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Understanding the effects of climate change is one of the most challenging goals for biodiversity conservation. The forests of Andalusia, in Southern Spain, are part of an important Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot. However, great changes in climate are expected to occur in this region, and there is an increasing need to assess the vulnerability of its vegetation. We assess the vulnerability of twelve forest types in the region that are included in the European Directive 92/43/EEC as Habitats of Community Interest (HCI). HCI are natural habitat types which are in danger, have a small natural range, or present an outstanding example of a biogeographical regions in the European Union. We assessed vulnerability by analyzing the climate exposure level of each forest type under two global climate models (MRI-CGCM3, which predicts warmer and wetter conditions, and MIROC-ESM which predicts hotter and drier conditions), two emission scenarios (RCP4.5, a representative concentration pathway that predicts stable emissions of CO 2 , and RCP8.5, that predicts the highest CO 2 emissions) by the mid- and end-century time periods. The vulnerability analysis also includes the sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the dominant tree species which compose each forest type. An overall vulnerability score was calculated for each forest type, model, scenario and time period. High-elevation forest types and those with high moisture requirements were more vulnerable to climate change, while forest types dominated by more thermophilic species were less vulnerable and more resilient. The worst climate impacts were predicted in the MIROC-ESM model and RCP8.5 scenario by the end of the century (2070-2100), while the least climatic stress was obtained in the MRI-CGCM3 model and RCP4.5 scenario by the mid-century (2040-2070), which still shows high potential stress for most forest types. By the end of the century, the climate exposure of the entire forest domain will range between 32 % in the least stressful situation (MRI-CGCM3 and RCP4.5), and 98 % in the most climatically stressful situation (MIROC-ESM and RCP8.5). However, the effects of climate change will be perceptible by the mid-century, with most of the HCI forest types suffering climate stress. The "Andalusian oak forest" and the "Corylus wet forest" types were the most vulnerable to climate change, while the "Mediterranean pine forest", the "Olea and Ceratonia forests" and the "oak forests" were the least vulnerable. This assessment identifies the vulnerable forest types to climate change in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, and provides context for natural resource managers in making decisions about how to adapt forests to the impacts of climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Few prospective cohort studies have evaluated dietary iodine intake and urinary iodine concentrations in the general adult population. We assess the evolution of urinary iodine excretion and factors that may influence it in an adult population followed for 11 years., Methods: A population-based cohort study was undertaken in Pizarra (Spain). In the three study phases (baseline (n = 886), and 6 (n = 788) and 11 years later (n = 501)), participants underwent an interview and a standardized clinical examination that included a food questionnaire, and thyroid hormone and urinary iodine determinations. Subjects with thyroid dysfunction, palpable goiter or urinary iodine excretion >400 μg/L were excluded., Results: Urinary iodine increased over the years (100.6 ± 70.0 μg/L at baseline vs. 125.4 ± 95.2 μg/L at 6 years and 141.6 ± 81.4 μg/L at 11 years; p < 0.0001). Urinary iodine was significantly higher in subjects who reported iodized salt consumption and in subjects with a higher intake of dairy products (p < 0.05). Consumption of iodized salt (Risk ratio (RR) = 1.23, 95% CI [1.01-2.05]) and dairy products (RR = 2.07, 95% CI [1.01-4.23]), and a baseline urinary iodine concentration ≥100 μg/L (RR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.04-1.53]) were significantly associated with urinary iodine concentrations ≥100 μg/L at 11 years. There is no correlation between thyroid function (TSH, free triiodothyronine or free thyroxine levels) and urinary iodine concentrations in conditions of iodine sufficiency., Conclusions: The increase in urinary iodine concentrations over eleven years is associated with an increase in iodized salt intake and with the dairy products intake, and possibly with a higher iodine content of dairy products. However, individual variability in urinary iodine excretion was not fully explained by dietary iodine intake alone; previous urinary iodine concentrations were also important., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Prevalence rates of "metabolically healthy obese" (MHO) subjects vary depending on the criteria used. This study examined the prevalence and characteristics of MHO subjects and metabolically abnormal normal-weight subjects and compared the findings with the NHANES 1999-2004 study. The aims of the present study were, first, to determine the prevalence rates of MHO and MNHNO subjects using the same criteria as those of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (1999-2004) study, and second to compare the prevalence and correlates of obese subjects who are resistant to the development of adiposity-associated cardiometabolic abnormalities (CA) and normal-weight individuals who display cardiometabolic risk factor clustering between the Spanish and the US populations., Methods and Results: Di@bet.es study is a national, cross-sectional population-based survey of 5728 adults conducted in 2009-2010. Clinical, metabolic, sociodemographic, and anthropometric data and information about lifestyle habits, such as physical activity, smoking habit, alcohol intake and food consumption, were collected. Subjects were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) (normal-weight, <25 kg/m(2); overweight, 25-29.9 kg/m(2); and obese, >30 kg/m(2)). CA included elevated blood pressure; elevated levels of triglycerides, fasting glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP); and elevated homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) level. Two phenotypes were defined: metabolically healthy phenotype (0-1 CA) and metabolically abnormal phenotype (≥2 CA). The prevalence of metabolically abnormal normal-weight phenotype was slightly lower in the Spanish population (6.5% vs. 8.1%). The prevalence of metabolically healthy overweight and MHO subjects was 20.9% and 7.0%, respectively, while in NHANES study it was 17.9% and 9.7%, respectively. Cigarette smoking was associated with CA in each phenotype, while moderate physical activity and moderate alcohol intake were associated with being metabolically healthy. Olive oil intake was negatively associated with the prevalence of CA., Conclusions: Smoking, physical activity level, and alcohol intake contribute to the explanation of the prevalence of CA in the Spanish population, as in the US population. However in Spain, olive oil intake contributes significantly to the explanation of the variance in the prevalence of CA., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aim: Recent studies suggest that white rice consumption increases risk of diabetes., Aim: to assess the association between white rice intake and the incidence of diabetes in a population from Southern Spain., Methods: A population-based cohort study was undertaken in Pizarra, Spain. At baseline and follow-up, participants underwent an interview and a standardized clinical examination which included an oral glucose tolerance test in those subjects without known diabetes. Incidence and odds ratio (OR) for diabetes were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed using stepwise logistical regression., Results: Thirty eight percent of subjects reported rice consumption 2-3 times a week, 58.5% once or less a week, and 3.6% no rice consumption. In subjects who reported rice intake 2-3 times a week, incidence of diabetes after 6 years follow-up was 12.0%, and in those who reported once or less a week, 20.2% (p = 0.04, non adjusted). Subjects who ate rice frequently had lower risk to develop diabetes 6 years later (OR = 0.43, p = 0.04; adjusted for age, sex, obesity, and presence of impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance at baseline)., Conclusions: A negative association was found between white rice intake in the way it is consumed in Southern Spain, and the 6 years incidence of diabetes., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Oxidative stress is believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the oxidative stress status in bronchiectasis patients., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 clinically stable adults with bronchiectasis of any aetiology (36 with cystic fibrosis [CF] and 54 without CF) plus 50 healthy controls. Plasma and serum oxidative stress biomarkers were measured using commercial kits. Cellular oxidative stress biomarkers in white blood cells (mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular glutathione, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide) were analyzed by flow cytometry., Results: Compared with the control group, the catalase activity and lipid peroxidation (TBARs and 8-isoprostanes) were significantly increased in the patient group and the total antioxidant capacity and the activity of superoxide dismutase were decreased. Intracellular superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide were significantly elevated in the patients versus the controls in total leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Compared to the controls, the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower in neutrophils and intracellular glutathione in monocytes. No significant differences were observed between CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients in the oxidative stress biomarkers studied., Conclusions: Biomarkers of oxidative stress, both in plasma and intracellular were raised in patients with bronchiectasis compared with controls. No differences were seen in the CF patients compared with the others., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: To date no nation-wide study has yet been undertaken in Spain to estimate the iodine deficiency. The aim was to evaluate iodine intake and its conditioning factors in a representative sample of the whole adult population., Methods: The Di@bet.es Study is a national, cross-sectional, population-based survey conducted in 2009-2010 in Spain., Results: The median urinary iodine (UI) was 117.2 μg/L. Iodized salt (IS) was consumed by 43.9% of the population. The median UI in those who consumed IS and in those who did not consume IS was 131.1 and 110.8 μg/L respectively (p<0.0001). The likelihood of having UI levels above 100 μg/L was significantly associated with the intake of IS (OR=1.47) and milk at least once a day (OR=1.22). Within each individual autonomous communities, the median UI levels in those who consumed IS correlated significantly with the median levels of those who did not consume IS (r=0.76, p=0.001)., Conclusions: Though strictly speaking, Spain should be considered within the category of a country having an adequate iodine intake, the current value is too close to the cut point and does not guarantee that those groups with a greater need for iodine will have the required intake of iodine., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Fat-free mass depletion has been related to increased inflammatory activity and to increased morbidity and mortality in chronic respiratory diseases. The aims of our study were to determine the nutritional status and serum levels of adipocytokines and inflammatory cytokines in patients with bronchiectasis of any etiology and their relation with respiratory parameters. A cross-sectional study was designed that included patients aged >14 years with diagnostic criteria for bronchiectasis. Anthropometric parameters; a diet questionnaire; hand grip dynamometry; levels of leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein; as well as respiratory parameters (ie, clinical, radiologic, and spirometric values) were assessed. Ninety-three clinically stable patients were recruited, 43 with cystic fibrosis, 31 with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, and 19 with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-related bronchiectasis. Fat-free mass depletion was present in 31% of patients, with no differences according to the etiology of the bronchiectasis. Correlations were found between inflammatory cytokines (ie, IL-6) and exacerbations, bronchorrea, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and Bhalla score. Patients with worse respiratory disease severity, malnutrition, and diabetes had significantly higher levels of IL-6. Adiponectin correlated significantly and positively with fat mass and fat mass index and negatively with fat-free mass, fat-free mass index, and hand dynamometry. Leptin correlated positively with body mass index, fat mass and fat mass index, and negatively with fat-free mass, fat-free mass index, and dynamometry. Patients with bronchiectasis present a high percentage of fat-free mass depletion, independent of the etiology of the disease. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (especially IL-6) may be useful markers of disease severity. Adiponectin levels were higher in patients with fat-free mass depletion., (Copyright © 2012 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: To investigate the relationship between levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in a Spanish population., Methods: We undertook a population-based prospective study in a population from southern Spain. The first phase of the study (1996-1998) included 1226 individuals. Of this original cohort, 988 persons were reassessed in 2002-2004 and 961 in 2005-2007. Measurements were made of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and intact parathyroid hormone in 2002-2004 and an oral glucose tolerance test was done in three time points., Results: The incidence of diabetes in subjects with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels ≤ 18.5 ng/mL (percentile 25) was 12.4% vs 4.7% in subjects with levels >18.5 ng/mL. The likelihood of having diabetes during the four years of follow-up was significantly lower in the subjects with higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [OR = 0.17 (0.05-0.61)]. None of the subjects with levels higher than 30 ng/mL developed diabetes., Conclusion: In this prospective study, we found a significant inverse association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the risk for type 2 diabetes in a population from the south of Spain., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Background: High resolution melting is a post-PCR-based method for detecting DNA sequence variation by measuring changes in the melting of a DNA duplex. Melting of double-stranded DNA molecules is influenced by several factors. We evaluated the influence of the DNA isolation method in the melting curve analysis to detect genetic variations., Methods: We isolated DNA from whole blood of 547 subjects by two different methods: Maxwell 16 Instrument and DNA FlexiGene Kit. A fragment of 159 bp was amplified and analyzed by high resolution melting. Those samples that showed a different melting curve pattern were sequenced., Results: Of the samples extracted with the Maxwell 16 Instrument, 42% showed variation compared with 0.18% of the samples extracted with DNA FlexiGene Kit. After sequencing, we showed that all samples extracted with the Maxwell 16 Instrument were false positive except one, which coincided with the only sample that showed variation in those extracted with the DNA FlexiGene Kit., Conclusion: The method used to extract DNA is an important factor to consider in the analysis of melting curves obtained by high resolution melting, as it may influence the melting behaviour of the samples, giving false positive results in the detection of genetic variants., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: The importance of milk intake to the supply of dietary iodine is not fully known. We therefore undertook a study in Spain of the iodine concentration in cow's milk and the impact of the frequency of milk consumption on urinary iodine concentrations in three study populations., Methods: We studied the iodine concentration in 362 samples of milk from 45 commercial brands and compared it with the milk iodine status in studies undertaken 17 years earlier. The epidemiologic studies were performed in three different places in the south of Spain: two in school-age children (N = 757 and N = 1205 children) and one in adults (N = 1051). A milk consumption questionnaire was given and urinary iodine concentrations measured., Results: The mean concentration of iodine in the milk rose from 1991 (117 ± 37 μg/L) to 2008 (259 ± 58 μg/L) (P < 0.001). The iodine concentration was greater in skimmed milk (273 ± 52 μg/L) than in semi-skimmed milk (254 ± 57 μg/L) or whole milk (251 ± 61 μg/L) (P < 0.0001). The winter samples had a greater concentration of iodine (270 ± 55 μg/L) than the summer samples (247 ± 58 μg/L) (P < 0.0001), independently of the type of milk. The urinary iodine concentrations in all three epidemiologic studies were significantly associated with the frequency of milk intake., Conclusions: The concentration of iodine in cow's milk has risen over recent years, and it is higher in skimmed milk. The results also show that cow's milk is a relevant source of dietary iodine., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

The overproduction of intestinal lipoproteins may contribute to the dyslipidemia found in diabetes. We studied the influence of diabetes on the fasting jejunal lipid content and its association with plasma lipids and the expression of genes involved in the synthesis and secretion of these lipoproteins. The study was undertaken in 27 morbidly obese persons, 12 of whom had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The morbidly obese persons with diabetes had higher levels of chylomicron (CM) triglycerides (P < 0.001) and apolipoprotein (apo)B48 (P = 0.012). The jejunum samples obtained from the subjects with diabetes had a lower jejunal triglyceride content (P = 0.012) and angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA expression (P = 0.043). However, the apoA-IV mRNA expression was significantly greater (P = 0.036). The jejunal triglyceride content correlated negatively with apoA-IV mRNA expression (r = -0.587, P = 0.027). The variables that explained the jejunal triglyceride content in a multiple linear regression model were the insulin resistance state and the apoA-IV mRNA expression. Our results show that the morbidly obese subjects with diabetes had lower jejunal lipid content and that this correlated negatively with apoA-IV mRNA expression. These findings show that the jejunum appears to play an active role in lipid homeostasis in the fasting state.

Olive oil (OO) is the most representative food of the traditional Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). Increasing evidence suggests that monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) as a nutrient, OO as a food, and the MedDiet as a food pattern are associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. A MedDiet rich in OO and OO per se has been shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors, such as lipid profiles, blood pressure, postprandial hyperlipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and antithrombotic profiles. Some of these beneficial effects can be attributed to the OO minor components. Therefore, the definition of the MedDiet should include OO. Phenolic compounds in OO have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, prevent lipoperoxidation, induce favorable changes of lipid profile, improve endothelial function, and disclose antithrombotic properties. Observational studies from Mediterranean cohorts have suggested that dietary MUFA may be protective against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies consistently support the concept that the OO-rich MedDiet is compatible with healthier aging and increased longevity. In countries where the population adheres to the MedDiet, such as Spain, Greece and Italy, and OO is the principal source of fat, rates of cancer incidence are lower than in northern European countries. Experimental and human cellular studies have provided new evidence on the potential protective effect of OO on cancer. Furthermore, results of case-control and cohort studies suggest that MUFA intake including OO is associated with a reduction in cancer risk (mainly breast, colorectal and prostate cancers)., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify different markers in order to validate the assessment of dietary intake in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF)., Design: Cross-sectional survey., Setting: Tertiary care., Subjects: We assessed 37 adults with CF whose nutritional and respiratory condition was stable and 37 healthy adults, matched for age, sex, and nutritional status., Interventions: A consecutive, 7-day, prospective dietary survey was given to all the participants. Anthropometric variables were measured and a fasting blood sample was drawn to measure the composition of the serum phospholipid fatty acids by gas chromatography. We also measured fecal fat and nitrogen at 72 hours and 24-hour urine nitrogen., Results: The ratio of energy intake to basal metabolic rate expenditure was significantly greater in the patients (2.1+/-0.4) than the controls (1.79+/-0.4) and the percentage of patients with the ratio of energy intake to basal metabolic rate lower than 1.55 was 24% in the controls (n=9) vs 8% in the patients (n=3). Fecal nitrogen correlated significantly with total energy and the intake of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. In the patients, total dietary energy and fat and protein intake correlated positively with fecal fat. The protein and fat intake and fecal nitrogen and fat correlated significantly with urine nitrogen. In the controls, significant correlations were seen between different parameters of intake and the percentage of certain serum phospholipid fatty acids. These correlations in the patients were either absent or less marked., Conclusions: Use in persons with CF of the energy intake to basal metabolic rate ratio, measurement of fecal fat and nitrogen at 72 hours and of urine nitrogen may be useful to validate dietary surveys. The serum phospholipid fatty acid profile, however, may be less useful for this purpose in these patients.

Background & Aims: To analyse the trends in consumption and costs of home enteral nutrition (HEN) products in Andalusia (Spain) and estimate the prevalence of HEN from 2000 to 2007., Methods: Using the defined daily dose (DDD) method, we assigned a DDD to each type of diet, grouped as whole diets, supplements, modules and thickeners. The number of cases/10(6) inhabitants/day (CID) was calculated., Results: The number of persons receiving HEN rose notably, from 66.4 CID in 2000 to 1315.4 in 2007. The number of persons with home enteral tube feeding has remained stable since 2003, at around 220 CID. HEN with oral nutritional supplements (ONS) increased exponentially, with a prevalence of 910 CID in 2007. The prevalence of HEN in 2007 was similar to that of other European countries. The costs associated with HEN rose from 1.3 million euros in 2000 to over 37 million euros in 2007, due to the progressive increase in the number of persons being prescribed HEN, especially ONS, and the incorporation of more expensive organ-specific formulas., Conclusions: DDD is useful to indirectly estimate the prevalence of HEN and evaluate long-term trends in the prescription and costs of various HEN products.

Background: The intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (FABP2) is involved in the intracellular transport and metabolism of fatty acids and may affect insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism., Objective: The objective was to study the effect of interaction between the Ala54Thr polymorphism of the FABP2 gene (FABP2) and the type of dietary cooking oil used on peripheral insulin sensitivity in a population from southern Spain., Design: The study was cross-sectional. Anthropometric measurements were obtained for 1226 persons aged 18-65 y selected randomly from the municipal census of Pizarra, Spain. An oral-glucose-tolerance test was given to 1020 of these persons. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment. Samples of the cooking oil being used were taken from the kitchens of a random subset of 538 persons., Results: Persons who consumed sunflower oil and who also had the Thr54 variant had higher insulin resistance than did those who consumed olive oil (P = 0.01). We detected an interaction between the Ala54Thr polymorphism and the type of oil consumed that accounted for the variance in insulin resistance (P = 0.02)., Conclusions: The effect of dietary fatty acids on the populational pattern of insulin resistance is not independent of the Ala54Thr polymorphism of FABP2. An interaction existed between this polymorphism and the intake of dietary fats in a population with a high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Activation of the PPAR gamma 2 gene (PPARG2) improves the action of insulin and its lipid metabolism. We examined the association between Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPARG2, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and peripheral insulin sensitivity in a population with a high intake of oleic acid. A cross-sectional, population-based study was undertaken in Pizarra, a small town in the province of Malaga in southern Spain. A total of 538 subjects, aged 18-65 y, were selected randomly from the municipal census. All subjects underwent a clinical, anthropometrical, and biochemical evaluation, including an oral glucose tolerance test and Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPARG2. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment. Those subjects with the Ala-12 allele had an odds ratio for impaired fasting glucose of 0.55, for impaired glucose tolerance of 0.59, and for DM2 of 0.30. The intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) contributed to the variance of the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA IR) (P = 0.04), with a 2-way interaction between the Ala-12 allele of PPARG2 and the intake of MUFA (P = 0.005). The results suggest the existence of an interaction between Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPARG2 and dietary MUFA, such that obese people with the Ala-12 allele have higher HOMA IR values, especially if their intake of MUFA is low.

Most studies of antibodies to oxidized LDL have been undertaken in patients with different diseases and cardiovascular risk factors. However, very few studies have researched the distribution and determining factors of antibodies to oxidized LDL in the general population. A total of 1,354 persons (817 females and 537 males) aged 5-65 years were included in this study. They were selected randomly from the population census of Málaga, in southern Spain. The females had lower levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides and higher levels of HDL-cholesterol and a very significant increase (P < 0.0001) in levels of anti-oxidized LDL [low density lipoprotein modified by malondialdehyde (MDA-LDL)] antibodies but no difference in levels of immune complexes consisting of LDL and IgG antibodies (anti-LDL immune complex). Younger persons (16-35 years) had higher levels of anti-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) antibodies than persons older than 35 years (P = 0.05). Levels of immune complexes were significantly higher (P = 0.05) in persons aged 5-15 years than in persons older than 40 years. A very weak association was found between levels of anti-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) antibodies and anti-LDL immune complexes. The higher prevalence of anti-oxidized LDL (MDA-LDL) antibodies in females and young persons is in agreement with studies that found an inverse association between atherosclerosis and the level of these antibodies.

Melanotropins (MSH) are involved in tanning by stimulating melanocytes via the activation of the melanocortin-1 receptor to melanin production. Its main site of production is the pituitary gland, but alpha-MSH and related ACTH peptides are produced at other sites, including the skin. It has been hypothesized that systemic levels of alpha-MSH are controlled by a varying UV radiation (UVR) exposure. A seasonal rhythm of plasma levels has been proposed by some authors. We investigated healthy females in southern Spain and central Austria in summer and winter. The alpha-MSH and ACTH-like immunoreactivity plasma levels did not present marked differences between the groups of Malaga and Linz, dark and light skin and between seasons. An association of alpha-MSH to ACTH or cortisol levels could not be observed. Individual values of alpha-MSH were shown to be relatively constant at both times of measurement (p<0.05 by rank correlation) indicating an independent personal disposition for individual systemic alpha-MSH immunoreactivity levels. Our data do not support the concept of a marked involvement of melanotropins of pituitary origin in tanning, and no seasonal rhythm was observed.

Background: The family kitchen resembles an uncontrolled laboratory experiment, and some discrepancies in the relation between the risk of hypertension and dietary fat may be partly due to the manipulation to which the fats were subjected., Objective: We investigated whether deterioration in the quality of the cooking oils in the family household contributes to the risk of high blood pressure., Design: The study was cross-sectional. Anthropometric measurements were obtained for 1226 persons aged 18-65 y who were selected randomly from the municipal census of Pizarra, Spain. An oral-glucose-tolerance test was given to 1020 of these persons. Samples of the cooking oil being used were taken from the kitchens of a random subset of 538 persons. The concentrations of polar compounds and polymers were used as markers of the deterioration of the oils. The strength of association between variables was measured by calculating the odds ratio from logistic models., Results: Hypertension was strongly associated with obesity and was influenced by sex, diabetes, and age. The presence of excess polar compounds in the cooking oil and the use of sunflower oil were related to the risk of hypertension, whereas the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids in the serum phospholipids was negatively related to this risk. These associations remained after inclusion in the models of age, sex, obesity, and the presence of carbohydrate metabolism disorder., Conclusions: The risk of hypertension is positively and independently associated with the intake of cooking oil polar compounds and inversely related to blood concentrations of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Aim: To evaluate the metabolic response (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and beta-hydroxy-butyrate) in patients with type 1 diabetes after a trial breakfast with an enteral nutrition formula designed for patients with diabetes and compare it with standard formulas (with and without fibre)., Material and Methods: Each of 11 patients with type 1 diabetes consumed three types of liquid breakfast with a 1 week interval between each. (1). A standard diet (SD) with 49% carbohydrates, 35% lipids, 16% proteins-casein-and without fibre; (2). A fibre-enriched diet (FD): with 49% carbohydrates, 35% lipids, 16% casein and 15 g/1000 ml fibre; (3). A diet designed for patients with diabetes (DD) with 45% carbohydrates, 38% lipids, 16% soy protein and 15 g/1000 ml fibre. Each subject consumed 250 ml of each preparation at 9.00 AM after having administered their usual insulin dose, which was the same for each diet. Blood samples were taken at baseline and each 30 min, up to 150 min., Results: The increase in postprandial glycaemia was lower with DD than with the standard preparations, reaching statistical significance at 60 min. There were no significant variations in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides or beta-hydroxy-butyrate between the three preparations., Conclusions: After a trial breakfast, a diet designed for patients with diabetes provoked lower increases in postprandial glycaemia (with no changes in lipid or beta-hydroxy-butyrate levels) compared to the standard diets evaluated (with and without fibre).

The efficacy and tolerability of lovastatin and gemfibrozil were compared in a randomized double-blind 12-week study including 182 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia, from 7 hospitals in Spain. Inclusion criteria were total-cholesterol of at least 250 mg/dl and triglycerides less than 350 mg/dl. Patients were stratified in two groups: group 1, cholesterol less than 300 mg/dl, and group II, cholesterol equal to or more than 300 mg/dl. Patients were randomized to gemfibrozil (600 mg b.i.d.) or lovastatin (20 mg q.p.m., group I and 40 mg q.p.m., group II). If after 6 weeks of treatment cholesterol remained above 200 mg/dl, lovastatin does were doubled. In group I, lovastatin decreased cholesterol by 20%, LDL-C by 28%, and triglycerides by 17%, and increased HDL-C by 8%. In group II the results were: -26%, -33%, -19% and +6% respectively. The corresponding results with gemfibrozil were: -8%, -9%, -28% and +14% (group I); and -13%, -14%, -33% and +9% (group II). In both groups, lovastatin was more effective in reducing cholesterol and LDL-C (P less than 0.001) and gemfibrozil in reducing triglycerides (P less than 0.05 group I and P less than 0.01 group II). Both drugs were well tolerated. Thus, lovastatin and gemfibrozil are effective lipid-lowering agents; lovastatin has more pronounced effects in patients with hypercholesterolemia.