The purpose of this study was to compare zinc and copper biochemical indices of antioxidant status and their relationship in elite athletes of different modalities: aerobic with high-impact (triathletes, n = 10 and long-distance runners, n = 12), anaerobic with high-impact (short-distance runners, n = 9), and anaerobic with low-impact (short-distance swimmers, n = 13). The influence of recent dietary intake and body composition was also evaluated. A venous blood sample was drawn 16-20 hr after competition for the following measurements: packed-cell volume and hemoglobin in blood; copper and zinc in plasma and erythrocytes; ceruloplasmin in plasma; superoxide dismutase activity and metal-lothionein in erythrocytes; and erythrocyte osmotic fragility. Zinc and copper intakes were not different in the athlete groups and did not affect the biochemical indices measured. Athletes of the long-distance high-impact aerobic modalities had higher indices of antioxidant protection (erythrocyte zinc, superoxide dismutase activity, and metallothionein) than those of the short-distance low-impact modalities, suggesting that there is adaptation of the antioxidant capacity to the specific training. Significant correlations were observed in all athletes between erythrocyte zinc, superoxide dismutase activity, and metallothionein consistent with the importance of an adequate zinc status in the response of antioxidant mechanisms to intense exercise.

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine which of the seven selected equations used to predict basal metabolic rate most accurately estimated the measured basal metabolic rate. Methods. Twenty-eight adult women with type 2 diabetes mellitus participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical variables were measured as well as body composition (by absorptiometry dual X-ray emission) and basal metabolic rate (by indirect calorimetry); basal metabolic rate was also estimated by prediction equations. Results. There was a significant difference between the measured and the estimated basal metabolic rate determined by the FAO/WHO/UNU (P value < 0.021) and Huang et al. (P value ≤ 0.005) equations. Conclusion. The calculations using Owen et al's. equation were the closest to the measured basal metabolic rate.

A síndrome metabólica constitui um fator de risco cardiovascular, sendo caracterizada pela associação de hipertensão arterial sistêmica, obesidade abdominal, tolerância à glicose prejudicada, hipertrigliceridemia e baixas concentrações sangüíneas de HDL-colesterol, além dos estados pró-trombótico e pró-inflamatório observados. No entanto, a alimentação adequada, associada a outras modificações no estilo de vida, tais como prática regular de atividade física e abandono do tabagismo, contribui para um melhor controle da doença, prevenindo suas complicações e aumentando a qualidade de vida. Desse modo, o objetivo deste estudo foi revisar, na literatura científica, o papel da dieta na prevenção e tratamento da síndrome metabólica. Os trabalhos sobre o assunto informam que a terapia nutricional visa a limitar o consumo de gorduras saturadas e ácidos graxos trans isômeros, os principais envolvidos no aumento da colesterolemia. O aporte protéico deve ser semelhante às recomendações da população geral, com ênfase no consumo de proteínas de origem vegetal e de peixe. Outro fator importante refere-se ao índice glicêmico dos alimentos: dietas de alto índice glicêmico estão relacionadas à promoção da resistência insulínica, obesidade e diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Quanto às fibras alimentares, muitos estudos comprovam que a dieta rica em fibras diminui o risco de doenças coronarianas e diabetes mellitus tipo 2, além de contribuir para melhor controle glicêmico. Portanto, a alimentação adequada constitui um fator indispensável não somente no tratamento, como também na prevenção da síndrome metabólica.

BackgroundThe importance of achieving and maintaining an appropriate metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) has been established in many studies aiming to prevent the development of chronic complications. The carbohydrate counting method can be recommended as an additional tool in the nutritional treatment of diabetes, allowing patients with DM1 to have more flexible food choices. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of nutrition intervention and the use of multiple short-acting insulin according to the carbohydrate counting method on clinical and metabolic control in patients with DM1.MethodsOur sample consisted of 51 patients with DM1, 32 females, aged 25.3 ± 1.55 years. A protocol of nutritional status evaluation was applied and laboratory analysis was performed at baseline and after a three-month intervention. After the analysis of the food records, a balanced diet was prescribed using the carbohydrate counting method, and short-acting insulin was prescribed based on the total amount of carbohydrate per meal (1 unit per 15 g of carbohydrate).ResultsA significant decrease in A1c levels was observed from baseline to the three-month evaluation after the intervention (10.40 ± 0.33% and 9.52 ± 0.32%, respectively, p = 0.000). It was observed an increase in daily insulin dose after the intervention (0.99 ± 0.65 IU/Kg and 1.05 ± 0.05 IU/Kg, respectively, p = 0.003). No significant differences were found regarding anthropometric evaluation (BMI, waist, hip or abdominal circumferences and waist to hip ratio) after the intervention period.ConclusionsThe use of short-acting insulin based on the carbohydrate counting method after a short period of time resulted in a significant improvement of the glycemic control in patients with DM1 with no changes in body weight despite increases in the total daily insulin doses.

This study evaluated levels of plasma zinc, copper, and leptin, body composition, and their relationship in nine elite female judo athletes under two different training conditions. Body composition and biochemical measurements (hematological indexes, plasma zinc, plasma copper, and plasma leptin) were analyzed 24 h after intense training and following a 5-d period without training (no-training). Plasma leptin and plasma zinc increased with no-training. Plasma zinc correlated negatively with percent fat mass (r= -0.62; r=0.05) and positively with plasma leptin (r=0.83; p=0.002) in the no-training condition. Plasma copper did not change during the study and correlated positively with plasma leptin (r=0.66; p=0.05) and with percent fat mass (r=0.80; p=0.007) after training. Percent fat mass was associated negatively with plasma zinc (r=-0.62; p=0.05) in the no-training condition. Moreover, percent fat mass was negatively associated with the Zn/Cu plasma ratio under both training conditions (r< -0.78, p< 0.001). These results are consistent with the possible function of zinc as a lipid-mobilizing factor and of copper as a limiting factor in energy metabolism.