Lack of association between metabolic phenotype and food consumption by degree of food processing: results from the Study of Workers' Health (ESAT) / Falta de asociación del fenotipo metabólico con el consumo de alimentos por grado de procesamiento de alimentos: resultados del Estudio de la Salud de los Trabajadores (ESAT)

Introduction: an increase in the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods may predispose to metabolic abnormalities. Objective: to verify the association of food consumption with metabolic phenotype in workers from a quaternary hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: workers of both sexes aged > 18 years were eligible. A food frequency questionnaire and the NOVA classification were used in the food consumption analysis. Metabolic phenotype considered the presence of at least one metabolic alteration (blood glucose, serum lipids, and blood pressure) combined with BMI (eutrophic or excess weight) as follows: 1) metabolically healthy eutrophic (MHE); 2) metabolically unhealthy eutrophic (MUE); 3) metabolically healthy excess weight (MHEW); 4) metabolically unhealthy excess weight (MUEW). Results: from the included 160 participants (mean age, 45.2 ± 1.1 years; 59.4 %, women), 21.9 % self-reported arterial hypertension and 4.4 % diabetes. Most presented excess weight (74.6 %), with approximately 40 % being obese. The MUEW phenotype had higher body fat percentage and central adiposity represented by higher WC and VFA in comparison to the other phenotypes. The lean body mass was similar between the groups. The median of ultra-processed foods was 32.4 % for eutrophic, 32.7 % for overweight, and 34.3 % for obese subjects. No significant associations were observed between ultra-processed food consumption and metabolically unhealthy eutrophic (OR: 1.01; 95 % CI: 0.96-1.06), metabolically healthy excess weight (OR: 1.03; 95 % CI: 0.98-1.08), and metabolically unhealthy excess weight (OR: 1.00; 95 % CI: 0.96-1.05) in comparison to metabolically healthy eutrophic. (AU)

Introducción: el incremento del consumo de alimentos procesados y ultraprocesados puede predisponer a alteraciones metabólicas. Objetivo: verificar la asociación del consumo de alimentos con el fenotipo metabólico en trabajadores de un hospital cuaternario de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: fueron elegibles trabajadores de ambos sexos de edad > 18 años. El cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos y la clasificación NOVA se utilizaron en el análisis del consumo de alimentos. El fenotipo metabólico consideró la presencia de al menos una alteración metabólica (glucemia, lípidos séricos y presión arterial) combinada con el IMC (eutrófico o exceso de peso) de la siguiente manera: 1) eutrófico metabólicamente saludable (EHM); 2) eutróficos metabólicamente no saludables (MUE); 3) exceso de peso metabólicamente saludable (MHEW); 4) exceso de peso metabólicamente no saludable (MUEW). Resultados: de los 160 participantes incluidos (edad media: 45,2 ± 1,1 años, 59,5 % de mujeres), el 21,9 % refirieron hipertensión arterial y el 4,4 % diabetes. La mayoría presentaron exceso de peso (74,6 %), siendo aproximadamente un 40 % obesos. El fenotipo MUEW presentó mayor porcentaje de grasa corporal y adiposidad central representada por mayor CC y VFA en comparación con los otros fenotipos. La masa corporal magra fue similar entre los grupos. La mediana de alimentos ultraprocesados fue de 32,4 % para los eutróficos, 32,7 % para el sobrepeso y 34,3 % para los obesos. No se observaron asociaciones significativas entre el consumo de ultraprocesados y el fenotipo eutrófico metabólicamente no saludable (OR: 1,01; IC 95 %: 0,96-1,06), exceso de peso metabólicamente saludable (OR: 1,03; IC 95 %: 0,98-1,08) y exceso de peso metabólicamente no saludable (OR: 1,00; IC 95 %: 0,96-1,05) en comparación con los eutróficos metabólicamente sanos. (AU)

Lack of association between metabolic phenotype and food consumption by degree of food processing: results from the Study of Workers' Health (ESAT).

Introduction: Introduction: an increase in the consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods may predispose to metabolic abnormalities. Objective: to verify the association of food consumption with metabolic phenotype in workers from a quaternary hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: workers of both sexes aged > 18 years were eligible. A food frequency questionnaire and the NOVA classification were used in the food consumption analysis. Metabolic phenotype considered the presence of at least one metabolic alteration (blood glucose, serum lipids, and blood pressure) combined with BMI (eutrophic or excess weight) as follows: 1) metabolically healthy eutrophic (MHE); 2) metabolically unhealthy eutrophic (MUE); 3) metabolically healthy excess weight (MHEW); 4) metabolically unhealthy excess weight (MUEW). Results: from the included 160 participants (mean age, 45.2 ± 1.1 years; 59.4 %, women), 21.9 % self-reported arterial hypertension and 4.4 % diabetes. Most presented excess weight (74.6 %), with approximately 40 % being obese. The MUEW phenotype had higher body fat percentage and central adiposity represented by higher WC and VFA in comparison to the other phenotypes. The lean body mass was similar between the groups. The median of ultra-processed foods was 32.4 % for eutrophic, 32.7 % for overweight, and 34.3 % for obese subjects. No significant associations were observed between ultra-processed food consumption and metabolically unhealthy eutrophic (OR: 1.01; 95 % CI: 0.96-1.06), metabolically healthy excess weight (OR: 1.03; 95 % CI: 0.98-1.08), and metabolically unhealthy excess weight (OR: 1.00; 95 % CI: 0.96-1.05) in comparison to metabolically healthy eutrophic. Conclusion: consumption of ultra-processed food was high. In this cross-sectional analysis, no association of metabolic phenotypes with consumption of food groups according to degree of food processing were observed.

Introducción: Introducción: el incremento del consumo de alimentos procesados y ultraprocesados puede predisponer a alteraciones metabólicas. Objetivo: verificar la asociación del consumo de alimentos con el fenotipo metabólico en trabajadores de un hospital cuaternario de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: fueron elegibles trabajadores de ambos sexos de edad > 18 años. El cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos y la clasificación NOVA se utilizaron en el análisis del consumo de alimentos. El fenotipo metabólico consideró la presencia de al menos una alteración metabólica (glucemia, lípidos séricos y presión arterial) combinada con el IMC (eutrófico o exceso de peso) de la siguiente manera: 1) eutrófico metabólicamente saludable (EHM); 2) eutróficos metabólicamente no saludables (MUE); 3) exceso de peso metabólicamente saludable (MHEW); 4) exceso de peso metabólicamente no saludable (MUEW). Resultados: de los 160 participantes incluidos (edad media: 45,2 ± 1,1 años, 59,5 % de mujeres), el 21,9 % refirieron hipertensión arterial y el 4,4 % diabetes. La mayoría presentaron exceso de peso (74,6 %), siendo aproximadamente un 40 % obesos. El fenotipo MUEW presentó mayor porcentaje de grasa corporal y adiposidad central representada por mayor CC y VFA en comparación con los otros fenotipos. La masa corporal magra fue similar entre los grupos. La mediana de alimentos ultraprocesados fue de 32,4 % para los eutróficos, 32,7 % para el sobrepeso y 34,3 % para los obesos. No se observaron asociaciones significativas entre el consumo de ultraprocesados y el fenotipo eutrófico metabólicamente no saludable (OR: 1,01; IC 95 %: 0,96-1,06), exceso de peso metabólicamente saludable (OR: 1,03; IC 95 %: 0,98-1,08) y exceso de peso metabólicamente no saludable (OR: 1,00; IC 95 %: 0,96-1,05) en comparación con los eutróficos metabólicamente sanos. Conclusión: el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados fue elevado. En este análisis transversal, no se observó asociación de fenotipos metabólicos y consumo de grupos de alimentos según el grado de procesamiento de los alimentos.

Double Product and Autonomic Function as Predictors of Quality of Life in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Heart rate control by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is impaired in heart transplant (HT) recipients, leading to increased resting heart rate, metabolic demand, and fatigue, which can impair their quality of life (QoL). In this study, we hypothesized the association of hemodynamics and autonomic function as predictors of QoL in HT recipients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with HT recipients aged ≥ 18 years at ambulatorial accompaniment. Blood pressure was used for hemodynamics assessment, and heart rate variability (HRV) was used for ANS assessment. QoL was assessed by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. The significance level was set as P≤0.05. RESULTS: Twenty-two volunteers were included in the study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and double product (DP) were significantly negatively associated with the physical functioning domain of QoL. DP, the number of consecutive normal RR interval differences > 50 ms (NN50), and the percentage of normal RR intervals that differed by > 50 ms from the adjacent interval (PNN50) exhibited negative association with the physical role domain. NN50 and PNN50 were significantly associated with bodily pain, social functioning, and emotional role domains. SBP was negatively associated with the vitality domain. Considering general and mental health domains, no variable demonstrated significant association. DP, NN50, and PNN50 were negatively associated with the total score of QoL. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated DP and HRV as predictors of QoL in HT recipients. These innovative results can become a relevant therapeutic target for improving QoL in HT recipients prior to its deterioration.

Double Product and Autonomic Function as Predictors of Quality of Life in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Heart rate control by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is impaired in heart transplant (HT) recipients, leading to increased resting heart rate, metabolic demand, and fatigue, which can impair their quality of life (QoL). In this study, we hypothesized the association of hemodynamics and autonomic function as predictors of QoL in HT recipients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with HT recipients aged ≥ 18 years at ambulatorial accompaniment. Blood pressure was used for hemodynamics assessment, and heart rate variability (HRV) was used for ANS assessment. QoL was assessed by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. The significance level was set as P≤0.05. Results: Twenty-two volunteers were included in the study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and double product (DP) were significantly negatively associated with the physical functioning domain of QoL. DP, the number of consecutive normal RR interval differences > 50 ms (NN50), and the percentage of normal RR intervals that differed by > 50 ms from the adjacent interval (PNN50) exhibited negative association with the physical role domain. NN50 and PNN50 were significantly associated with bodily pain, social functioning, and emotional role domains. SBP was negatively associated with the vitality domain. Considering general and mental health domains, no variable demonstrated significant association. DP, NN50, and PNN50 were negatively associated with the total score of QoL. Conclusion: This study demonstrated DP and HRV as predictors of QoL in HT recipients. These innovative results can become a relevant therapeutic target for improving QoL in HT recipients prior to its deterioration.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation of PC5 and PC6 Acupoints Increases Sympathovagal Balance but Not Oxidative Stress in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) improves autonomic balance and reduces oxidative stress in subjects with chronic diseases, that decreases the risk of low-grade chronic inflammatory diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. However, these beneficial effects have never been demonstrated in healthy subjects. Objectives: To evaluate the acute effects of TEAS on autonomic balance and oxidative stress of healthy subjects. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with male healthy subjects (18-30 years old), randomly allocated to control (no intervention; n = 14), placebo (placebo intervention; n = 14) and TEAS group (at PC5 and PC6 acupoints; n = 13). The protocol consisted of accommodation (20 min), intervention (40 min), and recovery (30 min) periods. The acute effects of TEAS on hemodynamics were studied through measurements of heart rate, blood pressure and double product; on the autonomic nervous system by assessing heart rate variability; and on oxidative stress by quantifying reactive oxygen species in saliva samples, collected at the end of each period. Results: TEAS increased heart rate and double-product compared to control and placebo groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, TEAS increased sympathetic and reduced parasympathetic tonus, increasing the sympathovagal balance compared to the control and placebo groups. However, TEAS exerted no effect on oxidative stress in saliva samples. Conclusion: In healthy subjects, TEAS at PC5 and PC6 acupoints acutely improved autonomic balance, increasing sympathetic and reducing parasympathetic tonus, reflecting little improvement on hemodynamic responses. Whether it could be used as a cardioprotective strategy remains uncertain since it exerted no effect on oxidative stress.