Interdisciplinary Therapy Improves the Mediators of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents with Obesity.

Obesity is associated with inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality, as well as a range of other conditions. Obesity is a growing global problem, not only in adults, but also in children and adolescents. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effects of a one-year interdisciplinary intervention on the cardiometabolic and inflammatory profiles of adolescents with obesity. Twenty-two adolescents completed the intervention, which included clinical, nutritional, psychological and physical exercise counselling. Body composition, and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular risk biomarkers were analyzed before and after one year of intervention. Visceral and subcutaneous fat were determined ultrasonographically. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) equation were used to estimate insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, respectively. A reduction in body mass, adiposity, glucose, and insulin and an improved lipid profile were observed after the therapy. Hyperleptinemia was reduced from 77.3% to 36.4%. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), leptin, the leptin/adiponectin ratio, and the adiponectin/leptin ratio were also significantly improved. Metabolic changes were associated with a reduction in visceral fat and waist circumference, and adiponectin and the leptin/adiponectin ratio were associated with HOMA-IR. The interdisciplinary therapy promoted improvements in hyperleptinemia and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular biomarkers.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and risk for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review.

Objective: To investigate the association of the consumption of ultra-processed foods with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in adults and the elderly. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022375944). Methods: This is a systematic review reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Observational studies were included without language or publication year restrictions. Studies assessing only other types of dementia as outcomes, not considering Alzheimer's disease, were excluded. The research was carried out in the Medline, Embase, Lilacs databases, and a survey of the gray literature between April and November 2023, in addition to citation search in the included studies. Data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. The risk of bias and methodological quality of the included studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for cohort studies. Results: A total of 5 studies involving 617,502 adults and elderly people were included. All studies had a cohort design and were considered of high methodological quality. Of the included studies, 4 demonstrated a risk association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the development of Alzheimer's disease, while 1 study showed a risk association only with the development of cognitive decline. Discussion: The association between ultra-processed foods consumption and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is a recent topic in scientific studies, given that the oldest study identified by our review dates back to 2017. Of the four included studies, three showed a significant association between ultra-processed foods consumption and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Impact of dietary patterns according to NOVA food groups: 2 y after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Appropriate eating habits are crucial for sustained weight loss after bariatric surgery. A qualitative analysis of food consumption in the late postoperative period of bariatric surgery is thus advisable, even more so considering the increasing consumption of obesity-impacting ultra-processed foods. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the contribution of unprocessed, processed, and ultra-processed foods 2 y after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). METHODS: This was a prospective study performed with 32 patients undergoing RYGB. Anthropometric and food intake data were analyzed. A food intake evaluation was conducted with a focus on quantitative and qualitative analyses. The latter was performed by categorizing food according to the NOVA classification. RESULTS: There was a reduction in body mass, representing an excess weight loss of 83.80 ± 24.50% at 24 months postoperatively; and a reduction in calorie intake, macronutrients, fiber, and sodium after surgery. Regarding the qualitative analysis, 6 months after RYGB the calorie intake from processed and ultra-processed food decreased from 1398.47 ± 623.82 kcal to 471.80 ± 48.94 kcal (P < 0.05). However, between 6 and 24 months postoperatively there was an increase in 60.04% of the calorie consumption of these type of food (P < 0.01). The most important finding was that the consumption of processed and ultra-processed food exceeded 50% of the total calorie intake of the diet in all periods analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: RYGB promotes quick results in weight loss and a reduction of food intake, but the quality of food may affect long-term prognosis and deserves attention in the population studied. These results highlight the importance of dietary counseling aimed at guiding better food choices, in the interest of promoting sustained weight loss after bariatric surgery.

Impact of Weight Loss on Inflammation State and Endothelial Markers Among Individuals with Extreme Obesity After Gastric Bypass Surgery: a 2-Year Follow-up Study.

BACKGROUND: The medium-term impact of gastric bypass (GB) surgery on the inflammatory state and endothelial function of patients has yet to be confirmed. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elucidate the inflammatory profile and endothelial dysfunction response of adults with obesity 6 and 24 months after undergoing GB surgery. METHODS: The anthropometric and biochemical markers of 32 adults with obesity (two men and 30 females) were collected preoperatively, and 6 and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) and excess weight had decreased by 15.79 ± 1.21 kg/m2 (p < 0.01) and 83.80 ± 24.50% respectively at 24 months. Leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels, and the leptin/adiponectin ratio decreased significantly at both postoperative follow-up points compared with preoperative values (p < 0.01). IL-6 and ICAM-1 levels decreased between 6 and 24 months post-GB (p < 0.01). IL-6 and ICAM-1 levels decreased between 6- and 24-months post-GB (p < 0.01). Resistin levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) at 6-month follow-up. The levels of the anti-inflammatory biomarkers IL-10, adiponectin, and the adiponectin/leptin ratio significantly increased postoperatively. There was an improvement in metabolic disorders after surgery. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that after GB there was an improvement in the inflammatory profile, identified by a reduction in pro-inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, leptin) and an increase in anti-inflammatory markers (adiponectin, IL-10). The decrease in PAI-1 and ICAM-1 levels may suggest improvement in endothelial function. These findings provide clear evidence of the medium-term impact of GB on inflammation state and a number of endothelial markers, and a consequent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Neuroendocrine regulation of energy balance: Implications on the development and surgical treatment of obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity, a serious public health problem, occurs mainly when food consumption exceeds energy expenditure. Therefore, energy balance depends on the regulation of the hunger-satiety mechanism, which involves interconnection of the central nervous system and peripheral signals from the adipose tissue, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, generating responses in short-term food intake and long-term energy balance. Increased body fat alters the gut- and adipose-tissue-derived hormone signaling, which promotes modifications in appetite-regulating hormones, decreasing satiety and increasing hunger senses. With the failure of conventional weight loss interventions (dietary treatment, exercise, drugs and lifestyle modifications), bariatric surgeries are well-accepted tools for the treatment of severe obesity, with long-term and sustained weight loss. Bariatric surgeries may cause weight loss due to restriction/malabsorption of nutrients from the anatomical alteration of the gastrointestinal tract that decreases energy intake, but also by other physiological factors associated with better results of the surgical procedure. OBJECTIVE: This review discusses the neuroendocrine regulation of energy balance, with description of the predominant hormones and peptides involved in the control of energy balance in obesity and all currently available bariatric surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of our review, bariatric surgeries promote effective and sustained weight loss not only by reducing calorie intake, but also by precipitating changes in appetite control, satiation and satiety, and physiological changes in gut-, neuro- and adipose-tissue-derived hormone signaling.

[Waist circumference as a marker for screening nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents]. / Circunferência da cintura como marcador para triagem de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica em adolescentes obesos.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the degree of waist circumference (WC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adolescents of both genders, analyzed according to quartiles of WC. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that involved 247 obese adolescents aged 12-19 years. Mean values of the nutritional parameters and serum analyses were compared with the groups using the independent t-test. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship of the parameters studied. Chi-square test for trend was used to determine the relationship between the prevalence of the NAFLD and WC quartile by gender. RESULTS: NAFLD were presented in 60% of the study participants. Obese adolescents in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of WC presented higher prevalence of NAFLD when compared with that in the 1st quartile in both genders. The NAFLD patients had significantly higher values for body weight, BMI (body mass index), BAZ-score (BMI-for-age z-scores), total fat (% and kg), WC, visceral fat, insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, when compared with non-NAFLD obese adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented here suggest that an increase in WC can reliably predict the risk of NAFLD in obese adolescents. This is a low cost and easy-to-use tool that can help in screening in adolescents.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass decreases pro-inflammatory and thrombotic biomarkers in individuals with extreme obesity.

BACKGROUND: The low-grade inflammatory state in obesity leads to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, which promote cardiovascular diseases in individuals with obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early effects of weight loss achieved through bariatric surgery on the inflammatory and prothrombotic states. This study also aimed to identify the role of hyperleptinemia on the prothrombotic state. METHODS: The sample was composed of 41 extremely obese who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Anthropometric and clinical data, and biochemical markers of inflammation were collected prior to surgery and 6 months post-RYGB. RESULTS: It was found that plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations were higher among extremely obese individuals with hyperleptinemia than in those without hyperleptinemia (p < 0.01).In relation to the baseline, post-surgery body mass index (BMI) was reduced by 12.9 kg/m(2), corresponding to 63.50 % of excess weight loss. Additionally, waist circumference was found to decrease significantly from 126.2 to 101.4 cm. Plasma total cholesterol (p < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.02), triglycerides (p < 0.01), and glucose (p = 0.01) were also found to decrease. Pro-inflammatory biomarkers were observed to decrease: PAI-1 by 55.9 ± 6.0 % (p < 0.01), C-reactive protein (CRP) by 18.8 ± 3.4 % (p < 0.01), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by 89.9 ± 5.7 % (p < 0.01), leptin by 27.9 ± 3.2 % (p < 0.01), and resistin by 69.3 ± 5.8 % (p < 0.01). Additionally, significant decreases of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and leptin/adiponectin ratio were observed. Anti-inflammatory cytokines adiponectin and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were significantly increased (170.7 ± 82.5 %, p < 0.01; 122.7 ± 55.1 %, p = 0.02). CRP levels were predictive of ICAM-1 (p = 0.04), and changes in leptin concentrations were associated with decreased PAI-1 levels (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that individuals with obesity that have hyperleptinemia have higher circulating PAI-1 levels, which could indicate increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis measured in this study decreased after RYGB, suggesting that the surgery may be effective in reducing pro-inflammatory and thrombotic risk in individuals with extreme obesity.

The high glycemic index diet was an independent predictor to explain changes in agouti-related protein in obese adolescents / La dieta de alto índice glucémico es un predictor independiente para explicar los cambios en la proteína relacionada al agouti en adolescentes obesos

The high glycemic index diet was an independent predictor to explain changes in agouti-related protein in obese adolescents. Background & Aims: The role of diet glycemic index (GI) in the control of orexigenic and anorexigenic factors of the energy balance is still not clear. The present study aimed to assess whether the habitual diet, according to different GI foods, exerts influence on regulation of energy balance markers and the effects of interdisciplinary intervention in obese adolescents. Methods: A total of 55 obese adolescents, aged from 14 to 19 years, were submited to one year of interdisciplinary therapy and were divided in two groups, according to the predominant dietary pattern of food intake: high-GI group (H-GI; n = 29) and moderate/low-GI group (M/L-GI; n = 26). Results: The concentration of orexigenic factor AgRP (p < 0.01), visceral fat (p=0.04) and visceral/subcutaneous ratio (p = 0.03) were higher in the group of H-GI when compared with M/L-GI group. Moreover, the habitual consumption of H-GI foods was an independent predictor to explain changes in AgRP concentrations. After one year of interdisciplinary therapy, the adolescents presented significant reductions in body weight, total body fat (%), visceral and subcutaneous fat and HOMA-IR, as well as a significant increase of fat free mass (%). Conclusions: Our results may suggest that habitual H-GI diet could upregulate orexigenic pathways, contributing to vicious cycle between undesirable diets, deregulates energy balance and predispose to obesity. One the other hand, one year of interdisciplinary therapy can significant improves metabolic profile and central obesity in adolescents (AU)

La Dieta de alto índice glucémico es un predictor independiente para explicar los cambios en la proteína relacionada al agouti en adolescentes obesos. Introducción y objetivos: El papel de la dieta de índice glucémico (GI) en el control de los factores orexigénicos y anorexígenos del balance de energía todavía no está claro. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar si la dieta habitual, de acuerdo con diferentes alimentos con IG, ejerce influencia sobre la regulación de los marcadores del balance de energía y los efectos de la intervención interdisciplinaria en adolescentes obesos. Métodos: Un total de 55 adolescentes obesos, con edades de 14 a 19 años, han sido sometidos a un año de tratamiento interdisciplinario y se dividieron en dos grupos, de acuerdo al patrón de dieta predominante de la ingesta de alimentos: el grupo IG alto (H-GI; n = 29) y GI moderada/bajo grupo (M/L-GI, n = 26). Resultados: La concentración de orexigenic factor de AgRP (p < 0,01), la grasa visceral (p = 0,04) y la relación visceral/subcutánea (p = 0,03) fueron mayores en el grupo de H-GI en comparación con el grupo M/L-GI. Por otra parte, el consumo habitual de alimentos H-GI fue un predictor independiente para explicar los cambios en las concentraciones de AgRP. Después de un año de tratamiento interdisciplinario, los adolescentes presentan una reducción significativa en el peso corporal, la grasa corporal total (%), visceral y la grasa subcutánea y el HOMA-IR, así como un aumento significativo de la masa libre de grasa (%). Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados pueden sugerir que la dieta H-GI habitual podría upregulate vías orexigénicos, contribuyendo al círculo vicioso entre las dietas indeseables, desregula el equilibrio energético y predisponen a la obesidad. Uno por otro lado, un año de tratamiento interdisciplinario puede perfil metabólico mejora significativa y la obesidad central en los adolescentes (AU)

Influence of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on vitamin C, myeloperoxidase, and oral clinical manifestations: a 2-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery influences the intake and absorption of nutrients, which, when associated with vomiting, can damage the oral cavity. The serum concentrations of vitamin C and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and oral clinical manifestations were examined in patients 2 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). METHODS: Clinical prospective study with control group (CG; n = 26), assessed only once, and the bariatric group (BG; n = 26), assessed in the basal period and at 12 and 24 months after surgery. The mean ages in the CG and BG were 37.8 ± 1.51 and 39.6 ± 1.93 years, respectively, and their body mass indices were 22.07 ± 0.29 and 45.62 ± 1.46 kg/m(2), respectively. RESULTS: At 12 months after surgery, increased episodes of vomiting (P < .001) and dental hypersensitivity (P = .012) were observed, with a reduction in the saliva-buffering capacity of 21.3% ± 2.9% (P = .004). At 24 months after RYGB, a significant reduction in serum vitamin C was detected (32.9% ± 5.3%, P < .001), and MPO values were higher than in the basal period (P = .032). With regard to oral hygiene habits, 92.3% of patients reported frequent tooth brushing and 96.1% used fluoride, which were similar across the 2 years. However, dental hypersensitivity (P = .048) was significantly increased than baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that vitamin C deficiency and increased vomiting after gastric bypass for morbid obesity may contribute to increased periodontal disease. The fact that it is impossible to determine which factor or factors (diet, poor compliance with supplementation, vomiting, poor oral hygiene) contributed to the dental problems in these patients is a shortcoming of the report.