Goat milk during iron repletion improves bone turnover impaired by severe iron deficiency.

The effect of goat or cow milk-based diets, with either normal Fe content or an Fe overload, on bone turnover and the mineralization process was studied in control and anemic rats during chronic Fe repletion. One hundred eighty male Wistar rats were studied during a pre-experimental period of 40 d in which they were randomly divided into 2 groups, a control group receiving the AIN-93G diet with normal Fe content (45 mg/kg of diet) and the Fe-deficient group receiving the AIN-93G diet with low Fe content (5mg/kg of diet) for 40 d. After the pre-experimental period, the rats were fed for 10, 30, or 50 d with goat or cow milk-based diets with a normal Fe content (45 mg/kg of diet) or an Fe overload (450 mg/kg of diet). In anemic rats, goat milk with normal Fe content increased levels of the biomarker of bone formation N-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen and diminished parathyroid hormone levels after only 10 d of supplying this diet, indicating the beginning of restoration of the bone demineralization induced by the anemia, which was not observed with cow milk. After 30 d of supplying the milk-based diets with normal Fe content or an Fe overload, biomarkers of bone formation and bone resorption were not different between control and anemic rats, indicating that the bone demineralization induced by the Fe-deficiency anemia had recovered, although the process of stabilization of bone turnover began earlier in the animals fed goat milk. In addition, a higher Ca deposit was observed in femur, which positively affects bone mineralization, as well as an increase of Fe in sternum, which indicates that the hematopoietic process essentially recovered earlier on the goat milk diet compared with the cow milk diet.

Mediterranean diet, tobacco consumption and body composition during perimenopause. The FLAMENCO project.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of the adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and tobacco consumption with body composition during perimenopause. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in 176 perimenopausal women from the FLAMENCO project. A food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean Diet Score were assessed. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), ratio of gynecoid to total fat mass (G/T), ratio of android to gynecoid fat mass (A/G), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: Intake of whole-grain cereals was associated with lower WC, FM percentage, android FM, VAT and higher G/T (all p < 0.05). Intake of nuts was associated with lower BMI and FM percentage and intake of fruits with lower BMI, WC, total and android FM, FM percentage, A/G, VAT and higher G/T (all p < 0.05). Intake of pulses was associated with lower weight, BMI and android FM. Intake of whole dairy products was associated with lower weight, BMI, WC, total and android FM and VAT (all p < 0.05). Intake of olive oil was associated with lower WC and FM percentage (all p < 0.05). Intake of sweetened beverages was associated with higher weight, BMI, WC, FM percentage, android FM, VAT and total FM (all, p < 0.05). Smokers had a lower MD adherence (p < 0.05). Finally, a greater MD adherence was associated with higher G/T (p < 0.01) and lower A/G (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A higher MD adherence, avoiding tobacco, an increased consumption of whole-grain cereals, nuts, fruits, pulses, whole dairy products and olive oil, and a lower consumption of sweetened beverages might contribute to a healthier body composition during perimenopause.

Lifestyle changes in free-living patients with peripheral vascular disease (Fontaine stage II) related to plasma and LDL lipid composition: a 15 month follow-up study.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is characterized by arteriosclerosis and lower extremity ischemia which cause intermittent claudication. Patients grouped in the Fontaine stage II have more than 75% organic stenosis in their large coronary arteries and exhibit a number of alterations in blood coagulation and plasma lipids. The aim of this study was to evaluate an intervention program of lifestyle habits including dietary recommendations, moderate exercise and decreased smoking in a population of patients with PVD for a period of 15 months, with respect to plasma-lipid and lipoprotein composition as well as LDL susceptibility to peroxidation. These parameters are well known risk indicators of arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. A total 13 subjects diagnosed with PVD (Fontaine stage II) were selected, while a healthy age-matched group (n=20) was used as a reference. This study design was an uncontrolled trial of lifestyle interventions. The group of patients was examined at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months. Patients smoking one or more packets of cigarettes per day at the beginning of the study (54.2%) decreased smoking by as much as 7.7% 15 months later. In addition, physical activity intensified significantly (walking > 1 km: 13.1-77%) and treadmill running increased over the study period while the energy intake decreased by 10%. The percentage of saturated fat in the diet decreased by 10% while the intake of polyunsaturated fat rose, and monounsaturated-fat intake showed a parallel trend to increase; the average intake of cholesterol also fell by 10% and plasma triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol showed a trend to decrease and increase, respectively. No permanent changes in LDL lipid fractions for patients were detected during the follow-up period and no differences between patients and the age-matched reference group were found. The macrophage uptake of plasma-oxidized LDL was significantly higher in patients than in the reference group and no differences due to the intervention period were detected. In conclusion, the education in lifestyle and nutritional habits of patients with PVD led to reduced energy intake parallel with augmented physical activity as well to a fall in plasma triglycerides and a rise in HDL-cholesterol, which are good indicators of a reduced risk of vascular and myocardial complications.

Effect of processing methods on the calcium, phosphorus, and phytic acid contents and nutritive utilization of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

The effect of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) processing methods on the nutritive utilization of calcium and phosphorus and on phytic acid, a seed component that affects mineral utilization, was studied. Chemical and biological methods were used for nutritional determinations in growing rats. The digestive utilization of calcium from raw chickpea was adequate for growing rats; however, processing resulted in a slight decrease. The metabolic utilization of chickpea calcium was low because of the low rates of net absorption. This was reflected in the decreased calcium levels in longissimus dorsi muscle in the absence of mobilization of calcium from the femur. Soaking in acid solution followed by cooking decreased phytic acid content, suggesting that processing made part of the phytic acid phosphorus available. The absorbed phosphorus was greater than the nonphytic phosphorus supplied by the diet. The digestive utilization of phosphorus was similar in processed and raw chickpeas, despite the loss of soluble anion as a result of processing. These results may indicate the contribution of phosphorus in the form of inositol hexaphosphate-phosphorus.

Beneficial effect of goat milk on bioavailability of copper, zinc and selenium in rats.

We studied the effects of dietary inclusion of freeze-dried goat and cow milk on the utilization of copper, zinc and selenium, and on the metabolic fate of copper and zinc, in rats using a standard (non-milk) control diet recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition and diets based on goat or cow milk. For animals given the goat milk diet, the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of copper is similar to that obtained with the standard diet and higher than that in animals given the cow milk diet. The copper balance was higher among the rats given the goat milk and the standard diets than among those given cow milk. The ADC and retention of zinc and selenium were higher for the goat milk diet than for the other two diets. The copper content in the kidneys and in the femur was greater when the animals consumed a goat milk diet than a cow milk diet. Zn deposits in femur, testes, liver, kidney, heart and longissimus dorsi muscle were greatest with the goat-milk diet, followed by the standard diet and were lowest for the rats given cow-milk diet. This study shows that the goat-milk has an important and beneficial effect on the bioavailability of copper, zinc and selenium.

Study of nutritive utilization of protein and magnesium in rats with resection of the distal small intestine. Beneficial effect of goat milk.

The search for diets to improve the nutritive utilization of protein and magnesium in malabsorption syndrome led us to study goat milk, because of its particular nutritional characteristics, and to compare it with cow milk, which is most commonly consumed. We studied the nutritive utilization of protein and magnesium in transected rats (control) and in rats with resection of 50% of the distal small intestine. The diets used were the standard diet recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition and diets based on lyophilized goat or cow milk. The consumption of goat milk produces better protein efficiency ratio and food conversion efficiency values, particularly in rats with intestinal resection, together with a higher nutritive utilization of protein. Magnesium apparent digestibility coefficient is not modified by intestinal resection in rats fed with goat milk-based diet, on the contrary to the standard and cow milk diets. Magnesium apparent digestibility coefficient is greater for the goat milk group, which is reflected in the greater quantity of this mineral stored in bone. These results demonstrate the beneficial effect of goat milk on the nutritive utilization of protein and on magnesium bioavailability, especially in animals with resection of the distal small intestine.

Extra-virgin olive oil increases the resistance of LDL to oxidation more than refined olive oil in free-living men with peripheral vascular disease.

Patients with peripheral vascular disease (Fontaine stage II) are characterized by ischemia of the lower extremities, atherosclerosis and alteration of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. A randomized, two-period, crossover design was used to compare the effects of extra-virgin (VO) and refined olive (RO) oils on plasma lipids and lipoprotein composition and LDL oxidation susceptibility in free-living men with peripheral vascular disease. The oils differed in their antioxidant profile (alpha-tocopherol: 300 vs. 200 mg/kg; phenolic compounds 800 vs. 60) and concentration but not in their fatty acid composition. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group (n = 12) received VO with which to freely cook all meals for 3 mo, followed by a 3-mo wash-out period; they then received RO for the final 3 mo. The second group (n = 12) consumed the oils in the opposite order. Energy, fat, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and alpha-tocopherol intakes were not different when patients consumed the two oils. Profiles of the major fatty acids in plasma and LDL were not different after consumption of VO and RO. The slope of the line for LDL oxidation vs. the line for copper concentration was significantly higher after the intake of RO than after the intake of VO. Total LDL taken up by macrophages was significantly greater when the men consumed RO rather than VO. We suggest that antioxidants present in VO may protect LDL against oxidation more than does RO in men with peripheral vascular disease.

La grabación en video es una herramienta que mejora la práctica docente / The visualization on video it is a good tool to improve the educational practice

Los profesores de Universidad en muchas ocasiones comienzan su carrera docente sin tener una preparación adecuada para el desarrollo de su profesión. Se tienen que enfrentar a un alumnado numeroso y diverso en conocimientos. Utilizan unas técnicas docentes que casi siempre son las que han visto en sus propios profesores y están perdidos en un mundo nuevo que se les puede hacer muy difícil sino reciben ayuda. En este sentido, la Universidad de Granada puso hace dos años en marcha un proceso de mentorización de profesores que se iniciaban en la docencia por profesores veteranos que ya tenían al menos 20 años de experiencia docente. Una de las técnicas para la mejora de la práctica docente es la grabación en video de clases impartidas por los profesores principiantes. Durante el curso académico se graban clases en varias ocasiones dejando un plazo mínimo de un mes entre cada una. Los videos los visualizan por separado, profesores noveles y mentores, para hacer una crítica que después ponen en común en la observación conjunta. Se responde a unos cuestionarios que repasan los aspectos posturales, de lenguaje, de metodología, de evaluación, de integración, de respuesta etc. Los resultados evaluados por los profesores principiantes y mentores se comentan para obtener unas conclusiones y así actuar para corregir los fallos detectados. Por la experiencia que hemos tenido la visualización en video es una buena herramienta para mejorar la práctica docente(AU)

The University teachers in many occasions begin their educational career without having a preparation adapted for the development of their profession. They have to face to numerous students with diverse previous knowledge. The University teachers use educational technologies that almost always are those that they have seen in their own teachers and are lost in a new world that can make them very difficult if they do not receive help.In this sense, the University of Granada started two years ago a process of tutoring of new teachers who were introduced in teaching by veteran teachers who already had at least 20 years of educational experience. One of the technologies for the improvement of the educational practice is the video recording of classes given by the teacher beginners. During the academic year, classes are recorded in several occasions leaving a minimal time of one month between each other. The videos were visualized separately by new and senior teachers, to do a critique that later they discussed in a joint observation. It was answered also to a few questionnaires that revise the postural aspects, language, methodology, evaluation, integration, response, etc. The results evaluated by beginners and veteransare commented to obtain a few conclusions used to correct detected failures. For the experience that we have had, the visualization on video it is a good tool to improve the educational practice(AU)

Efecto de la anemia ferropénica nutricional sobre el contenido en hueso de Ca, P y Fe / Iron deficiency anemia effect of nutrition on the content in bone, Ca, P and Fe

La anemia ferropénica nutricional provoca una alteración de gran importancia en el metabolismo fosfocálcico. Con este estudio pretendemos comprobar cómo la anemia ferropénica nutricional afect ael depósito de Ca y P en fémur y el contenido de Fe en esternón, para ello determinamos Fe y Ca por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica y de P por espectrofotometría ultravioleta visible en ratas macho raza Wistar albina ferrodeficientes. El depósito de Ca y P en el fémur es significativamente (P <0.001) más bajo para el grupo anémico. Esto puede deberse al incremento de los niveles séricos de PTH y cortisol, inducidos por la ferrodeficiencia severa (Campos y col., 2007). Además se produce una drástica disminución (P < 0.001) en el contenido de Fe en esternón, hecho que incide de manera muy negativa en el proceso hematopoyético(AU)

Nutritional iron-deficiency anemia provokes a noteworthy alteration in the phosphorus and calcium metabolism. With the current study we tried to check how the nutritional iron deficiency anemia affects Ca and P deposit in femur and the Fe content in sternum. We determined Fe and Ca by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and P by ultraviolet /visibly spectrophotometry in Fe-deficient male wistar albino rats. Ca and P deposit in femur is significantly lower in the anaemic group. This can be due to the increase of the serum levels of PTH and cortisol, induced by the severe Fe-deficiency. In addition, a drastic decrease in the Fe content in sternum was recorded, fact that affects in a very negative way in the haematopoietic process(AU)