Objective: To investigate the effect of a probiotic milk product containing the culture CAUSIDO 1 and of two alternative products on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese subjects. Design: An 8 week randomized, double-blind, placebo-and compliance-controlled, parallel study. Subjects: Seventy healthy, weight-stable, overweight and obese (25.0`BMI`37.5 kgam 2 ) males (n 20) and females (n 50), 18 ± 55 y old, were randomly assigned into ®ve groups. Intervention: Four groups consumed 450 ml fermented milk products (yoghurt) daily. Group 1: a yoghurt fermented with two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus (StLa). Group 2: a placebo yoghurt fermented with delta-acid-lactone (PY). Group 3: a yoghurt fermented with two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and one strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (StLr). Group 4: a yoghurt fermented with one strain of Enterococcus faecium and two strains of Streptococcus thermophilus (CAUSIDO 1 culture), GAIO 1 (G). The dietary composition of the yoghurt was otherwise similar. The ®fth group was given two placebo pills (PP) daily. Results: When comparing all ®ve treatment groups, unadjusted for changes in body weight, no statistical effects were observed in week 8 in the G-group on low density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol (P 0.29). After adjustment for small changes in body weight, LDL-cholesterol decreased by 8.4% (0.26 AE 0.10 mmolal; P`0.05) and ®brinogen increased (0.74AE 0.32 mmolal; P`0.05) after 8 weeks in the G-group. This was signi®cantly different from the group consuming chemically fermented yoghurt and the group consuming placebo pills (P`0.05). After 8 weeks, systolic blood pressure was signi®cantly more reduced in the StLa and Ggroup compared to StLr. No other differences were found. Conclusion: The CAUSIDO 1 culture reduced LDL-cholesterol and increased ®brinogen in the overweight subjects at a 450 ml consumption daily for 8 weeks. The effect on LDL-cholesterol con®rms previous studies. An immunostimulation by one of the strains in the product might explain the effect on ®brinogen in the G-group.

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OBJECTIVE -To assess the safety and efficacy of insulin aspart (IAsp) versus regular human insulin (HI) in basal-bolus therapy with NPH insulin in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Subjects (n ϭ 322) who were pregnant or planning pregnancy were randomized to IAsp or HI as meal-time insulin in an open-label, parallel-group, multicenter study. Subjects had A1C Յ8% at confirmation of pregnancy. Insulin doses were titrated toward predefined glucose targets and A1C Ͻ6.5%. Outcomes assessed included risk of major maternal hypoglycemia, A1C, plasma glucose profiles, and maternal safety outcomes. A total of 80% of subjects achieved an A1C Յ6.5%. At the end of first and third trimesters, average postprandial plasma glucose increments were significantly lower with IAsp than HI (P ϭ 0.003 and P ϭ 0.044, respectively), as were mean plasma glucose levels 90 min after breakfast (P ϭ 0.044 and P ϭ 0.001, respectively). Maternal safety profiles and pregnancy outcomes were similar between treatments. RESULTSCONCLUSIONS -IAsp is at least as safe and effective as HI when used in basal-bolus therapy with NPH insulin in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and may potentially offer some benefits in terms of postprandial glucose control and preventing severe hypoglycemia. Diabetes Care 30:771-776, 2007

Whole-grain consumption does not decrease body weight compared with control consumption, but a small beneficial effect on body fat may be present. The relatively short duration of intervention studies (≤16 wk) may explain the lack of difference in body weight and fat. Discrepancies between studies may be caused by differences in study design.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of a high-sucrose diet vs a high-starch and a high-fat diet on 14 d ad libitum energy intake, body weight, energy expenditure and sympathoadrenal activity. MEASURMENTS: Food intake; body weight and composition (bioelectrical impedance); 24 h energy expenditure, substrate oxidation rates, spontaneous physical activity, heart rate and appetite sensations in a respiration chamber (VAS scores); plasma catecholamine concentration and blood pressure. SUBJECTS: Twenty normal-weight, healthy women, 9 post-obese (body mass index (BMI): 22.9 AE 0.7 kg/m 2 ) and 11 closely matched controls (BMI: 22.6 AE 0.4 kg/m 2 ). RESULTS: Average 14 d ad libitum energy intake was 13% and 12% lower on the starch diet compared with the sucrose and fat diets, respectively (P`0.05). In both post-obese and normal-weight subjects, body weight and fat mass decreased signi®cantly on the starch diet (by 0.7 AE 0.2 kg and 0.4 AE 0.1 kg, respectively, P`0.05). No changes were observed on the fat or sucrose diets. After 14 d on the sucrose diet, 24 h energy expenditure as well as postprandial plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations, were signi®cantly increased compared with the other two diets. Overall satiety and palatability ratings were also highest on the sucrose diet. CONCLUSION: Intake of a 14-d ad libitum high-starch diet decreased energy intake and body weight compared with a high-fat or high-sucrose diet. The increased energy expenditure observed on the sucrose-rich diet can probably be explained both by the increased intake of energy and fructose (mainly from sucrose) on this diet.