Evaluating the impact of short-term nitrate-rich dietary supplementation on endothelial function in COPD: A randomized crossover study.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of dietary nitrate ingestion through l-arginine supplementation or dehydrated beet consumption on endothelial function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The secondary outcome was to analyze arterial stiffness, plasma nitrate, and nitrate/protein concentration. METHODS: In this randomized crossover study, subjects with COPD underwent three series of supplementation: (1) l-arginine, (2) dehydrated beetroot, and (3) a placebo that appeared like the other supplements. Each intervention lasted 14 days, with a 7-day washout period between series. Participants underwent endothelial function assessment using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and plasma nitrate levels were measured at the end of each supplementation series. RESULTS: Seventeen subjects (twelve male) completed the study protocol. Only five subjects presented endothelial dysfunction (RHI ≤0.51) at baseline. The mean baseline characteristics included age 66.5 ± 9.4 years, BMI 27.5 ± 4.5 kg/m2, FEV1, 0.79 (0.67-1.06) L. There were no differences (p > 0.05) between the groups or from pre-to post-interventions for RHI and arterial stiffness index (AIx) values, as well as parameters of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, such as blood flow velocity (BFV), shear stress, shear rate, FMD (mm), and FMD%. There was also no differences (p > 0.05) between the groups or from pre-to post-interventions plasma nitrate levels. CONCLUSIONS: Acute dietary supplementation with nitrates, at the doses provided, did not show a significant improvement in endothelial function assessed by FMD, EndoPAT, or plasma nitrate levels in COPD. These findings suggest that a higher dose or prolonged supplementation might be required to achieve a therapeutic effect.

Teste de AVD-Glittre em idosas eutróficas, com sobrepeso e obesidade / Glittre ADL test in eutrophic, overweight and obese elderly

O teste de AVD-Glittre (TGlittre) foi elaborado e validado para mensuração da capacidade funcional durante realização de atividades de vida diária, em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), porém vem sendo utilizado em diversas outras populações. O objetivo do estudo foi averiguar a aplicabilidade através do TGlittre em uma amostra de indivíduos idosos eutróficos, com sobrepeso e obesidade. Trata-se de um estudo experimental e transversal, no qual foram avaliadas 21 idosas, alocadas por IMC, nos grupos eutrófico (n = 8), sobrepeso (n = 6) e obeso (n = 7). Foram avaliados entre os grupos a capacidade funcional (TGlittre e TC6min), qualidade de vida (QV) através do questionário World Health Organization Quality of Life Group Old (WHOQOL-OLD) e força de preensão manual (FPM). O TGlittre apresentou correlação com a idade dos participantes (p = 0,0040) e com o TC6min (p = 0,0086), entretanto não foi encontrada diferença estatística no tempo de execução do TGlittre e na distância percorrida no TC6min entre os grupos. O TGlittre não se correlacionou com a FPM (p = 0,1493) e com o WHOQOL-Old (p = 0,0905). Os dados obtidos no presente estudo corroboram para que o TGlittre seja utilizado como uma variável de medida funcional na população idosa. (AU)

The Glittre ADL-test (TGlittre) has been designed and validated to measure functional capacity during daily living activities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but is now used in several other situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of TGlittre in a sample of overweight and obese eutrophic elderly. This was an experimental and cross-sectional study, which included 21 elderly women, allocated by BMI, in eutrophic (n = 8), overweight (n = 6) and obese (n = 7) groups. They were assessed for functional capacity (TGlittre and 6MWT), quality of life (QOL) with the questionnaire World Health Organization Quality of Life for Older People (WHOQOL-OLD) and handgrip strength (HGS). TGlittre correlated with age (p = 0.0040) and with 6MWT (p = 0.0086), but no statistical difference was found in TGlittre's performance time and the distance covered in 6MWT between groups. TGlittre did not correlate with HGS (p = 0.1493) and WHOQOL-Old (p = 0.0905). The data obtained in the present study corroborate that TGlittre is used as a functional measurement variable in the elderly population. (AU)