Effect of a nutraceutical combination on sleep quality among people with impaired sleep: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

In this randomised, placebo-controlled trial, adults with impaired sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ≥ 5) were randomly assigned using a minimization algorithm to receive a formulation containing L-theanine plus lemon balm, valerian, and saffron extracts, or placebo, during 6 weeks. Objective sleep quality parameters were measured using an actigraphy device. We enrolled and randomised 64 individuals, 31 from the active group and 27 from the placebo group completed the 6 week follow-up. Mean sleep efficiency remained unmodified in the active group, and increased by 3% in the placebo group, the between-group difference in the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.49). Total sleep time also improved more with placebo (13.0 vs. 1.33 min, p = 0.66). Time wake after sleep onset (WASO) decreased more in the active group (4.6% vs. 2.4%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.33). Mean PSQI decreased by 3.11 points (32.3%) in the active group, and by 3.86 points (39.5%) in the placebo group (p = 0.41). SF-36 increased more with placebo (+ 18.3 in active, + 32.1 in placebo, p = 0.68). Salivary cortisol remained unchanged in both groups. No serious adverse events were reported. Among adults with impaired sleep, a nutraceutical combination did not improve objective or subjective sleep parameters more than a placebo infusion.

MDRD is the eGFR equation most strongly associated with 4-year mortality among patients with diabetes in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: We compared the association of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated with the Cockcroft-Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), or the new CKD-EPI without race (CKD-EPI-NR) equations, with 4-year all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed a nationwide, centralized database of all adults diagnosed with diabetes assisted by the Colombian Health System between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019. Plasma creatinine was used to calculate baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and classify each patient in a chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage, by each of the four equations. We used multivariate logistic regression to compare the association between CKD stage and mortality, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses to assess the overall association of eGFR by each equation and mortality. RESULTS: The study included 758,219 patients (58% female, 7.2% black race, mean age 62.3, Glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] 7.4%). There were 35,296 deaths over the study follow-up. Considering eGFR by each equation as a continuous variable, the odds of death decreased by 1.1%-1.5% for each additional mL/min. Compared with CKD stage 1 of each equation, being placed in CKD stages 3a, 3b, or 4 by MDRD or CKD-EPI-NR was associated with greater odds of death than being categorized in the same stages by CKD-EPI. Among patients of black race, the adjusted OR of mortality for CKD stage 4 relative to stage 1 was 4.63 (95% CI 3.39 to 6.35) for MDRD, 3.66 (2.85 to 4.69) for CKD-EPI-NR, 3.01 (2.38 to 3.81) for CKD-EPI, and 2.82 (2.29 to 3.49) for Cockcroft-Gault. The area under the ROC curve to discriminate by survival status was greatest for MDRD, followed by CKD-EPI-NR, CKD-EPI, and Cockcroft-Gault, in that order (p<0.001 for all differences). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other eGFR equations, MDRD showed the strongest association with all-cause mortality in a sample of Latin-American patients with diabetes. This difference was most pronounced among patients of black race.

Medium-chain fatty acids modify macrophage expression of metabolic and inflammatory genes in a PPAR ß/δ-dependent manner.

There is great interest on medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) for cardiovascular health. We explored the effects of MCFA on the expression of lipid metabolism and inflammatory genes in macrophages, and the extent to which they were mediated by the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPAR ß/δ). J774A.1 murine macrophages were exposed to octanoate or decanoate as MCFA, a long-chain fatty acid control (palmitate), or the PPAR ß/δ agonist GW501516, with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, and with or without an siRNA-induced knockdown of PPAR ß/δ. MCFA increased the expression of Plin2, encoding a lipid-droplet associated protein with anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages, in a partially PPAR ß/δ-dependent manner. Both MCFA stimulated expression of the cholesterol efflux pump ABCA1, more pronouncedly under LPS stimulation and in the absence of PPAR ß/δ. Octanoate stimulated the expression of Pltp, encoding a phospholipid transfer protein that aids ABCA1 in cellular lipid efflux. Only palmitate increased expression of the proinflammatory genes Il6, Tnf, Nos2 and Mmp9. Non-stimulated macrophages exposed to MCFA showed less internalization of fluorescently labeled lipoproteins. MCFA influenced the transcriptional responses of macrophages favoring cholesterol efflux and a less inflammatory response compared to palmitate. These effects were partially mediated by PPAR ß/δ.

Case report: desensitization of hypersensitivity against the antisense oligonucleotide volanesorsen.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that causes extremely elevated plasma triglyceride levels, with limited therapeutic options. Volanesorsen is an antisense oligonucleotide approved for its treatment. A 24-year-old woman with genetically diagnosed FCS secondary to a pathogenic variant in APOA5 and a history of recurrent hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis episodes was being treated with volanesorsen, 285 mg every 2 weeks. Treatment with volanesorsen achieved normalization of triglycerides to <200 mg/dl. However, after the fifth dose of the medication, the patient developed urticaria and volanesorsen was discontinued. In the absence of alternative pharmacological treatments, the patient received a novel desensitization protocol for volanesorsen that allowed continuation of therapy, without evidence of hypersensitivity reactions after subsequent administrations. FCS requires aggressive multimodal therapy and close follow-up. Volanesorsen has shown great efficacy, but a significant rate of discontinuation due to side effects has been observed. Here, the patient presented an immediate hypersensitivity reaction to volanesorsen, but the provision of a desensitization protocol was effective, facilitating continued treatment and impacting the survival and quality of life of the patient.

Consumption of Sugary Drinks among Urban Adults in Colombia: Association with Sociodemographic Factors and Body Adiposity.

INTRODUCTION: Calories from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contribute to the development of noncommunicable diseases. There is limited knowledge of the intake of SSBs and their correlates in developing countries. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the consumption of multiple SSBs and their sociodemographic correlates in an urban adult population from Colombia, South America. METHODS: This was a probabilistic, population-level study of adults aged 18 to 75 from five cities representing different regions of Colombia. Dietary intake was assessed employing a 157-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire that inquired about intake over the last year. The consumption of regular soda, low-calorie soda, homemade and industrialized fruit juices, energy drinks, sport drinks, malt drinks and traditional sugar cane infusion ("agua de panela") was analyzed for the total sample and subgroups defined by sociodemographic and clinical factors of interest. RESULTS: The study included 1491 individuals (female: 54.2%, mean age: 45.3, overweight: 38.0%, obese: 23.3%). Sugary beverages contributed, on average, 287 Cal/d among women and 334 Cal/d among men, representing 8.9% of total daily calories (TDC). Women in the lowest SEL consumed 10.6% of their TDC from sugary drinks, as opposed to 6.6% for those in a high SEL. For men, this difference was not present (p-value for interaction = 0.039). Interestingly, a higher educational level correlated with a lower consumption of calories from sugary drinks only among men. Fruit juices were by far the main source of sugary drinks, and their consumption did not change sizably by sex and socioeconomic or educational level. Among women, there was a negative association between socioeconomic level (SEL) and consumption of regular soda, a 50% difference between extreme levels. The intake of low-calorie soda was much higher among men than women, and it more than tripled in the highest vs. lowest SEL among men. The consumption of energy drinks was heavily concentrated in men of low SEL. CONCLUSION: Colombian urban adults obtain a considerable proportion of their calories from sugary drinks, especially vulnerable groups such as women with lower education. Given the recent acceleration of the obesity epidemic in Latin America, strategies to limit the intake of such liquid calories may provide important public health benefits.

Impact of metabolic control on all-cause mortality in a nationwide cohort of patients with diabetes from Colombia.

Objective: The magnitude of the mortality benefit conferred by good integral metabolic control in diabetes in not sufficiently known, especially among Latin American patients. We prospectively studied the association between sustained control of blood glucose (HbA1c<7%), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (<130 mmHg) and LDL (LDLc, <100mg/dL) and non-HDL (non-HDLc, <130 mg/dL) cholesterol, and death from any cause among all adult patients with diagnosed diabetes in Colombia. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from a nationwide, centralized, mandatory registry of all patients with diagnosed diabetes assisted by the Colombian health system between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019. We estimated the associations of sustained achievement of each goal, and of the joint triple goal (HbA1c + SBP + LDLc) with all-cause death. Associations were assessed after adjustment for sex, age, race, insurance type and BMI in multivariable logistic models. Results: We studied 1 352 846 people with diabetes. Sustained SBP (OR 0.42 [0.41-0.43]), HbA1c (OR 0.25 [0.24-0.26]) and LDLc (OR 0.28 [0.27-0.29]) control had strong negative associations with death. Moreover, among the 5.4% of participants who achieved joint, sustained metabolic control, the OR for death was 0.19 (0.18-0.21). Importantly, the impact of sustained, joint metabolic control was significantly smaller for patients of black race compared to other races (OR 0.31 [0.23-0.43] versus 0.18 [0.17-0.20], p-value for interaction <0.001), mostly at the expense of a smaller impact of LDLc control. The results were similar across body-mass index categories. Conclusions: Sustained and simultaneous metabolic control was associated with remarkably lower odds of death.

Strong Negative Association of non-HDL Cholesterol Goal Achievement With Incident CKD Among Adults With Diabetes.

Context: The relative importance of the control of different metabolic risk factors for the prevention of chronic kidney disease among patients with diabetes in real life conditions is insufficiently understood. Objective: We evaluated the effect of the achievement of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLc) goals (ABC goals) on the development of incident chronic kidney disease (iCKD) among patients with diabetes. Methods: In a nationwide registry of all individuals diagnosed with diabetes assisted by the health system in Colombia, we analyzed the association between baseline or sustained goal achievement and development of iCKD over a 4-year follow-up. iCKD was defined as a new occurrence of an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or kidney transplant. Results: The study included 998 790 adults with diabetes (56% female, mean age 59). There were 125 626 cases of iCKD. After adjustment for multiple confounders, a baseline SBP less than 130 mm Hg (odds ratio [OR] 0.79 [0.78-0.80]) and a baseline HbA1c less than 7.0% (OR 0.86 [0.85-0.87]) were negatively associated with iCKD. Sustained achievement showed stronger negative associations with iCKD than just baseline achievement. Considering each goal separately, sustained non-HDLc less than 130 mg/dL had the strongest negative association with iCKD (OR 0.67 [0.65-0.69]). Patients who maintained the triple ABC goal over the entire follow-up had 32% (29-34) lower odds of developing CKD, 38% (34-42) if they additionally kept a normal body mass index (BMI). Sustained ABC control including a normal BMI was more strongly associated with a lower incidence of CKD in patients of Black race (OR 0.72 vs 0.89; P for interaction = .002). Conclusion: At the country level, sustained achievement of ABC goals and most especially non-HDLc were associated with substantial reductions in iCKD.

The Role of Angiopoietins in Neovascular Diabetes-Related Retinal Diseases.

Diabetic retinopathy is a devastating and frequent complication of poorly controlled diabetes, whose pathogenesis is still only partially understood. Advances in basic research over the last two decades have led to the discovery of angiopoietins, proteins that strongly influence the growth and integrity of blood vessels in many vascular beds, with particular importance in the retina. Angiopoietin 1 (Ang1), produced mostly by pericytes and platelets, and angiopoietin 2 (Ang2), produced mainly by endothelial cells, bind to the same receptor (Tie2), but exert opposing effects on target cells. Ang1 maintains the stability of the mature vasculature, while Ang2 promotes vessel wall destabilization and disruption of the connections between endothelial cells and pericytes. Human retinal endothelial cells exposed to Ang2 show reduced membrane expression of the adhesion molecule VE-cadherin, and patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema have markedly increased vitreal concentrations of Ang2. Faricimab, a bi-specific antibody simultaneously directed against Ang2 and VEGF, has shown promising results in clinical trials among patients with diabetic retinopathy, and other agents targeting the angiopoietin system are currently in development.

Peri-event plasma PCSK9 and hsCRP after an acute myocardial infarction correlate with early deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It is important to identify patients at increased risk of worsening of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after a myocardial infarction (MI). We aimed to identify the association of various potential biomarkers with LVEF impairment after an MI in South American patients. METHODS: We studied adult patients admitted to a University Hospital and diagnosed with an acute MI. Plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and heart-type fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP3) were determined in samples drawn shortly after the event. Participants had a follow-up visit at least 45 days after the event. The primary endpoint was defined as any decline in LVEF at follow-up relative to baseline. RESULTS: The study included 106 patients (77.4% men, 22.6% women), mean age was 64.1, mean baseline LVEF was 56.6, 19% had a prior MI. We obtained a follow-up evaluation in 100 (94.4%) of participants, mean follow-up time was 163 days. There was a significant correlation between baseline PCSK9 and hsCRP (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Baseline hsCRP concentrations were higher in patients who developed the endpoint than in those who did not (32.1 versus 21.2 mg/L, p = 0.066). After multivariate adjustment, baseline PCSK9, male sex and age were significantly associated with impairment in LVEF. The absolute change in LVEF was inversely correlated with baseline hsCRP (standardized coefficient = - 0.246, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: High plasma levels of PCSK9 and hsCRP were associated with early decreases in LVEF after an MI in Latin American patients.

Achievement of treatment goals among adults with diabetes in Colombia, 2015-2019: Results from a national registry.

AIMS: To assess the achievement of essential treatment goals among patients with diabetes in Colombia. METHODS: We analyzed data from a nationwide registry of all individuals with diagnosed diabetes, hypertension or CKD assisted by the health system. We explored the prevalence of treatment goals (HbA1c < 7% [<53 mmol/mol], systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 130 mmHg and LDLc < 100 mg/dL), and their variations by race and type of health insurance, between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019. RESULTS: We studied 1 352 846 patients with diagnosed diabetes. The prevalence of HbA1c < 7% (<53 mmol/mol) remained steady at 52%, systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 130 mmHg was also stable at 80-82%. Meanwhile, the prevalence of both LDLc < 100 mg/dL and non-HDLc < 130 mg/dL increased by 6 percentage points. Achievement of the triple HbA1c + SBP + LDLc goal was only 21.4% in 2015, increasing to 24.4% by 2019. Goal achievement was consistently lower among patients of black race, especially for HbA1c (5% lower than other races), but also for the SBP, LDLc and joint goals. Patients under third-party insurance reached better HbA1c, SBP, and LDLc control. CONCLUSIONS: Achievement of treatment goals of patients with diabetes in Colombia remains substantially low, despite improvements in LDLc control.

Severe hypertriglyceridemia secondary to splice-site and missense variants in LMF1 in three patients from Ecuador.

Rare pathogenic variants in the LMF1 gene, which encodes lipase maturation factor 1, are a minor cause of familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) and severe hypertriglyceridemia. In this report we present three adult patients, all of them born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, with severe hypertriglyceridemia secondary to biallelic LMF1 variants. In two of the three cases (patients 1 and 3), the presentation was acute pancreatitis secondary to plasma triglycerides well above 10 mmol/L. The other case (patient 2) was a sibling of one of the initial patients, who was asymptomatic but markedly hypertriglyceridemic. Next-generation sequencing revealed a homozygous splice-site variant in exon 6 of LMF1 in patients 1 and 2 (c.897G>A, p.Gln299=), and a homozygous missense variant in exon 2 of LMF1 in patient 3 (c.233T>C, p.Leu78Pro). The finding of two disease-causing variants in three patients from the same location raises the question of whether LMF1 may be a more prevalent cause of severe hypertriglyceridemia among Latin-American patients.

Social inequalities shape diet composition among urban Colombians: The Colombian Nutritional Profiles cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of socioeconomic position on habitual dietary intake in Colombian cities. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study in five Colombian cities. Dietary intake was assessed with a 157-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire previously developed for the Colombian population. Nutrient analysis was performed using national and international food composition tables. Socioeconomic position was assessed with two indicators: a government-defined, asset-based, household-level index called socioeconomic stratum (SES) and, among adults, highest educational level attained. SETTING: The five main urban centers of Colombia: Bogotá, Medellin, Barranquilla, Cali and Bucaramanga. PARTICIPANTS: Probabilistic, multistage sample of 1865 participants (n=1491 for analyses on education). RESULTS: For both sexes, increasing SES was associated with a lower consumption of energy (p-trend <0.001 in both sexes), carbohydrates (p-trend ˂0.001 in both sexes), sodium (p-trend=0.005 in males, <0.001 in females), saturated fatty acids (p-trend <0.001 in both sexes) and among females, cholesterol (p-trend=0.002). More educated men consumed significantly less energy and carbohydrates (p-trend=0.036 and ˂0.001, respectively). Among men, intake of trans fats increased monotonically with educational level, being 21% higher among college graduates relative to those with only elementary education (p-trend=0.023). Among women, higher educational level was associated with higher MUFA intake (p-trend=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: SES and educational level are strong correlates of the usual diet of urban Colombians. Economically deprived and less educated segments of society display dietary habits that make them vulnerable to chronic diseases and should be the primary target of public health nutrition policies.

100 YEARS OF VITAMIN D: Dietary intake and main food sources of vitamin D and calcium in Colombian urban adults.

Data on dietary calcium and vitamin D intake from Latin America are scarce. We explored the main correlates and dietary sources of calcium and vitamin D in a probabilistic, population-based sample from Colombia. We studied 1554 participants aged 18-75 from five different geographical regions. Dietary intake was assessed by employing a 157-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and national and international food composition tables. Daily vitamin D intake decreased with increasing age, from 230 IU/day in the 18-39 age group to 184 IU/day in the 60-75 age group (P -trend < 0.001). Vitamin D intake was positively associated with socioeconomic status (SES) (196 IU/day in lowest vs 234 in highest SES, P-trend < 0.001), and with educational level (176 IU/day in lowest vs 226 in highest education level, P-trend < 0.001). Daily calcium intake also decreased with age, from 1376 mg/day in the 18-39 age group to 1120 mg/day in the 60-75 age group (P -trend < 0.001). Calcium intake was lowest among participants with only elementary education, but the absolute difference in calcium intake between extreme education categories was smaller than for vitamin D (1107 vs 1274 mg/day, P-trend = 0.023). Daily calcium intake did not correlate with SES (P -trend = 0.74). Eggs were the main source of overall vitamin D, albeit their contribution decreased with increasing age. Dairy products contributed at least 48% of dietary calcium in all subgroups, mostly from cheese-containing traditional foods. SES and education were the key correlates of vitamin D and calcium intake. These findings may contribute to shape public health interventions in Latin American countries.

Poor performance of anti-mitochondrial antibodies for the diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis in female Colombian patients: A single-center study.

BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a serious disease that causes significant morbidity. PBC is confirmed with liver biopsy but autoantibodies are frequently used as proxies for diagnosis. The performance of autoantibodies for the diagnosis of PBC seems to vary widely across populations. AIM: To assess the diagnostic performance of several autoantibodies for the diagnosis of PBC in Latin American individuals. METHODS: We studied 85 female adult Colombians, 43 cases with biopsy-confirmed PBC and 42 controls in whom a liver biopsy ruled out PBC. Plasma anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs) and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs), as well as total immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG were determined using immunofluorescence or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all study participants within 1 year of the biopsy. For all variables, values analyzed were those closest to the date of the biopsy. Patients with viral or alcoholic hepatitis were excluded. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 58.7 years for cases and 56.9 years for controls, and the body mass index was lower among cases. Most cases received ursodeoxycholic acid, while most controls received vitamin E. Sjögren syndrome and Hashimoto's thyroiditis were the most frequent autoimmune comorbidities of PBC. The prevalence of AMA positivity among PBC cases was unexpectedly low. The sensitivity and specificity values were respectively 44.2% and 76.2% for AMA, 74.4% and 38.1% for ANA, 14.0% and 73.8% for ASMA, 26.7% and 80.0% for IgG, and 57.1% and 85.7% for IgM. The combination of positive AMA plus positive IgM had 91% positive predictive value for PBC. Among AMA-negative cases, the most prevalent antibodies were ANA (87.5%). In all, 62% of AMA-positive and 84.6% of IgM-positive individuals had fibrosis in their biopsy. CONCLUSION: AMA positivity was very low among female Latin American patients with PBC. The performance of all antibodies was quite limited. These results highlight the urgent need for better PBC biomarkers.

Diabetes and associated dietary intake among urban adults: COPEN (Colombian Nutritional Profiles)-a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is increasing rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of diabetes, describe its correlates and its associated dietary intake in urban adults from Colombia. SETTING: The Colombian Study of Nutritional Profiles was a population-based, cross-sectional, multi-stage probabilistic sampling survey designed to represent the five main Colombian cities. PARTICIPANTS: Between June and November 2018, we studied 736 non-pregnant participants aged 18 or older. Diabetes was defined as a random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL, self-reported prior diagnosis of diabetes or use of any oral or injectable antidiabetic medication(s). Participants also fulfilled a detailed 157-item food-frequency questionnaire. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of diabetes, dietary intake of key nutrients, achievement of dietary goals among individuals with diabetes. RESULTS: The overall estimated prevalence of diabetes was 10.1%, with no difference by sex (9.6% in women, 10.8% in men, p=0.43). The association between diabetes and education level depended on sex, diabetes was more prevalent among more educated men and less educated women. Abdominal obesity was associated with a 65% increase in diabetes prevalence among men, and a 163% increase in women. Individuals with diabetes reported lower mean consumption of all nutrients, but after adjustment by sex, age, socioeconomic level (SEL) and body mass index, only their lower sodium consumption remained significant (p=0.013). The proportion of non-achievement of dietary intake goals among participants with diabetes was 94.4% for saturated fats, 86.7% for sodium, 84.4% for fibre and 80% for trans fats. In multivariate logistic regression models, age was the strongest independent correlate of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes by self-report, random plasma glucose or medication use was highly prevalent among Colombian adults. There were large differences by abdominal obesity status, region of residence, SEL and educational level. The proportion of individuals with diabetes meeting dietary recommendations was alarmingly low.

Corrigendum: Dietary Fish, Fish Nutrients, and Immune Function: A Review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.617652.].

Fish Consumption: A Review of Its Effects on Metabolic and Hormonal Health.

Dietary habits are a major determinant of the risk of chronic disease, particularly metabolic and endocrine disorders. Fish as a food group are a unique source of nutrients with metabolic and hormonal importance including omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, selenium, vitamin D, taurine and carnitine. Fish are also a source of high quality protein and have in general low caloric density. The impact of these nutrients on cardiovascular risk has been extensively reviewed, but the impact of fish on the broader field of endocrine and metabolic health is sometimes not sufficiently appreciated. This article aimed to summarize the impact the effect of regular fish consumption on conditions like the metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome and the menopausal transition, which are in and of themselves significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The review revealed that scientific evidence from food science, translational research, epidemiologic studies and interventional trials shows that regular fish consumption has a positive impact on thyroid homeostasis, facilitates maintenance of a healthy body weight, reduces the magnitude of age-associated increases in blood pressure, improves glucose homeostasis helping prevent diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and has a positive impact on muscle mass preservation among the elderly. These effects are mediated by multiple mechanisms, only some of which have been identified. For most of these effects it holds true that the potential benefits are more substantial when baseline fish consumption is low.

Diabetes and Bone Fragility.

Diabetes is a highly prevalent disease with complications that impact most bodily systems. However, the impact of diabetes on bone health is frequently ignored or underestimated. Both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with a higher risk of fractures, albeit through different mechanisms. T1D is characterized by near total insulinopenia, which affects the anabolic tone of bone and results in reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Meanwhile, patients with T2D have normal or high BMD, but carry an increased risk of fractures due to alterations of bone microarchitecture and a local humoral environment that stimulates osteoclast activity. Chronic hyperglycemia induces non-enzymatic glycation of collagen in both types of diabetes. Epidemiological evidence confirms a largely increased fracture risk in T1D and T2D, but also that it can be substantially reduced by opportune monitoring of fracture risk and appropriate treatment of both diabetes itself and osteopenia or osteoporosis if they are present. In this review, we summarize the mechanistic, epidemiological, and clinical evidence that links diabetes and bone fragility, and describe the impact of available diabetes treatments on bone health.

Effects of oral contraceptives on metabolic parameters in adult premenopausal women: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) containing different progestins on parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism through a systematic review and meta-analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Premenopausal women aged 18 or older, who received oral contraceptives containing chlormadinone, cyproterone, drospirenone, levonorgestrel, desogestrel, dienogest, gestodene or norgestimate, for at least 3 months. Outcome variables were changes in plasma lipids, BMI, insulin resistance and plasma glucose. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for randomized trials and estimated the pooled within-group change in each outcome variable using a random-effects model. We performed subgroup analyses by study duration (<12 months vs ≥12 months) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) status. RESULTS: Eighty-two clinical trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All progestins (except dienogest) increased plasma TG, ranging from 12.1 mg/dL for levonorgestrel (P < 0.001) to 35.1 mg/dL for chlormadinone (P < 0.001). Most progestins also increased HDLc, with the largest effect observed for chlormadinone (+9.6 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and drospirenone (+7.4 mg/dL, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, levonorgestrel decreased HDLc by 4.4 mg/dL (P < 0.001). Levonorgestrel (+6.8 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and norgestimate (+11.5 mg/dL, P = 0.003) increased LDLc, while dienogest decreased it (-7.7 mg/dL, P = 0.04). Cyproterone slightly reduced plasma glucose. None of the progestins affected BMI or HOMA-IR. Similar results were observed in subgroups defined by PCOS or study duration. CONCLUSION: Most progestins increase both TG and HDLc, their effect on LDLc varies widely. OC have minor or no effects on BMI, HOMA-IR and glycemia. The antiandrogen progestins dienogest and cyproterone displayed the most favorable metabolic profile, while levonorgestrel displayed the least favorable.

Intermittent Fasting as a Trigger of Ketoacidosis in a Patient With Stable, Long-term Type 1 Diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) with a high morbidity and mortality. Diabetic ketoacidosis is usually triggered by metabolic stressors that increase insulin requirements like infection, trauma, surgery, or some medications. Ketogenic diets are nutritional regimes that drastically reduce the intake of carbohydrates in order to increase circulating ketones and reduce appetite. Intermittent fasting diets similarly aim to impact appetite and body weight, but through the restriction of feeding to specific periods of time or days. A 58-year-old woman with T1DM and no prior episodes of DKA since her diagnosis 16 years ago was admitted to the emergency room with severe metabolic acidosis, ketosis, dehydration, and back pain after 9 days of practicing a ketogenic, intermittent fasting diet on the advice of a friend. The standard management of DKA led to the resolution of the symptoms and metabolic alterations, but this might not be the case in other patients. This case highlights the relevance of close professional monitoring of dietary and insulin schemes in patients with T1DM, and of the adequate nutritional education of patients in order to avoid having them follow fashionable dietary trends without knowledge of their implications.