INTRODUCCIÓNLa población mundial enfrenta una epidemia de sobrepeso y obesidad y sus complicaciones metabólicas como la diabetes tipo 2 y las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Si bien anteriormente estas patologías afectaban principalmente las poblaciones de los países industrializados, la transición demográfica, epidemiológica y nutricional que ha ocurrido en las últimas décadas ha provocado su generalización a los países en desarrollo, donde frecuentemente coexisten con la malnutrición. Este fenómeno se debe principalmente al mejoramiento de la calidad vida (mejores sueldos, calefacción central, uso de automóviles, mayor disponibilidad de alimentos, entre otros), junto con la occidentalización de la dieta y la disminución de la actividad física (1).El año 2005, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) estimaba que el sobrepeso afectaba a 1.6 billones y la obesidad a 400 millones de adultos en el mundo. UTILIZACIÓN DE SUPLEMENTOS NUTRICIONALES ABSTRACTSimultaneously to the rapid increase of overweight and obesity a great number of products oriented to weight loss have emerged in the market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the scientific evidence supporting the use of three products designed for weight loss available in Chile: a lipidic emulsion that stimulates ileal brake, a protease inhibitor and an amylase inhibitor. The results indicate that the amylase and protease inhibitors efficiently inhibit the respective enzymatic activities in vitro; however, they do not affect weight control in clinical trials carried out in normal weight as well as in obese subjects. Thus, there is not enough evidence supporting the use of these products for weight control. On the other hand, the results concerning the lipidic emulsion are conflicting and more studies are needed to confirm its possible effect on weight control.

OMIM 248600), es de herencia autosómica recesiva causada por un defecto del complejo enzimático deshidrogenasa de los aminoácidos ramificados: Valina, Isoleucina y Leucina (VIL) y del cetoácido alfa cetoisocaproico proveniente de la Leucina (Leu) (1). Esta acumulación ocasiona un compromiso neurológico que puede llevar a la muerte o dejar graves secuelas neurológicas, si no se diagnostica precozmente y no se trata adecuadamente a largo plazo (2,3). La forma clásica se presenta en recién nacidos de apariencia normal y se manifiesta con signos y síntomas poco

Little is known about the nutritional consequences of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) without neonatal diagnosis in Colombia. The aim of our study was to describe the nutritional characteristics of individuals with IEM who attended a nutritional private practice in Bogotá, Colombia, and to evaluate whether this status is consequence of the disease or other social or demographic variables. This was a descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional design, in which anthropometrical measurements were taken along with a diet analysis and the recollection of social and demographic variables. A sample of 22 individuals was gathered: Forty five % women, 36% infants, 59% resided in an urban area and 77% had a low socioeconomic status (SES). More than 40% had an adequate nutritional status and 45% suffered growth retardation; no differences were found according to gender, area of residence, SES nor age group. Nearly 90% had adequate treatment adherence, fulfilling their nutritional requirements according to age, disease and limiting amino acids. The only difference found in dietary intake was among age groups, in which the intake per kg of weight decrease as the individual got older. We concluded that the main nutritional outcome in patients with IEM was growth retardation and it can be attributed to the disease rather than other social or demographic variables.