Does increasing meal frequency improve weight loss and some biochemical parameters in overweight/obese females?

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: despite the positive effects of frequent meals on obesity treatment, there have been no definite conclusions on the matter. Objective: the aim of this study is to determine the effects of different meal frequencies on weight loss, body composition and some biochemical parameters of overweight or obese females. Methods: sixty-five adult overweight or obese females were recruited from the Endocrine Department of Ankara Gülhane Education and Research Hospital. Individualistic weight-loss diet programs were implemented (three meals/day for one group and six meals/day for the other group) with a three-month follow-up. Anthropometric measurements and 24-hour dietary records were taken for each week during the study period. Some biochemical parameters (lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin) were analyzed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: forty-three participants finished the study period. Body weight, body mass index, fat mass (kg), fat mass percentage (%), and waist circumference (cm) decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05), while fat free mass (kg) and body water (l) did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Only serum fasting insulin levels decreased significantly in the six meals/day group (p < 0.05). Whatever the differences between the initial and final values of body weight, body composition, and biochemical parameters, they were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Only the decrease in fasting insulin levels in the six-meal group was found higher than that of the three-meal group. Conclusion: in conclusion, body weight, body composition, and lipid profiling are not affected by the number of meals when weight-loss diets are prepared with adequate energy restrictions and sufficient and balanced nutrition.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: a pesar de los efectos positivos de realizar comidas frecuentes en el tratamiento de la obesidad, no existen conclusiones definitivas al respecto. Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio es determinar los efectos de diferentes frecuencias de comidas en la pérdida de peso, la composición corporal y algunos parámetros bioquímicos en mujeres con sobrepeso u obesas. Métodos: sesenta y cinco adultas con sobrepeso u obesidad fueron reclutadas procedentes del Departamento de Endocrinología del Hospital de Educación e Investigación de Ankara Gülhane. Se implementaron programas individuales de dieta para perder peso: tres comidas/día para un grupo y seis comidas/día para el otro grupo, con un seguimiento de tres meses. Se tomaron medidas antropométricas y registros dietéticos de 24 horas cada semana durante el periodo de estudio y se analizaron algunos parámetros bioquímicos (perfil lipídico, glucemia en ayunas, insulina en ayunas) al comienzo y al final del estudio. Resultados: cuarenta y tres participantes terminaron el periodo de estudio. El peso corporal, el índice de masa corporal, la masa grasa (kg), el porcentaje de masa grasa (%) y la circunferencia de la cintura (cm) disminuyeron significativamente en ambos grupos (p < 0,05), mientras que la masa libre de grasa (kg) y el agua corporal (l) no cambiaron significativamente (p > 0,05). Solo los niveles séricos de insulina en ayunas disminuyeron significativamente en el grupo de seis comidas/día (p < 0,05). Cualesquiera que sean las diferencias entre los valores inicial y final del peso corporal, la composición corporal y los parámetros bioquímicos fueron similares entre los grupos (p > 0,05). Solo la disminución de los niveles de insulina en ayunas en el grupo de seis comidas fue más alta que en el grupo de tres comidas. Conclusión: en conclusión, el peso corporal, la composición corporal y el perfil lipídico no se ven afectados por la cantidad de comidas cuando las dietas para perder peso se preparan con las restricciones de energía adecuadas y una nutrición suficiente y equilibrada.

Does increasing meal frequency improve weight loss and some biochemical parameters in overweight/obese females? / ¿El aumento de la frecuencia de las comidas mejora la pérdida de peso y ciertos parámetros bioquímicos en mujeres con exceso de peso/obesidad?

Introduction: despite the positive effects of frequent meals on obesity treatment, there have been no defi nite conclusions on the matter. Objective: the aim of this study is to determine the effects of different meal frequencies on weight loss, body composition and some biochemical parameters of overweight or obese females. Methods: sixty-five adult overweight or obese females were recruited from the Endocrine Department of Ankara Gülhane Education and Research Hospital. Individualistic weight-loss diet programs were implemented (three meals/day for one group and six meals/day for the other group) with a three-month follow-up. Anthropometric measurements and 24-hour dietary records were taken for each week during the study period. Some biochemical parameters (lipid profi le, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin) were analyzed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: forty-three participants fi nished the study period. Body weight, body mass index, fat mass (kg), fat mass percentage (%), and waist circumference (cm) decreased signifi cantly in both groups (p < 0.05), while fat free mass (kg) and body water (l) did not change signifi cantly (p > 0.05). Only serum fasting insulin levels decreased signifi cantly in the six meals/day group (p < 0.05). Whatever the differences between the initial and fi nal values of body weight, body composition, and biochemical parameters, they were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Only the decrease in fasting insulin levels in the six-meal group was found higher than that of the three-meal group. Conclusion: in conclusion, body weight, body composition, and lipid profi ling are not affected by the number of meals when weight-loss diets are prepared with adequate energy restrictions and suffi cient and balanced nutrition

Introducción: a pesar de los efectos positivos de realizar comidas frecuentes en el tratamiento de la obesidad, no existen conclusiones definitivas al respecto. Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio es determinar los efectos de diferentes frecuencias de comidas en la pérdida de peso, la composición corporal y algunos parámetros bioquímicos en mujeres con sobrepeso u obesas. Métodos: sesenta y cinco adultas con sobrepeso u obesidad fueron reclutadas procedentes del Departamento de Endocrinología del Hospital de Educación e Investigación de Ankara Gülhane. Se implementaron programas individuales de dieta para perder peso: tres comidas/día para un grupo y seis comidas/día para el otro grupo, con un seguimiento de tres meses. Se tomaron medidas antropométricas y registros dietéticos de 24 horas cada semana durante el periodo de estudio y se analizaron algunos parámetros bioquímicos (perfil lipídico, glucemia en ayunas, insulina en ayunas) al comienzo y al final del estudio. Resultados: cuarenta y tres participantes terminaron el periodo de estudio. El peso corporal, el índice de masa corporal, la masa grasa (kg), el porcentaje de masa grasa (%) y la circunferencia de la cintura (cm) disminuyeron signifi cativamente en ambos grupos (p < 0,05), mientras que la masa libre de grasa (kg) y el agua corporal (l) no cambiaron signifi cativamente (p > 0,05). Solo los niveles séricos de insulina en ayunas disminuyeron significativamente en el grupo de seis comidas/día (p < 0,05). Cualesquiera que sean las diferencias entre los valores inicial y final del peso corporal, la composición corporal y los parámetros bioquímicos fueron similares entre los grupos (p > 0,05). Solo la disminución de los niveles de insulina en ayunas en el grupo de seis comidas fue más alta que en el grupo de tres comidas. Conclusión: en conclusión, el peso corporal, la composición corporal y el perfil lipídico no se ven afectados por la cantidad de comidas cuando las dietas para perder peso se preparan con las restricciones de energía adecuadas y una nutrición suficiente y equilibrada

Validation of the Turkish version of the Celiac Disease Questionnaire (CDQ).

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to translate, adapt and validate the Celiac Disease Questionnaire (CDQ), which was developed in Germany, for use in Turkey. METHODS: The questionnaire was translated by a forward-backward translation method. Total CDQ score and four subscores (emotional state, gastrointestinal symptoms, worries, social problems) were calculated and their reliability assessed by internal consistency. Reliability of scales was evaluated by internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was assessed by means of a retest after 15 days. Face validity was assessed by patient volunteers and physicians and construct validity was assessed by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was determined by comparing responses to the CDQ with similar subscale scores of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey. Discriminative concurrent criterion validity was determined by comparing the CDQ scores of patients with celiac disease (CD) on a gluten-free diet (GFD) with CD patients not on a GFD. RESULTS: The Turkish version of the CDQ was completed by 205 patients with celiac disease (Female 146, mean age 31.1 year, ± 10.61). The Cronbach-α coefficent of the subscores ranged between 0.73 and 0.93. Test-retest reliability was 0.99 for all subscores. 42 patients with CD and five gastroenterologists assessed the items of the CDQ to be comprehensible and relevant to the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of CD patients. The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated acceptable fit indices for the original four subscales of the CDQ. The correlations between the scales of the CDQ and the instrument for validation covering similar dimensions of the HRQOL ranged between 0.61 and 0.93. In all subscores and in the total score, patients not on a GFD showed a significantly reduced HRQOL (all p < 0.05) compared to patients on a GFD. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the CDQ proved to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring HRQOL in Turkish patients with celiac disease.

Serum antioxidant vitamin levels in patients with coronary heart disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate anthropometric measurements, body composition, and serum antioxidant vitamin levels in men with coronary heart disease (CHD). Thirty-five men with CHD and 31 men without CHD, aged 40 - 65 years, were included this study. Dietary records and anthropometric measurements of each participant were recorded by researchers and serum antioxidant vitamin levels and lipid profiles were analyzed. Fat mass (FM) and the percentage of fat mass (FM%) in men with CHD was higher than in men without CHD (p < 0.05). Lipid profiles were found to be similar in both groups, with the exception of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Men with CHD had lower HDL-C levels than men without CHD (p < 0.05). When the antioxidant vitamin intake of participants was investigated, vitamin E intake in men without CHD was found to be less than in men with CHD (p < 0.05). However, serum vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C levels in men with CHD were found to be lower than in men without CHD (p < 0.05). Based on the results of this study, we propose that high FM, low HDL-C, and low serum antioxidant vitamin levels could be important risk factors for CHD.