Carob pulp preparation for treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

The lipid-lowering effect of a carob pulp preparation rich in insoluble dietary fiber and polyphenols was investigated in a noncomparative, open-label pilot study. Over 8 weeks, 47 volunteers with moderate hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol 232-302 mg/dL) consumed 15 g of carob per day in three products (breakfast cereal, fruit muesli bar, powdered drink) as a supplement to their regular diet. After 4 weeks, reductions of 7.1% in mean total cholesterol and 10.6% in LDL cholesterol were noted; respective decreases after 6 weeks were 7.8% and 12.2% (all P<.001). HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels remained unchanged. Overall compliance was good. Only 3 volunteers (6%) reported a sensation of fullness, which led to 2 of the 3 dropouts. The carob preparation may have value in the dietary treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

[Permissible degree of reduction of diet caloricity for obese patients]. / Dopustimaia stepen' reduktsii kaloriinosti ratsiona dlia tuchnykh bol'nykh.

A study was made of the effects of diets with varying degree of caloricity reduction at the expense of the decreased content of carbohydrates and fat (1200, 600, 300 kcal and calorie-free "zero" diet) on some indicators of lipid, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism comparatively to the patients' clinical status. A group of patients receiving the diet with a caloricity of 1800 kcal served as control. It was shown that the diet with an average reduction of caloricity (1200 kcal) may be applied to the treatment of obese patients for a long period of time both on in- and outpatient basis. The decrease permissible and such a diet may be indicated for a short period of time (1-1 1/2) months), diets with extremely reduced caloricity (300 kcal, "zero" diet) is not advisable), since such diets exert an adverse action on metabolic processes in the body.

[Alpha-amylase inhibitors and soluble dietary fiber in rye: partial purification and effect on postprandial glycemia]. / alpha-Amylase-Inhibitoren und lösliche Ballaststoffe aus Roggen: Partielle Reinigung und Einfluss auf die postprandiale Glykämie.

The protein inhibitor of the alpha-amylase (D-type) and the soluble arabinoxylan of rye (Var. Clou) were isolated from flour and bran, respectively. The isolation of the alpha-amylase inhibitor involves the extraction of rye flour in aqueous CaCl2-solution (2 x 10(-3) M containing the hemicellulase preparation Veron HE (2 g/100 g flour), dialysis and lyophilization (preparation I) and further fractionation with ammonsulfate, using the fraction 20-50% for isolation (preparation II). The arabinoxylan isolation is carried out using extraction of rye bran in 80% ethanol (80 degrees C), centrifugation, aqueous extraction of the sediment, dialysis and lyophilization (preparation I). The further purification using the precipitate of the fraction 20-50% leads to preparation II. The alpha-amylase inhibitor preparation II and the arabinoxylan preparation II were applied in a diet containing wheat starch and casein and fed to diabetic and healthy rats (Levis and Wistar). The postprandial increase of glucose was determined. It was detected that the postprandial increase of glucose is influenced neither by the alpha-amylase inhibitor nor by the soluble arabinoxylan in comparison to the control experiments. However, the alpha-amylase inhibitor of wheat significantly decreases the postprandial increase of glucose. The application of a test meal with alpha-amylase inhibitor of rye to health and diabetic of type-II-volunteers showed no variation of the blood glucose values. The reduction of the increase of glucose by the soluble beta-glucan of oat cannot be confirmed for the soluble arabinoxylan of rye. We conclude that the effect of the alpha-amylase inhibitor as well as the soluble pentosan or glucan has to be examined for each cereal species.

Preparation of severely curved simulated root canals using engine-driven rotary and conventional hand instruments.

This in vitro study evaluated the efficacy and safety of six different nickel-titanium engine-driven instruments used with a torque-controlled engine device and nickel-titanium hand and stainless steel hand instruments in preparation of curved canals. A total of 80 curved (36 degrees) simulated root canals were prepared. Images before and after were superimposed, and instrumentation areas were observed. Time of instrumentation, instrument failure, change in working length and weight loss were also recorded. Results show that stainless steel hand instruments cause significantly less transportation towards the inner wall of the canal than do nickel-titanium hand instruments. No instrument fracture occurred with hand instruments, but 30-60% breakage of instruments was recorded during instrumentation with the engine-driven devices. The working length was maintained by all types of instruments. Newly developed nickel-titanium rotary files were not able to prevent straightening of the severely curved canals when a torque-controlled engine-driven device was used.

[Long-term effects of nutrition with fat-reduced foods on energy consumption and body weight]. / Langzeiteffekte einer Ernährung mit fettreduzierten Lebensmitteln auf die Energieaufnahme und das Körpergewicht.

UNLABELLED: In a 3-month intervention study 70 women (40 < age < 60; 24 < BMI < 29), randomized into two groups, were supplied ad libitum and free of charge with 1) customary fat-reduced foods (D group) or 2) products with normal fat content (K group). After 6 months without any contact to the volunteers food intake and body weight were controlled. RESULTS: During the intervention period fat intake (by 22 g/d) and total energy intake (by 266 kcal/d) of the volunteers in the D group were significantly lower than in the K group. Fat reduction was not accompanied by a compensative increase in the intake of other nutrients. The weight loss was significant in the D group (1.5 kg) and not significant in the K group (0.7 kg). Between the two groups the difference in weight reduction was not significant. In the follow-up a lowered fat and energy intake had been voluntarily retained in the D group and adopted by most of the individuals in the K group. CONCLUSION: The consumption of low-fat products lowers the energy and fat intake and may be useful for a long-term weight control and health support.

[Therapy of obesity--effectiveness of calorie-reducing diets with various basic nutritional relations]. / Zur Therapie der Fettsucht--Effektivität kalorienreduzierter Diäten mit unterschiedlichen Grundnährstoffrelationen.

Within the research project nutrition and performance on altogether 80 test persons during a three weeks' test period the problem was examined, whether the relations of the basal nutrients have an influence on the effectiveness of a diet with an only moderate reduction of calories. The relations of the nutrients were tested in four variants. The daily caloric intake orients at the optimum weight of the test person: 30 kcal/kg optimum weight a day. It was shown that the so-called optimum weight caloric diet led to a sufficient continuous decrease of weight without disturbances of the general state of health. The variation of the relations of the basal nutrients had no decisive influence on the effectiveness.

[The nutritional status in malabsorption syndrome following gastrointestinal operations]. / Ernährungsstatus bei Malabsorptionssyndrom nach gastrointestinalen Operationen.

The nutritional status which includes selected biochemical, anthropometric and immunologic parameters was determined in 36 patients with malabsorption syndromes following gastrointestinal operations. The examinations revealed: Postoperative malabsorption syndromes often lead to considerable nutritional disturbances which cannot be sufficiently estimated by the sole determination of body mass. The nutritional status is a precious tool in judging deficiency symptoms, in instituting a targeted alimentary or substitutive therapy,and in evaluating the therapeutic accomplishment. Optimal long-time alimentary or substitutive therapy permits to achieve and maintain a good or sufficient nutritional status in patients with malabsorption syndromes even if the syndromes are due to extended gastrointestinal operations.

Carob pulp preparation rich in insoluble fibre lowers total and LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients.

BACKGROUND: Recently, insoluble fibre from carob pulp has been found to affect blood lipids in animals in a similar manner as soluble dietary fibre. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate whether a carob pulp preparation containing high amounts of insoluble fibre has a beneficial effect on serum cholesterol in humans. METHODS: Volunteers (n = 58) with hypercholesterolemia were recruited to participate in a randomised, double- blind, placebo-controlled and parallel arm clinical study with a 6 week intervention phase. All participants consumed daily both, bread (two servings) and a fruitbar (one serving) either with (n = 29) or without (n = 29) a total amount of 15 g/d of a carob pulp preparation (carob fibre). Serum concentrations of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were assessed at baseline and after week 4 and 6. RESULTS: The consumption of carob fibre reduced LDL cholesterol by 10.5 +/- 2.2% (p = 0.010). The LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio was marginally decreased by 7.9 +/- 2.2 % in the carob fibre group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.058). Carob fibre consumption also lowered triglycerides in females by 11.3 +/- 4.5% (p = 0.030). Lipid lowering effects were more pronounced in females than in males. CONCLUSION: Daily consumption of food products enriched with carob fibre shows beneficial effects on human blood lipid profile and may be effective in prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia.