Prebiotic Treatment in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)-A Randomized Pilot Trial.

Several studies show that gut microbiotas in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) differ from those in a healthy population, suggesting that this alteration plays a role in NAFLD pathogenesis. We investigated whether prebiotic administration affects liver fat content and/or liver-related and metabolic parameters. Patients with NAFLD and metabolic syndrome (age: 50 ± 11; 79% men) were randomized to receive either 16 g/day of prebiotic (ITFs-inulin-type fructans) ( = 8) or placebo (maltodextrin) ( = 11) for 12 weeks.

Fecal microbiome signatures of pancreatic cancer patients.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death in developed countries, and since most patients have incurable disease at the time of diagnosis, developing a screening method for early detection is of high priority. Due to its metabolic importance, alterations in pancreatic functions may affect the composition of the gut microbiota, potentially yielding biomarkers for PC. However, the usefulness of these biomarkers may be limited if they are specific for advanced stages of disease, which may involve comorbidities such as biliary obstruction or diabetes.

The effect of a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet and ethnicity on daily glucose profile in type 2 diabetes determined by continuous glucose monitoring.

Background And Aims: Nutrition is an integral part of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) treatment, but the optimal macronutrient composition is still debated and previous studies have not addressed the role of ethnicity in dietary response. The current study aims were to compare the effect of short-term glycemic response to low-carbohydrate high-fat (LC-HF) diet vs. high-carbohydrate low-fat (HC-LF) diet using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and to evaluate the response of individuals with T2DM of Yemenite (Y-DM) and non-Yemenite origin (NY-DM).

Ethnic Variation in the Association of Hypertension With Type 2 Diabetes.

Lifestyle changes occurring with urbanization increase the prevalence of both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN). Yemenites who have immigrated to Israel have demonstrated a dramatic increase in T2DM but the prevalence of HTN in diabetic Yemenites is unclear. In a cross-sectional study, the authors evaluated the prevalence of HTN and lifestyle patterns in Israelis with T2DM of Yemenite (Y-DM) and non-Yemenite (NY-DM) origin.

High-molecular weight adiponectin is associated with coronary artery angiographic findings in Asian Indians.

Asian Indians (AIs) have a higher prevalence and a more aggressive form of coronary artery disease (CAD), and it has been suggested that hypoadiponectinemia may have a role in this accelerated CAD. The present study was undertaken to determine the extent and severity of angiographic findings in 2 groups of CAD patients matched for age and sex, AIs (n = 29) vs whites (n = 30), and to elucidate the potential relationship between adiponectin (total and high-molecular weight [HMW] form) and the severity and extent of coronary angiographic findings in both groups. Angiographic findings were assessed using the modified Gensini index; and 2 scores, scores 1 and 2, were used to assess the severity and extent.

Antihypertensive effect of sweetie fruit in patients with stage I hypertension.

Background: Interventional studies have shown that increased intake of fruit and vegetables reduces blood pressure (BP). However, the contribution of specific dietary components has not been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to determine, in patients with stage I hypertension, the antihypertensive effect of juice of the so-called sweetie fruit (a hybrid between grapefruit and pummelo) with and without high flavonoid content.

High fasting glucose levels as a predictor of worse clinical outcome in patients with coronary artery disease: results from the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) study.

Background: A high fasting glucose level may be a marker not only for microvascular complications, but also for macrovascular complications. We evaluated the clinical significance of a high fasting glucose level (> or =110 mg/dL), detected either at baseline or during follow-up, in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) study.

Methods: The BIP study was a secondary prevention prospective double-blind study comparing bezafibrate to placebo.