Relation of skinfold thickness and visceral fat with the endothelial function in Mexican postmenopausal women

Psychological, Physiological, and Physical Effects of Resistance Training and Personalized Diet in Celiac Women

Background

Gluten intolerance is a systemic process of autoimmune nature; it develops in genetically predisposed subjects with gluten ingestion. The only treatment for celiac disease (CD) is a lifelong strict gluten-free diet (GFD). This study was designed to evaluate adherence to a GFD, risk of an eating disorder, and nutritional status in adult CD patients undergoing different interventions.

Methods

A total of 28 Spanish women, aged 40 years or more, took part in a randomized controlled trial. Each group received a different intervention: group 1, gluten-free nutrition plan + exercise (GFD + E); group 2, gluten-free nutrition plan (GFD); group 3, celiac controls (NO-GFD); and group 4, non-celiac controls (CONTROL). The training was prescribed by a sport scientist. It was based on resistance training with elastic bands; beforehand a warm-up was performed and the resistance was increased progressively. The variables studied were adherence to the GFD, risk of eating disorders, blood values, and body composition.

Results

Celiac women with personalized nutritional planning presented greater adherence to a gluten-free diet (p < 0.001). Regarding leukocytes, significant differences were observed between the GFD and control groups (p = 0.004). Perimeters and folds did not decrease significantly.

Conclusion

Women with celiac disease who follow an adapted and personalized diet have a better adherence to a GFD compared to those who follow a non-professional diet, and therefore have a better immune system status (blood leukocytes).

Relationship of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with cardiovascular risk markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease is more frequent in postmenopausal women. Atherosclerosis is associated with inflammation and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of inflammation whose behavior in postmenopause is unknown.

Aim of the study

To know the relationship of the NLR with cardiovascular risk markers in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Material and methods

Premenopausal and postmenopausal women were studied, in all of them a complete hemogram and the NLR, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated, also glucose and lipids levels were measured. In all of them subcutaneous and visceral fat, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), epicardial fat were measured by ultrasound Also baseline and and after flow-mediated stimulus the arterial diameter, the pulsatility index and the resistive index of the brachial artery were measured by ultrasound. The results are reported with medians and intervals, Mann-Whitney U and Spearman correlation analysis were performed.

Results

Eighty two patients were recruited, 41 premenopausal and 41 postmenopausal. When comparing both groups there was no difference in glucose, lipids, NLR, PLR, carotid IMT, epicardial fat, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat or Doppler parameters of the brachial artery.

Conclusion

NLR was not different between premenopausal and postmenopausal women but abnormal PLR was greater in those postmenopausal with vasomotor symptoms.