) was used. ASD patients consumed in average more calories than controls (though with a high patient's frequency above and below calorie range references), had a limited food repertoire, high prevalence of children with inadequate calcium, sodium, iron vitamin B5, folate, and vitamin C intake. BPFA scores were also higher in the ASD group when compared to controls for all frequencies (child behavior, parents and total). These findings lead us to endorse the importance of evaluating feeding problems in the clinical routine, considering also the singular features of the patients.

Folic acid and autism: What do we know?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) consist in a range of neurodevelopmental conditions that share common features with autism, such as impairments in communication and social interaction, repetitive behaviors, stereotypies, and a limited repertoire of interests and activities. Some studies have reported that folic acid supplementation could be associated with a higher incidence of autism, and therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review of studies involving relationships between this molecule and ASD. The MEDLINE database was searched for studies written in English which evaluated the relationship between autism and folate. The initial search yielded 60 potentially relevant articles, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. The agreement between reviewers was κ = 0.808. The articles included in the present study addressed topics related to the prescription of vitamins, the association between folic acid intake/supplementation during pregnancy and the incidence of autism, food intake, and/or nutrient supplementation in children/adolescents with autism, the evaluation of serum nutrient levels, and nutritional interventions targeting ASD. Regarding our main issue, namely the effect of folic acid supplementation, especially in pregnancy, the few and contradictory studies present inconsistent conclusions. Epidemiological associations are not reproduced in most of the other types of studies. Although some studies have reported lower folate levels in patients with ASD, the effects of folate-enhancing interventions on the clinical symptoms have yet to be confirmed.