The effect of nopal (Opuntia ficus indica) on postprandial blood glucose, incretins, and antioxidant activity in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes after consumption of two different composition breakfasts.

Nopal is a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat diabetes. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate whether nopal can regulate postprandial glucose. The purpose for conducting this study was to evaluate the glycemic index, insulinemic index, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) index, and the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) index, and the effect of nopal on patients with type 2 diabetes after consumption of a high-carbohydrate breakfast (HCB) or high-soy-protein breakfast (HSPB) on the postprandial response of glucose, insulin, GIP, GLP-1, and antioxidant activity. In study 1, the glycemic index, insulinemic index, GIP index, and GLP-1 index were calculated for seven healthy participants who consumed 50 g of available carbohydrates from glucose or dehydrated nopal. In study 2, 14 patients with type 2 diabetes consumed nopal in HCB or HSPB with or without 300 g steamed nopal. The glycemic index of nopal was 32.5±4, insulinemic index was 36.1±6, GIP index was 6.5±3.0, and GLP-1 index was 25.9±18. For those patients with type 2 diabetes who consumed the HCB+nopal, there was significantly lower area under the curve for glucose (287±30) than for those who consumed the HCB only (443±49), and lower incremental area under the curve for insulin (5,952±833 vs 7,313±1,090), and those patients with type 2 diabetes who consumed the HSPB avoided postprandial blood glucose peaks. Consumption of the HSPB+nopal significantly reduced the postprandial peaks of GIP concentration at 30 and 45 minutes and increased the antioxidant activity after 2 hours measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhidracyl method. These findings suggest that nopal could reduce postprandial blood glucose, serum insulin, and plasma GIP peaks, as well as increase antioxidant activity in healthy people and patients with type 2 diabetes.

Soya protein attenuates abnormalities of the renin-angiotensin system in adipose tissue from obese rats.

Several metabolic disturbances during obesity are associated with adipose tissue-altered functions. Adipocytes contain the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which regulates signalling pathways that control angiogenesis via Akt in an autocrine fashion. Soya protein (Soy) consumption modifies the gene expression pattern in adipose tissue, resulting in an improved adipocyte function. Therefore, the aim of the present work is to study whether dietary Soy regulates the expression of RAS and angiogenesis-related genes and its association with the phosphorylated state of Akt in the adipose tissue of obese rats. Animals were fed a 30 % Soy or casein (Cas) diet containing 5 or 25 % fat for 160 d. mRNA abundance was studied in the adipose tissue, and Akt phosphorylation and hormone release were measured in the primary adipocyte culture. The present results show that Soy treatment in comparison with Cas consumption induces lower angiotensin release and increased insulin-stimulated Akt activation in adipocytes. Furthermore, Soy consumption varies the expression of RAS and angiogenesis-related genes, which maintain cell size and vascularity in the adipose tissue of rats fed a high-fat diet. Thus, adipocyte hypertrophy and impaired angiogenesis, which are frequently observed in dysfunctional adipose tissue, were avoided by consuming dietary Soy. Taken together, these findings suggest that Soy can be used as a dietary strategy to preserve adipocyte functionality and to prevent obesity abnormalities.

Macronutrientes: relación inversa entre consumo de proteínas vegetales y presión arterial de adolescentes que acuden al Centro de Atención a Pacientes con Enfermedades Infectocontagiosas "Dra. Elsa La Corte" Facultad de Odontología (CAPEI/UCV) / Macronutrients: inverse relationship between vegetable protein intake and blood preassure of adolescents that attend CAPEI/UCV

Existen evidencias que apuntan a la existencia de una asociación inversa entre la ingesta de proteínas vegetales y la presión arterial. En este estudio, los datos de adolescentes VIH +, que acuden a la consulta del Centro de Atención a Pacientes con Enfermedades Infectocontagiosas "Dra. Elsa La Corte" (CAPEI) de la Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), fueron analizados para estudiar la relación entre el consumo de proteínas vegetales y la presión arterial tanto sistólica como diastólica, ajustando por índice de masa corporal (IMC) y consumo de energía. Estudio transversal en 43 adolescentes VIH+ con edades entre 15 y 18 años en ambos sexos, que acudieron al CAPEI en el año 2009. Se analizó la media de dos lecturas obtenidas con 5 minutos de intervalo en una visita. Se determinaron peso y altura y se calculó el IMC. Para la determinación de la ingesta de proteínas vegetales se aplicó la técnica de recordatorio de 24 horas. El análisis estadístico se basó en el modelo de regresión lineal. Los resultados muestran una asociación negativa y significativa entre el consumo de proteínas vegetales y la presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, después de ajustar por consumo de energía e IMC, las diferencias de presión arterial sistólica y diastólica asociada con una ingesta de proteínas vegetales de 57,6 kilocalorías por ciento (variación intercuartil) fue de -2,8 mm Hg y -2,4 mm Hg, respectivamente (p <0,05 para ambos). La promoción y planificación de dietas con altos contenidos de proteínas vegetales puede ser de utilidad para prevenir y controlar valores elevados de la presión arterial

Data are available that indicate an independent inverse relationship of dietary vegetable protein to blood pressure (BP). In this investigation data from HIV adolescents attending CAPEI/UCV, were analyzed to study the relationship between dietary vegetable protein and systolic/diastolic pressures, with control for body mass index (BMI) and calorie intake. This was a cross-sectional study with 43 HIV adolescents 15 to 18 years of age. BP was measured 2 times at 1 visit; height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated; dietary data were obtained from 24-hour dietary recalls. Multivariate regression was applied.The results showed that with control for BMI and calorie intake, estimated average BP differences associated with a vegetable protein intake that was higher by 57,6 %kcal (interquartile range) were -2,8 mm Hg systolic and -2,4 mm Hg diastolic (p <0,05 both). Broad improvement in diets high in vegetable protein can be important in preventing and controlling high blood pressure

Soya protein ameliorates the metabolic abnormalities of dysfunctional adipose tissue of dyslipidaemic rats fed a sucrose-rich diet.

The present study investigates whether the replacement of dietary casein by soya protein isolate could be able to improve and/or even revert the morphological and metabolic abnormalities underlying the adipose tissue dysfunction of dyslipidaemic rats chronically fed (8 months) a sucrose-rich (62·5 %) diet (SRD). For this purpose, Wistar rats were fed a SRD for 4 months. From months 4 to 8, half the animals continued with the SRD and the other half were fed a SRD in which the source of protein, casein, was substituted by soya. The control group received a diet in which the source of carbohydrate was maize starch. Compared with the SRD-fed group, the results showed that: (1) soya protein decreased body-weight gain, limited the accretion of visceral adiposity and decreased adipose tissue cell volume without changes in total cell number; (2) soya protein increased the protein mass expression of PPARγ, which was significantly reduced in the fat pad of the SRD-fed rats; (3) the activity of the enzymes involved in the de novo lipogenesis of adipose tissue was significantly decreased/normalised; (4) soya protein corrected the inhibitory effect of SRD upon the anti-lipolytic action of insulin, reduced basal lipolysis and normalised the protein mass expression of GLUT-4. Dyslipidaemia, glucose homeostasis and plasma leptin levels returned to control values. The present study provides data showing the beneficial effects of soya protein to improve and/or revert the adipose tissue dysfunction of a dyslipidaemic insulin-resistant rat model and suggests that soya could maintain the functionality of the adipose tissue-liver axis improving/reverting lipotoxicity.

Allergenicity and nutritional adequacy of soy protein formulas.

Soy protein formulas are used for different conditions, including cow milk protein allergy, lactose and galactose intolerance, and severe gastroenteritis. Feeding soy protein formulas to normal term infants is associated with normal growth, normal protein nutritional status, and normal bone mineralization. Recent studies of infants fed soy protein formulas exclusively during the first months of life revealed no immunologic abnormality; however, the use of such formulas for management of cow milk protein allergy and for prevention of atopy is controversial. Although in the past decade many studies have stressed soy allergenicity, soy allergenicity has been confirmed by the challenge test in only a few studies. In this article we review the studies dealing with the allergenicity of soy protein formulas. We also present our own data on their use in the prevention and management of cow milk protein allergy.

Estudo do valor nutricional do leite de soja no tratamento de alcoólatras desnutridos / Nutritional value of soya milk in the treatment of malnourished alcoholic patients

A abstinência alcoólica e o suporte nutricional säo fundamentais para a recuperaçäo da desnutriçäo do alcoólatra. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o valor nutricional de uma dieta enteral de confecçäo caseira, à base de leite de soja, gordura de coco e açúcar de milho. Sete pacientes alcoólotras desnutridos, sem evidências clínicas de cirrose hepática ou pancreatite, com média de idade de 36,4 anos, submeteram a três períodos de balanço metabólico nitrogenado (BN), com níveis múltiplos de ingestäo: 0,4, 0,6 e 0,8g de proteínas/kg de peso corporal/dia. Foram determinados o nitrogênio ingerido (NI), fecal, urinario, e calculados o BN e a digestibilidade protéica. Os estudos de correlaçäo entre o NI e o BN resultaram em valor de utilizaçäo protéica líquida (NPU) de 101,3%. A digestibilidade protéica média foi de 101,1%, e o valor de necessidade protéica mínima foi de 0,5g proteína/kg de peso corporal/dia, com limite de tolerância de 0,8g proteína/kg peso corporal/dia. A administraçäo enteral da dieta à base de leite de soja näo causou diarréia, distúrbio hidroeletrolíticos e hipo e/ou hiperglicemia, podendo constituir-se em uma opçäo importante no planejamento dietoterápicodesses pacientes

[Nutritional value of soya milk in the treatment of malnourished alcoholic patients]. / Estudo do valor nutricional do leite de soja no tratamento de alcoólatras desnutridos.

The malnourished alcoholic patient requires frequently hospitalization for treatment and an adequate nutritional support is necessary for recovery of their health. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the nutritional value of an enteral diet based on "soya milk", corn sugar, coconut oil and water. Seven alcoholics, males, with 36.4 year mean age, without any clinical evidence of hepatic cirrhosis and/or pancreatitis, were submitted to three periods of metabolic nitrogen balance (NB), with multiple levels of protein intake (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 grams of proteins/kg of body weight/day). The nitrogen intake (NI), the fecal nitrogen (FN) and the urinary nitrogen (UN) were determined, and the NB and protein digestibility value were calculated. The net protein utilization (NPU) was calculated by correlation studies between the NI and NB, with a value of 101.3%. The mean true digestibility was 100.1% and the mean requirement for that population was 0.5g protein/kg of body weight/day. Using a 97.5% confidence limit, the protein requirement of the enteral diet was calculated to be 0.8g protein/kg of body weight/day. The enteral diet based on "soya milk" can be profitable for this group of patients. It is a good alternative for use in enteral nutrition, easily available, well tolerable, and of high biological value.

[Vegetable protein diets with or without non-absorbable antibiotics for the treatment of chronic portal systemic encephalopathy]. / Son necesarios los antibioticos inabsorbibles en pacientes con encefalopatía hepática manejados con dieta de proteínas vegetales?

Five patients with mild chronic portal systemic encephalopathy (PSE) were studied. The study was designed in a double cross over fashion in which each patient received during period I a 40 g vegetable protein diet as single treatment. During period II three g/day of oral kanamycin were added and then new periods of single vegetable protein diet (period III) and vegetable protein diet plus kanamycin (period IV) were introduced (identical to periods I and II respectively). Each period lasted two weeks. Several biweekly assessements-tests were determined including: mental state, asterixis grade, electroencephalograms, number connection tests, figure connection tests, blood ammonia levels and stool counts of total aerobes/anaerobes per g/feces were done. During the study none of the patients developed acute encephalopathy. In any case it was detected a significant improvement of the PSE parameters assessed with the addition of oral kanamycin. Fecal counts were very similar during the various periods of the study. We conclude that in mild portal systemic encephalopathy controlled with vegetable protein diet, the addition of non absorbable antibiotics is not mandatory for the management of these patients and may represent a potential risk of serious side effects. At the beginning of treatment vegetable protein diet should be administered and only in case of failure, antibiotics are to be indicated.

Treatment of portal systemic encephalopathy: standard and new treatments.

The management of hepatic encephalopathy should be considered accordingly with the precipitating factor and the type of encephalopathy. Ideally the therapeutic approach must be useful for both acute and chronic forms of encephalopathy. Current treatment of hepatic encephalopathy consists of certain well-established measures attempting to identify and treat the precipitating factors, and to reduce the intestinal nitrogenous compounds formation and absorption by dietary restriction or bowel-cleansing with catartics or antibiotics such as neomycin, metronidazol, etc. This review describes briefly several therapeutic modalities.

The relationship between dietary intake, weight change, nitrogen balance, and protein turnover in man

We have examined the relationships between protein turnover, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown and dietary intake, weight change, and nitrogen balance in children who were recovering and had recovered from severe protein-energy-malnutrition. Protein metabolism was measured by giving [15N]glycine and measuring the enrichment of urinary area. The levels of dietary protein did not affect protein metabolism. There were highly significant correlations between both protein flux and protein synthesis and the ad libitum dietary intake, nitrogen balance, and weight change. Over the range of dietary intake, 60 to 270 cal/kg per day, the protein synthesis rate increased 5-fold. Large changes in dietary intake resulted in small changes in protein breakdown, with breakdown being least on an inadequate intake. Changes in the rate of protein breakdown did not contribute to changes in nitrogen balance or body weight. (AU)