Stearidonic acid: is there a role in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Obesity and its related comorbidities are major public health concerns in the United States with over two-thirds of adults and one-third of children classified as overweight or obese. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has similarly risen to an estimated 25.8 million, which accounts for a staggering $174 billion in annual healthcare costs. Identification of dietary interventions that protect against the development of T2DM would markedly reduce the medical and economic consequences of the disease. Hence, we review current evidence supporting a role of (n-3) PUFA in T2DM and explore potential therapeutic implications of stearidonic acid (SDA). The low consumption of fish in the US along with a reduced efficiency to interconvert most plant (n-3) PUFA highlights a need to find alternative sources of (n-3) PUFA. The efficient biological conversion of SDA to EPA underscores the potential implications of SDA as a source of (n-3) PUFA. The full therapeutic efficacy of SDA remains to be further determined. However, recent data have suggested a protective role of SDA consumption on markers of dyslipidemia and inflammation. The AHA recommends that healthy individuals consume oily fish at least twice per week and individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease consume 1 g of EPA+DHA/d. These goals will likely not be met by the typical American diet. Therefore, SDA may represent a sustainable alternative to marine-based (n-3) PUFA and may have novel therapeutic efficacy regarding the development of T2DM.     

The evolution of physical activity recommendations: how much is enough?

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem, and compelling evidence suggests that it is a contributing factor in several chronic diseases and conditions. Recognition of the health and functional hazards of a sedentary way of life has led numerous groups to promulgate public health recommendations for physical activity. In this report, we review the evolution of physical activity recommendations, discuss reasons for differences in the recommendations, and provide a summary recommendation in an attempt to harmonize existing differences. Current public health recommendations for physical activity are for 30 min of moderate-intensity activity each day, which provides substantial benefits across a broad range of health outcomes for sedentary adults. This dose of exercise may be insufficient to prevent unhealthful weight gain for some persons who may need additional exercise or caloric restriction to minimize the likelihood of further weight gain. Persons who get 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise per day are likely to achieve additional health benefits if they exercise more. In addition to aerobic exercise, people should engage in resistance training and flexibility exercises at least twice a week, which will promote the maintenance of lean body mass, improvements in muscular strength and endurance, and preservation of function, all of which enable long-term participation in regular physical activity and promote quality of life.     

What is the most effective approach to the reduction of cardiovascular risk in type-2 diabetes mellitus?

It is well known that the target blood glucose values are not fulfilled in treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. (UKPDS) The high mortality rate in type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with the augmented cardiovascular risk. It is well documented, that the beneficial influence of high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, and hypercoagulation compared to hyperglycaemia, is a more powerful approach in reduction of cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The effect of medical interventions on alteration of cardiovascular risk and glucose homeostasis is not always concordant: beta-blockers automatically reduce cardiovascular risk, but may result in deterioration of blood glucose values, sulfanylurea drugs effectively reduce hyperglycaemia, but could paradoxically increase the cardiovascular risk. The acarbose, metformin, thiazolidindione, fibric acid treatment improves the profile of vascular risk factors, additionally could have a beneficial metabolic effect resulting in reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In conclusion: the cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus can be most effectively influenced by reduction of high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, and dysfunction of haemostasis. The improvement of glucose homeostasis is, novel medical interventions seem to be important tools in reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

How effective are lifestyle changes in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Obesity and impaired glucose tolerance are associated with a greater risk for a number of conditions, including insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coagulation abnormalities, inflammatory markers, and coronary heart disease. Lifestyle changes can delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in patients with obesity and impaired glucose tolerance. The risks improve with weight loss and increased physical activity. A decrease of 7% to 10% or more from baseline weight can have a significant effect. This has now been documented in a number of randomized, controlled studies.     

Individualized nutritional recommendations: do we have the measurements needed to assess risk and make dietary recommendations?

Is the information currently available to adjust nutritional recommendations and develop individualized nutrition? No. There is not even the information needed for setting dietary recommendations with confidence now at the group level. Will it be available soon? The answer to this question depends on the drive and will of the nutritional community, the success in recruiting funding to the area, the education of nutritionists and the spawning of great ideas and approaches. The emerging tools of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics are enabling the in-depth study of relationships between diet, genetics and metabolism. The advent of technologies can be compared with the discovery of the microscope and the new dimensions of scientific visualization enabled by that discovery. Nutritionists stand at the crest of new waves of data that can be generated, and new methods for their digestion will be required. To date, the study of dietary requirements has been based largely on a black box approach. Subjects are supplemented or depleted and clinical outcomes are observed. Few recommendations are based on metabolic outcomes. Metabolomics and nutrigenomics promise tools with which recommendations can be refined to meet individual requirements and the potential of individualized nutrition can be explored. As yet, these tools are not being widely applied in nutritional research and are rarely being applied by nutritionists. The result is often interesting research that is frequently nutritionally flawed, resulting in inappropriate conclusions. Nutritional education is needed to put nutritionists at the forefront of the development of applications for these technologies, creating a generation of nutrigenomicists. A new generation of nutritionists should be working interdisciplinarily with geneticists, molecular biologists and bioinformaticians in the development of research strategies. The present paper reviews the current status of nutrigenomic research, the current controversies and limitations, and developments needed to advance nutrigenomics and explore fully the promise of individualized nutritional recommendations.     

Is type 2 diabetes mellitus a disorder of the brain?

I propose that type 2 diabetes mellitus is due to damage to neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus or to a defect in the action or properties of insulin or insulin receptors in the brain. These neuronal abnormalities are probably secondary to a marginal deficiency of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during the critical periods of brain growth and development. Hence, supplementation of adequate amounts of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during the third trimester of pregnancy to 2 y postterm can prevent or postpone the development of diabetes mellitus.     

Dietary intakes in North Carolina child-care centers: are children meeting current recommendations?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether food consumed by children while in center-based child care meets the new MyPyramid food group recommendations for children 2 to 5 years of age. Dietary observation of 117 children from 20 child-care centers throughout North Carolina was conducted. The type and amount of food served to and consumed by children was observed and assessed using Nutrition Data System for Research (NDS-R) software (version 2005, Nutrition Coordinating Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). Portion sizes were then compared to the new MyPyramid food group recommendations to see whether 1/2 to 2/3 (for time spent in full-day child care) of the recommended amounts were consumed. On average, of the five main food groups, children consumed only the 1/2 to 2/3 recommendation for milk. Children also consumed less than 13% of MyPyramid recommendations for whole grains and 7% of MyPyramid recommendations for dark vegetables. Also noteworthy, 50% of milk consumed was whole milk and 75% of the meat consumed was of the high-fat or fried variety. Overall, our data suggest that children are not consuming recommended amounts of whole grains, fruits (excluding 100% fruit juice), or vegetables while attending full-time child care, and are consuming excess amounts of saturated fat and added sugar.     

How effective is Swedish massage on blood glucose level in children with diabetes mellitus?

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Swedish massage on blood glucose level in children with diabetes mellitus (DM). It was prospective randomized controlled trial study that conducted on 36 children, 6-12 years old with DM, recruited from a hospital in Qom City, Iran. The children were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Swedish massage was performed 15 minutes, 3 times a week, for 3 months in intervention group. The blood glucose levels were evaluated immediately after every session of massage in two groups. The mean ages of children in the intervention (n=18) and control (n=18) groups were 9.05 ± 1.55 and 9.83 ±2.03 years respectively. There was statistically no significant difference in blood glucose levels before intervention between two groups (P=0.586), but the blood glucose levels were lower significantly in intervention group in comparison with control group after intervention (P<0.0001). Addition of Swedish massage to daily routines; exercise, diet and medication regimens, is an effective intervention to reduce blood glucose level in diabetic children.     

Micronutrients in HIV/AIDS: is there evidence to change the WHO 2003 recommendations?

To establish whether there is new evidence to inform changes to WHO 2003 recommendations for micronutrient intake in persons with HIV/AIDS, we conducted a narrative review of the literature published from 2003 to 2010. Although the review focused on new randomized controlled trials of multiple micronutrients in HIV-infected adults, including pregnant and lactating women, we also considered randomized trials of single micronutrients. The review found that there are few published randomized controlled trials of micronutrients in HIV-infected persons and that most trials used high-dose multiple micronutrient supplementation. The trials were heterogeneous with respect to the composition and dose of micronutrients used and the target population studied. Despite this heterogeneity, 5 of 6 trials that used high-dose multiple micronutrients showed benefits in terms of either improved CD4 cell counts or survival. However, many of these trials were small and of short duration, and therefore the long-term risks and benefits of high-dose multiple micronutrients are not established. The current WHO recommendation for an intake of micronutrients at Recommended Dietary Allowance amounts continues to be a reasonable target for persons with clinically stable HIV infection. In light of new data that show adverse effects of high-dose vitamin A, the current recommendation for a single high dose of vitamin A in HIV-infected women within 6 wk of delivery should be reviewed.