Nutrition
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Review Meta Analysis
Is olive oil good for you? A systematic review and meta-analysis on anti-inflammatory benefits from regular dietary intake.
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases is rapidly increasing, and evidence shows that diet and lifestyle are key areas of intervention to decrease their burden. Olive oil is considered one of the key nutritional components responsible for the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by the use of olive oil in meals as the main source of fat; a high consumption of water, fruits, nuts, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, spices, and herbs; a moderate consumption of dairy products (mainly cheese and yogurt), fish, poultry, and red wine; and a reduced consumption of red meat and processed foods. The aim of this review was to summarize evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effect of regular dietary intake of olive oil on three inflammatory markers: C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. ⋯ Olive oil taken on a regular basis can be a good dietary fat alternative, especially to manage IL-6. However, further research is required to clarify the effects of olive oil consumption on inflammation, comparing to other fats. Moreover, olive oil daily dosage, different time-lenght intervention and follow-up periods should be taken into consideration.
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Review Meta Analysis
Dietary energy density and appetite: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.
Studies have suggested that dietary energy density (DED) may affect weight gain by altering appetite. Although many studies have investigated the effect of DED on appetite, findings are inconsistent and, to our knowledge, there are no systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the effect of DED on appetite. ⋯ Compared with a LED diet, consumption of HED increased fullness (weighed mean difference [WMD] 2.95 mm; 95% CI 0.07-5.82, P = 0.044, I2 98.1%) but had no significant effect on hunger (WMD 1.31 mm; 95% CI -7.20 to 9.82, P = 0.763, I2 99.1%). The current meta-analysis revealed changing the DED had no significant effect on hunger but increased fullness. More high-quality RCTs are needed to investigate the effects of DED on appetite components.
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Home-delivered meal services are an example of a nutritional intervention in the home setting developed to enhance dietary intake and contribute to the independence of especially older adults. There is a lack of evidence about the contribution of specific elements of any home-delivered meal service on the improved outcomes. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to evaluate which elements of home-delivered meal services are effective to improve energy and protein intake, nutritional status, functional outcomes and satisfaction in adults. ⋯ A distinction can be made between services focusing on supporting homebound, essentially healthy, older adults and services aiming at the optimal, nutritional, transmural care for patients at risk for malnutrition. This review shows that various elements of these meal services can improve key outcomes. Following the rising interest and importance of these interventions, there is an urgent need to optimize such services to improve nutritional care at home regarding the increasingly limited time frame of admission in hospitals.
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Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host, with respect to metabolism, immune function, and nutrition. Any perturbation of these beneficial microbes leads to gut dysbiosis, which triggers the development of various disorders in the gastrointestinal system. Probiotics play a key role in resolving the dysbiosis posed by external factors such as antibiotics, other substances, or interventions. ⋯ However, various studies have reported the tendency of microbes to acquire specific drug resistance, in recent years, through various mechanisms. The reports on transferable resistance among probiotics are of major concern, of which minimal information is available to date. The aim of this review was to describe the pros and cons of drug resistance among these beneficial microorganisms with emphasis on the recommended selection criteria for specific probiotics, devoid of transferable drug resistance genes, suitable for human consumption.
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Review Comparative Study
Patient access to oral nutritional supplements: Which policies count?
Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) represent a cost-effective method for treating malnutrition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of public policies on patient access to ONS, using the Italian regionalized health care system as a case study, subsequently compared with the centralized British National Health Service. ⋯ As no clear relation between regional policies and variation in patient access to ONS emerges in Italy, national policies should be encouraged to enhance awareness of malnutrition among health care professionals and encourage the diffusion of multidisciplinary nutrition teams in health care organizations.