Arginine-supplemented enteral nutrition in critically ill diabetic and obese rats: a dose-ranging study evaluating nutritional status and macrophage function.

Objective: Critically ill diabetic and obese patients are at high risk of complications. Arginine availability is lowered in diabetes and in stress situations, yet arginine is necessary for immune response, mainly by its action through nitric oxide (NO). These facts argue for arginine-supplemented diets in critically ill patients.

Arginine plus proline supplementation elicits metabolic adaptation that favors wound healing in diabetic rats.

Diabetic patients with wounds are at risk of protein malnutrition, have low arginine plasma levels, and suffer from delayed wound healing. We sought to determine the efficacy of arginine plus proline supplementation on protein and amino acid metabolism and on wound repair in a model of diabetic rats. Eighteen 11-wk-old Zucker diabetic fatty fa/fa male rats underwent a 7-cm abdominal skin incision with implantation of sponges and daily excision of full-thickness round sections of dorsal skin for 5 days.

Arginine availability modulates arginine metabolism and TNFα production in peritoneal macrophages from Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats.

Background & Aims: Excess weight and type 2 diabetes lead to increased susceptibility to infections. Our aim was to investigate the role of diabetes-induced decreased arginine (Arg) availability and of a possible dysregulation of Arg metabolism in macrophages favoring inflammation and dysimmunity via altered nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine productions.

Methods: Isolated peritoneal macrophages from Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) or lean rats were incubated with increasing Arg concentration (0-2 mM) and Arg metabolism and regulatory properties were studied.

[Nutrition and physical activity: two targets for cancer prevention].

The links between nutrition and cancer onset are now well established by epidemiological studies. The scientific evidence is presented in a report of the World Cancer Research Foundation (WCRF). Protective factors towards overall cancer risk are fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.

Metabolic response and nutritional support in traumatic brain injury: evidence for resistance to renutrition.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most severe injuries encountered in intensive care units. TBI patients exhibit protein wasting and gastrointestinal dysfunction, which may be risk factors for a septic state. Specific nutritional support may be required for these patients, and we hypothesize that standard nutritional support does not allow restoration of the nutritional state of TBI patients.

Dichotomic actions of glutamine in host versus tumour: an emerging concept.

Purpose Of Review: Malignancy is characterized by a systemic deficiency of glutamine (GLN). The debate over whether GLN supplementation should be standard of cancer patients is still topical. This review focuses on recent findings on the effect of GLN administration on the incidence and severity of adverse effects in host due to radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both and on its putative adjuvant role on cytotoxicity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on tumour.

Effect of an immune-enhancing diet on lymphocyte in head-injured rats: what is the role of arginine?

Objective: The benefit of immune-enhancing diets (IEDs) in the intensive care unit remains controversial. Considering their complexity, the role of each component, in particular arginine (Arg), in their properties is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of arginine in the immunomodulatory effects of an IED (Crucial) in head-injured rats.

Arginine-enriched diet limits plasma and muscle glutamine depletion in head-injured rats.

Objective: Injury is associated with a depletion in glutamine (GLN) pools, which may contribute to impairment of immune and nutritional statuses. Total parenteral nutrition enriched with arginine (ARG) is able to generate GLN in surgical patients. We hypothesized that this same concept may be applicable to enteral administration and could be extended to muscle GLN reserves.

Impairment of lymphocyte function in head-injured rats: effects of standard and immune-enhancing diets for enteral nutrition.

Background: The metabolic response to head injury (HI) is characterized by a dysimmunity which may be a risk factor of a septic state. The use of immune enhancing diets (IEDs) could be a promising approach to improve immune functions. The aim of the study was to investigate the consequences of HI on lymphocyte function and to determine the effects of an enteral IED comparatively to a standard enteral nutrition.

The equivocal metabolic response to endotoxaemia in type 2 diabetic and obese ZDF rats.

Aims/hypothesis: The metabolic and endocrine disturbances associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes may impair the normal metabolic response to injury. Our objective was to investigate amino acid metabolism in endotoxaemic type 2 diabetic obese rats.

Materials And Methods: A metabolic study was performed over 4 days using male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats (fa/fa) and lean littermates (fa/+) divided into three groups: ad libitum-fed groups which underwent no treatment, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated groups receiving E.