Clinical nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice of medical interns in Shanghai: Contributory factors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To provide a questionnaire, with Shanghai medical interns as respondents, analyzing knowledge (K), attitude (A), and practice (P) in relation to clinical nutrition, and to explore factors that could affect KAP scores. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The cross- sectional study used 330 interns from Shanghai medical universities responding to general material data questionnaires and KAP questionnaires on clinical nutrition. RESULTS: The mean KAP score was 210.26±25.9 (X±SD), and the score for each part of the KAP questionnaire was just within the threshold for qualified. Multivariate analysis showed that the factors influencing the proportion of excellent scores for K were preventive medicine major (OR=3.45, p<0.001), senior intern (OR=2.52, p=0.002), and tertiary intern hospital (OR=2.31, p=0.006). The only factor influencing the proportion of excellent scores for P was accessing nutritional information one to three times per week (OR=3.95, p=0.011). Nutrition course had no relation to any scores of K, A, P. CONCLUSIONS: The mean scores of overall KAP and the individual K, A, P were all categorized as qualified. The P score was the lowest and only influenced by how frequently information was accessed. In summary, nutrition knowledge and regular practical training gained from intern hospital could be a better way to enable senior interns to quickly and competently address patient nutrition problems at the commencement of their careers.

Effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and antioxidant capacities among institutional older adults in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Older adults are at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, disrupting the balance of oxidation/antioxidation system and leading to serious health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of micronutrient pack on micronutrient status and oxidative/antioxidative biomarkers in institutional older adults. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Subjects aged 65-100 years were randomly assigned to either intervention group or control group (n=49 each), providing a package of micronutrient pack or placebo daily for three months. The concentrations of micronutrients, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected both at baseline and at the end of the study. RESULTS: The changes in concentrations of serum folate (21.1±1.6 vs 0.6±0.5 nmol/L), vitamin B-1 (3.4±0.4 vs -0.2±0.3 nmol/L), vitamin B-2 (11.5±3.3 vs 2.3±1.4 nmol/L), vitamin B-12 (128.8±34.8 vs 13.3±16.0 pmol/L), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (17.8±1.3 vs -0.8±0.5 ng/mL) and plasma zinc (0.6±1.8 vs -9.6±1.9 µmol/L) over 3-months were significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (all p<0.05). While the prevalence of folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D deficiencies were significantly decreased after 3-months intervention (all p<0.05). Moreover, changes in serum MDA level (-1.5±0.2 vs 0.2±0.3 nmol/mL) were remarkably reduced, and the activities of serum GSH-Px (1.3±0.3 vs 0.3±0.2 ng/mL) and plasma SOD (14.3±2.4 vs -2.1±2.4 U/mL) were increased in the intervention group than those of in the control group (all p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The micronutrient pack among institutional older adults was well-accepted with good compliance and tolerance. The 3-month intervention may improve micronutrient status and enhance antioxidative capacities.

Age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function among elderly men and women in Shanghai, China: a cross sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of muscle mass and muscle function with age. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: The study including 415 participants (aged 60-99 years). Upper (UMM) and lower (LMM) limbs muscle mass and whole body fat free mass (FFM) were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) index (ASM/height2) was calculated. Muscle function was assessed by measuring hand grip strength (HGS) and gait speed. RESULTS: Using ASM index cutoff values we found that higher prevalence of sarcopenia in women than in men (33.5% vs 23.6%, p=0.025). In the upper limb, HGS (ß=-0.809) declined more rapidly with age than did UMM (ß=-0.592) in men, but not in women (ß=-0.389 and ß=-0.486 respectively). In the lower limb, gait speed declined more rapidly than LMM in both men (ß=-0.683 vs ß=-0.442) and women (ß=-1.00 vs ß=-0.461). The variance of UMM explained 28-29% of the variance of HGS, and LMM explained 7-8% of the variance of gait speed in women and men respectively. In addition to the common predictors (BMI and age), the specific predictors were smoking, exercise and education for FFM and ASM, and smoking, drinking and exercise for HGS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Loss of muscle function is greater than the decline of muscle mass particularly in the upper limbs in men. However, women are more prone to have low muscle mass than the men. Exercise programs need to be designed gender specifically.

Effect of aerobic exercise and low carbohydrate diet on pre-diabetic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women and middle aged men--the role of gut microbiota composition: study protocol for the AELC randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pre-diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are associated with an unhealthy lifestyle and pose extremely high costs to the healthcare system. In this study, we aim to explore whether individualized aerobic exercise (AEx) and low carbohydrate diet (LCh) intervention affect hepatic fat content (HFC) in pre-diabetes via modification of gut microbiota composition and other post-interventional effects. METHODS/DESIGN: A 6-month randomized intervention with 6-month follow-up is conducted from January 2013 to December 2015. The target sample size for intervention is 200 postmenopausal women and middle-aged men aged 50-65 year-old with pre-diabetes and NAFLD. The qualified subjects are randomized into 4 groups with 50 subjects in each group: 1 = AEx, 2 = LCh, 3 = AEx + LCh, and 4 = control. In addition, two age-matched reference groups (5 = pre-diabetes without NAFLD (n = 50) and 6 = Healthy without pre-diabetes or NAFLD (n = 50)) are included. The exercise program consists of progressive and variable aerobic exercise (intensity of 60 to 75% of initial fitness level, 3-5 times/week and 30-60 min/time). The diet program includes dietary consultation plus supplementation with a special lunch meal (40% of total energy intake/day) which aims to reduce the amount of carbohydrate consumption (30%). The control and reference groups are advised to maintain their habitual habits during the intervention. The primary outcome measures are HFC, serum metabolomics and gut microbiota composition. The secondary outcome measures include body composition and cytokines. In addition, socio-psychological aspects, social support, physical activity and diet will be performed by means of questionnaire and interview. DISCUSSION: Specific individualized exercise and diet intervention in this study offers a more efficient approach for liver fat reduction and diabetes prevention via modification of gut microbiota composition. Besides, the study explores the importance of incorporating fitness assessment and exercise in the management of patients with pre-diabetes and fatty liver disorders. If our program is shown to be effective, it will open new strategies to combat these chronic diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN42622771.

Effects of lifestyle intervention and meal replacement on glycaemic and body-weight control in Chinese subjects with impaired glucose regulation: a 1-year randomised controlled trial.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a lifestyle intervention programme, combined with a daily low-glycaemic index meal replacement, on body-weight and glycaemic control in subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR). Subjects with IGR were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n 46) and a control group (n 42). Both groups received health counselling at baseline. The intervention group also received a daily meal replacement and intensive lifestyle intervention to promote healthy eating habits during the first 3 months of the study, and follow-up visits performed monthly until the end of the 1-year study. Outcome measurements included changes in plasma glucose, glycated Hb (HbA1c), plasma lipids, body weight, blood pressure and body composition (such as body fat mass and visceral fat area). The results showed that body-weight loss after 1 year was significant in the intervention group compared with the control group (-1·8 (SEM 0·35) v. -0·6 (SEM 0·40) 2·5 kg, P<0·05). The 2 h plasma glucose concentration decreased 1·24 mmol/l in the intervention group and increased 0·85 mmol/l in the control group (P<0·05) compared with their baseline, respectively. A 5 kg body-weight loss at 1 year was associated with a decrease of 1·49 mmol/l in 2 h plasma glucose (P<0·01). The incidence of normal glucose regulation (NGR) in the two groups was significantly different (P=0·001). In conclusion, the combination of regular contact, lifestyle advice and meal replacement is beneficial in promoting IGR to NGR.

Effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E and selenium on rat hepatic stellate cell apoptosis.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E and selenium on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), in acute liver injury induced by CCl(4), and to explore their role in the recovery from hepatic fibrosis phase. METHODS: An acute liver damage model of rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (0.3 mL/100 g body weight) twice a week, then the rats were killed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after the first and third injection, respectively. A liver fibrosis model was established by the same injection for 8 wk. Then three rats were killed at 3, 7, 14, and 28 d after the last injection, respectively. The rats from the intervention group were fed with chow supplemented with vitamin E (250 mg/kg) and selenium (0.2 mg/kg), and the rats in the normal control group and pathological group were given standard chow. Livers were harvested and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Sirius red. Activated HSCs were determined by alpha-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry staining. Apoptotic HSCs were determined by dual staining with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and alpha-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were also analyzed. RESULTS: In the acute liver damage model, the degree of liver injury was more serious in the pathological group than in the intervention group. At each time point, the number of activated HSCs was less in the intervention group than in the pathological group, while the number of apoptotic HSCs was more in the intervention group than in the pathological group. In the liver fibrosis model, the degree of liver fibrosis was more serious in the pathological group than in the intervention group. At each time point, the number of activated HSCs was less in the intervention group than in the pathological group, and the number of apoptotic HSCs was more in the intervention group than in the pathological group. CONCLUSION: Vitamin E and selenium supplementation at the given level can inhibit CCl(4)-induced activation and proliferation of HSCs and promote the apoptosis of activated HSCs in acute damage phase. Vitamin E and selenium can also effectively decrease the degree of hepatic fibrosis and promote the recovery process.