Nutrition
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Maternal obesity increases the risk for adverse infant outcomes; therefore, achieving an optimal body mass index before conception is recommended. Periconceptional maternal weight loss, however, has been associated with adverse outcomes for the fetus, including altered body composition in animal studies. It is not clear whether periconception weight loss alters infant body composition in humans. The aim of this study was to compare body composition in offspring of women who attempted to lose or maintain weight in the periconception period. ⋯ The results of this study showed that attempts to lose weight in the periconception period do not significantly alter infant body composition. The increase in abdominal circumference may indicate a difference in fat distribution in offspring of women who attempted to lose weight, which may increase their risk for future metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
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In recent years, home enteral nutrition (HEN) has been adopted as a feasible and safe form of nutrition for patients undergoing esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 4 wk of HEN with standard enteral nutrition (SEN) on immune function, nutritional status, and survival in patients undergoing esophagectomy. ⋯ Four weeks of HEN is a safe and feasible nutritional strategy to improve immune function and nutritional status after esophagectomy. Although there was no significant difference in survival between the two groups, HEN could still be more effective and beneficial than SEN to patients with defective nutritional and immune status.
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Sociocultural factors and personality traits play key roles in determining dietary behaviors. Orthorexia nervosa (ON), the pathologic obsession with healthy eating, is increasingly receiving scientific attention. However, mechanisms and risk factors are not completely understood. The aims of this study were to compare the prevalence of orthorexic eating attitudes among adults in Germany and Lebanon, and to examine the relationship with primary facets of personality and maladaptive personality traits. ⋯ The present results suggested the importance of sociocultural factors in the development of eating pathologies and proposed specific personality traits as important associated factors.
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Amino acids are not only components of proteins, but also can be metabolized to energy substances or be used as signaling molecules. However, basic knowledge of the relationship between amino acid treatment and energy metabolism is still insufficient. The aims of this study was to profile the effects of essential amino acid and alanine treatment on the energy metabolism of both myoblasts and myotubes and to contribute to the understanding of the basic relationship between amino acid treatment and energy metabolism of skeletal muscle cell. ⋯ Findings from the present study complemented the basic knowledge of amino acid treatment on the energy metabolism of cultured skeletal muscle cells and suggested the inhibitory effects of glycolysis by branched-chain amino acid catabolism.