Dietetics Category
Top NEWS Post 12-2-2008
Here is our Top News Post for today, brought to you by MedReader:
- Fear of Hypoglycemia Barrier to Exercise in Type 1 Diabetics
According to a new study, published in the November issue of Diabetes Care , a majority of diabetics avoid physical activity because they worry about exercise-induced hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and severe consequences including loss of consciousness.
Alternative Day Fasting – The Latest Diet Craze
Fasting is not a new invention. It is advocated in the Bible. However, recently there has been a resurgence of interest in fasting as a means of increased weight loss and prevention of chronic disease. There has even been some mention that the calorie restriction in alternate day fasting (ADF) prolongs the life span. Since 2007, several studies have emerged.
Nutrition via the Veins
The science and art of feeding patients through their blood vessels has become a life saving part of critical care medicine. Many patients cannot eat but must be fed to get better, so total parenteral nutrition (TPN) emerged to meet that need and continues to be a refined science of feeding those who cannot use their alimentary tract.
Exercise Pill — No benefit for couch potatoes
So, researchers have finally done it. They have created a pill you can take instead of doing dreaded exercise.
Well, not so fast; don’t sell your treadmill yet. The newly developed exercise pill speeds the transformation of sugar-burning fast-twitch fibers to fat-burning slow-twitch ones — the same change that occurs in distance runners and cyclists through training – only WITH exercise. So, unless you’re already getting off the couch to exercise, the pill is useless! To boot, the pill has no effect on the muscles of people who already exercise.
So, unless you are a couch potato with your heart set on an Olympic medal , this pill is a waste of money.
Omega-3, the Antioxidant
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids and include eicopentanoic acid (EPA), doxosahesaneoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). The body has to convert ALA to EPA and DHA in a very inefficient manner. Only about 4% is converted that is eaten. So, EPA and DHA are the most important omega-3s studied and used in treatment. ALA does have its own individual benefits aside from conversion to EPA and DHA.
A study was recently released on the antioxidant capability of the omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids belong to a class called the polyunsaturated fats (PUFA). PUFAs normally oxidize fairly quickly and act as free radicals (the opposite of an antioxidant) directly dependent on their degree of saturation.
British Parents to Get ‘Fat Reports’ from School: Obesity as a World-Wide Problem
The problem of pediatric obesity is a world-wide one. In Britain, statistics show that one in 10 children aged four and five are obese and a further 13% are classified as overweight. The percentage of 10 – 11 year olds classified as obese jumped to 17.5 percent, while a further 14.2 percent were classified as overweight.
Lower LDLs with Fish Oil and Red Yeast
The objective of this recent study was to compare the lipid-lowering effects of lifestyle changes, red yeast rice and fish oil with a standard statin drug. The trial was randomized and contained 74 hypercholesterolemic clients. Participants were randomly assigned to an alternate treatment group (lifestyle changes, fish oil and red yeast rice) or to a statin group.
Body weight and BMI decreased in the alternate treatment group (ATG). Weight loss was 5% in the ATG group relative to .4% in the statin group. In the ATG, all lipid values except for HDL decreased, similar to the statin group. There was a statistically significant drop in the LDL fraction of the lipid values in the ATG cohort.
Relationship of Iron and Red Meat Consumption to Blood Pressure
Despite progress in the detection and treatment of high blood pressure in recent years, the problem remains epidemic in proportion and is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. In a study that involved 4680 adults in a cross sectional epidemiological study using an average of 8 blood pressure readings, the associations of dietary iron (total, heme and non-heme), supplemental iron and red meat intake with blood pressure readings were evaluated.
The relationship between iron and blood pressure is largely unknown. Iron is a redox active transition metal that might contribute to the production of oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species and inflammation – all variables that might impact blood pressure. Of particular interest was whether there is an effect difference between heme iron (found in red meat), or non-heme iron (found in high iron plant-based foods).
Inadequate Blood Glucose Control Associated with Increased Mortality and Morbidity in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
This study demonstrated that derangements of blood glucose control occur in patients with and without diabetes who undergo cardiac surgery. The study analyzed 8,727 adults placing them in a variety of blood glucose control categories (good= < 200 mg/dl), (moderate = 200-250 mg/dl)or (poor = >250 mg/dl). They determined that the percentage that fell in the inadequate blood glucose control categories were more likely to have heart failure, hypertension, renal dysfunction and ejection fraction < 50%. The study found that 52% of patients had poor control, 31% had moderate control and 8% with good control had diabetes as a diagnosis. Inadequate blood glucose control, but not diabetes, was associated with in-hospital mortality and morbidity. Inadequate control was also associated with post-operative heart attacks, and with pulmonary and renal complications in people without the diagnosis of diabetes.
