The Mediterranean diet, and not dietary inflammatory index, is associated with rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, the impact of disease and functional disability.

Purpose: To assess the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) /individual Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and disease activity, disease impact, and functional status in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: RA patients followed at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, were recruited. DII was calculated using dietary intake data collected with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Nutritional Genomics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic condition associated with genetic and environmental factors in which fat abnormally accumulates in the liver. NAFLD is epidemiologically associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Environmental factors, such as physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet, interact with genetic factors, such as epigenetic mechanisms and polymorphisms for the genesis and development of the condition.

Mediterranean Diet: A Dietary Pattern Related to Nutritional Benefits for Hemodialysis Patients.

Objectives: In adults with chronic kidney disease, not on dialysis, there is a recent recommendation suggesting the prescription of a Mediterranean diet pattern but there is still no evidence to suggest a specific dietary pattern for hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns in HD patients and analyze their relationship with nutritional status, physical activity, and survival.

Design And Methods: This was a longitudinal prospective multicenter study with 12 months of follow-up that included 582 HD patients from 37 dialysis centers.

Probiotic Supplementation for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Promising Adjuvant Therapy in the Gut Microbiome Era.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease that ultimately leads to joint destruction and functional disability. Although the exact etiology of RA is not fully understood, it is well established that gut microbiota (GM) plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of RA, with accumulating evidence suggesting that gut dysbiosis induces a chronic inflammatory response that may be linked to disease development. Of interest, patients with RA have significant changes in the intestinal microbiota compared to healthy controls, and several studies have suggested the use of probiotics as a possible adjuvant therapy for RA.

The validity of the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment Short-form© in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Background & Aims: The high prevalence of malnourished cancer patients highlights the importance of sensitive and specific tools for nutritional risk and status assessment screening, namely the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA®). This study aimed to assess whether the short-form version of the PG-SGA® (PG-SGA© SF) would be appropriate to identify the nutritional risk of patients when compared with the final global score of PG-SGA© (long-form version).

Methods: This transversal and observational study comprised a convenience sample of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Champalimaud Clinical Centre between December 2016 and February 2018.

Toxicological assessment of seven unregulated drinking water Disinfection By-products (DBPs) using the zebrafish embryo bioassay.

Disinfection By-products (DBPs) are formed during the chemical treatment of water for human consumption, by the reaction of raw water with chemical agents used in the different steps of the process. Disinfection is one of the most important steps, inactivating pathogens and preventing their regrowth during water distribution. However, it is also involved in DBPs formation due to the use of disinfectant agents, such as chlorine, which reacts with dissolved precursors, such as pharmaceuticals, toxins, pesticides, among others.

Effectiveness of Two Dietary Approaches on the Quality of Life and Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, monosaccharaides, disaccharides and polyols) diet in the relief of symptoms and an improvement of the quality of life in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome in comparison to a standard diet according to the British Dietetic Association's guidelines. A non-randomized clinical trial of adult patients with IBS was compared two diet interventions. An assessment of symptoms, quality of life, and nutritional status was performed before and after the four-week mark of intervention.

Nutritional support in cirrhotic patients with sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia has been linked to oncologic and chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis. In fact, sarcopenia is present in 25-70% of patients with liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, sarcopenia is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in many diseases.

Hazard and mode of action of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in water for human consumption: Evidences and research priorities.

Disinfection of water system is an essential strategy to protect human health from pathogens and prevent their regrowth during water distribution, but the reaction of disinfectant agents with organic matter can lead to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). Given their widespread occurrence, potential human health impacts and (eco)toxicity associated with exposure to DBPs are of particular interest due to their potential carcinogenicity and vary non-carcinogenic effects, such as endocrine disruption. Understanding the public health implications of this emerging issue is crucial for societies and decision-makers, supporting more effective water safety plans.

Diet, Microbiota, and Gut Permeability-The Unknown Triad in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Growing experimental and clinical evidence suggests that a chronic inflammatory response induced by gut dysbiosis can critically contribute to the development of rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of interest, an adherence to a Mediterranean diet has been linked to a reduction in mortality and morbidity in patients with inflammatory diseases. Diet and intestinal microbiota are modifying factors that may influence intestinal barrier strength, functional integrity, and permeability regulation.

A low fermentable oligo-di-mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet is a balanced therapy for fibromyalgia with nutritional and symptomatic benefits.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a chronic rheumatic disease producing widespread pain, associated to a major comorbidity -irritable bowel syndrome. Low FODMAPS diet (low fermentable oligo-di-mono-saccharides and polyols diet) has been effective in controlling irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Overweight is an aggravating factor for fibromyalgia.

Risk factors for metabolic bone disease in Crohn's disease patients.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the presence of metabolic bone disease (MBD) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and to identify potential etiologic factors.

Methods: The case-control study included 99 patients with CD and 56 controls with a similar age and gender distribution. Both groups had dual-energy x-ray absorptionmetry and a nutritional evaluation.

Fat intake interacts with polymorphisms of Caspase9, FasLigand and PPARgamma apoptotic genes in modulating Crohn's disease activity.

Background & Aims: Crohn's disease (CD) is a multifactorial disease where resistance to apoptosis is one major defect. Also, dietary fat intake has been shown to modulate disease activity. We aimed to explore the interaction between four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in apoptotic genes and dietary fat intake in modulating disease activity in CD patients.

Fatty acids, IL6, and TNFalpha polymorphisms: an example of nutrigenetics in Crohn's disease.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the interaction between genetic polymorphisms (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and fat intake on the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) or modifying disease activity.

Methods: Seven SNPs in interleukin 1 (IL1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), lymphotoxin alpha (LTalpha), and IL6 genes were analyzed in 116 controls and 99 patients with CD. The type of fat intake was evaluated, and the interaction between SNPs and dietary fat in modulating disease activity was analyzed.

Risk of colorectal cancer associated with the C677T polymorphism in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in Portuguese patients depends on the intake of methyl-donor nutrients.

Background: Polymorphisms located in genes involved in the metabolism of folate and some methyl-related nutrients are implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective: We evaluated the association of 3 genetic polymorphisms [C677T MTHFR (methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase), A2756G MTR (methionine synthase), and C1420T SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase)] with the intake of methyl-donor nutrients in CRC risk.

Design: Patients with CRC (n = 196) and healthy controls (n = 200) matched for age and sex were evaluated for intake of methyl-donor nutrients and the 3 polymorphisms.

The D1822V APC polymorphism interacts with fat, calcium, and fiber intakes in modulating the risk of colorectal cancer in Portuguese persons.

Background: Both genetic and environmental factors affect the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective: We aimed to examine the interaction between the D1822V polymorphism of the APC gene and dietary intake in persons with CRC.

Design: Persons with CRC (n = 196) and 200 healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex in a case-control study, were evaluated with respect to nutritional status and lifestyle factors and for the D1822V polymorphism.