Gut dysbiosis is linked to metabolic syndrome in obese Egyptian women: potential treatment by probiotics and high fiber diets regimen.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a cluster of glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and central obesity with insulin resistance. The role of gut microbiota in metabolic disorders is increasingly considered. To investigate the effects of probiotic supplements and hypocaloric high fiber regimen on MetS in obese Egyptian women. A longitudinal follow-up intervention study included 58 obese Egyptian women, with a mean age of 41.62 ± 10.70 years. They were grouped according to the criteria of MetS into 2 groups; 23 obese women with MetS and 35 ones without MetS. They followed a hypocaloric high fiber regimen weight loss program, light physical exercise, and received a probiotic supplement daily for 3 months. For each participating woman, blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, basal metabolic rate (BMR), dietary recalls, laboratory investigations, and microbiota analysis were acquired before and after 3 months of follow-up. After intervention by the probiotic and hypocaloric high fiber regimen and light exercise, reduction ranged from numerical to significant difference in the anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and BMR was reported. All the biochemical parameters characterized by MetS decreased significantly at p ≤ 0.05-0.01. Before the intervention, results revealed abundant of Bacteroidetes bacteria over Firmicutes with a low Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. After the intervention, Log Lactobacillus, Log Bifidobacteria, and Log Bacteroidetes increased significantly in both groups, while Log Firmicutes and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio revealed a significant decrease. In conclusion, this study's results highlight a positive trend of probiotics supplementation with hypocaloric high-fiber diets in amelioration of the criteria of the Mets in obese Egyptian women.

Promoting weaning practices and growth of Egyptian infants by using communication for behavioral development approach.

BACKGROUND: Access to various affordable and nutritious foods is considered a challenging factor for households with limited resources affecting the proper weaning practices. In order to motivate communities to adhere to the right and proper weaning practices, the social aspect should be considered through close communication with the targeted communities. This study aimed to evaluate how impactful the use of the principles of Communication for Development (C4D) that respect parents' beliefs and their cultural norms is in improving the weaning practices and growth of infants in an Egyptian village. METHODS: An interventional three-phase study was conducted for three years. The intervention targeted 464 mothers of infants up to 2 years of age. C4D interventions encouraged each mother to provide her baby with nutritious and varied options through age-appropriate introduction and diversification of nutrient-rich complementary foods under the slogan " enjoy meals like a baby". The effectiveness of the approach was measured by five essential weaning practices: Introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods, Minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, Minimum acceptable diet, and consumption of iron-rich foods. RESULTS: There was marked and significant improvement in the awareness and of the majority of the weaning practices' indicators as a result of the interventions. This was noticed for the timely introduction of complementary foods which increased from 36.7% to 82.0%, the minimum meal frequency indicator (3-5) which increased from 25.3% to 67.3%, iron-rich or fortified food (68.0% to 82%) as well as a regular checkup for baby health at the health unit (71.3%). Indicators that were improved but failed to achieve the target were the "Minimum Dietary Diversity" (reached 32%) and the minimum acceptable diet (reached 22.0%). A significant effect on linear growth especially for females is evidenced by the remarkable decrease in wasting (from 31.5% to 11.1%) and obesity (from 12.0% to 0%) associated with a considerable decrease in underweight (from 40% to 16.7%). CONCLUSION: Targeting caregivers through the C4D approach have succeeded in providing them with the support required for the provision of adequate nutrition for their infants that had significantly marked improvement in growth indices of their infants.

Brief overview of dietary intake, some types of gut microbiota, metabolic markers and research opportunities in sample of Egyptian women.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a phenotype caused by the interaction of host intrinsic factors such as genetics and gut microbiome, and extrinsic factors such as diet and lifestyle. To demonstrate the interplay of intestinal microbiota with obesity, MetS markers, and some dietary ingredients among samples of Egyptian women. This study was a cross-sectional one that included 115 Egyptian women; 82 were obese (59 without MetS and 23 with MetS) and 33 were normal weight. All participants were subjected to anthropometric assessment, 24 h dietary recall, laboratory evaluation of liver enzymes (AST and ALT), leptin, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipid profile, in addition to fecal microbiota analysis for Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroid. Data showed that the obese women with MetS had the highest significant values of the anthropometric and the biochemical parameters. Obese MetS women consumed a diet high in calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrate, and low in fiber and micronutrients. The Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the abundant bacteria among the different gut microbiota, with low Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and insignificant differences between the obese with and without MetS and normal weight women were reported. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio significantly correlated positively with total cholesterol and LDL-C and negatively with SCFA among obese women with MetS. Findings of this study revealed that dietary factors, dysbiosis, and the metabolic product short chain fatty acids have been implicated in causing metabolic defects.

Early Zinc Supplementation and Enhanced Growth of the Low-Birth Weight Neonate.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional deficits are almost universal in Low-Birth Weight babies. Zinc is essential for normal infant growth and its supplementation assists growth probably through insulin-like growth factor-1. AIM: This double-blind randomized-controlled trial aimed at evaluating the role of zinc in catch-up growth of low-birth-weight infants and investigating its proposed mediator. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. Two hundred low-birth-weight neonates were simply randomized to either oral zinc therapy or placebo. Anthropometric measurements were recorded at birth, 3, 6, and 12 months; including weight, recumbent length, head, waist, chest, and mid-upper arm circumferences, and triceps and sub-scapular skin fold thickness. RESULTS: We found that initial and 3-months measurements, except weight, were comparable in the 2 groups. All measurements at 6- and 12-months, except sub-scapular skin-fold-thickness, were significantly higher in zinc group than placebo. Catch-up growth, at 12-months, was significant in zinc group and was significantly higher in appropriate-for-gestational-age vs. small-for-gestational-age, in preterm vs. term, and in male vs. female infants. The median 6-months insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were significantly higher in zinc group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that early start of oral zinc supplementation in low-birth-weight neonates assists catch-up growth, probably through rise of insulin-like growth factor-1.

Anthropometry and body composition analysis in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study was undertaken to describe anthropometry, body composition parameters and assess serum levels of leptin and other biochemical markers of the nutritional status in a sample of Egyptian children with cerebral palsy(CP). METHODS: Anthropometric measurements (body weight, knee height, head, mid-upper arm, waist and hip circumferences, triceps and subscapular skin-fold thickness) were taken. Using the bioelectrical impedance technique, total body water(TBW), fat-free mass, fat mass, fat percentage and basal metabolic rate(BMR) were calculated. Serum levels of total proteins, albumin, ferritin and leptin were measured. Results were compared to that of healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients had significantly lower anthropometric measurements than controls, except for mid-upper arm and hip circumferences, and subscapular skin-fold thickness which were not different in both groups. Fat mass, fat free mass, fat percentage, TBW and BMR were lower in the patients. Serum protein and leptin levels were not different in patients and controls, though other biochemical markers were reduced in the patients. Patients with more severe motor handicap had lower skin-fold thickness, fat percentage and serum ferritin than those with milder affection. CONCLUSION: Parameters of growth, body composition analysis and nutritional status are significantly altered in CP patients especially those with severe motor handicap and oromotor dysfunction.