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Objectives: Despite the beneficial effects of "vegetarian style" diet on atherosclerosis, it is also proven potentially detrimental to bone health. The influence of muscle health or atherosclerosis on major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) risk in vegetarians has rarely been explored. This prospective study aimed to investigate an association of MOF risk with muscle health and atherosclerosis in vegetarians. Materials and Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey with the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) on 39 vegetarians. The 10-year probability of MOF was determined using the Taiwanese Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX®) calculator. Appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass and bone mineral density were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Physical performance was evaluated using the 6-min walk test (6MWT). Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (ccIMT) was determined using sonography. Serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), Vitamin D, adiponectin, and leptin were measured. Results: Eleven (28.2%) of 39 vegetarians had a moderate-high risk of MOF, defined by FRAX-calculated risk =10%. These subjects had lower ASM (P < 0.005) and 6MWT distances (P < 0.01) but greater ccIMT than those with low risk. The MOF risk was negatively correlated with ASM (r = -0.51, P < 0.001) and 6MWT distances (r = -0.62, P < 0.001) but positively correlated with ccIMT (r = 0.56, P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that MOF risk scores were negatively associated with ASM and 6MWT distance while positively associated with ccIMT. There was no significant association of MOF risk with MNA scores, serum levels of PTH, Vitamin D, adiponectin, or leptin. Conclusion: Decreased ASM mass, reduced physical performance, and atherosclerosis are significantly associated with MOF risk in vegetarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Nutrition plays a significant role in preserving the balance of the human body. Considering each person's particular characteristics, diet can directly and indirectly alter the body's immune response. The purpose of this study is to draw attention to the connection between a vegetarian diet and its impact on oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the connection between a vegetarian diet and dental health, a search of the literature was conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. English language and a publication year between January 1, 2013, and March 1, 2023, were the inclusion criteria for the search. RESULTS: There were 167 articles in total that addressed the subject of interest, and 18 of them were chosen for qualitative analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a vegetarian diet may alter oral health, namely periodontal health, tooth erosion, and oral microbiome. Even if the data collected prevents the effect of a vegetarian diet on oral health from being confirmed, this study acts as a starting point for future, more focused research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great popularity of various diets in recent years has led us to reflect on their suitability for our health. The aim of this communication is to review current knowledge on the influence of the most well-known diets on the concentrations of the main steroids and to consider possible mechanisms. The influence of diet on hormone concentrations is expected, but the literature data on this topic are inconsistent and yield conflicting results. The main problem in evaluating these influences is the change in weight that a change in diet induces. This effect needs to be filtered out in order to discover interesting associations between diet and steroid hormones. This is illustrated by the example of the effects of ketogenic diets on testosterone levels in men, where the direct effect of the diet is to reduce testosterone levels, but a number of papers have described increases that are due to diet-related weight loss and the modification of obesity-induced changes. A second major driver is the change in circadian rhythm, and it is necessary to assess hormonal changes induced by changing the time of day of the diet. Such shifts within the circadian rhythm rather than due to a particular type of diet itself are documented by changes in the circadian rhythm of cortisol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vegetarian diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, and soy products. Although vegetarian diet is beneficial for improving the health outcomes such as body mass index, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and mortality rate, the association between a vegetarian diet and gout incidence is not well known. We linked the MJ Health Survey Data and MJ Biodata 2000 with the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and the National Registration of Death (2000–2018). Information on the diet was collected from the MJ Health Survey Data, and the incidence of gouty arthritis was confirmed using the NHIRD. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to compare the differences between vegetarian and non-vegetarian participants. Cox regression models were used to estimate the risk of the incidence of gouty arthritis. Among 76,972 participants, 37,297 (48.46%) were men, 2488 (3.23%) were vegetarians and the mean age was 41.65 ± 14.13 years. The mean baseline uric acid level was 6.14 ± 1.65 mg/dL. A total of 16,897 participants developed gouty arthritis, including 16,447 (22.08%) non-vegetarians and 450 (18.9%) vegetarians over a mean follow-up of 19 years. Significant differences were observed in the Kaplan–Meier survival curves between vegetarians and non-vegetarians (log-rank p < 0.001). Vegetarians had a significantly decreased incidence of gouty arthritis compared with non-vegetarians (hazard ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.78–0.98, p = 0.02) after adjusting for potential confounders. People with a vegetarian diet had a significantly decreased risk of developing gouty arthritis compared with non-vegetarians in Taiwan. • Vegetarian diet contains large amounts of fruits, vegetables, and soy products. • People who follow a vegetarian diet had a decreased risk of gouty arthritis. • The impact of soy product on gout warranted further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great popularity of various diets in recent years has led us to reflect on their suitability for our health. The aim of this communication is to review current knowledge on the influence of the most well-known diets on the concentrations of the main steroids and to consider possible mechanisms. The influence of diet on hormone concentrations is expected, but the literature data on this topic are inconsistent and yield conflicting results. The main problem in evaluating these influences is the change in weight that a change in diet induces. This effect needs to be filtered out in order to discover interesting associations between diet and steroid hormones. This is illustrated by the example of the effects of ketogenic diets on testosterone levels in men, where the direct effect of the diet is to reduce testosterone levels, but a number of papers have described increases that are due to diet-related weight loss and the modification of obesityinduced changes. A second major driver is the change in circadian rhythm, and it is necessary to assess hormonal changes induced by changing the time of day of the diet. Such shifts within the circadian rhythm rather than due to a particular type of diet itself are documented by changes in the circadian rhythm of cortisol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PV impacts the physical, psychological, and social status of the patient and therefore requires holistic, patient-centered care. • YNBLI, a non-pharmacological approach, provided PV remission in a 58-year-old woman who was previously dependent on immunosuppressants. • YNBLI may contribute to alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life, and reducing the need for medication in PV patients. A 58-year-old female presented to a lifestyle medicine clinic in 2019 with a one-year history of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and having itching, burning sensations, and bulla formation all over her body. She further had a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and also complained of malaise, indigestion, and anxiety due to her skin condition. She was on methyl prednisolone, metformin, and other herbal supplements for 1 year to control her PV and diabetes. Laboratory investigations revealed the presence of autoantibodies Desmoglein 1 and 3 with titers of 3.26 and 3.5, respectively.The patient underwent a yoga & naturopathy-based lifestyle modification program for a period of 53 days in 2019, followed by 10 days in 2020 and 15 days in 2021, and subsequent follow-up measures. This included hydrotherapy, yoga, a vegetarian diet, herbal preparations, massage, etc. By the end of 2020, the patient was tapered from all medications, and there was complete remission from PV. Given the multidimensional impact of PV, a holistic, patient-centered lifestyle approach as described in this case may be beneficial in managing PV. Further research is warranted in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HDL-cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) has been shown to be a better cardiovascular (CVD) risk marker than serum HDL concentration. Several foods and nutrients have been shown to improve HDL functions, however no effective dietetic nor pharmacological strategy is available to increase CEC. This study aims to evaluate the possible effect of Mediterranean diet (MD) and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet (VD) on HDL function in a group of clinically healthy subjects at low-to-moderate CVD risk. Thirty apparently healthy subjects with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile (21 F; mean age: 51.3 ± 9.7 years) were randomly assigned to a 3-month MD or VD diet and then crossed. Participants on VD showed a reduction in total HDL CEC by 8.99% (p < 0.001) as well as a reduction in ABCA1 mediated-CEC by 18.62% (p < 0.001) compared to participants on MD. Regarding CEC mediated by aqueous diffusion, no significant changes were observed after treatment with either diet. Finally, a significant positive association between CEC mediated by the ABCA1 transporter and adiponectin was found (r = 0.462; p = 0.010). The results of this study suggest that HDL activity in promoting cholesterol efflux and thereby reducing the concentration of pro-atherogenic lipoproteins was more effective in participants undergoing MD than VD. Based on these findings, the MD could be considered a better therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular prevention than VD. Clinical Trial registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02641834. • Mediterranean diet improves HDL functionality, assessed as cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), better than vegetarian diet. • Mediterranean diet is more effective than vegetarian diet on inflammatory biomarker. • A positive correlation was seen between the ABCA1-mediated CEC and plasma adiponectin concentration. • Mediterranean diet could be considered a better therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular prevention than vegetarian diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to estimate serum vitamin B12 levels and its correlation with severity of clinical presentation in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). A total of 80 participants were included and rendered into study group: 40 TN patients and control group: 40 healthy individuals. The serum vitamin B12 estimation of each participant was carried out by using serum vitamin B12 ELISA kit and pain characteristics of TN patients were recorded in details. The mean serum vitamin B12 level was noticed to be significantly lower (p = 0.042) in study group (296.87 ± 248.75 pg/mol) as compared to control group (423.5 ± 296.41 pg/mol). There was a statistically significant difference in serum vitamin B12 level between vegetarian TN patients and those who were on mixed diet (p = 0.001). The pain associated with TN predominantly reported unilaterally involving the right side (55%), female gender (55%) and mandibular division (50%). Although pain intensity showed no significant relation (p = 0.024), duration of pain reported a strong negative association with mean serum vitamin B12 levels in TN patients (p = 0.001). Vitamin B12 supplements can be added to the established treatment protocol for the holistic management of TN patients particularly those who are on vegetarian diet. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Our study tries to identify the main culprits causing pancytopenia and its typical clinical presentation, along with the clinical and hematological profile of megaloblastic anemia (MGA)-induced pancytopenia, in a tertiary care hospital in western India. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 patients diagnosed with pancytopenia in our hospital over 1 year (January 2019-January 2020). A scoring system is also described to distinguish cobalamin deficiency from other etiologies of pancytopenia. Results: MGA due to cobalamin deficiency was the leading cause of pancytopenia. The most frequently seen sign was whiteness, while the most typical symptoms were lethargy, malaise, and generalized weakness. Patients between 20 and 50 years of age were most often affected, with a male predominance being noticed. While blood counts revealed life-threatening anemia in most patients, the leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were not as severe. Conclusion: It was concluded that MGA due to dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 is the most common etiology for pancytopenia in western India. Our scoring system could be used as an alternative to serum cobalamin tests to diagnose cobalamin deficiency, subject to confirmation in larger populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L'objectif de l'étude est de mettre en évidence l'existence d'un lien entre alimentation et identité. Les participants ont été recrutés par le biais de groupes Facebook portant sur le végétarisme, végétalisme et véganisme, une fois l'accord des administrateurs obtenu. Six entretiens ont été réalisés, retranscrits et analysés via le logiciel TROPES. L'usage majeur des verbes d'état et d'identité (être, devenir, « je ») ainsi que du pronom personnel « on », renvoie à une construction identitaire à la fois individuelle et collective autour de l'alimentation. Et, bien que la motivation principalement rapportée soit éthique, les participants ont spontanément abordé la question du poids et du corps. Quelle que soit l'histoire alimentaire des participants, des identifications aux troubles liés à l'image corporelle ou aux catégories de poids ont précédé l'identification à une alimentation spécifique. Or, l'adoption du végétarisme (au sens large) semble associée à une amélioration de l'estime de soi et de la perception de soi. These last years have been marked by an evolution as to how people feed themselves, highlighting a growing interest for vegetarian food. Vegetarianism at large refers to several types of food that are characterized by the partial or total exclusion of animal foods. This study aims at relating various elements associated to vegetarianism, such as eating motives, behaviors, self-perception and others' perception, in relation with the notion of identity. Participants were recruited via vegetarian and vegan (for food and for lifestyle) groups on Facebook, once their agreement was obtained. Six interviews were conducted by a clinical psychologist around the notion of being and identity related to food, as well as the food history of the individual and his/her family. The use of retrospective investigation makes possible to establish a continuity between the past and the current eating behavior. These interviews, once manually transcribed, were the subject of a complex semantic analysis via TROPES software (version 8.4). The results showed a major use of state's and identity's verbs (being, becoming, "I") and the personal pronoun "we", referring to a construction of both individual and collective identity around the diet. The commitment to vegetarian/vegan diet has been primarily motivated by ethical concern. And, positive feelings have emerged following the adoption of this type of diet, such as pride, inner purity and a sense of being healthy and holy. Despite the fact that their diet is ethically focused, participants spontaneously addressed the issue of weight and body image. Whatever the food's history of participants, identifications to disorders related to body image or identifications to weight categories have preceded the identification to a specific diet. And the following of a vegetarian/vegan diet appears at the base of positive feelings toward oneself and a better self-esteem. So, we can assume that adopting a vegetarian/vegan diet could improve self-perception. Otherwise, the ethical choice mentioned by the participants, may be an acceptable sociable justification to control more or less the fate of their body (inside and outside). More research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of vegetarian/vegan diet, to explore the personality profiles of individuals and their relation to the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke was one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide. In addition, there was a significant increase in the disease burden of stroke in the world over the past 25 years, especially in developing countries. We searched PubMed (National Library of Medicine, USA) and Embase (Elsevier) databases using "Stroke and diets" as strategy, and additional references were obtained from the selected articles. The risk factors of stroke include age, sex, and modifiable factors such as hypertension, smoking, diet, physical activity, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption, psychological factors, and cardiac causes.–together account for >90% of the population attributable risk for stroke. They were discussed individually (Hypertension, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Gut microbiota, Nutrition), and the dietary modifications to reduce these risks were also presented. In conclusion, besides low salt intake, plant-based dietary patterns (especially vegetarian diets) that are rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, and dairy and low in meat, sweets, and alcohol significantly improved risk factors for stroke, and observational studies clearly demonstrated the stroke morbidity and mortality benefits. Thus, dietary intervention should be considered as an important strategy in the prevention and management of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina Naturista is the property of Sociedad Europea de Medicina Naturista Clasica (Seccion Espanola) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plant-based diets may target multiple pathways in gout pathogenesis (uric acid reduction and anti-inflammation) while improving gout associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. We aim to prospectively examine the relationship between a vegetarian diet and gout, and to explore if this relationship is independent of hyperuricemia. We followed 4903 participants in the Tzu Chi Health Study (Cohort1, recruited in 2007–2009) and 9032 participants in the Tzu Chi Vegetarian Study (Cohort2, recruited in 2005) until end of 2014. Baseline serum uric acid was measured in Cohort1. Vegetarian status was assessed through a diet questionnaire that includes dietary habits and a food frequency questionnaire. Incidence of gout was ascertained by linkage to the National Health Insurance Database. Hazard Ratio of gout in vegetarians versus nonvegetarians was assessed by Cox regression, adjusted for age, sex, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. Hyperuricemia was additionally adjusted in Cohort1. In Cohort1, lacto-ovo vegetarians had the lowest uric acid concentration, followed by vegans, then nonvegetarians (men: 6.05, 6.19, 6.32 mg/dL, respectively; women: 4.92, 4.96, 5.11 mg/dL, respectively); 65 gout cases occurred in the 29,673 person-years of follow-up; vegetarians experienced a lower risk of gout (without adjustment for hyperuricemia: HR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.79; with adjustment for hyperuricemia: HR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.97). In Cohort2, 161 gout cases occurred in the 83,019 person-years follow-up, and vegetarians also experienced a lower risk of gout (HR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.88). Taiwanese vegetarian diet is associated with lower risk of gout. This protective association may be independent of baseline hyperuricemia. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT03470584. • Vegetarian diet is associated with lower uric acid and lower risk of gout. • Vegetarian diet may protect against gout independent of baseline hyperuricemia. • Vegetarian diet may be an attractive strategy to prevent gout and its cardiometabolic comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and overweight which are consequence of some interaction factor such as genetics and behavioral habit. Obesity as a metabolic disorder and chronic inflammation is a trigger to countless disease. The main goal of this study is to investigate the interaction of herbal diet on the levels of liver enzymes, inflammatory factors and adipocytes profile. A total of 240 adult women range of 18–48 years were included in the current comparative cross-sectional study. Body composition and dietary intake (using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)) were assessed in all participants. In determining a plant based diet index (PDI), vegetarian foods were taken positive score and reverse points for animal foods. For determining a healthful plant based diet index (hPDI), healthy plant foods received positive scores, while less healthy plant foods and animal foods received reverse scores. To create an unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI), positive scores were assigned to less healthy plant foods and reverse scores to healthy plant foods and animal foods. For the measurement of serum liver enzymes and inflammatory factors, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used. Healthy diet like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and beverages such as tea and coffee, based on dietary guidelines, significantly reduced the amount of hs-CRP and TGF-β (P < 0.0001). Higher adhering to hPDI may as a result in higher intake of fiber intake, antioxidants, unsaturated fats, micronutrients, could reduce saturated fats and iron content, and finally weight loss, and reduce inflammation in the body. Base on our finding, in those people who intake higher amounts of healthy plant foods, (vegetable types), instead of unhealthy herbal foods (sweets and desserts), might be useful to reduce inflammation factor like TGF-β and hs-CRP. Women with a higher compliance score in uPDI group (juices, refined grains, starches sweetened with sugar, sweets, and desserts) did not have significantly increase in inflammatory factors levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the possible association between dietary habits and progenitor cells using data obtained from a randomized crossover trial using two different diets, lacto-ovo-vegetarian (VD) and Mediterranean (MD), the CARDIVEG study.Methods and Results: Eighty clinically healthy subjects with a low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk profile (61 F; 19 M; mean age: 50.7 ± 11.6 years) were randomly assigned to isocaloric VD and MD diets lasting three months each, and then crossed. The two diets showed no effects on endothelial progenitor cells and circulating endothelial cells but opposite effects on circulating progenitor cells. In fact, VD determined significant (p < 0.05) and negative changes on circulating progenitor cells, with an average geometric variation of -130 cells/106 events for CD34+/CD45-/dim, -80 cells/106 events for CD133+/CD45-/dim, and -84 cells/106 events for CD34+/CD133+/CD45-/dim while MD determined significant (p < 0.05) and positive changes for CD34+/CD45-/dim levels, with a geometric mean increase of +54 cells/106 events. No significant correlations were observed between changes in progenitor cells and changes in inflammatory parameters during the VD phase. On the other hand, during the MD phase negative correlations between changes of CD34+/CD45-/dim and interleukin-6 (R = -0.324; p = 0.004) as well as interleukin-8 (R = -0.228; p = 0.04) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (R = -0.277; p = 0.01), were observed. These correlations remained significant also after adjustment for confounding factors only for CD34+/CD45-/dim and interleukin-6 (β = -0.282; p = 0.018) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (β = -0.254; p = 0.031).Conclusions: MD, but not VD, reported a significant and positive effect on circulating progenitor cells in a group of subjects at low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk, probably acting through the modulation of inflammatory parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les pouvoirs publics mènent des actions en faveur d'une meilleure alimentation. Par ailleurs, de nouvelles pratiques alimentaires se développent. Elles peuvent avoir des avantages, mais présentent également des risques qu'il ne faut pas négliger. Une information objective doit être disponible dans le domaine de la nutrition, qui représente un sujet important et sensible. The public authorities are taking action to promote better nutrition. In addition, new food practices are being developed. These can have benefits, but they also have risks that should not be overlooked. Objective information must be available in the field of nutrition, which is an important and sensitive subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les données nutritionnelles et relatives à la sécurité sanitaire concernant les algues sont encourageantes dans l'optique d'une intégration à une alimentation équilibrée, comme source non conventionnelle de protéines. Alors que la consommation de viande transformée et la surconsommation de viande rouge sont néfastes pour la santé et l'environnement, et que certains pays en développement pourraient être confrontés à une pénurie alimentaire, ces nouveaux aliments semblent constituer un élément de réponse. Nutritional and food safety data on algae are encouraging from the perspective of integration into a balanced diet as an unconventional source of protein. At a time when consumption of processed meat and over-consumption of red meat are harmful to health and the environment, and some developing countries may face food shortages, these new foods appear to be part of the answer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have reported that a vegetarian diet may lower blood pressure (BP), but the effect of diet on BP in asymptomatic participants with proteinuria is unknown. We examined the association of diet and BP in individuals with or without proteinuria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from participants who were more than 40 years old and received physical checkups at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital from September 5, 2005, to December 31, 2016. Diets were assessed at baseline by a self-reported questionnaire and categorized as vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, or omnivore. There were 2818 (7.7%) vegans, 5616 (15.3%) lacto-ovo vegetarians, and 28,183 (77.0%) omnivores. The effect of different parameters on BP was determined using a multivariate multiple linear regression model with no intercept, with control for important characteristics and lifestyle confounders. Results: The vegan group had a lower mean systolic BP (−3.87 mmHg, P < 0.001) and diastolic BP (−2.48 mmHg, P < 0.001) than the omnivore group. Participants with proteinuria had a higher systolic BP (4.26 mmHg, P < 0.001) and diastolic BP (2.15 mmHg, P < 0.001) than those without proteinuria. Interaction analysis indicated that vegan participants with proteinuria had a lower systolic BP (−2.73 mmHg, P = 0.046) and diastolic BP (−2.54 mmHg, P = 0.013) than other participants with proteinuria. However, individuals in the lacto-ovo group with proteinuria had a BP similar to other participants with proteinuria. Conclusions: A vegan diet was associated with lower BP in asymptomatic participants with proteinuria. This diet could be a nonpharmacologic method to reduce BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medicina Naturista is the property of Sociedad Europea de Medicina Naturista Clasica (Seccion Espanola) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Medicina Naturista is the property of Sociedad Europea de Medicina Naturista Clasica (Seccion Espanola) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Interest in vegetarian diets is growing in Italy and elsewhere, as government agencies and health/nutrition organizations are emphasizing that regular consumption of plant foods may provide health benefits and help prevent certain diseases.Methods and Results: We conducted a Pubmed search, up to September, 2015, for studies on key nutrients (proteins, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and n-3 fatty acids) in vegetarian diets. From 295 eligible publications the following emerged: Vegetarians should be encouraged to supplement their diets with a reliable source of vitamin B12 (vitamin-fortified foods or supplements). Since the plant protein digestibility is lower than that of animal proteins it may be appropriate for vegetarians to consume more proteins than recommended for the general population. Vegetarians should also be encouraged to habitually consume good sources of calcium, iron and zinc - particularly vegetables that are low in oxalate and phytate (e.g. Brassicaceae), nuts and seeds, and calcium-rich mineral water. Calcium, iron, and zinc bioavailability can be improved by soaking, germination, and sour-dough leavening that lower the phytate content of pulses and cereals. Vegetarians can ensure good n-3 fatty acid status by habitually consuming good sources of a-linolenic acid (walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and their oils) and limiting linoleic acid intake (corn and sunflower oils).Conclusions: Well-planned vegetarian diets that include a wide variety of plant foods, and a reliable source of vitamin B12, provide adequate nutrient intake. Government agencies and health/nutrition organizations should provide more educational resources to help Italians consume nutritionally adequate vegetarian diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The following article presents the relationship between vegetarianism and orthorexia nervosa (ON). Vegetarianism is an ideology and a way of life that aims at minimizing animal exploitation. A vegetarian diet excludes the consumption of meat together with other animalderived products. According to scientists, orthorexia nervosa is considered to be a new, yet unclassified eating disorder. It involves introducing dietary restrictions by individuals who feel a desire to improve their health status by healthy eating. Method. The study involved 2,611 participants, namely 1,346 vegetarians and 1,265 non-vegetarians. The research questionnaire consisted of general personal and anthropometric characteristics, the BOT (Bratman Test for Orthorexia) and questions evaluating the participants' attitude towards nutrition. Results. Based on the obtained results, health food fanaticism is more specific to vegetarians than non-vegetarians. The risk for orthorexia nervosa decreases with age and diet duration. The biggest number of health food fanatics was found in the group of lacto-vegetarians, a lower number among ovo-vegetarians and lacto-ovo-vegetarians, and the smallest number was observed in the vegan group. Also, vegetarians were reported to have dietary consultations as frequently as non-vegetarians. Discussion. Very few studies can be found on the relationship between orthorexia nervosa and vegetarianism. Some scientists believe that vegetarians are particularly prone to orthorexia nervosa. In addition, it has been suggested by other researchers that vegetarianism can be used to mask eating disorders, as it allows these affected individuals to avoid certain products or situations related to food. The direction of cause and effect cannot be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of a vegetarian and a conventional diet on thigh adipose tissue distribution in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Seventy-four subjects with T2D were randomly assigned to either follow a vegetarian diet (V,n= 37) or a control group who followed an isocaloric conventional anti-diabetic diet (C,n= 37). Both diets were calorie restricted (−500 kcal/day). To measure insulin sensitivity, the hyperinsulinemic (1 mU.kg−1.min−1) isoglycemic clamp was conducted. β-Cell function was assessed using a mathematical model after a test meal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thigh was performed. All subjects were examined at 0, 3, and 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed using repeated measures analysis of variance and a multivariate regression model. Results: Greater reduction was observed in total leg area in V (−13.6 cm2[95% confidence interval [CI], −14.2 to −12.9] in V vs −9.9 cm2[95% CI, −10.6 to −9.2] in C; Gxtp< 0.001). The reduction in subcutaneous fat was comparable in response to both diets (Gxt,p= 0.64). Subfascial fat was reduced only in response to a vegetarian diet (−0.82 [95% CI, −1.13 to −0.55] cm2in V vs −0.44 [95% CI, −0.78 to +0.02] cm2in C; Gxt,p= 0.04). The reduction in intramuscular fat tended to be greater in response to a vegetarian diet (−1.78 [95% CI, −2.26 to −1.27] cm2in V vs −0.57 [95% CI, −1.06 to −0.09] cm2in C; Gxt,p= 0.12). Changes in subcutaneous and subfascial fat correlated with changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, and β-cell insulin sensitivity. After adjustment for changes in body mass index (BMI), correlations remained significant for changes in fasting plasma glucose and β-cell insulin sensitivity and with changes in triglycerides. Conclusions: Our data indicate the importance of both subcutaneous and subfascial fat in relationship to glucose and lipid metabolism. Abbreviations:BMI , body mass index; C , control group; FPG , fasting plasma glucose; Gxt , interaction between group and time; HbA1c , glycated hemoglobin; MCR , metabolic clearance rate of glucose; OPLS , orthogonal projections to latent structure; T2D , type 2 diabetes; V , vegetarian group [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a vegetarian versus conventional diet on the serum levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in patients with T2D after 12 weeks of dietary intervention and to assess their relationships with metabolic parameters.Methods and Results: Men and women with T2D were randomly assigned to follow either a vegetarian diet without fish or meat (n = 37) or an isocaloric conventional antidiabetic diet (n = 37). Both diets were energy restricted (minus 500 kcal/day). All foods were provided to the participants. At randomization (week 0) and 12 weeks, the meal test was performed to assess the β-cell function and serum levels of 24 POPs. Dioxins and dioxin-like POPs were analyzed by isotope dilution high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) and mass spectrometry after cleanup of the silica and carbon columns. Non-dioxin-like POPs were analyzed by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Statistical analyses used were repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), a multivariate regression model, and Pearson's correlations. We observed a statistically nonsignificant trend toward increases in the serum levels of most POPs in response to both hypocaloric diets with no differences between groups. In the groups combined, the change in serum concentrations of total POPs was correlated to changes in HbA1c (r = +0.34; p < 0.01), fasting plasma glucose (r = +0.41; p < 0.01) levels, and β-cell function measured as insulin secretion at a reference glucose level (r = -0.37; p < 0.01), independent of the changes in body weight and volume of visceral fat.Conclusion: Short-term hypocaloric vegetarian and conventional diets did not reduce the POP levels, possibly due to mobilization of fat stores. Our findings support the relationship between POPs and diabetes, especially β-cell function.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00883038, completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]