Changes in zinc status and zinc transporters expression in whole blood of patients with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)

INTRODUCTION

Critically ill patients develop severe stress, inflammation and a clinical state that may raise the utilization and metabolic replacement of many nutrients and especially zinc, depleting their body reserves. This study was designed to assess the zinc status in critical care patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), comparing them with a group of healthy people, and studying the association with expression of zinc transporters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This investigation was a prospective, multicentre, comparative, observational and analytic study. Twelve critically ill patients from different hospitals and 12 healthy subjects from Granada, Spain, all with informed consent were recruited. Data on daily nutritional assessment, ICU severity scores, inflammation, clinical and nutritional parameters, plasma and blood cell zinc concentrations, and levels of transcripts for zinc transporters in whole blood were taken at admission and at the seventh day of the ICU stay.

RESULTS

Zinc levels on critical ill patient are diminish comparing with the healthy control (HS: 0.94 ± 0.19; CIPF: 0.67 ± 0.16 mg/dL). The 58% of critical ill patients showed zinc plasma deficiency at beginning of study while 50.0% of critical ill after 7 days of ICU stay. ZnT7, ZIP4 and ZIP9 were the zinc transporters with highest expression in whole blood. In general, all zinc transporters were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05) in the critical ill population at admission in comparison with healthy subjects. Severity scores and inflammation were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with zinc plasma levels, and zinc transporters ZIP3, ZIP4, ZIP8, ZnT6, ZnT7. Expression of 11 out of 24 zinc transporters was analysed, and ZnT1, ZnT4, ZnT5 and ZIP4, which were downregulated by more than 3-fold in whole blood of patients.

CONCLUSION

In summary, in our study an alteration of zinc status was related with the severity-of-illness scores and inflammation in critical ill patients since admission in ICU stay. SIRS caused a general shut-down of expression of zinc transporters in whole blood. That behavior was associated with severity and inflammation of patients at ICU admission regardless zinc status. We conclude that zinc transporters in blood might be useful indicators of severity of systemic inflammation and outcome for critically ill patients.

[HOME AND AMBULATORY ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION (NADYA) GROUP REPORT, HOME PARENTERAL NUTRITION IN SPAIN, 2014]

AIM

to communicate the results of the Spanish Home Parenteral Nutrition (HEN) registry of the NADYASENPE group for the year 2014.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

data was recorded online by NADYA group collaborators that were responsible of the HPN follow-up from 1st January to 31st December 2014.

RESULTS

a total of 220 patients and 229 episodes of HPN were registered from 37 hospitals that represents a rate of 4.7 patients/million habitants/year 2014. The most frequent disease in adults was other diseases (23.3%), neoplasm (20.4%) followed by radical active neoplasm (11.8%) and mesenteric ischemia (10.9%). The most frequent diagnosis for children were the congenital intestinal disorders (33.3%) followed by traumatic short bowel and other diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

the number of participating centers and registered patients increased progressively respect to preceding years. We consider that the HPN should be regulated by the Sanitary Administration within the framework of the National Health Service Interregional Council. And its inclusion in the portfolio of health services of the different Autonomous Comunities would be beneficial for patients and professionals.

A home enteral nutrition (HEN); spanish registry of NADYA-SENPE group; for the year 2013

AIM

To present the results of the Spanish home enteral nutrition (HEN) registry of the NADYA-SENPE group for the year 2013.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From January 1st to December 31st 2013 data was recorded for the HEN registry and further descriptive and analytical analysis was done.

RESULTS

In this period 3 223 patients (50.6% men) and a total of 3 272 episodes of HEN were registered in 33 Spanish hospitals. The rate of prevalence was of 67,11 patients/million habitants/ year 2013. A high percentage of patients (98,24%) were older than 14 years. Adult's mean age was 69,14 years (sd 17,64) and men were younger than women p-value <0,001. Children mean age was 2,38 years (sd 4,35). The most frequent indication for HEN was neurological disease for children (49,1%). and for adults (60,6%). Gastrostomy was the most used administration route for children (51%) while younger ones were fed with NGT (p-value 0,003) also older adults (48%) were fed with this type of tube (p-value <0,001). The most frequent reasons for cessation of treatment was death, 44,4% were children and 54,7% were adults.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of patients and hospitals registered increased in the last years while the other variables maintain steady. The registry developed allowing contrasted analysis of data in order to get more information.

A Home and Ambulatory Artificial Nutrition (NADYA) group report, Home Parenteral Nutrition in Spain, 2013

AIM

To communicate the results of the Spanish Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) registry of the NADYA-SENPE group for the year 2013.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data was recorded online by NADYA group collaborators that were responsible of the HPN follow-up from 1st January to 31st December 2013.

RESULTS

A total of 197 patients and 202 episodes of HPN were registered from 35 hospitals that represents a rate of 4,22 patients/million habitants/year 2013. The median age was 53 years (IQR 40-64) for 189 adult patients and 7 months (IQR 6-35,5) for children. The most frequent disease in adults was neoplasm (30,7%) followed by other diseases (20,1%) and mesenteric ischemia (12,7%). Short bowel syndrome and intestinal obstruction (25,9%) were in 35.7% cases the indications for HPN. The most frequent diagnosis for children were the congenital intestinal disorders and other diagnosis, both with a (37,5%) and short bowel syndrome and intestinal obstruction were the indication for treatment, each was present in 50% of the sample. Tunneled catheters (50%) and subcutaneous reservoirs (27,7%) were frequently used. The septic complications related with catheter were commonly frequent with a rate of 0.74 infections/1000 HPN days. HPN duration presented a median of 1,69 days. A total of 86 episodes finalized during the year, death was the principal reason (45%), followed by "resumed oral via" (43,75%) while it happened inversely for children, 66,7% of them resumed oral via and 16,7% deceased. Fifteen per cent were considered for intestinal transplant, children were proportionally candidates, p-value 0.002.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of participating centers and registered patients increased progressively respect to preceding years. Since 2003 Neoplasm is still being the principal pathological group. Death is adult's principal reason for finalizing HPN and "resuming oral via" for children. Despite that NADYA registry is consolidate as a essential source of relevant information about the advances in Home Artificial Nutrition in our country, currently is in an improvement process of the available information about patients characteristics with a special emphasis on children even though they still being a minority group.

Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate deficiency is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia regardless of antioxidant, thiamine, riboflavin, cobalamine, and folate status in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Critically ill patients develop severe stress, inflammation and a clinical state that may raise the utilization and metabolic replacement of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate decreasing their body reserves. This study was designed to assess the nutritional pyridoxal-5'-phosphate status in critical care patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, comparing them with a group of healthy people, and studying it's association with factors involved in the pyridoxine and other B vitamins metabolism, as the total antioxidant capacity and Hcy as cardiovascular risk biomarker.

METHODS

Prospective, multicentre, comparative, observational and analytic study. One hundred and three critically ill patients from different hospitals, and eighty four healthy subjects from Granada, Spain, all with informed consent. Data from daily nutritional assessment, ICU severity scores, clinical and nutritional parameters, antioxidant status and homocysteine levels was taken at admission and at the seventh day of the ICU stay.

RESULTS

Thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and folate status proved deficient in a large number of patients, being significantly lower in comparison with control group, and significantly decreased at 7th day of ICU stay. Higher homocysteine was observed in patients compared with control group (p < 0.05) where 31.5 and 26.8 percent of subjects presented hyperhomocysteinemia at initial and final of study, respectively. Antioxidant status was lower than control group in two periods analysed, and decreased at 7th day of ICU stay (p < 0.05) being associated with PLP deficiency. PLP deficiency was also correlated with hyperhomocysteinemia at two times measured (r. -0.73, p < 0.001; r. -0.69, p < 0.001, respectively), showing at day 7 an odds ratio of 6.62 in our multivariate model.

CONCLUSION

Critically ill patients with SIRS show deficient B vitamin and low antioxidant statuses. Despite association found between PLP deficiency and low antioxidant status in critically ill patients, PLP deficiency was only associated with hyperhomocysteinemia regardless of antioxidant, riboflavin, cobalamine, and folate statuses in critically ill patients with SIRS at seventh day of ICU stay. PLP deficient patients presented about six times more risk of cardiovascular disease than non deficients.

Implementation of a nutrition education program in a handball team; consequences on nutritional status

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate nutritional status and dietary habits after implementation of a nutritional education program in professional handball players.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Longitudinal study of 14 handball players evaluated with 72-h recall, a questionnaire on food consumption and anthropometric measures during 4 months. The intervention consisted of a nutrition education program.

RESULTS

Energy intake was consistently below the recommended allowances. Macronutrient intakes as a percentage of total energy intake were below the recommended allowances for carbohydrates, and above recommended allowances for fats. Nutritional education was followed by a significant increase (p < 0.01) in total energy and macronutrient intakes, with no significant changes in macronutrient or micronutrient intakes after adjustment for energy intake.

DISCUSSION

The imbalance in nutrient intake in handball players suggests that detailed re-analysis is needed to determine specific recommendations for this population. Nutritional education with continuous follow-up to monitor athletes' dietary habits may lead them to adopt appropriate nutritional habits to optimize dietary intakes. The lack of specific recommendations for micronutrient intakes in athletes leads to confusion regarding appropriate intakes; biochemical tests that yield normal values (albeit approaching cut-off values for deficiency) may disguise deficient status for some nutrients when strenuous exercise is involved.

CONCLUSION

In-depth studies with nutrition education programs that include long-term follow-up are advisable to avoid deficiencies that can lead to irreversible damage in competitive athletes.

Association between magnesium-deficient status and anthropometric and clinical-nutritional parameters in posmenopausal women

BACKGROUND

During menopause occurs weight gain and bone loss occurs due to the hormone decline during this period and other factors such as nutrition. Magnesium deficiency suggests a risk factor for obesity and osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical and nutritional magnesium status in a population of postmenopausal women, assessing intake and serum levels of magnesium in the study population and correlation with anthropometric parameters such as body mass index (BMI) and body fat, and biochemical parameters associated.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

The study involved 78 healthy women aged 44-76, with postmenopausal status, from the province of Grenade, Spain. The sample was divided into two age groups: group 1, aged < 58, and group 2 aged ≥ 58. Anthropometric parameters were recorded and nutritional intake was assessed by 72-hour recall, getting the RDAs through Nutriber® program. To assess the biochemical parameters was performed a blood sample was taken. Magnesium was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) in erythrocyte and plasma wet-mineralized samples.

RESULTS

Our results show that 37.85% of the total subjects have an overweight status. Magnesium intake found in our population is insufficient in 36% of women, while plasma magnesium deficiency corresponds to 23% of the population and 72% of women have deficient levels of magnesium in erythrocyte. Positive correlations were found between magnesium intake and dietary intake of calcium, of phosphorus, and with prealbumin plasma levels, as well as with a lower waist / hip ratio. Magnesium levels in erythrocyte were correlated with lower triglycerides and urea values.

CONCLUSION

It is important to control and monitor the nutritional status of magnesium in postmenopausal women to prevent nutritional alterations and possible clinical and chronic degenerative diseases associated with magnesium deficiency and with menopause.

A specific protein-enriched enteral formula decreases cortisolemia and improves plasma albumin and amino acid concentrations in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

Old age is associated with an involuntary and progressive but physiological loss of muscle mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exclusive consumption for 6 months of a protein-enriched enteral diet with a relatively high content of branched-chain amino acids on albuminemia, cortisolemia, plasma amino acids, insulin resistance, and inflammation biomarkers in elderly patients.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients from the Clinical Nutrition Outpatient Unit at our hospital exclusively consumed a protein-enriched enteral diet for 6 months. Data were collected at baseline and at 3 and 6 months on anthropometric and biochemical parameters and on plasma concentrations of amino acids, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, urea, creatinine, insulin resistance, and inflammation biomarkers.

RESULTS

The percentage of patients with albumin concentration below normal cut-off values decreased from 18% to 0% by the end of the study. At 6 months, concentrations of total plasma (p = 0.008) and essential amino acids (p = 0.011), especially branched-chain amino acids (p = 0.031), were higher versus baseline values, whereas 3-methylhistidine (p = 0.001), cortisol (p = 0.001) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (p = 0.004) levels were lower.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular intake of specific protein-enriched enteral formula increases plasma essential amino acids, especially branched-chain amino acids, and decreases cortisol and 3-methylhistidine, while plasma urea and creatinine remain unchanged.

Influence of an eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid-enriched enteral nutrition formula on plasma fatty acid composition and biomarkers of insulin resistance in the elderly

BACKGROUND & AIMS

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids may improve cardiovascular outcomes in elderly. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of feeding elderly patients exclusively with an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched diet specifically designed for enteral nutrition for 6 months, evaluating modifications in plasma fatty acid profile and some biomarkers of insulin resistance (IR).

METHODS

Thirty-two patients >65 years were fed a new enteral formula (T-Diet Plus) containing 75 mg/l of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 35 mg/l of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 33 were fed an enteral diet intended for elderly (Jevity). Blood samples were drawn at the beginning and after 3 and 6 months of feeding. Plasma lipids, total plasma and lipid fraction fatty acid profiles, and some IR-associated adipokines were analysed.

RESULTS

Feeding on T-Diet Plus allowed EPA and DHA incorporation into plasma lipids and normalised blood triacylglycerols (TAG) levels after 3 months without major changes in IR, leptin and adiponectin.

CONCLUSIONS

Feeding the elderly exclusively with an enteral formula enriched with EPA and DHA improves their plasma lipid fatty acid profile and lowers TAG, a well known cardiovascular risk biomarker, without affecting IR.

Magnesium and zinc status in patients with chronic renal failure: influence of a nutritional intervention

Chronic renal failure (CRF) alters the metabolism for a number of elements, and can lead to deficiency of these nutrients. Among the causes of thes alterations are reduced food intake and the low element content of some low-protein diets recommended in CRF. This study aimed to determine whether nutritional status for magnesium and zinc were changed by a nutritional intervention providing patients with CRF with enough information to prepare a low protein diet that met their needs. The effects of the intervention were compared in 40 adult participants divided into two groups. The control group consumed their usual prescribed diet, and the nutritionally instructed group received dietary training to teach them how to choose foods that met their nutritional needs. The study period lasted 12 months. Food consumption was assessed by 24-h recall. Magnesium and zinc were measured in plasma at the start and at the end of the study. Participants in the nutritionally instructed group decreased their protein intake and increased that of carbohydrates, magnesium and zinc. Plasma zinc correlated with glomerular filtration rate, measured as creatinine clearance, (r = 0.37) plasma protein (r = 0.39) and zinc intake (r = 0.63). At the start of the study 1 participant in the control group and no participants in the instructed group had hypomagnesaemia (< 1.8 mg/dL) whereas 2 participants in the control group, and 5 in the instructed group had hypo zincaemia (Zn < 70 microg/dL). After the intervention we observed no changes in the number of participants with hypomagnesaemia in either group, whereas hypozincaemia was found in only 1 participant in the control group and 1 in the instructed group (changes in the instructed group were significant; p < 0.05). Nutritional intervention benefited our participants by improving their ability to choose foods that provided magnesium and zinc while reducing their protein intake. The results of this study indicate that the dietary intervention enabled participants to better control their protein intake and zinc status without detriment to magnesium status.

Oxidative stress is increased in critically ill patients according to antioxidant vitamins intake, independent of severity: a cohort study

Introduction

Critically ill patients suffer from oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Although ROS/RNS are constantly produced under normal circumstances, critical illness can drastically increase their production. These patients have reduced plasma and intracellular levels of antioxidants and free electron scavengers or cofactors, and decreased activity of the enzymatic system involved in ROS detoxification. The pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance is of functional relevance during critical illness because it is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure. In this study the objective was to evaluate the relation between oxidative stress in critically ill patients and antioxidant vitamin intake and severity of illness.

Methods

Spectrophotometry was used to measure in plasma the total antioxidant capacity and levels of lipid peroxide, carbonyl group, total protein, bilirubin and uric acid at two time points: at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and on day seven. Daily diet records were kept and compliance with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) was assessed.

Results

Between admission and day seven in the ICU, significant increases in lipid peroxide and carbonyl group were associated with decreased antioxidant capacity and greater deterioration in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. There was significantly greater worsening in oxidative stress parameters in patients who received antioxidant vitamins at below 66% of RDA than in those who received antioxidant vitamins at above 66% of RDA. An antioxidant vitamin intake from 66% to 100% of RDA reduced the risk for worsening oxidative stress by 94% (ods ratio 0.06, 95% confidence interval 0.010 to 0.39), regardless of change in severity of illness (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score).

Conclusion

The critical condition of patients admitted to the ICU is associated with worsening oxidative stress. Intake of antioxidant vitamins below 66% of RDA and alteration in endogenous levels of substances with antioxidant capacity are related to redox imbalance in critical ill patients. Therefore, intake of antioxidant vitamins should be carefully monitored so that it is as close as possible to RDA.

[Malnutrition in hospitalized patients: prevalence and economic impact]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Malnutrition constitutes a serious problem of public health. We intended to know the prevalence of undernourishment in our hospital, as well as to assess the expenses generated by its presence.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A study of cohorts was designed to evaluate the nutritional state of randomly selected patients admitted to a third level hospital. We carried out a protocol of nutritional evaluation and quantified the associated costs including drugs, diet, and hospital stay according to diagnosis-related groups.

RESULTS

In agreement with anthropometry and the index of corporal mass, the prevalence of malnutrition was 0.3% and 13.4%, respectively. When analyzing the biochemical markers, the prevalence rose to 65.7%. Patients with malnutrition at the time of admission underwent a 59.9% deterioration of their nutritional state. An increase of costs was observed in relation to the length of hospital stay (68.04% compared with normo-nourished patients). Costs related to consumption of medicines, especially antibiotics, were also higher, as well as costs related to nutritional support.

CONCLUSIONS

Malnutrition is a phenomenon frequently observed in a hospital setting. Malnutrition associated costs are significant.