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.

Potassium Intake-(Un)Expected Non-Predictor of Higher Serum Potassium Levels in Hemodialysis DASH Diet Consumers.

As high serum potassium levels can lead to adverse outcomes in hemodialysis (HD) patients, dietary potassium is frequently restricted in these patients. However, recent studies have questioned whether dietary potassium really affects serum potassium levels. The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet is considered a healthy dietary pattern that has been related to lower risk of developing end-stage kidney disease.

Digital home-based multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation: How to counteract physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction And Objectives: Center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been forced to close due to COVID-19. Alternative delivery models to maintain access to CR programs and to avoid physical inactivity should be considered. The aim of this study was to assess physical activity (PA) levels after completing a home-based digital CR program.

Zinc Deficient Intake in Hemodialysis Patients: A Path to a High Mortality Risk.

Background: Zinc is essential for human nutrition and plays an important role in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between zinc intake and mortality in HD patients.

Methods: This is a longitudinal, prospective, multicenter study with 582 HD patients from 37 dialysis centers.

Dietary Intake, Body Composition, and Clinical Parameters: Associations Between the Level and Type of Physical Activity in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Physical inactivity and muscle wasting potentiate each other and are highly prevalent among hemodialysis (HD) patients. The authors evaluated the association between physical activity (PA), clinical, nutritional, and body composition parameters in HD patients.

Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study with 581 HD patients.

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.

Functional Food Components, Intestinal Permeability and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by a chronic inflammatory process that affects the intestinal barrier structure. Recent evidence suggests that some food components can influence the integrity of the intestinal barrier and thus its permeability. We aimed at assessing the effect of food components on the intestinal permeability (IP) and on inflammatory markers in individuals with IBD by a single-blind randomized clinical study.

Diet as a Modulator of Intestinal Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune-driven inflammatory disease characterised by synovial inflammation, leading to progressive cartilage and bone destruction, impacting patients' functional capacity and quality of life. Patients with RA have significant differences in gut microbiota composition when compared to controls. Intestinal dysbiosis influences the intestinal barrier strength, integrity and function, and diet is considered the main environmental factor impacting gut microbiota.

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.

Irritable bowel syndrome: how can symptoms and quality of life be improved with diet?

Purpose Of Review: This article aims to review the current scientific evidence of dietary approaches to control the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Recent Findings: In the last decade, there was an important evolution in the study of the low fermentable oligo, di, mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet (LFD). Current scientific evidence suggests a significant efficacy in the overall control of symptoms.

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 reduced pain and improved daily life in fibromyalgia patients.

Background And Aims: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, rheumatic disease characterized by widespread myofascial pain, of unknown aetiology, having a major impact on quality of life (QOL). Available pharmacotherapy for FM is marginally effective. FM is associated with co-morbidities of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

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.

Nutritional status and overhydration: can bioimpedance spectroscopy be useful in haemodialysis patients?

Background: Protein-energy wasting (PEW), associated with inflammation and overhydration, is common in haemodialysis (HD) patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Assess the relationship between nutritional status, markers of inflammation and body composition through bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) in HD patients.

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, single centre study, carried out in an HD centre in Forte da Casa (Portugal), involved 75 patients on an HD programme.

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.

A comprehensive approach to evaluate nutritional status in Crohn's patients in the era of biologic therapy: a case-control study.

Objectives: Evaluate the nutritional status of patients with inactive or mildly active Crohn's disease (CD), and identify possible causes for potential deficiencies.

Methods: A total of 78 CD patients and 80 healthy controls were evaluated in respect of nutritional status, dietary intake, and life styles factors.

Results: These 73/78 CD patients were on immunomodulating therapies.