Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of simultaneous supplementation of vitamin A and iron on diarrheal and respiratory tract infection in preschool children in Chengdu City, China.
The goal of this study was to investigate whether vitamin A combined with iron supplementation for preschool children resulted in improved changes in children's infectious morbidity. ⋯ The beneficial affects on infectious morbidity over 6 mo, highlight the potential of vitamin A plus an iron supplement for preschool-aged children.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The influence of consuming an egg or an egg-yolk buttermilk drink for 12 wk on serum lipids, inflammation, and liver function markers in human volunteers.
Dietary cholesterol elevates serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations modestly. There are indications that the cholesterol-raising effect depends on the food matrix, that is, sphingolipids and lactic acid bacteria are suggested to influence cholesterol metabolism. Traditional buttermilk is rich in both sphingolipids and lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether effects on cholesterol metabolism depend on food matrix (e.g., cholesterol provided as egg [yolk] or incorporated into traditionally prepared buttermilk drink). ⋯ Daily egg consumption for 12 wk increases serum TC and LDL-C concentrations in women but not markers for inflammation, endothelial activity, and liver function. Interestingly, the rise in serum LDL-C concentrations is less pronounced when egg yolk is incorporated into a buttermilk drink, indeed suggesting that fractions in the buttermilk might influence dietary cholesterol absorption.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Perioperative synbiotic therapy in elderly patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery: a prospective, randomized control trial.
Enteral administration of synbiotics has been reported to be beneficial during various types of surgery, but its clinical value in elderly surgical patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the changes in gut microbiota and environment induced by perioperative synbiotic therapy, and to investigate whether it is possible to reduce infectious complications in elderly patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery. ⋯ Synbiotic therapy improved the intestinal microbial environment, and might decrease the incidence of infectious complications in elderly surgical patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Changes in endothelial function and depression scores are associated following long-term dietary intervention: a secondary analysis.
Cross-sectional studies show associations between depression and endothelial function (as measured by endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation [FMD]); but it is not known whether changes in these parameters are associated following dietary management. We have previously reported that compared with consumption of a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet, despite comparable weight loss, a very low-carbohydrate (LC diet) impaired FMD and increased depression. The purpose of this study was to conduct a secondary analysis to examine whether there was an association between changes in FMD and depression. ⋯ Over time, impairments in FMD were independently associated with increased depression, independent of diet composition, or changes in weight and insulin resistance. This data supports a mechanistic association between depression and endothelial function, which may influence long-term health.