Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Taurine as a possible antiaging therapy: A controlled clinical trial on taurine antioxidant activity in women ages 55 to 70.
Based on the antioxidant effects of taurine, which are capable of controlling oxidative stress in the aging process, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of taurine supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress in women 55 to 70 y of age. ⋯ Taurine supplementation prevented the decrease in the antioxidant enzyme SOD, suggesting taurine as a strategy to control oxidative stress during the aging process.
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Resting energy expenditure (REE) declines with age in healthy individuals, independent of the age-related decrease in lean body mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this holds true in critically ill medical patients. Moreover, we assessed how measured REE compares with energy requirements calculated by prediction equations in different age groups. ⋯ REE and REEaBW decrease with age in critically ill medical patients. Age and body temperature are independent predictors of both REE and REEaBW. Prediction equations underestimate energy requirements in critically ill medical patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Immunomodulating versus high-protein oral preoperative supplement in surgical patients - A two-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial.
For many years, immunonutrition was believed to reduce postoperative complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. However, recent studies questioned that belief. Moreover, the perioperative intake of proteins has gained more and more attention and has shown clinical value. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the clinical effect of immunomodulating (IM) plus high-protein (HP) and pure HP supplements during the preoperative period. ⋯ Both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, and type of surgery. The median length of postoperative hospital stay was 8 d (range, 6-12 d) in the IM group and 7 d (range, 6-10 d) in the HP group (P = 0.153). Postoperative complications were observed in 29 patients (21.3%) in the IM group and 28 (17.8%) in the HP group (P = 0.442) The risk of readmission was comparable (5.1% vs 4.9%; P = 0.924) for IM and HP supplements, respectively. Postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred in 21 patients in the IM group (15.4%) and 17 patients in the HP group (10.4%; P = 0.195). No difference in gastrointestinal function evaluated with time to first flatus was observed (P = 0.272) CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated no difference between preoperative IM + HP and HP supplements in surgical patients. Therefore, the routine preoperative use of IM supplements in all surgical patients cannot be recommended.
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After elective surgeries, low muscle mass and other specific body composition indexes, assessed by computed tomography (CT), are associated with adverse outcomes such as an increased risk for postoperative complications and higher mortality. However, limited information is available about the role of these indexes on short- and long-term outcomes in surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to assess the association of body composition indexes with 90-d mortality in this specific patient cohort. ⋯ Specific body composition indexes may predict mortality in surgical patients admitted to the ICU. Low SMI and myosteatosis were independently associated with increased 90-d mortality.
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Myostatin has been assumed to be involved in the development of sarcopenia in patients with chronic liver disease, but the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination on myostatin is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a sustained virologic response at 24 wk (SVR24) after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on serum myostatin levels in patients infected with HCV. ⋯ Viral eradication by DAA treatment did not decrease the serum myostatin level in patients infected with HCV.