An Intervention with Physical Activity and Lifestyle Counseling Improves Health-Related Quality of Life and Shows Small Improvements in Metabolic Risks in Persons with Psychosis.

This research studied the effects of a lifestyle intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and metabolic risk factors in persons with psychosis, using a longitudinal intervention design with a matched reference sample. In participants in the intervention group, scores on the EQ-VAS, which measured HRQoL, improved from 57.6 to 63.3 (SD = 17.8) (p = 0.05), and HDL cholesterol concentration increased from 1.03 to 1.11 (0.19) mmol/l. (p = 0.02). There was no significant change in body weight among participants. The results of this study indicate that a lifestyle intervention based on group meetings improves HRQoL in patients with psychosis and provides small improvements in metabolic risk factors.

A prospective observational study of all-cause mortality in relation to serum 25-OH vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Low levels of vitamin D have been related to increased mortality and morbidity in several non-diabetic studies. We aimed to prospectively study relationships between serum 25-OH vitamin D3 (vitamin D) and of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) to total mortality in type 2 diabetes. We also aimed to compare the levels of these potential risk-factors in patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: The main study design was prospective and observational. We used baseline data from 472 men and 245 women who participated in the "Cardiovascular Risk factors in Patients with Diabetes-a Prospective study in Primary care" study. Patients were 55-66 years old at recruitment, and an age-matched non-diabetic sample of 129 individuals constituted controls for the baseline data. Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV) was measured with applanation-tonometry and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) with ultrasound. Patients with diabetes were followed for all-cause mortality using the national Swedish Cause of Death Registry. RESULTS: Levels of vitamin D were lower in patients with diabetes than in controls, also after correction for age and obesity, while PTH levels did not differ. Nine women and 24 men died during 6 years of median follow up of the final cohort (n = 698). Vitamin D levels were negatively related to all-cause mortality in men independently of age, PTH, HbA1c, waist circumference, 24-h systolic ambulatory-blood pressure (ABP) and serum-apoB (p = 0.049). This finding was also statistically significant when PWV and IMT were added to the analyses (p = 0.028) and was not affected statistically when medications were also included in the regression-analysis (p = 0.01). In the women with type 2 diabetes, levels of PTH were positively related with all-cause mortality in the corresponding calculations (p = 0.016 without PWV and IMT, p = 0.006 with PWV and IMT, p = 0.045 when also adding medications to the analysis), while levels of vitamin D was without statistical significance (p >0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Serum vitamin D in men and serum PTH in women give prognostic information in terms of total-mortality that are independent of regular risk factors in addition to levels of ABP, IMT and PWV. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01049737.

Serum leptin levels are independently related to the incidence of ischemic heart disease in a prospective study of patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: New and clinically useful markers of cardiovascular risk are of essence in type 2 diabetes since ischemic heart disease is a major cause of death in these patients. METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from 476 men and 244 women who participated in "Cardiovascular Risk factors in Patients with Diabetes -a Prospective study in Primary care" study. All participants had type 2 diabetes and were 55-66 years old at recruitment during year 2005 to 2008. Except for established traditional risk markers for vascular disease, we also estimated vascular complications non-invasively by performance of carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV, with applanation-tonometry) and intima-media thickness of carotid arteries (IMT, with B-mode ultrasound). Patients were followed for incidence of ischemic heart disease mortality and morbidity until end of the year 2012, using the national Swedish Cause of Death and Hospitalization Registries. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of a median of 6 years 47 men and 10 women died or were hospitalized for ischemic heart disease including myocardial infarction. Leptin levels were positively related to the hazard ratio (HR) in men (HR for each log 10 unit 4.9, CI 1.99 to 11.8) and women (HR 11.5, CI 1.47 to 89.7). Leptin predicted ischemic heart disease independently of age, HbA1c, BMI, systolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio (men: HR 12.9 CI 3.2-53, women: HR 19.9, CI 1.2-327) This finding of increased risk related to high leptin levels was also statistically significant when carotid-femoral PWV and IMT were both added to the equations in men (hazard ratio 9.2 CI 2.1-41). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the use of serum leptin in type 2 diabetes to add independent prognostic information in terms of ischemic heart disease when compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In the men of the cohort this prognostic information was in addition also to data on IMT and PWV, two non-invasive measurements of the extent of vascular disease. The power to detect a similar relationship in women was less strong due to lower incidence of cardiovascular disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01049737.

Left ventricular diastolic function, assessed by echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging, is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events, superior to global left ventricular longitudinal strain, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine whether left ventricular systolic function, in terms of global left ventricular longitudinal strain (GLS), and diastolic function, expressed as the ratio between early diastolic transmitral flow and mitral annular motion velocities (E/e'), can predict cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively investigated 406 consecutive patients, aged 55-65 years, with diabetes mellitus, who participated in the CARDIPP study. Echocardiography, pulse pressure (pp), and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were analysed. Twelve cases of myocardial infarction and seven cases of stroke were identified during the follow-up period of 67 ± 17 months. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that E/e' was a strong predictor of cardiovascular events (hazards ratio 1.12; 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.18, P < 0.001). E/e' was prospectively associated with cardiovascular events independent of age, sex, GLS, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), pp, and HbA1c in multivariate analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that E/e' and HbA1c were the strongest predictors for cardiovascular events, both having an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71 followed by LVEF with an AUC of 0.65 and GLS of 0.61. In a Kaplan-Meyer analysis, the cumulative probability of an event during the follow-up period was 8.6% for patients with an E/e' ratio >15 compared with 2.6% for patients with E/e' ≤15, P = 0.011. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes, E/e' is a strong predictor of myocardial infarction and stroke, comparable with HbA1c and superior to GLS and LVEF.

Persons with psychosis perceptions of participating in a lifestyle intervention.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe how persons with psychosis perceive participation in a lifestyle intervention, and use these perceptions to present factors to for consideration in future interventions. BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is common in persons with psychosis. A healthy lifestyle is the primary option for preventing and treating metabolic syndrome, which is why the importance of lifestyle interventions has come into focus among health care professionals. Identifying perceptions of participation in a lifestyle intervention can increase the understanding of how to design future interventions. DESIGN: A qualitative, phenomenographic approach was selected, using semi-structured interviews. METHODS: The sample consisted of 40 participants with a psychotic disorder, who had undergone a lifestyle intervention focusing on theoretical education in healthy eating and physical activities. The interviews were conducted in 2011 and 2012, six to seven months after the intervention had been completed. RESULTS: The findings comprise three categories that emphasise the need for a moderate intervention level that facilitates participation and thereby social interactions among group members. The experience of success in the intervention supported the perception of oneself as a capable individual. However, it could also be the opposite, another experience of failure. CONCLUSION: Content in moderation can facilitate participation, and participants can thereby achieve health benefits and find social contacts. In addition to physical activity and lifestyle habits, interventions should have a social focus and be continuous. Professional support is a prerequisite and should facilitate the participants' ability to mirror themselves against healthy people in society by introducing activities that ordinary people do. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Identifying perceptions of participation in a lifestyle intervention can increase the understanding of how to design and manage future interventions. This is also an aspect that is important to consider in everyday clinical practice.

Health-related quality of life and metabolic risk in patients with psychosis.

UNLABELLED: Improved Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an alternative treatment goal for individuals with psychosis, who have up to two times greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity than the general population. AIM: to compare HRQoL in patients with psychosis, especially schizophrenia, with a reference sample and explore the relationship between HRQoL and metabolic risk factors in these patients. METHODS: a prospective cohort study was carried out in specialized psychiatric outpatient departments in Sweden. The patients were invited consecutively. A prospective population-based study of public health in the south-east of Sweden served as reference group. Patients were assessed with psychiatric questionnaires that included Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Health-related quality of life was assessed using the questionnaire EQ5D, both for patients and the population, and several other health status outcomes were used. RESULTS: At 73%, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were the most common diagnoses in the patient group. The results in patients (n=903) and population (n=7238) showed significant differences in lower EQ5D among patients. According to the definition by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), elevated blood pressure was the only metabolic risk associated with lower HRQoL in patients. Raised LDL-cholesterol levels were also significantly related to lower HRQoL. CONCLUSION: patients suffering from psychosis had significantly lower HRQoL regarding all components in EQ5D, except for the pain/discomfort component. Almost half of the patient group met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. According to the IDF criteria, elevated blood pressure was the only metabolic risk factor that had an impact on HRQoL.

Intraperitoneal insulin delivery to patients with type 1 diabetes results in higher serum IGF-I bioactivity than continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.

OBJECTIVE: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with low IGF-I and altered levels of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in plasma. This may be of importance for insulin sensitivity and the risk of developing diabetic complications. We hypothesized that IGF-I bioactivity is affected by the route of insulin administration and that continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion (CIPII) has a more pronounced effect than continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). DESIGN AND METHODS: We compared 10 patients with T1D on CIPII with 20 age- and sex-matched patients on CSII. Blood sampling was carried out 7-9 am after an overnight fast. All patients were C-peptide negative. IGF-I bioactivity was measured in vitro using a specific IGF-I kinase receptor activation (KIRA) assay. IGF-I was also measured by immunoassay together with IGF-II, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2. RESULTS: When compared with subcutaneous insulin, intraperitoneal insulin resulted in (CIPII vs CSII) higher IGF-I bioactivity (1·83 ± 0·76 vs 1·16 ± 0·24 µg/l; P = 0·02), IGF-I (120 ± 35 vs 81 ± 19 µg/l; P = 0·01) and IGF-II (1050 ± 136 vs 879 ± 110 µg/l; P = 0·02). By contrast, log-transformed IGFBP-1 was reduced (P = 0·013), whereas log-transformed IGFBP-2 was not different (P = 0·12). There was a positive correlation between IGF bioactivity and IGF-I (r = 0·69; P < 0·001) and an inverse correlation between IGF-I bioactivity and log10 IGFBP-1 (r = -0·68, P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: The in vitro IGF-I bioactivity was higher in patients treated with CIPII compared with CSII supporting the theory that the route of insulin administration is of importance for the activity of the IGF system. Intraperitoneal insulin administration may therefore be beneficial by correcting the alterations of the IGF system in T1D.

Decreased circulatory response to hypovolemic stress in young women with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is associated with hemodynamic instability during different situations involving acute circulatory stress in daily life. Young men with type 1 diabetes have been shown to have impaired circulatory response to hypovolemic stress. The effect of type 1 diabetes on cardiovascular response to hypovolemia in young women is unknown, however. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Lower body negative pressure of 30 cm H2O was used to create rapid hypovolemic stress in 15 young women with type 1 diabetes (DW) and 16 healthy women (control subjects [C]). Compensatory mobilization of venous capacitance blood (capacitance response) and net fluid absorption from tissue to blood were measured with a volumetric technique. Overall cardiovascular responses and plasma norepinephrine levels were measured. RESULTS: Capacitance response was reduced (DW, 0.67 ± 0.05; C, 0.92 ± 0.06) and developed slower in DW (P < 0.01). Capacitance response was further reduced with increasing levels of HbA1c. Fluid absorption was almost halved in DW (P < 0.01). The initial vasoconstrictor response was reduced and developed slower in DW (P < 0.05). Arterial vasoconstriction was further reduced in the presence of microvascular complications (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DW present with decreased and slower mobilization of venous capacitance blood and decreased net fluid absorption from tissue to blood during hypovolemic circulatory stress. Collectively, this indicates that DW are prone to hemodynamic instability, especially in the presence of microvascular complications and poor glycemic control.

Prerequisites for a healthy lifestyle-experiences of persons with psychosis.

The purpose of this study is to explore prerequisites for a healthy lifestyle as described by individuals diagnosed with psychosis. Forty participants who had performed a lifestyle intervention focusing on physical activities and lifestyle education were interviewed. Conventional content analysis was used. The results are described in two categories: (1) Individual Prerequisites and (2) Being a Part of Society. The individuals said that they got stuck in a state of planning without taking action. It was pointless to make a bigger effort because the psychotic disorder could, at any time, worsen the prerequisites. They also said that they wanted to live like everybody else and therefore tried to adopt a normal lifestyle. Future interventions or professional support by mental health nurses and other health care givers should target the transition from planning to action to achieve a healthy lifestyle, and should help the individual to taking part in society.

Effects of exercise with or without blueberries in the diet on cardio-metabolic risk factors: an exploratory pilot study in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The improvement of insulin sensitivity by exercise has been shown to be inhibited by supplementation of vitamins acting as antioxidants. OBJECTIVE: To examine effects of exercise with or without blueberries, containing natural antioxidants, on cardio-metabolic risk factors. METHODS: Fifteen healthy men and 17 women, 27.6 ± 6.5 years old, were recruited, and 26 completed a randomized cross-over trial with 4 weeks of exercise by running/jogging 5 km five times/week and 4 weeks of minimal physical activity. Participants were also randomized to consume 150 g of blueberries, or not, on exercise days. Laboratory variables were measured before and after a 5 km running-race at maximal speed at the beginning and end of each period, i.e. there were four maximal running-races and eight samplings in total for each participant. RESULTS: Insulin and triglyceride levels were reduced while HDL-cholesterol increased by exercise compared with minimal physical activity. Participants randomized to consume blueberries showed an increase in fasting glucose levels compared with controls, during the exercise period (blueberries: from 5.12 ± 0.49 mmol/l to 5.32 ± 0.29 mmol/l; controls: from 5.24 ± 0.27 mmol/l to 5.17 ± 0.23 mmol/l, P = 0.04 for difference in change). Triglyceride levels fell in the control group (from 1.1 ± 0.49 mmol/l to 0.93 ± 0.31 mmol/l, P = 0.02), while HDL-cholesterol increased in the blueberry group (from 1.51 ± 0.29 mmol/l to 1.64 ± 0.33 mmol/l, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of blueberries induced differential effects on cardio-metabolic risk factors, including increased levels of both fasting glucose and HDL-cholesterol. However, since it is possible that indirect effects on food intake were induced, other than consumption of blueberries, further studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Toe brachial index in middle aged patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: not just a peripheral issue.

AIM: To explore risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) as well as the association between toe blood pressure and subclinical and clinical central vascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHOD: Toe brachial index (TBI) was cross-sectionally analyzed in 742 middle-aged (54-66 years) patients with type 2 diabetes as well as non-diabetic controls and related to other vascular measures (e.g. carotid intima media thickness (IMT), presence of carotid plaque, central arterial stiffness and left ventricular mass index) and previous cardiovascular events. RESULTS: A TBI ≤ 0.7 was seen in 22% of the patients but only one patient had severe TBI reduction (TBI ≤ 0.3). The corresponding figures in the controls were 13% and 0%, respectively. Mean TBI was significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in controls (0.81 ± 0.14 vs. 0.87 ± 0.15, p<0.001). In patients with diabetes, a lower TBI was associated with increased central arterial stiffness (p<0.001), IMT (p<0.001) and carotid plaque (p<0.001) as well as with decreasing glomerular filtration rate (p<0.001). Lower TBI was found in patients with previous macrovascular ischemic events. Furthermore, TBI was negatively correlated with age (p<0.001), diabetes duration (p<0.001) and HbA1c (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: PAD, assessed with TBI, is common in a Swedish middle-aged diabetes type 2 cohort, affecting about one-fifth. As ankle pressure may be confounded by falsely high values in patients with diabetes due to media calcification we conclude that information about TBI may improve the risk evaluation regarding arteriosclerotic disease in both small and large vessels in type 2 diabetes.

A randomized trial of protein supplementation compared with extra fast food on the effects of resistance training to increase metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the effects of resistance training combined with increased energy intake or protein-supplementation on lean body-mass, resting metabolic-rate (RMR) and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy males (aged 19-32 years) performed resistance exercise for 12 weeks aiming for at least 1 hour training-sessions 3 times a week. The participants were randomized to consume extra protein (33 g whey protein/day) or a meal of fast-food/day (1350 kcal, 41 g protein). Body-composition was measured with Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and RMR by indirect calorimetry. Fasting blood samples were drawn before and after the 3-month training period and after 12 months. RESULTS: The body weight increased from 75.1 ± 6.9 kg to 78.7 ± 7.2 kg (p < 0.0001), without differences between the groups. RMR increased from 1787 ± 143 kcal/24 h to 1954 ± 187 kcal/24 h (p < 0.0001, N = 24), which was more than expected from the increase in lean body-mass (increase from 59.7 ± 4.3 kg to 61.8 ± 4.1 kg p = 0.004). Fasting serum-insulin levels increased in the fast-food group compared with the extra-protein group (p = 0.03). ApoB increased from 0.691 ± 0.14 g/L to 0.768 ± 0.17 g/L, p = 0.004, in the fast-food group only. Long-term follow up after 12 months showed that RMR, body weight, total fat and lean body-masses did not differ from baseline (n = 19). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance training for 12 weeks increased RMR and lean body-mass similarly when based on either an increased energy-intake or protein supplement. However, the increase in RMR was higher than expected from the increase in lean body-mass. Thus resistance training could potentially decrease the risk of obesity by induction of increased RMR.

A randomized, double-blind, crossover study comparing two- and four-dose hydrocortisone regimen with regard to quality of life, cortisol and ACTH profiles in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency.

CONTEXT: Current guidelines on how to divide the daily cortisol substitution dose in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) are controversial and mainly based on empirical data. OBJECTIVE: To assess how an equal dose of hydrocortisone (HC) given either four times daily or twice daily influence diurnal profiles of cortisol and ACTH, patient preferences and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). DESIGN: Double blind, crossover. METHODS: Fifteen patients with PAI (six women) were included. Capsules of HC or placebo were given at 07:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 22:00 h in 4-week treatment periods: either one period with four doses (10 + 10 + 5 + 5 mg) or one period with two doses (20 + 0 + 10 + 0 mg). Diurnal profiles of cortisol and ACTH were collected, and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Questionnaires were used to evaluate patient preferences and HRQoL. RESULTS: The four-dose regimen gave a higher serum cortisol before tablet intake in the morning (P = 0·027) and a higher 24-h cortisol(AUC) (P < 0·0001) compared with the two-dose period. In contrast, a lower median plasma ACTH in the morning before tablet intake (P = 0·003) and a lower 24-h ln(ACTH(AUC) ) were found during the four-dose period. The patients preferred the four-dose regimen (P = 0·03), and the HRQoL scores tended to be higher (high score indicates better HRQoL) for the four-dose period. In summary, a four-dose regimen gives increased availability of cortisol and an enhanced effect with a less elevated ACTH in the morning in comparison with a two-dose regimen but the effect on HRQoL remains inconclusive.

Cardiovascular risk factors related to the PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes are gender dependent.

The interaction of the PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism with diabetes and cardiovascular risk is controversial. We studied 173 women and 309 men in the observational CARDIPP trial in which determination of left ventricular mass, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were performed. Blood pressures were measured with 24-h ambulatory technique (ABP). Heterozygotes and homozygotes of Ala were defined as Ala in the analyses. Men with Ala-isoform displayed higher waist circumference (Ala: 107 ± 14 cm, Pro: 104 ± 11 cm, p = 0.045) and body weight (Ala: 95.7 ± 18 kg, Pro: 91.6 ± 14 kg, p = 0.042) than Pro-homozygotes. Men with ALA-isoform also showed higher systolic ABP levels (Ala: 134 ± 15 mmHg, Pro: 130 ± 14 mmHg, p = 0.004), whereas left ventricular mass index, IMT and PWV were unrelated to isoforms. In contrast, carotid-radial PWV was lower in women with the Ala-isoform (Ala: 7.9 ± 1.0 m/s, Pro: 8.5 ± 1.3 m/s, p = 0.01) and levels of apolipoprotein A1 were higher (Ala: 1.43 ± 0.27 g/l, Pro: 1.35 ± 0.17 g/l, p = 0.03). In conclusion, we found that men with type 2 diabetes having the Ala-isoform of PPARγ Pro12Ala had an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile, whereas women with this isoform had lower carotid-radial PWV and higher apolipoprotein A1 levels suggesting a beneficial prognosis. These differences according to gender of the ALA isoform in type 2 diabetes deserve further attention.

Effects of moderate red wine consumption on liver fat and blood lipids: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: There have been no human prospective randomized studies of the amount of alcohol that can induce hepatic steatosis. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy women and twelve healthy men (34 ± 9 years of age) were randomized to consume 150 ml of red wine/day for women (16 g ethanol/day) or double that amount for men (33 g ethanol/day), or to alcohol abstention for 90 days. Participants underwent proton-nuclear magnetic-resonance spectroscopy for measurement of hepatic triglyceride content (HTGC). Blood samples for assessment of cardiovascular risk were drawn before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After exclusion of three subjects with steatosis at baseline a trend towards increased HTGC was apparent for red wine (before median: 1.1%, range 0.2-3.9%, after median: 1.1%, range 0.5-5.2 %, P = 0.059) a difference that was statistically significant compared with abstainers (p = 0.02). However, no subject developed hepatic steatosis. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was lowered by red wine (-0.3 mmol/l, SE -0.1, 95% CI -0.6 to -0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate consumption of red wine during three months increased HTGC in subjects without steatosis at baseline. However, since not a single participant developed steatosis we suggest that the threshold of alcohol consumption to define nonalcoholic fatty liver disease should not be lower than the amount in our study.

Transient increase in HDL-cholesterol during weight gain by hyperalimentation in healthy subjects.

Determination of lipid levels is fundamental in cardiovascular risk assessment. We studied the short-term effects of fast food-based hyperalimentation on lipid levels in healthy subjects. Twelve healthy men and six healthy women with a mean age of 26 ± 6.6 years and an aged-matched control group were recruited for this prospective interventional study. Subjects in the intervention group aimed for a body weight increase of 5-15% by doubling the baseline caloric intake by eating at least two fast food-based meals a day in combination with adoption of a sedentary lifestyle for 4 weeks. This protocol induced a weight gain from 67.6 ± 9.1 kg to 74.0 ± 11 kg (P < 0.001). A numerical increase in the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol occurred in all subjects during the study and this was apparent already at the first week in 16/18 subjects (mean increase at week 1: +22.0 ± 16%, range from -7 to +50%), whereas the highest level of HDL during the study as compared with baseline values varied from +6% to +58% (mean +31.6 ± 15%). The intake of saturated fat in the early phase of the trial related positively with the HDL-cholesterol-increase in the second week (r = 0.53, P = 0.028). Although the levels of insulin doubled at week 2, the increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was only +12 ± 17%, and there was no statistically significant changes in fasting serum triglycerides. We conclude that hyperalimentation can induce a fast but transient increase in HDL-cholesterol that is of clinical interest when estimating cardiovascular risk based on serum lipid levels.

Weight gain by hyperalimentation elevates C-reactive protein levels but does not affect circulating levels of adiponectin or resistin in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Increase of resistin and/or reduction of adiponectin have been implicated in the development of insulin resistance following weight gain. We aimed to study this prospectively in humans. DESIGN: Prospective and interventional with parallel control group. METHODS: Twelve healthy men and six healthy women (age 26 ± 6.6 years) and an age-matched control group were recruited. Subjects in the intervention group aimed for a bodyweight increase of 5-15% by doubling the baseline caloric intake by eating at least two fast food-based meals a day in combination with adoption of a sedentary lifestyle for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Bodyweight increased from 67.6 ± 9.1 to 74.0 ± 11 kg, P<0.001, by the intervention. Insulin levels increased (before: 27.4 ± 12 pmol/l, after: 53.0 ± 22 pmol/l, P=0.004), while plasma levels of adiponectin (before: 5038 ± 3736 ng/ml, after: 6739 ± 7949 ng/ml, P=0.18) and resistin (before: 21.8 ± 19 ng/ml, after: 14.4 ± 6.8 ng/ml, P=0.074) remained unchanged by the weight gain and were similar as in controls. On the other hand, leptin levels increased about threefold following the intervention (before: 5.7 ± 7.4, after: 16 ± 20 ng/ml, P=0.008), and also the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) increased from 0.34 ± 0.44 to 0.71 ± 0.87 mg/l, P=0.03, when two outliers >10 mg/l were disregarded. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperalimentation reduces insulin sensitivity when weight gain of 9% was combined with reduction of exercise. However, the levels of resistin and adiponectin were unaffected by the intervention, while CRP levels increased within this short time period suggesting that low-grade inflammation can occur early in the process of developing a metabolic syndrome.

An obesity provoking behaviour negatively influences young normal weight subjects' health related quality of life and causes depressive symptoms.

In many parts of the world the prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle in combination with high consumption of food has increased, which contributes to increased risk for becoming overweight. Our primary aim was, in an intervention, to examine the influence on health related quality of life (HRQoL) and mood in young normal weight subjects of both sexes, when adopting an obesity provoking behaviour by increasing the energy intake via fast food and simultaneously adopting a sedentary lifestyle. A secondary aim was to follow-up possible long-term effects on HRQoL and mood 6 and 12 months after this short-term intervention. In this prospective study, 18 healthy normal weight subjects (mean age 26±6.6 years), mainly university students were prescribed doubled energy intake, and maximum 5000 steps/day, during 4 weeks. An age and sex matched control group (n=18), who were asked to have unchanged eating habits and physical activity, was recruited. Before and after the intervention questionnaires including Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety Depression scale, Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, Sense of Coherence and Mastery scale were completed by the subjects in the intervention group and by the controls with 4 weeks interval. Six and 12 months after the intervention the subjects underwent the same procedure as at baseline and the controls completed the same questionnaires. During the intervention, subjects in the intervention group increased their bodyweight and developed markedly lower physical and mental health scores on Short Form-36 as well as depressive symptoms while no changes appeared in the controls. The increase of depressive symptoms was associated with increases of energy intake, body weight and body fat. When followed up, 6 and 12 months after the intervention, physical and mental health had returned completely to baseline values, despite somewhat increased body weight. In conclusion, adopting obesity provoking behaviour for 4 weeks decreases HRQoL and mood in young normal weight subjects. The effect is temporary and when followed up 6 and 12 months after the short-term intervention no remaining influence is found.

Doubling of water intake increases daytime blood pressure and reduces vertigo in healthy subjects.

We studied the effect of increased water intake on ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in healthy individuals. Blood pressure was recorded after 2 weeks of either regular (RWI) or extra water intake (EWI, an additional 30 ml water/kg body weight per day) in 20 healthy subjects (10 males, 10 females). The extra water intake (RWI: 1.7 ± 0.59 l, EWI: 3.7 ± 0.84 l, respectively, p < 0.0001, i.e., an increase of 2 liters) induced an increase in mean arterial daytime BP from 89.0 ± 5.5 mmHg during RWI to 91.4 ± 6.4 mmHg during the EWI phase (p = 0.005), while night-time BP was unchanged by the intervention. The visual-analogue-scale (VAS, maximum score of 10) score corresponding to the statement "I often experience vertigo" was 3.1 ± 2.6 during RWI and decreased to 2.1 ± 2. 1 during EWI phase (p = 0.008). In conclusion,two liters of extra water intake for 2 weeks significantly increased daytime blood pressure and reduced a sense of vertigo in healthy individuals.

Long-term increase of fat mass after a four week intervention with fast food based hyper-alimentation and limitation of physical activity.

BACKGROUND: A sedentary lifestyle and increased consumption of energy dense food have become more common in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to study long term effects on body composition after a four week intervention with fast food based hyper-alimentation and limited physical activity in young normal weight subjects. METHODS: Eighteen subjects, mean age 26 (6.6) years, increased their energy intake with in average 70% and physical activity were not to exceed 5000 steps/day. Body composition was measured by Dual energy x-ray (DXA) at baseline, after the intervention and after 12 months. A matched control group was also included. ANOVA and Student's paired and unpaired t-test were used. RESULTS: During the intervention body weight increased with 6.4 (2.8) kg and DXA measurements showed increases of both fat free mass and fat mass. Six months after the intervention the subjects had lost most of the weight gain, - 4.7 (3.1) kg. Twelve months after the intervention body weight had increased with 1.5 (2.4) kg compared to baseline (p = 0.018). DXA measurements at 12 months showed unchanged fat free mass compared to baseline but higher fat mass, + 1.4 (1.9) kg (p = 0.01). After 2.5 years the increase of body weight was 3.1 (4.0) kg (p = 0.01) while there was no change in controls compared to baseline, + 0.1(2.5) kg (p = 0.88). CONCLUSION: One year after a short term intervention with increased fast food based hyper-alimentation there was an increase of fat mass but unchanged fat free mass. As the change of fat mass was larger than expected from prospective epidemiological studies and as there was no increase of body weight in controls it raises the issue whether there is a long-term effect to increase fat mass of a short period of hyper-alimentation.