Search

Background: The appetite-regulating effects of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC) have in part previously been attributed to their effects on intestinal transit rates as well as microbial production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). Increased colonic production of the SCFA propionate has been shown to reduce energy intake and stimulate gut hormone secretion acutely in humans.\ud \ud Objective: We investigated the effect of the propiogenic NDC, L-rhamnose, on gastrointestinal transit times using a combined 13CO2/H2 breath test. We hypothesised that L-rhamnose would increase plasma propionate leading to a reduction in appetite, independent of changes in gastrointestinal transit times.\ud \ud Design: We used a dual 13C octanoic acid/lactose 13C-ureide breath test combined with breath H2 to measure intestinal transit times following the consumption of 25g/d L-rhamnose, compared with inulin and cellulose, in 10 healthy humans in a randomised cross-over pilot study. Gastric emptying (GE) and oro-caecal transit times (OCTT) were derived from the breath 13C data and compared with breath H2. Plasma SCFA and peptide YY (PYY) were also measured alongside subjective measures of appetite.\ud \ud Results: L-rhamnose significantly slowed GE rates (by 19.5min) but there was no difference in OCTT between treatments. However, breath H2 indicated fermentation of L-rhamnose before it reached the caecum. OCTT was highly correlated with breath H2 for inulin but not for L-rhamnose or cellulose. L-rhamnose consumption significantly increased plasma propionate and PYY but did not significantly reduce subjective appetite measures.\ud \ud Conclusions: The NDCs tested had a minimal effect on intestinal transit time. Our data suggest that L-rhamnose is partially fermented in the small intestine and that breath H2 reflects the site of gastrointestinal fermentation and is only a reliable marker of OCTT for certain NDCs (e.g. inulin). Future studies should focus on investigating the appetite-suppressing potential of L-rhamnose and verifying the findings in a larger cohort.

RESUMEN Introducción: En 2016 entró en vigencia en Chile la Ley 20.606, sobre la composición de los alimentos y su publicidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la percepción que tienen los nutricionistas y los estudiantes de Nutrición y Dietética (NyD) respecto a dicha ley. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal. Se elaboró una encuesta online con preguntas sobre percepción y conocimientos de la Ley de Alimentos 20.606, que se difundió a través de diferentes redes sociales asociadas a nutricionistas entre diciembre 2016 y enero 2017. Resultados: Se aplicaron 1584 encuestas, 902 a nutricionistas y 682 a estudiantes de NyD. Un 99,0% de los nutricionistas y un 99,2% de los estudiantes de NyD declaró conocer la ley; un 81,7% de los nutricionistas y un 85,0% de los estudiantes indicó estar de acuerdo con la Ley de Alimentos. Al consultar sobre la efectividad de la aplicación de la ley en los colegios, un 49% de los nutricionistas y un 51,5% de los estudiantes la consideró efectiva, a pesar de que no impide la venta de alimentos no saludables en el exterior de los colegios. El 88,2% de los nutricionistas y un 86,2% de los estudiantes de NyD señaló que realizó educación respecto a la Ley de Alimentos a pacientes. Conclusiones: Los nutricionistas y estudiantes de NyD en Chile tienen un buen conocimiento de la ley, una percepción favorable de ella y han educado a sus usuarios sobre ella. Sin embargo, consideran relevante mejorar la aplicación de la ley al interior de los establecimientos educacionales e implementar modificaciones futuras que incluyan aspectos como la restricción de venta de alimentos con sellos y así limitar su consumo en población infantil. ABSTRACT Introduction: In 2016 the new food law regulation 20,606 was implemented in Chile. This law is about composition and advertising in foods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of nutritionists and Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate students (N&D). Material and Methods: A transversal study. An online survey was designed including questions about perception and knowledge of the food law regulation 20,606. This survey was shared on social media related to nutritionists between December 2016 and January 2017. Results: 1584 surveys were replied (902 replied by nutritionists and 682 replied by undergraduates). 99.0% of nutritionists and 99.2% of N&D are aware of the law. 81.7% of nutritionists and 85% of N&D agreed with this new law. Regarding to the effectiveness of this law, almost half of both studied groups considered this new regulation effective. Although, this law is not regulating the sale of unhealthy products outside schools. 88.2% of the nutritionists and 86.2% of N&D indicated that they have provided patient nutritional education related to this law. Conclusions: Both studied groups in Chile are aware of this new law perceiving it positively and they have provided nutritional education to consumers. However, they consider it important to improve the application of the law in schools and implement future modifications that include the restriction of sale of foods with “warning” stickers to restrict their consumption in the child population.

La obesidad está asociada con una inflamación de bajo grado que contribuye al desarrollo de la insulino-resistencia y de la diabetes. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las concentraciones plasmáticas de ácidos grasos saturados (AGS), monoinsaturados (AGMI) y poliinsaturados (AGPI) en sujetos obesos asintomáticos y determinar el ratio ácido araquidónico/ácido eicosapentanoico [ARA/EPA] como un posible marcador de inflamación, con su eventual asociación con los niveles de proteína C reactiva ultrasensible (PCRus). Se reclutaron 14 sujetos obesos (34,4 ± 11.1 años; índice de masa corporal: 36,0 ± 4,5 kg/m2) y 12 normopeso (30,6 ± 7.8 años; índice de masa corporal: 23,6 ± 2,4 kg/m2); las concentraciones plasmáticas de ácidos grasos fueron determinados por cromatografía de gases. Los niveles de PCRus fueron más elevadas en los sujetos obesos (p=0,01) y correlacionaron con el contenido de grasa corporal. Los porcentajes relativos de AGS, AGMI, AGPI no se vieron afectados en los sujetos obesos, pero sus concentraciones plasmáticas se incrementaron en comparación con el grupo control. Sin embargo, no se observaron diferencias en las concentraciones de PUFAs de cadena larga (DHA, EPA y ARA) ni en el ratio ARA/EPA en los sujetos obesos. Estas observaciones no apoyan el uso del ratio ARA/EPA como un marcador de inflamación de bajo grado evaluada por PCRus en este grupo de sujetos obesos asintomáticos. Obesity is associated with a low grade inflammation which contributes to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the total saturated (SFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in plasma from asymptomatic obese subjects and to determine the arachidonic/eicosapentanoic acid ratio [ARA/EPA] as a marker of inflammation, and its eventual association with ultrasensitive CRP. Fourteen obese (34.4 ± 11.1y.; BMI: 36.0 ± 4,5 kg/m2) and 12 normal-weight (30.6 ± 7.8y.; BMI: 23,6± 2,4 kg/m2) subjects were recruited and their plasma fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. usCRP was higher in the obese subjects (p=0,01) and correlates with their body fat content. The percentages of SFAs, MUFAs, PUFAs were not affected in the obese subjects but their concentrations were increased, compared with the control group. However, no differences in the long chain PUFAs (DHA and EPA) concentrations or in the plasmatic ARA/EPA ratio were observed in these subjects. These observations do not support a relation between the ARA/EPA ratio and the presence of low grade inflammation evaluated by plasma usCRP in this group of asymptomatic obese subjects.