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Biomedical subjects

A Ferro-Luzzi

Publications and source records attributed to A Ferro-Luzzi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Beta-carotene serum response in young and elderly females.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of aging and food intake on the serum beta-carotene (BC) response curve in humans. Ten elderly (71 +/- 4 years) and 17 young (28 +/- 7 years) healthy females were given 15 mg BC with a semi-solid test meal devoid of BC and vitamin A. All the elderly and 10 young subjects (control A) received a test meal of 500 kcal while the remaining 7 young subjects (control B) were given 700 kcal. Subsequently, blood was drawn hourly for 8 h and again at 24 and 48 h. Serum carotenoids and retinoids were measured by HPLC and triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol by enzymatic methods. Small intestinal transit time was determined in the elderly and in control group A by a breath hydrogen test following ingestion of lactulose (12 g) with the test meal. The area under the absorption curve (AUC) of serum BC over the first 8 h was higher in the elderly subjects than in either control group A or B (P less than 0.001). The slopes of the BC and TG curves were significantly higher as compared to control A, but similar to control B. There was a positive correlation between the ascending slopes of the BC and TG absorption curves of all groups (P less than 0.001). The AUC of the retinyl ester serum response of the elderly group was greater than that of control A (P less than 0.001). The slope of this curve was steeper (P less than 0.01) in the elderly group as compared to control A, but was similar to control B. Intestinal transit time was similar in all groups. In young subjects, the larger test meal of control group B appeared to increase the rate of absorption of BC. These data indicate that the rate of intact BC absorption and its conversion to retinyl esters may be enhanced in old age as compared to younger subjects receiving the same amount of food. Age-related alterations of enterocytes and the intestinal lumen could account for this phenomenon.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Definition of chronic energy deficiency in adults. Report of a working party of the International Dietary Energy Consultative Group.

New criteria are proposed for classifying chronic energy deficiency (CED) in adults. A progressively more precise approach to identifying affected individuals involves measuring body weight and height, then energy intake (or expenditure) and finally the basal metabolic rate (BMR). Three cut-off points for body mass index (BMI) were identified: 18.5, 17.0 and 16.0. A BMI above 18.5 is classified as normal and below 16.0 as grade III CED. A diagnosis of grades I and II CED depends on finding the combination of a BMI of 16.0-16.9 or 17.0-18.4 with a ratio of energy turnover to predicted BMR of less than 1.4. Measuring the individual BMR avoids misclassification and confirms the diagnosis. In groups of African adults 38-63 per cent of each group had a BMI below 18.5 and the majority require studies of their energy turnover before specifying their degree of CED; 3 per cent of Ethiopian women and 24 per cent of a selected male African group had grade III CED. These guidelines can be used when assessing the input of aid programmes and for clinical and other studies.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

Habitual alcohol consumption and nutritional status of the elderly.

The interrelationship between habitual alcohol consumption, dietary intakes and vitamin status was examined in 393 elderly subjects (188 men, 205 women, age range 65-90 years) resident in seven retirement homes throughout Italy. Individual food intake was assessed by the 7-day precise weighing method. Fasting blood was tested for riboflavin (erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient), thiamine (erythrocyte transketolase activity), retinol (fluorimetry) and folic acid status. Alcohol contributed on average 12 per cent of total energy intake in men, and 6 per cent in women. Forty-eight per cent of males and 39 per cent of females were classified as heavy drinkers (HD) with 48 and 28 g/d average alcohol intakes respectively. There was a general tendency for women to add alcohol to their habitual diet, as revealed by the positive correlation between total energy intake and alcohol intake. The higher energy intakes of HD women were also reflected in their higher body weights. Men tended to displace food energy partially by alcohol. Dietary risk of malnutrition, high for vitamin A, and moderate to low for vitamins B1 and B2, did not increase with alcohol consumption. Biochemical evidence of malnutrition indicated a significant deterioration of folate status in HD of both sexes, and for B1 in HD males only; there was no change in riboflavin status. Plasma levels of retinol were higher, and prevalence of vitamin A deficiency lower, in HD, a finding that warrants further investigation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Lipid and phospholipid fatty acid composition of plasma, red blood cells, and platelets and how they are affected by dietary lipids: a study of normal subjects from Italy, Finland, and the USA.

A pilot study was conducted of males 40-45 years old from rural areas of three countries to study the long-term effects of dietary fats on the lipids of plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), and platelets. Differences were observed in cholesterol and phospholipid levels of plasma. Total phospholipids of RBCs and platelets were similar in all three countries. The pattern of individual phospholipids of RBCs in the Finnish and Italian samples differed from the American samples. In all plasma and RBC glycerolphospholipids, the monounsaturated fatty acids were highest in the Italian and the saturated fatty acids were highest in the Finnish samples; PUFAs were highest in the USA samples. Platelet glycerolphospholipids followed similar fatty acid patterns. We concluded that the fatty acid compositions of the glycerolphospholipids of plasma, RBCs, and platelets reflect the major dietary fatty acids.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Dietary interventions in north Karelia, Finland and south Italy. Modification of thromboxane B2 formation in platelets of male subjects only.

The effects of dietary interventions, based on changes of total fat, saturated fatty acids and cholesterol contents and of the polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) fatty acid ratio of the diet, were studied in normal male and female subjects, living in North Karelia, Finland, and South Italy. In North Karelia the increase of P/S ratio (from 0.15 to 1.2) of the diet for a 6-week period resulted in reduced thromboxane B2 (TxB2) production by collagen-stimulated platelets only in male subjects, whereas plasma total, LDL and HDL cholesterol were reduced in both sexes. After a 6-week return to the original diet, plasma lipid levels were restored in all subjects. In the South Italy study, changes in platelet TxB2 production were observed only after return to the original diet in male subjects. Total and LDL cholesterol were significantly increased during the dietary intervention and returned toward baseline levels after switch back to the original diet. These data indicate that the increase of the P/S ratio in the diet reduces platelet TxB2 formation only in men.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Changing the Mediterranean diet: effects on blood pressure.

An increase in the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (P:S) in the diet has been reported to reduce blood pressure in man. We have investigated whether an increase in the percentage of saturated fatty acids in the typical Mediterranean diet would affect blood pressure in a sample of healthy rural population of southern Italy. Fifty-seven non-hospitalized normotensive volunteers (29 male, 28 female, aged 30-50 years) were studied. After a 2-week baseline period on their customary diet (P:S = 0.44), they underwent a 6-week isocaloric dietary intervention with a 70% increase in energy from saturated fatty acids and a corresponding decrease in carbohydrate and mono-unsaturated fat (P:S = 0.23). Thereafter they returned to their usual diet and were followed-up for 6 more weeks (switch-back period). By the end of the intervention period, systolic pressure was increased by 2.6 mmHg in men (P less than 0.05) and by 4.8 mmHg in women (P less than 0.01). Diastolic pressure was not significantly increased, although a significant linear regression of the group average blood pressure over time was observed for both systolic (0.161 mmHg, P less than 0.01) and diastolic pressure (0.107 mmHg, P less than 0.01). After returning to their customary diet, blood pressure returned to baseline (-0.212 mmHg, P less than 0.05 systolic and -0.226 mmHg, P less than 0.01 diastolic). No significant change in body weight occurred throughout the study. These findings suggest that changes in the saturated fatty acid content of the diet with moderate change in the dietary P:S ratio can influence blood pressure to a significant extent.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Principal components as indicators of body fatness and subcutaneous fat patterning.

Principal component analysis was performed on the skinfold data of contrasting groups of 50 New Guinean men, 47 New Guinean women and 138 Italian men. The common components of fatness and limb-trunk fat patterning were identified and the relationship of component scores to fatness and fat content, determined densitometrically, and to fat distribution as evinced from simple skinfold ratios, were ascertained. The interpretation of the components appeared correct: correlation coefficient between fat mass and first component scores was 0.89, P less than 0.001, and between abdomen/thigh skinfolds and second component scores was -0.78, P less than 0.001. However, log sigma skinfolds was as good an indicator of fatness and not all limb/trunk skinfold ratios were highly correlated with second component scores. The identification of the simplest and most rigorous method of describing fat patterning and distribution and the factors affecting them require further investigation but principal component analysis is proving useful.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

Changing the Mediterranean diet: effects on blood lipids.

A study was carried out on 48 healthy middle-age men and women habitually subsisting on a "Mediterranean type" diet in a rural area of southern Italy. Their freely chosen natural diet was modified for a period of 42 days by partially substituting animal fats for olive oil. Currently available foods were used, and the subjects maintained their habitual lifestyle. Dietary fat content changed from 33 to 37% of total energy and the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio changed from 0.48 to 0.22. The base-line serum total cholesterol of men increased during the dietary intervention period from 214 +/- 30 mg/dl (mean and SD) to 245 +/- 33 mg (+15%). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased 19%, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained unmodified. Women, while exhibiting a similar trend in serum total cholesterol (+16%), showed also a 19% increase in their high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p less than 0.001). Apoprotein B increased in parallel with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both sexes. The results of the study confirm the impact of the dietary factor on blood lipids. They also provide additional evidence on the response of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to diet in free-living populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Vitamin E status in Italian children subsisting on a Mediterranean diet.

Serum vitamin E levels and food intake of 83 Italian children subsisting on a 'Mediterranean-type' diet were measured. Total fat intake was 66 g/d and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake was 7.6 g/d. The dietary ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P/S) was 0.30. Vitamin E intake was estimated to be about 4.5 mg/d and the theoretical requirement, calculated on the basis of their PUFA intake was 4.6 mg/d. The mean serum concentration of vitamin E was found to be 1.02 mg/dl which is similar or higher than reported by others. No correlation was found between serum level of vitamin E and total or HDL cholesterol, while a slightly significant correlation was found between PUFA intake and serum vitamin E. We conclude that the Mediterranean type of diet, characterized by a relatively low P/S ratio and PUFA content, provides a satisfactory vitamin E status.

Body Height↗
PubMed1983

[Determination of glutathione reductase activity in erythrocytes and whole blood as an indicator of riboflavin nutrition].

Recent developments in riboflavin statis assessment suggest the possibility of satisfactory replacement of the method based on the determination of glutathione reductase (GRe) (EC 1, 6, 4, 2) activity in erythrocytes by one on whole blood. The advantages would be the elimination of the steps of separation and washing of the erythrocytes, which may be of problematic execution under the difficult logistic conditions of field studies. In order to verify the interchangeability of the two methods, we have undertaken a comparison of the results obtained on 81 subjects. Our data show that the results of the whole blood method closely replicate those obtained on the erythrocytes and that all cases are correctly classified in terms of riboflavin status assessment. A linear regression analysis shows that the two methods overlap perfectly, with a highly significant (P less than 1%) correlation coefficient (r = 0.82). Sixty five percent of the variance of the dependent variable (CA GRsi) is accounted for by the variation of the independent variable CA GRe).

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Riboflavin status among rural children in Southern Italy.

A sample of 107 boys aged 7-10 in a rural area of Southern Italy was studied for riboflavin deficiency and its association with milk consumption. The boys represented 74 per cent of the total male population of that age group in the study area. The nutritional status was assessed by means of anthropometric indicators, dietary intakes by a 24-h recall method and the riboflavin status was evaluated by the assay of erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity. The nutritional status was found to be generally satisfactory with about one tenth of the children presenting stunting, wasting, or obesity. This picture is comparable to that recorded at the national level. The overall incidence of biochemical riboflavin deficiency was 13 per cent. No clinical sign of riboflavin deficiency was observed. None of the anthropometric indicators of malnutrition appeared to be related to biochemical evidence of riboflavin malnutrition. Dietary data showed that the children consumed a relatively small amount of milk and dairy products (mean 224 +/- 109 g/d). Thirteen out of 14 children with biochemical evidence of riboflavin deficiency belonged to the group who consumed less than 300 g/d of milk. However, only 15 per cent of the children consuming less than 300 g/d of milk and dairy products had biochemical evidence of riboflavin deficiency. It appears that the dietary pattern in rural areas with traditionally low milk consumption is compatible with a relatively satisfactory riboflavin nutriture. This finding suggests that milk and dairy products may occupy, under different dietary practices, a role less critical than usually attributed.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Weight-height indices as estimators of fatness in men.

Weight-height (W-H) indices continue to be popular methods of assessing fatness in both clinical practice and population studies, even though skinfold thicknesses provide simple valid estimates. Different grades of obesity have been defined in terms of W/H2 values but these have not been related to fatness. So far, no allowance has been made for the changing body composition with age which alters the relationships between fatness and W/H2 or the other W-H indices. These relationships were calculated in an industrial sample of 138 adult men and 22-55 yr. W/H2 and relative weight (weight/desirable weight) were the best of the W-H indices of fatness, having the lowest correlations with height (r = 0.07), the highest correlation with percentage of body weight as fat (%F) (r = 0.75), and with fat mass (r = 0.88), and the lowest standard error of estimate (SEE) (4.1%F). However, W/H and W/H3 had very similar r and SEE with %F. Adding age to W/H2 improved the accuracy of the estimation of %F, (R2=0.66 SEE = 3.6%), and reduced the overestimation of %F in the young and underestimation in the middle-aged that occur with W/H2 alone. Validated equations for estimating %F and fat mass in men from W/H2 and age are presented. However, W-H indices should be used cautiously as they cannot distinguish between overweight due to muscle, bone, water or fat.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1980

Fecalase: a model for activation of dietary glycosides to mutagens by intestinal flora.

Many substances in the plant kingdom and in man's diet occur as glycosides. Recent studies have indicated that many glycosides that are not mutagenic in tests such as the Salmonella test become mutagenic upon hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages. The Salmonella test utilizes a liver homogenate to approximate mammalian metabolism but does not provide a source of the enzymes present in intestinal bacterial flora that hydrolyze the wide variety of glycosides present in nature. We describe a stable cell-free extract of human feces, fecalase, which is shown to contain various glycosidases that allow the in vitro activation of many natural glycosides to mutagens in the Salmonella/liver homogenate test. Many beverages, such as red wine (but apparently not white wine) and tea, contain glycosides of the mutagne quercetin. Red wine, red grape juice, and tea were mutagenic in the test when fecalase was added, and red wine contained considerable direct mutagenic activity in the absence of fecalase. The implications of quercetin mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Nutrition, environment and physical performance of preschool children in Italy.

While overt malnutrition is known to interfere with several bodily functions and to cause a deterioration of the level of physical performance, little or no information is available on the effect of marginal nutrition on functional development, particularly at earlier ages. A cross-sectional study of the diet, somatic development and functional response to exercise of 2,241 children, aged 1-6 years, representing contrasting socioeconomic environments, has been carried out. The findings indicate that the upper socioeconomic urban child from Central Italy consumes a better diet and is larger than the underprivileged Southern child. While a greater proportion of the latter group experience a considerable degree of growth retardation, the better efficiency of their heart responses to exercise indicates that the level of nutrition of these children is still good enough to be compatible with a more satisfactory degree of physical fitness. The body fat content and skinfold thickness of the child from the Center have found to be significantly higher than those of the children from the poorer sections of the population, suggesting that at least part of the extra energy available to him for physical activity is being deposited as fat. This raises the question of the desirability of changes in somatic development characteristic of upward social mobility, when accompanied by increased adiposity without a proportional increase in the functional capacity.

Child↗