Nutrition
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Perioperative malnutrition reportedly increases postoperative morbidity and mortality rates after abdominal surgery, including pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, few studies have focused on the association between preoperative nutritional variables and the incidence of postoperative complications. The present study aimed to evaluate preoperative nutritional parameters to predict the incidence of postoperative complications after PD. ⋯ Low cholinesterase concentrations were significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing PD. Preoperative nutritional variables can be used as predictors of postoperative complications after PD.
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To our knowledge, minimal research exists on the effects of diets differing in carbohydrate restriction on symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal and mood, and the achievement of nutritional ketosis (NK). The aim of this study was to compare ketonaemia, symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal, and mood. We hypothesized that a moderate carbohydrate restriction would result in fewer symptoms and a reduced effect on mood. ⋯ In 75 of 77 initial participants included for analysis, mean serum levels of β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) were increased by 0.27 ± 0.32, 0.41 ± 0.38, and 0.62 ± 0.49 mmol/L for MCD, LCD, and VLCKD, respectively (P = 0.013). The achievement of NK was consistent for both VLCKD and LCD groups and sporadic for the MCD group. Only the VLCKD group exhibited 95% confidence interval levels that were consistently ≥0.5 mmol/L. The overall mean change in sum of symptoms scores (SOSS) from baseline was 0.81 ± 2.84 (P < 0.001). Changes in SOSS were highest in the VLCKD group (1.49 ± 2.47), followed by LCD (0.65 ± 2.70) and MCD (0.18 ± 3.3; P = 0.264). Small, statistically significant increases were seen for headache severity, constipation, diarrhea, halitosis, muscle cramps and muscle weakness, and light-headedness, whereas intestinal bloating and craving for sugar and starch improved from baseline. Only halitosis (P = 0.039) and muscle weakness (P = 0.005) differed significantly between the groups. Mood improved significantly from baseline overall, but there was no significant difference between groups (P = 0.181) CONCLUSIONS: Diets containing 5% TE from carbohydrates are ketogenic, but diets containing between 15% and 25% TE from carbohydrates can also result in mean βOHB ≥0.5 mmol/L. There was no meaningful difference in symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal between diets that contain 5% to 25% TE from carbohydrate, and mood was improved overall, with no significant difference between interventions. Our conclusion, therefore, is that reduced carbohydrate diets should be prescribed by need rather than the desire to mitigate symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal.
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Consumption of no- and low-calorie sweetened beverages (LCSBs) in the United States appears to be on the rise. To our knowledge, the relationships between LCSB consumption and dietary intake and metabolic outcomes in adolescents have not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible associations between LCSB and water consumption with nutrient intake and prediabetes criteria among adolescents who were free of diabetes. ⋯ These findings suggest that consuming ≥1 serving/d of either LCSB or water is not associated with an increased risk for prediabetes. Confirmation of these findings with a larger sample within the context of a randomized clinical trial would further suggest that LCSBs may represent an additional beverage option other than water for adolescents to help moderate overall dietary sugar intake.