Soluble fiber and nondigestible carbohydrate effects on plasma lipids and cardiovascular risk

Dietary fiber and lifestyle influence serum lipids in free living adult men

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dietary fiber consumption and lifestyle on serum lipids in adult men with non-restricted diet and physical activity.

METHODS

Two groups of 19 men were classified as high (48 g/day) and low fiber groups (27 g/day). Anthropometry, food frequency, daily weighed intakes and physical activity were done for a seven-day period. Fasting blood was collected and serum was analyzed for triglycerides, total cholesterol and lipoprotein cholesterol fractions.

RESULTS

Crude correlation coefficients showed that total cholesterol was negatively associated with physical activity, total dietary fiber and P/S ratio (r = 0.52; p < 0.001. r = -0.44; p < 0.01, r = 0.51, p < 0.001). LDL-C was also correlated negatively with total dietary fiber and P/S ratio (r = -0.34, p < 0.03; r = -0.53, p < 0.01). It was also positively associated with dietary cholesterol and body weight (r = 0.34, p < 0.03; r = 0.31, p < 0.05). Serum triglycerides had an inverse association with total dietary fiber and physical activity (r = -0.30: p < 0.05; r = -0.45, p < 0.004). After controlling for energy intake, total fat, saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, physical activity and body mass index, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C, remained significantly associated with dietary fiber (r = 0.34; p < 0.05 and r = -0.38; p < 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence in free living men that there is an association between dietary fiber intake and favorable lipid status and that lifestyle defined by socioeconomic status, physical activity and the quality of the dietary fat intake can play an important role. Public health nutrition advice and policy should continue to emphasize the importance of these factors.

Strategies for treating HIV-related lipodystrophy

HIV-related lipodystrophy has emerged as one of the most prevalent problems for patients with HIV, since this infection can now be seen as a chronic disease. Despite its growing importance, crucial issues such as aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and therapy remain largely unknown and unexplored. Current evidence suggests that aetiology is multifactorial. HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy and patient-related factors probably all contribute to the development of lipodystrophy. The lack of a formal definition and the nature of wasting syndromes that affect HIV-infected patients can hinder the diagnosis and treatment of lipodystrophy. Body fat changes have a major negative impact on the quality of life of patients. Metabolic abnormalities are also well known cardiovascular risk factors that can increase the morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disorders in a relatively young population. As yet, we do not know whether lipodystrophy is preventable or reversible. Several therapeutic approaches have been tested with limited success, however potential complications must be considered. These therapeutic approaches include general health measures (diet, exercise and discontinuation of smoking), switching antiretrovirals (from protease inhibitors to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or abacavir, or from stavudine to other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and use of drugs with metabolic effects (metformin, thiazolidinediones, recombinant growth hormone and anabolic steroids). A judicious use of available data, and opting for an individualised approach seems the best option for management of this problem at present.