Nutrition
-
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) significantly increases maternal health risks and adverse effects for the offspring. Observational studies suggest that weight loss before pregnancy may be a promising GDM prevention method. Still, biochemical pathways linking preconception weight changes with subsequent development of GDM among women who are overweight or obese remain unclear. ⋯ Of particular note are the altered levels of branched-chain amino acids, alanine, palmitoleic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine 18:1, and hypoxanthine because of their mechanistic links to insulin resistance and weight change. Mechanisms that may explain how these metabolite modifications contribute to GDM development in those who are overweight or obese are proposed, including insulin resistance pathways. Future nutritional metabolomics preconception intervention studies in overweight or obese are necessary to investigate whether weight loss through lifestyle intervention can reduce GDM occurrence in association with these metabolite alterations and to test the value of these metabolites as potential diagnostic biomarkers of GDM development.
-
Multicenter Study
Assessment of dietary supplement consumption among Italian university students: The multicenter DiSCo study.
The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of dietary supplements (DSs) and related sociodemographic characteristics or behaviors in Italian undergraduates. ⋯ Diet supplementation was common in the sample examined, especially in women, and associated with particular dietary regimens and sports, especially individual sports. Female consumers follow specialists' indications more than males. These results highlight the need for educational interventions about diet supplementation for this category of users.
-
Observational studies indicate that tea intake is associated with a decreased risk of kidney stones. Here we performed a mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate whether this association is causal. ⋯ This study suggests that tea intake may be causally associated with a decreased risk of kidney stones.
-
Adipose tissue distribution and radiodensity are associated with prognosis in many types of cancer. However, the roles of adipose tissue distribution and radiodensity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic effect of adiposity and adipose tissue radiodensities in patients with mCRC. ⋯ A higher SAT index in patients with mCRC was associated with a favorable overall survival outcome, whereas higher SAT and VAT radiodensities were associated with an increased risk for death, supporting that early nutritional intervention may improve mCRC prognosis.
-
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by microvascular damage and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Among SSc complications, changes in nutritional status have a negative effect on quality of life and predispose patients to malnutrition. The aim of this exploratory pilot study was to examine whether bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived phase angle (PhA) is a parameter of nutritional status and a marker of mortality in patients with SSc. ⋯ The data obtained suggest that lower PhA values in patients with SSc are associated with an increased malnutrition risk with MUST, malnutrition with GLIM, and increased mortality. Additional studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary results.