Highlights of three metabolites HDL and reduction in blood pressure values after dietary fiber supplementation in overweight and obese normotensive women: a metabolomic study.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of hypertension and obesity are a worldwide concern. OBJETIVES: Assess the metabolites profile after intervention with mixed dietary fiber in overweight and obese normotensive women. METHODS: This is a randomized double blind placebo-controlled study. Through a simple randomization process, two groups were allocated, with eleven women (group 1) receiving 12 g of mixed dietary fiber and thirteen women (group 2) receiving 12 g of placebo (corn starch) for eight weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical tests and lifestyle were analyzed. As for evaluation metabolomics, used a 1H NMR. The data matrix generated 96 samples and 225 variables, which was exported in the ASCII format for the "The Unscrumbler" statistics software (version 9.7, CAMO Process). RESULTS: After the intervention with mixed dietary fiber, significant differences were observed between the main types of metabolites, referring to the increase in the relative peak areas of in three HDL metabolites 4.94 ppm (0.0086*), HDL 1.28 ppm (0 .0337*), HDL 0.88 ppm (0.0224*) and an α-glucose metabolite 4.90 ppm (0.0106) and the reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (0.0292*) of 7 mmHg in the reference range and in the placebo group there was a reduction in SBP (0.0118*) of 4 mmHg and of a choline metabolite 3.65 ppm (0.0266*), which does not call into question the validity of these results in the literature. CONCLUSION: The synergism of the functions of these statistically highlighted metabolites contributed to prevention the increase in SBP after fiber intervention in overweight and obese normotensive women.

α-Tocopherol influences glycaemic control and miR-9-3 DNA methylation in overweight and obese women under an energy-restricted diet: a randomized, double-blind, exploratory, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Excess weight is a strong risk factor for the development of dysglycaemia. It has been suggested that changes in the metabolism microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, could precede late glycaemic changes. Vitamin E in turn may exert important functions in methylation and gene expression processes. This study aimed to determine the effect of α-tocopherol on glycaemic variables and miR-9-1 and miR-9-3 promoter DNA methylation in overweight women. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, exploratory, placebo-controlled study was conducted in overweight and obese adult women (n = 44) who ingested synthetic vitamin E (all-rac-α-tocopherol), natural source vitamin E (RRR-rac-α-tocopherol) or placebo capsules and were followed up for a period of 8 weeks. Supplemented groups also received dietary guidance for an energy-restricted diet. An additional group that received no supplementation and did not follow an energy-restricted diet was also followed up. The intervention effect was evaluated by DNA methylation levels (quantitative real-time PCR assay) and anthropometric and biochemical variables (fasting plasma glucose, haemoglobin A1C, insulin, and vitamin E). RESULTS: Increased methylation levels of the miR-9-3 promoter region (P < 0.001) and reduced haemoglobin A1C (P < 0.05) were observed in the natural source vitamin E group after intervention. Increased fasting plasma glucose was observed in the synthetic vitamin E group, despite the significant reduction of anthropometric variables compared to the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: α-Tocopherol from natural sources increased methylation levels of the miR-9-3 promoter region and reduced haemoglobin A1C in overweight women following an energy-restricted diet. These results provide novel information about the influence of vitamin E on DNA methylation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02922491. Registered 4 October, 2016.

The effect of vitamin A supplementation with 400 000 IU vs 200 000 IU on retinol concentrations in the breast milk: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The vitamin A nutritional status is marginal for most of the newborns, and the prevention of that deficiency is promoted by breastfeeding. The Ministry of Health of Brazil established the National Vitamin A Supplementation Program, giving mega-doses of this nutrient to women right after delivery, in order to provide adequate vitamin A content in the breast milk and The International Vitamin A Consultative Group has supported the recommendation, to supplement with 400 000 IU of VA immediately after delivery. This study compares retinol concentrations in breast milk (colostrum, 2 and 4 months) from mothers supplemented during immediate postpartum with 400 000 IU versus 200 000 IU of vitamin A. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind trial, conducted in two public maternities in Recife, Northeast Brazil. Two hundred and ten mothers were recruited and allocated into two treatment groups: 400 000 IU or 200 000 IU of Vitamin A and monitored for 4 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between retinol concentrations in breast milk between treatment groups (400 000 IU vs 200 000 IU) in the studied period: 2 months (p = 0.790) and 4 months (p = 0.279), although a progressive reduction of concentrations throughout the study was observed in both treatment groups, 400 000 IU (p < 0.0001) and 200 000 IU (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The absence of an additional effect of a higher dosage justifies the 200 000 IU supplementation, according to the World Health Organization. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier No. NCT00742937.

The importance of habitual vitamin A dietary intake on the serum retinol concentration in the elderly: a population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: The aging population is one of the main results of population demographic trends during the twentieth century and will be the hallmark of populations during this century. OBJECTIVE: To assess the habitual dietary vitamin A intake and serum retinol concentration in the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a population-based epidemiological study conducted in João Pessoa, Paraiba, northeastern Brazil, from July 2008 to January 2010, with 212 individuals from 60 to 90 years of age, from both genders. Habitual food intake, retinolemia and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as socioeconomic and anthropometric data were collected. RESULTS: The median of vitamin A intake was 1643.40 microg EAR/day (p25 = 1112.20-p75 = 2430.80). The average serum retinol concentration was 1.91 +/- 0.68 mmol/L. There was no correlation of CRP concentration with serum retinol (r = 0.061/p = 0.424), nor with the habitual dietary retinol intake (r = 0.000/p = 0.932). However, there was a direct relationship between food intake and serum retinol concentration (r = 0.173/p = 0.025). Only 3.98% (IC95% 6.88-1.08) of subjects had inadequate serum retinol concentrations 1.05 micromol/L), and 12.4% (IC95% 17.36-7.44) had inadequate vitamin A intake (< 625 microg for males and < 500 microg for females). Most individuals assessed in this study showed adequate retinolemia state and habitual dietary vitamin A intake, probably protecting them from this specific nutritional vulnerability, and no correlation between CRP concentration and serum and dietary retinol was found, possibly because these individuals had no acute inflammation and absence of chronic decompensated diseases.