Effects of Diets Enriched with Conventional or High-Oleic Canola Oils on Vascular Endothelial Function: A Sub-Study of the Canola Oil Multi-Centre Intervention Trial 2 (COMIT-2), a Randomized Crossover Controlled Feeding Study

Partial replacement of saturated fatty acids (SFA) with unsaturated fatty acids is recommended to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), including oleic acid, are associated with lower CVD risk. Measurement of flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) is the gold standard for measuring endothelial function and predicts CVD risk. This study examined the effect of partially replacing SFA with MUFA from conventional canola oil and high-oleic acid canola oil on FMD. Participants (n = 31) with an elevated waist circumference plus ≥1 additional metabolic syndrome criterion completed FMD measures as part of the Canola Oil Multi-Centre Intervention Trial 2 (COMIT-2), a multi-center, double-blind, three-period crossover, controlled feeding randomized trial. Diet periods were 6 weeks, separated by ≥4-week washouts. Experimental diets were provided during all feeding periods. Diets only differed by the fatty acid profile of the oils: canola oil (CO; 17.5% energy from MUFA, 9.2% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 6.6% SFA), high-oleic acid canola oil (HOCO; 19.1% MUFA, 7.0% PUFA, 6.4% SFA), and a control oil blend (CON; 11% MUFA, 10% PUFA, 12% SFA). Multilevel models were used to examine the effect of the diets on FMD. No significant between-diet differences were observed for average brachial artery diameter (CO: 6.70 ± 0.15 mm, HOCO: 6.57 ± 0.15 mm, CON: 6.73 ± 0.14 mm; p = 0.72), peak brachial artery diameter (CO: 7.11 ± 0.15 mm, HOCO: 7.02 ± 0.15 mm, CON: 6.41 ± 0.48 mm; p = 0.80), or FMD (CO: 6.32 ± 0.51%, HOCO: 6.96 ± 0.49%, CON: 6.41 ± 0.48%; p = 0.81). Partial replacement of SFA with MUFA from CO and HOCO had no effect on FMD in participants with or at risk of metabolic syndrome.

Dose-response effects of omega-3 fatty acids on triglycerides, inflammation, and endothelial function in healthy persons with moderate hypertriglyceridemia

BACKGROUND

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality at a dose of ≈1 g/d. Studies using higher doses have shown evidence of reduced inflammation and improved endothelial function. Few studies have compared these doses.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a nutritional dose of EPA+DHA (0.85 g/d) with those of a pharmaceutical dose (3.4 g/d) on serum triglycerides, inflammatory markers, and endothelial function in healthy subjects with moderately elevated triglycerides.

DESIGN

This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, 3-period crossover trial (8 wk of treatment, 6 wk of washout) that compared the effects of 0.85 and 3.4 g EPA+DHA/d in 23 men and 3 postmenopausal women with moderate hypertriglyceridemia (150-500 mg/dL).

RESULTS

The higher dose of EPA+DHA lowered triglycerides by 27% compared with placebo (mean ± SEM: 173 ± 17.5 compared with 237 ± 17.5 mg/dL; P = 0.002), whereas no effect of the lower dose was observed on lipids. No effects on cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL), endothelial function [as assessed by flow-mediated dilation, peripheral arterial tonometry/EndoPAT (Itamar Medical Ltd, Caesarea, Israel), or Doppler measures of hyperemia], inflammatory markers (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), or the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes in isolated lymphocytes were observed.

CONCLUSION

The higher dose (3.4 g/d) of EPA+DHA significantly lowered triglycerides, but neither dose improved endothelial function or inflammatory status over 8 wk in healthy adults with moderate hypertriglyceridemia. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00504309.

Influence of compression hosiery on physiological responses to standing fatigue in women

PURPOSE

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence of various designs of commercial hosiery, which use graduated compression, on the physiological and performance responses to standing fatigue.

METHODS

Twelve healthy women (age = 23.0+/-2.1 yr, height = 165.7+/-5.0 cm, percent body fat = 22.6+/-4.2%, body mass = 60.0+/-8.9 kg) volunteered to participate in this investigation. All subjects completed four identical standing fatigue protocols with different garment conditions each separated by 7 d. The standing fatigue protocol involved a total of 8 h of standing on hard floors during which subjects participated in various tasks and experimental testing procedures. In addition, all activity and dietary profiles of the subjects were carefully controlled 48 h before each experimental session. Before the standing fatigue protocol, subjects completed a battery of tests to establish morning baseline values. Experimental tests included determination of lower leg venous cross-sectional area, blood pressure, heart rate, perceived discomfort ratings, circumferences measurements, total body water, variation in center of pressure during "quiet" standing, vertical jump performance, and specific regional patterns of foot pressures.

RESULTS

This investigation demonstrated that commercial hosiery with various forms of graduated compression and construction were effective in mediating a reduction in edema in the ankles and legs while reducing the amount of venous pooling and discomfort in the lower body. Different constructions of garments may mediate these overall effects via different physiological mechanisms related to fluid shifts and muscle tissue damage.

CONCLUSION

Wearing various types of graduated compression hose during the day as it relates to women in standing professions may minimize edema and muscle tissue disruption, thereby increasing comfort in the legs.

An automated instrument for the performance of enzymatic DNA sequencing reactions

An instrument has been developed for the automation of enzymatic DNA sequencing reactions. Up to 96 DNA templates contained in a microtiter plate can be processed for either radioactive or fluorescence-based sequence analysis in a three-hour period. The quality of the resultant data is comparable to that obtained manually. The system is simple, flexible and is readily adapted to the use of new polymerases or modified experimental protocols.