Chronic intermittent hypoxia due to obstructive sleep apnea slightly alters nutritional status: a pre-clinical study.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with chronic intermittent hypoxia (cIH) that causes disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism. Animals exposed to cIH show lower body weight and food intake, but the protein-energy metabolism has never been investigated. Here, to address the gap, we studied the impact of cIH on nutritional status in rats.

Protein intake in cancer: Does it improve nutritional status and/or modify tumour response to chemotherapy?

Background: Combating malnutrition and cachexia is a core challenge in oncology. To limit muscle mass loss, the use of proteins in cancer is encouraged by experts in the field, but it is still debated due to their antagonist effects. Indeed, a high protein intake could preserve lean body mass but may promote tumour growth, whereas a low-protein diet could reduce tumour size but without addressing cachexia.

Regulation of citrulline synthesis in human enterocytes: Role of hypoxia and inflammation.

Intensive care unit patients and chronic airway inflammatory disease are characterized by chronic systemic hypoxia and inflammation inducing a decrease in nitric oxide release due to impaired l-arginine (ARG) homeostasis. As ARG is synthesized from circulating l-citrulline (CIT), an alteration of CIT production in small intestine by ornithine carbamoyltransferase could be involved. Here, we posit that hypoxia and/or inflammation has effects on ornithine carbamoyltransferase regulation in enterocytes.

Ornithine Transcarbamylase - From Structure to Metabolism: An Update.

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC; EC 2.1.3.

Dietary citrulline does not modify rat colon tumor response to chemotherapy, but failed to improve nutritional status.

During cancer therapy many patients experience significant malnutrition, leading to decreased tolerance to chemotherapy and decreased survival. Dietary citrulline supplementation improves nutritional status in situations such as short bowel syndrome and aging, and is of potential interest in oncology. However, a mandatory prerequisite is to test this amino acid for interaction with tumor growth and chemotherapy response.