Treatment of metabolic syndrome by combination of physical activity and diet needs an optimal protein intake: a randomized controlled trial

Triglyceride Level- and MTHFR- Specific Mediation Effect of Handgrip Strength on the Association of Dietary Protein Intake and Cognitive Function in the Chinese Elderly

BACKGROUND

Recent findings suggest that both dietary protein intake and hand grip strength (HGS) were associated with cognitive function, however, few studies have been devoted specifically to the mediation effect of HGS on the association of dietary protein with cognitive function.

OBJECTIVES

To confirm the hypothesis that HGS mediated the association of dietary protein intake with cognitive function in the elderly, which was modified by triglyceride level and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene status.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 3,268 participants. Dietary protein intake, HGS, and cognitive function were collected by food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), grip measurements and mini mental state examination (MMSE), respectively. In this mediation analysis, dietary protein intake was entered as independent variable, HGS was entered as mediator, and cognitive function was entered as dependent variable.

RESULTS

HGS significantly mediated the associations of dietary protein (β = 0.0013, 95% CI: 0.0007, 0.0022), animal protein (β = 0.0024, 95% CI: 0.0012, 0.0037), and plant protein intake (β = 0.0011, 95% CI: 0.0001, 0.0023) with cognitive function in total participants, with the mediated proportion of 16.19%, 12.45% and 20.57%, respectively. Furthermore, significant mediation effects of HGS on the associations of dietary protein, animal protein, and plant protein intake with MMSE score were found in the elderly without hypertriglyceridemia or in MTHFR C677T CC/CT carriers.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that HGS mediated the association of dietary protein intake with cognitive function, and this mediation effect was modified by triglyceride level and MTHFR C677T gene status.

Beyond the Calorie Paradigm: Taking into Account in Practice the Balance of Fat and Carbohydrate Oxidation during Exercise?

Recent literature shows that exercise is not simply a way to generate a calorie deficit as an add-on to restrictive diets but exerts powerful additional biological effects via its impact on mitochondrial function, the release of chemical messengers induced by muscular activity, and its ability to reverse epigenetic alterations. This review aims to summarize the current literature dealing with the hypothesis that some of these effects of exercise unexplained by an energy deficit are related to the balance of substrates used as fuel by the exercising muscle. This balance of substrates can be measured with reliable techniques, which provide information about metabolic disturbances associated with sedentarity and obesity, as well as adaptations of fuel metabolism in trained individuals. The exercise intensity that elicits maximal oxidation of lipids, termed LIPOXmax, FATOXmax, or FATmax, provides a marker of the mitochondrial ability to oxidize fatty acids and predicts how much fat will be oxidized over 45–60 min of low- to moderate-intensity training performed at the corresponding intensity. LIPOXmax is a reproducible parameter that can be modified by many physiological and lifestyle influences (exercise, diet, gender, age, hormones such as catecholamines, and the growth hormone-Insulin-like growth factor I axis). Individuals told to select an exercise intensity to maintain for 45 min or more spontaneously select a level close to this intensity. There is increasing evidence that training targeted at this level is efficient for reducing fat mass, sparing muscle mass, increasing the ability to oxidize lipids during exercise, lowering blood pressure and low-grade inflammation, improving insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, reducing blood glucose and HbA_1c in type 2 diabetes, and decreasing the circulating cholesterol level. Training protocols based on this concept are easy to implement and accept in very sedentary patients and have shown an unexpected efficacy over the long term. They also represent a useful add-on to bariatric surgery in order to maintain and improve its weight-lowering effect. Additional studies are required to confirm and more precisely analyze the determinants of LIPOXmax and the long-term effects of training at this level on body composition, metabolism, and health.

Protein, Calcium, Vitamin D Intake and 25(OH)D Status in Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aging process is often accompanied by increase in body weight. Older adults with overweight or obesity might have an overconsumption in energy that is accompanied by inadequate intake of protein, vitamin D, and calcium. It is unclear if intake of protein and vitamin D and calcium is sufficient in older adults with overweight/obesity, and whether it differs from older adults with normal weight, since a recent overview of the literature review is lacking. Therefore, we systematically analyzed the current evidence on differences in nutrient intake/status of protein, vitamin D and calcium between older adults with different body mass index (BMI) categories. Randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies were identified from PubMed and EMBASE. Studies reporting nutrient intake/status in older adults aged ≥50 years with overweight/obesity and studies comparing between overweight/obesity and normal weight were included. Nutrient intake/status baseline values were reviewed and when possible calculated for one BMI category (single-group meta-analysis), or compared between BMI categories (meta-analysis). Nutrient intake/status was compared with international recommendations. Mean protein (N = 8) and calcium intake (N = 5) was 0.98 gram/kilogram body weight/day (g/kg/d) [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.89-1.08] and 965 mg [95% CI: 704-1225] in overweight/obese. Vitamin D intake was insufficient in all BMI categories (N = 5). The pooled mean for vitamin D intake was 6 ug [95% CI 4-9]. For 25(OH)D, the pooled mean was 54 nmol/L [95% CI 45-62], 52 nmol/L [95% CI 46-58], and 48 nmol/l [95% CI 33-62] in normal (N = 7), combined overweight and obese (N = 12), and obese older adults (N = 4), respectively. In conclusion, older adults with overweight and obesity have a borderline sufficient protein and sufficient calcium intake, but insufficient vitamin D intake. The 25(OH)D concentration is deficient for the obese older adults.

Does Protein Intake Affect Metabolic Risk Factors among Older Adults in Korea?

Background

Carbohydrate intake can impact metabolic risk factors, but related research on protein intake in the elderly is rare. Our purpose was to estimate protein intake and explore how different levels of protein intake influence metabolic risk factors in Korean older adults.

Methods

Data were obtained from men aged 51-70 years (n=1,735), men aged ≥71 years (n=700), women aged 51-70 years (n=2,305), and women aged ≥71 years (n=957). Health and dietary data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2010-2011.

Results

Relative to the recommended protein intake based on the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, inadequate intake was higher in women and super-aging groups than in others. Women had an increased risk of having metabolic risk factors. After adjustment for age and sex, compared with those in the highest quartile of protein intake levels (>1.2 g protein/kg body weight/day), participants in the lowest quartile (<0.8 g protein/kg body weight/day) had increased odds ratios (ORs) for abdominal obesity (men: OR, 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00-3.56; women: OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 2.64-4.43), hypertriglyceridemia (men: OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.08-1.93; women: OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.45-2.29), and high fasting blood glucose (men: OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.07-1.87; women: OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.48-2.79).

Conclusion

Protein intake (<0.8 g protein/kg body weight/day) lower than the recommend level was associated with a higher risk of metabolic abnormalities in Korean older adults. In particular, lower intake of protein contributed to a higher prevalence of metabolic risk factors in women than in men.

[Effects of Dietary and Physical Activity Interventions on Metabolic Syndrome: A Meta-analysis]

PURPOSE

This study identified effects of dietary and physical activity interventions including dietary interventions or physical activity interventions alone or combined dietary-physical activity interventions to improve symptoms in metabolic syndrome including abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low high density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose through meta-analysis.

METHODS

Articles on metabolic syndrome X published from 1988 to 2013 were searched through electronic databases, Google Scholar, and reference reviews. Methodological quality was assessed by the checklist, SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network).

RESULTS

In the meta-analysis, there were 9 articles reporting 13 interventions with 736 participants. Using random effect models, the dietary and/or physical activity interventions showed a lower mean difference in waist circumference (-1.30 cm, 95% CI:-2.44~-0.15, p=.027). The combined dietary-physical activity interventions showed a lower mean difference in waist circumference (-2.77 cm, 95% CI:-4.77~-0.76, p=.007) and systolic blood pressure (-5.44 mmHg, 95% CI:-10.76~-0.12, p=.044). Additionally, interventions of over 24 weeks yielded a lower mean difference in waist circumference (-2.78 cm, 95% CI:-4.69~-0.87, p=.004) and diastolic blood pressure (-1.93 mmHg, 95% CI:-3.63~-0.22, p=.026).

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that dietary and/or physical activity interventions for metabolic syndrome reduce central obesity with no adverse effects. This finding provides objective evidences for dietary and physical activity management on metabolic syndrome as an efficient intervention.

Towards finding the linkage between metabolic and age-related disorders using semantic gene data network analysis

A metabolic disorder (MD) occurs when the metabolic process is disturbed. This process is carried out by thousands of enzymes participating in numerous inter-dependent metabolic pathways. Critical biochemical reactions that involve the processing and transportation of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are affected in metabolic diseases. Therefore, it is of interest to identify the common pathways of metabolic disorders by building protein-protein interactions (PPI) for network analysis. The molecular network linkages between MD and age related diseases (ARD) are intriguing. Hence, we created networks of protein-protein interactions that are related with MD and ARD using relevant known data in the public domain. The network analysis identified known MD associated proteins and predicted genes and or its products of ARD in common pathways. The genes in the common pathways were isolated from the network and further analyzed for their co-localization and shared domains. Thus, a model hypothesis is proposed using interaction networks that are linked between MD and ARD. This data even if less conclusive finds application in understanding the molecular mechanism of known diseases in relation to observed molecular events

Multilevel Approach of a 1-Year Program of Dietary and Exercise Interventions on Bone Mineral Content and Density in Metabolic Syndrome--the RESOLVE Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Weight loss is a public health concern in obesity-related diseases such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, restrictive diets might induce bone loss. The nature of exercise and whether exercise with weight loss programs can protect against potential bone mass deficits remains unclear. Moreover, compliance is essential in intervention programs. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects that modality and exercise compliance have on bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD).

Methods

We investigated 90 individuals with MetS who were recruited for the 1-year RESOLVE trial. Community-dwelling seniors with MetS were randomly assigned into three different modalities of exercise (intensive resistance, intensive endurance, moderate mixed) combined with a restrictive diet. They were compared to 44 healthy controls who did not undergo the intervention.

Results

This intensive lifestyle intervention (15–20 hours of training/week + restrictive diet) resulted in weight loss, body composition changes and health improvements. Baseline BMC and BMD for total body, lumbar spine and femoral neck did not differ between MetS groups and between MetS and controls. Despite changes over time, BMC or BMD did not differ between the three modalities of exercise and when compared with the controls. However, independent of exercise modality, compliant participants increased their BMC and BMD compared with their less compliant peers. Decreases in total body lean mass and negative energy balance significantly and independently contributed to decreases in lumbar spine BMC.

Conclusion

After the one year intervention, differences relating to exercise modalities were not evident. However, compliance with an intensive exercise program resulted in a significantly higher bone mass during energy restriction than non-compliance. Exercise is therefore beneficial to bone in the context of a weight loss program.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00917917

Improving physical activity and metabolic syndrome indicators in women: a transtheoretical model-based intervention

BACKGROUND

This study aimed at investigating the impact of an educational intervention based on transtheoretical model to increase physical activity and improve metabolic syndrome indicators in women.

METHODS

In this quasi-experimental study, 142 women with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to the case and control group (each group 71 participants). SECQ (Marcus), processes of change (Marcus), decisional balance (Bandura) and self-efficacy (Nigg) questionnaires and International Physical Activities Standard Questionnaire in preintervention, 3 and 6 months after intervention were completed. Furthermore, abdominal obesity, triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured. Physical activity intervention based on transtheoretical model (TTM) was performed in the case group. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS (16) (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and repeated measure ANOVA, independent t-test and Freidman was used. A two-tailed P value, lower than 0.05, was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

After the intervention, physical activity level increased in the intervention group, and they also progressed in stages of change, but the people in the control group had regressed. All changes in TTM constructs were significant in the intervention group during the time and differences in pros and cons were not significant in the control group. Abdominal obesity and TG has significantly reduced, and HDL has increased in the intervention group. In the control group, there was a significant increase in TGs and a decrease in HDL.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity training based on TTM can improve physical activity and metabolic syndrome indicators in women.

Hypoalbuminemia is disproportionately associated with adverse outcomes in obese elective surgical patients

BACKGROUND

Protein deficiency (PD) is a known risk factor for surgical complications; however, the risks of PD by weight class have not been well described. It was hypothesized that the combination of obesity and PD is associated with increased surgical complications compared with normal weight and normoalbuminemic patients.

METHODS

A total of 85,833 general surgery patients undergoing elective operations within the 2011 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were analyzed. Patients with conditions that could potentially confound serum albumin (SA) were excluded. Patients were stratified by normal (>3.0 g/dL) versus low (<3.0 g/dL) SA. The relative impact of SA and body mass index (BMI) (as individual and as combined variables) on surgical morbidity and mortality were assessed. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 2,088 (2.43%) patients had low preoperative SA. 587 (28.1%) patients with low preoperative SA were obese (BMI>30), versus 39,299 (46.9%) with normal preoperative SA. Importantly, the interaction of hypoalbuminemia and BMI was independently associated with all complications among hypoalbuminemic patients with BMI>40, and mortality for patients with BMI>30 after controlling for appropriate demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, surgical wound classification, operation type, and complexity (c-statistic: .803 and .874 respectively).

CONCLUSION

PD and obesity appear to synergistically increase the risk of surgical complications. Paradoxically, malnutrition may be less easily recognized in obese individuals and surgeons may need to more carefully evaluate this population before surgery. Future studies should investigate therapy to correct PD specifically among obese patients before surgery.

Metabolic syndrome among a middle-aged population in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MetS, its components, and their associations among rural middle-aged population in Vietnam.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with a representative sample (n = 2443) was conducted to collect data on demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, lifestyles, plasma glucose, and lipid profile. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalences of MetS and its components were calculated using the direct standardization. Associations of risk factors with MetS were evaluated using logistic regression, taken into account the confounding factors.

RESULTS

The total age- and sex-adjusted prevalence (95% CI) of MetS was 16.3% (14.0 - 18.6). The most frequent component of MetS was high triglycerides (43.2%), followed by low HDL-C (42.0%), elevated blood pressure (29.2%), high plasma glucose (14.3%), and central obesity (12.3%). Of the total population, only 17.6% did not have any component of MetS and more than 40% had at least two MetS components. The association of MetS with residence, age, body mass index, marital status, and siesta time per day was statistically significant in univariate analysis and replicated in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

The MetS prevalence and its components are common and major public health burden in the middle-aged adults in Vietnam. Habitants living in urban, being never-married, having an increase in age, BMI, and siesta time per day are significantly associated with MetS, and they should be paid much more attention for screening and implementing preventive activities.

Dietary strategies to reduce metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities characterized by central obesity, dyslipidemias, hypertension, high fasting glucose, chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. This condition has become an increasing problem in our society where about 34 % of adults are diagnosed with MetS. In parallel with the adult situation, a significant number of children present lipid abnormalities and insulin resistance, which can be used as markers of MetS in the pediatric population. Changes in lifestyle including healthy dietary regimens and increased physical activity should be the first lines of therapy to decrease MetS. In this article, we present the most recent information on successful dietary modifications that can reduce the parameters associated with MetS. Successful dietary strategies include energy restriction and weight loss, manipulation of dietary macronutrients--either through restriction of carbohydrates, fat, or enrichment in beneficial fatty acids, incorporation of functional foods and bioactive nutrients, and adherence to dietary and lifestyle patterns such the Mediterranean diet and diet/exercise regimens. Together, the recent findings presented in this review serve as evidence to support the therapeutic treatment of MetS through diet.