Efficacy of Pea Protein Supplementation in Combination with a Resistance Training Program on Muscle Performance in a Sedentary Adult Population: A Randomized, Comparator-Controlled, Parallel Clinical Trial.

Animal-sourced whey protein (WPr) is the most popular protein supplement among consumers and has been shown to improve muscle mass and strength. However, due to allergies, dietary restrictions/personal choices, and growing demand, alternative protein sources are warranted. Sedentary adults were randomized to pea protein (PPr) or WPr in combination with a weekly resistance training program for 84 days.

Efficacy of a yeast postbiotic on cold/flu symptoms in healthy children: A randomized-controlled trial.

Background: Children attending school/daycare are at high risk of acute respiratory tract infections. EpiCor postbiotic, derived from yeast fermentate, has been demonstrated to improve immune function in adults, reducing the incidence of cold/flu-like or allergy symptoms. As such, studies are warranted in children as available pharmaceutical options have unwanted side effects.

Association between Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition and the Leptin/Ghrelin Ratio in the Fasted and Postprandial States.

Background: The clinical relevance of excess intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) is increasingly appreciated. Leptin and ghrelin are key players in the regulation of food intake, energy balance, and body fat mass. The aim was to investigate the associations of the leptin/ghrelin ratio and its components with IPFD.

Implications of Tobacco Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Ectopic Fat Deposition in Individuals After Pancreatitis.

Objectives: Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are established risk factors for pancreatitis. This study investigated the associations between tobacco smoking/alcohol consumption in people after an attack of pancreatitis and intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD), intrahepatic fat deposition (IHFD), and skeletal muscle (SMFD) fat deposition.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify IPFD, IHFD, and SMFD by 2 independent raters.

Trajectories of glycaemia following acute pancreatitis: a prospective longitudinal cohort study with 24 months follow-up.

Background: New-onset diabetes is the most common sequela of acute pancreatitis (AP). Yet, prospective changes in glycaemia over time have never been investigated comprehensively in this study population. The primary aim was to determine the cumulative incidence of new-onset prediabetes and new-onset diabetes after AP over 24 months of follow-up in a prospective cohort study.

Psoas muscle size as a magnetic resonance imaging biomarker of progression of pancreatitis.

Objective: Pancreatitis often represents a continuous inflammatory process, from the first episode of acute pancreatitis (FAP) to recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) to chronic pancreatitis (CP). Psoas muscle size is a validated surrogate for global skeletal mass, changes in which are associated with inflammation. The objective was to investigate psoas muscle size in individuals following FAP, RAP, and CP, as well as its associations with pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Relationship of pancreas volume to tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption following pancreatitis.

Background: Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are established risk factors for diseases of the pancreas. With the recent advances in imaging modalities (such as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging), opportunities have arisen to study pancreas size, in both health and disease. Studies investigating the relationship between tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and total pancreas volume (TPV) - a holistic measure of pancreatic exocrine reserve - are lacking.

Serum lipid profile as a biomarker of intra-pancreatic fat deposition: A nested cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: The relationship between intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and lipid profile has been investigated in individuals with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes, but not in healthy non-obese individuals and those after acute pancreatitis. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between serum lipid profile and IPFD in the latter individuals and to determine the effect of abdominal fat distribution and other covariates.

Methods And Results: A total of 90 individuals with a history of acute pancreatitis as well as 23 healthy non-obese individuals participated in the study.

Circulating levels of lipocalin-2 are associated with fatty pancreas but not fatty liver.

Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2), a peptide with diverse expression pattern, has been identified as a biomarker of various diseases as well as a factor contributing to inflammatory responses associated with excess adiposity and ensuing metabolic disorders. Although the inter-relationship between LCN-2 and excess adiposity is increasingly recognized, little is known about the inter-relationship between LCN-2 and ectopic fat deposition. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between LCN-2 and fatty pancreas as well as fatty liver.

Relationship of Anthropometric Indices to Abdominal Body Composition: A Multi-Ethnic New Zealand Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Background: Conventional anthropometric indices (body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) have limitations, in part, due to ethnic differences in fat distribution. Assessment of abdominal body composition using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to gain deeper insights into the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome, but the knowledge of abdominal volumes in indigenous populations is scarce. This study aimed to assess abdominal fat distribution and total abdominal volume using MRI in a multi-ethnic cohort that includes Maori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) and Pacific Islanders (PI).

Glucose Counter-regulation After Acute Pancreatitis.

Objectives: Persistent hyperglycemia is a common sequela of acute pancreatitis (AP). The role of counter-regulatory hormones in maintaining glucose homeostasis has been largely studied during the course of AP, but not after clinical resolution of the disease. The objectives of this study were to investigate the associations between circulating levels of glucagon, cortisol, and human growth hormone and glucose homeostasis after AP as well as their associations with a comprehensive panel of pancreatic hormones, gut peptides, and proinflammatory cytokines.

Associations between intra-pancreatic fat deposition and circulating levels of cytokines.

While a plethora of studies have been conducted to investigate the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and obesity, the inter-relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) has been poorly investigated. In the present study, circulating levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) were measured in 90 individuals after acute pancreatitis (AP) as well as 21 healthy non-obese individuals. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify IPFD and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat volume ratio by two independent raters.

Pancreas shrinkage following recurrent acute pancreatitis: an MRI study.

Objective: Transition from the first attack of acute pancreatitis (AP) to chronic pancreatitis (CP) via recurrent AP is common. Total pancreas volume (TPV) and pancreas diameters are often reduced in advanced CP but have never been studied after AP. The objective of this study was to investigate pancreas size after clinical resolution of AP and its association with the number of AP attacks.

Intrapancreatic fat deposition and visceral fat volume are associated with the presence of diabetes after acute pancreatitis.

Ectopic fat and abdominal adiposity phenotypes have never been studied holistically in individuals after acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of the study was to investigate phenotypical differences in ectopic fat and abdominal fat between individuals after AP (with and without diabetes) and to determine the role of pancreatitis-related factors. Eighty-four individuals were studied cross-sectionally after a median of 21.

Elevated Circulating Levels of Motilin are Associated with Diabetes in Individuals after Acute Pancreatitis.

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the associations between glycaemic control after acute pancreatitis and gastrointestinal motility, using plasma motilin concentration and gastroparesis cardinal symptom index score as proxies.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited a total of 93 individuals after acute pancreatitis. Gastroparesis cardinal index scores, demographic and anthropometric factors, as well as pancreatitis-related factors were analysed.

Gut Hormone Responses to Mixed Meal Test in New-Onset Prediabetes/Diabetes After Acute Pancreatitis.

The study was aimed to investigate gut hormone responses to mixed meal test in individuals with new-onset prediabetes or diabetes after acute pancreatitis (cases) compared with healthy controls, and the effect of body fat parameters. A total of 29 cases and 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. All participants were given standard mixed meal drink and blood samples were collected to measure dipeptidyl peptidase IV, gastric inhibitory peptide, glucagon like peptide-1, insulin, oxyntomodulin, and peptide YY.

Associations between gastrointestinal humoral factors and pancreatic proteolytic enzymes in alcohol-related versus non-alcohol-related pancreatitis.

Background: Alcohol-related pancreatitis is common and the gastrointestinal tract plays an important role in the regulation of pancreatic exocrine function. While the relationship between pancreatic proteolytic enzymes and insulin (as well as other pancreatic hormones) has been investigated in detail, little is known about the relationship between pancreatic proteolytic enzymes and gastrointestinal humoral factors. The aim of this study was to study the associations between trypsin, chymotrypsin, and a panel of gastrointestinal humoral factors in patients after an episode of alcohol-related versus non-alcohol-related pancreatitis.

Pancreatic Hormone Responses to Mixed Meal Test in New-onset Prediabetes/Diabetes After Non-necrotizing Acute Pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate the pancreatic hormone responses to mixed meal test, in particular changes in insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and their interrelationship, in individuals with new-onset prediabetes or diabetes after non-necrotizing acute pancreatitis (NODAP) compared with healthy controls.

Methods: Twenty-nine individuals with NODAP and 29 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. All participants (after fasting for at least 8 h) were given 12 oz.

Associations between ketone bodies and fasting plasma glucose in individuals with post-pancreatitis prediabetes.

Levels of ketone bodies are altered in both acute pancreatitis and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, the role of ketone bodies in the pathogenesis of abnormal glucose metabolism after pancreatitis is largely unknown. To investigate the associations between ketone bodies and glucose homeostasis in individuals with post-pancreatitis prediabetes (PPP) versus normoglycaemia after pancreatitis (NAP).

Comprehensive analysis of body composition and insulin traits associated with intra-pancreatic fat deposition in healthy individuals and people with new-onset prediabetes/diabetes after acute pancreatitis.

Current knowledge of biomarkers of intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IFD) is limited. We aimed to analyse comprehensively body composition and insulin traits as biomarkers of IFD in healthy normoglycaemic individuals as well as in individuals with new-onset prediabetes or diabetes after acute pancreatitis (NODAP). A total of 29 healthy individuals and 34 individuals with NODAP took part in this cross-sectional study.

Profile of Gut Hormones, Pancreatic Hormones and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in New Zealand Maori.

Background: Maori, indigenous people of New Zealand, have at least two times higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes in comparison with the general population in the country. Gut and pancreatic hormone profile differences as well as pro-inflammatory milieu may contribute to this disparity. The aim was to investigate the differences in gut hormones, pancreatic hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines between Maori and non-Maori individuals.

Pancreas volume in health and disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The pancreas plays a central role in metabolism and is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Pancreas volume is a holistic quantitative measure of pancreas size but the clinical relevance of pancreas volumetry is poorly understood. Areas covered: The aim was to systematically review studies in adults that used computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to measure pancreas volume in health and disease, to determine normal pancreas volume range, and to quantify changes in pancreas volume that are associated with disease.

Abdominal obesity and insulin resistance after an episode of acute pancreatitis.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that individuals after an episode of acute pancreatitis (AP) are at an increased risk of developing metabolic derangements. While the link between general obesity and insulin resistance (IR) is well established, only a few studies have investigated the association between abdominal obesity and IR. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between abdominal obesity and several indices of IR in individuals after an episode of AP.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines after an episode of acute pancreatitis: associations with fasting gut hormone profile.

Introduction: Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, are often elevated in individuals after acute pancreatitis but what determines their levels is poorly understood. Gut hormones have emerged as possible modulators of inflammatory response. The aim was to investigate the associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and a comprehensive panel of gut hormones after an episode of acute pancreatitis.