Search

Purpose: Proper evaluation of polyphenols intake at the population level is a necessary step in order to establish possible associations with health outcomes. Available data are limited, and so far no study has been performed in people with diabetes. The aim of this work was to document the intake of polyphenols and their major food sources in a cohort of people with type 2 diabetes and in socio-demographic subgroups. Methods: We studied 2573 men and women aged 50–75 years. Among others, anthropometry was measured by standard protocol and dietary habits were investigated by food frequency questionnaire (EPIC). The intake of polyphenols was evaluated using US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases. Results: The mean total polyphenol intake was 683.3 ± 5.8 mg/day. Non-alcoholic beverages represented the main food source of dietary polyphenols and provided 35.5% of total polyphenol intake, followed by fruits (23.0%), alcoholic beverages (14.0%), vegetables (12.4%), cereal products and tubers (4.6%), legumes (3.7%) and oils (2.1%); chocolate, cakes and nuts are negligible sources of polyphenols in this cohort. The two most important polyphenol classes contributing to the total intake were flavonoids (47.5%) and phenolic acids (47.4%). Polyphenol intake increased with age and education level and decreased with BMI; furthermore, in the northern regions of Italy, the polyphenol intake was slightly, but significantly higher than in the central or southern regions. Conclusions: The study documents for the first time the intake of polyphenols and their main food sources in people with diabetes using validated and complete databases of the polyphenol content of food. Compared with published data, collected in people without diabetes, these results suggest a lower intake and a different pattern of intake in people with diabetes. © 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Purpose: The optimal macronutrient composition of the diet for the management of type 2 diabetes is debated, particularly with regard to the ideal proportion of fat and carbohydrates. The aim of the study was to explore the association of different proportions of fat and carbohydrates of the diet—within the ranges recommended by different guidelines—with metabolic risk factors. Methods: We studied 1785 people with type 2 diabetes, aged 50–75, enrolled in the TOSCA.IT Study. Dietary habits were assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire (EPIC). Anthropometry, fasting lipids, HbA1c and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Results: Increasing fat intake from

Background and aims: Diabetic women have a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men. Sex differences in dietary habits may play a role, but are little investigated. The study evaluates the quality of diet, adherence to the nutritional recommendations of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group and their relation with plasma lipid in men and women with diabetes. Methods and results: We studied 2573 people, aged 50e75, enrolled in the TOSCA.IT study (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00700856). Plasma lipids were measured centrally. Diet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.Women had a more adverse plasma lipid profile than men.Women consumed significantly more legumes, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, vegetable oils, and added sugar, whereas men consumed more starchy foods, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. This stands for a higher proportion (%) of energy intake from saturated fat and added sugar (12.0 2.4 vs 11.5 2.5 and 3.4 3.2 vs 2.3 3.2, P < 0.04), and a higher intake of fiber (11.2 2.8 vs 10.4 2.6 g/1000 Kcal/day) in women. Adherence to the recommendations for saturated fat and fiber consumption was associated with significantly lower LDL-cholesterol regardless of sex. Adherence to the recommendations for added sugars was associated with significantly lower triglycerides and higher HDL-cholesterol in men and women. Conclusions: Men and women with diabetes show significant differences in adherence to nutritional recommendations, but sex differences in plasma lipid profile are unlikely to be explained by nutritional factors. Adherence to the nutritional recommendations is associated with a better plasma lipid profile regardless of sex, thus reinforcing the importance of substituting saturated for unsaturated fat sources, increasing fiber and reducing added sugar intake.

The aim of this study was to evaluate exogenous and endogenous lipoprotein responses to a standard fat-rich meal in type 2 diabetic patients with optimal fasting triglyceridemia and optimal blood glucose control. Seven type 2 diabetic patients and five nondiabetic controls (age, 49 +/- 7 and 48 +/- 4 yr; body mass index, 28.3 +/- 3.6 and 25.1 +/- 3.6 kg/m(2); mean +/- SD) were given, after at least 12 h of fasting, a standard fat-rich meal. Before and over the 6 h after the meal, serial blood samples were taken for determination of glucose, insulin, lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoprotein B-48 (apo B-48), apo B-100, free fatty acids, and lipoprotein lipase activity. The main abnormality in the postprandial lipid response of diabetic patients involved large very low density lipoproteins. In these particles, apo B-48, apo B-100, cholesterol, and triglyceride incremental areas were, in fact, significantly higher in diabetics compared with controls [7.08 +/- 2.65 vs. 1.17 +/- 0.88 mg/liter.h, 65.5 +/- 11.5 vs. 12.4 +/- 1.77 mg/liter.h, 29.7 +/- 3.9 vs. 13.1 +/- 3.1 mg/dl.h (0.77 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.34 +/- 0.08 mmol/liter.h), 170 +/- 31 vs. 94 +/- 22 mg/dl.h (1.93 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.06 +/- 0.25 mmol/liter.h)] (all P0.05; mean +/- SEM). Postprandial preheparin lipoprotein lipase plasma activity was, if anything, higher in diabetic patients. In conclusion, even with fasting normotriglyceridemia and optimal blood glucose control, type 2 diabetic patients are characterized, in the postprandial period, by a significant increase in large very low density lipoproteins of both endogenous and exogenous origins.

RIASSUNTO Nonostante gli sforzi per diffondere e implementare le raccomandazioni nutrizionali per il trattamento del diabete, la loro applicazione nella pratica clinica è ancora largamente insufficiente. Tra le possibili ragioni va considerato il fatto che le abitudini alimentari risentono molto delle tradizioni gastronomiche locali. Lo studio si propone di valutare le abitudini alimentari delle persone con diabete in tre macroaree geografiche italiane, nord, centro e sud, per studiare in che misura le tradizioni gastronomiche locali possano influenzare l'adesione alle raccomandazioni nutrizionali. Sono stati studiati 1786 pazienti diabetici di tipo 2; le abitudini alimentari sono state indagate con un questionario alimentare semiquantitativo di frequenza validato (EPIC, European Prospective Investigation on Cancer and Nutrition). L'introito energetico è sovrapponibile nelle 3 macroaree geografiche, ma gli alimenti che contribuiscono alla composizione della dieta sono diversi a seconda della locazione geografica: al nord si osserva un maggiore consumo di carne, salumi e grassi animali; al sud, un maggiore consumo di pane integrale e legumi. Questo si traduce in una differente composizione in nutrienti della dieta: il consumo di grassi totali, grassi saturi e polinsaturi risulta significativamente più basso al sud e al centro rispetto al nord (p < 0,05); il contrario si osserva, invece, per i carboidrati totali e la fibra alimentare (p < 0,05). Infine, la proporzione di pazienti che aderiscono alle raccomandazioni nutrizionali è generalmente scarsa sia per il consumo di fibra, mediamente inferiore rispetto a quanto raccomandato, sia per il consumo di grassi saturi, mediamente superiore ai livelli consigliati. In conclusione, le raccomandazioni nutrizionali sono scarsamente seguite su tutto il territorio nazionale; si osservano, tuttavia, significative differenze geografiche verosimilmente dovute all'influenza delle tradizioni gastronomiche locali che vanno tenute in conto per migliorare l'adesione dei pazienti alle raccomandazioni dietetiche.

BACKGROUND Post-prandial lipid abnormalities might contribute to the excess of cardiovascular risk typical of type 2 diabetic patients. The study evaluated the effects of atorvastatin (20 mg d(-1)) vs. fenofibrate (200 mg d(-1)) on post-prandial lipids in type 2 diabetic patients with mixed hyperlipidaemia. MATERIALS AND METHOD Eight type 2 diabetic patients, male/female (M/F) 6/2, age 58 +/- 5 years, body mass index (BMI) 28 +/- 3 kg m(-2) with cholesterol of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) between 100-160 mg dL(-1) and triglycerides between 150-400 mg dL(-1), participated in a randomized, cross-over study (3 months on atorvastatin and 3 months on fenofibrate). At baseline and at the end of the two treatments, the patients were given a standard fat meal; blood samples were taken before the meal and every 2 h after for the assay of cholesterol, triglycerides, apoB-48 and apoB-100 (determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) in plasma lipoproteins and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) subfractions (large and small VLDL), separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation. RESULTS Data on fasting lipids confirmed that atorvastatin was more effective on the reduction of LDL-cholesterol, whereas fenofibrate was a better triglyceride-lowering agent. Concerning the post-prandial phase, the incremental areas under the curve (IAUC) for chylomicrons and large VLDL were reduced after both treatments, reaching statistical significance for cholesterol, triglyceride and apoB-100 content of chylomicrons only after fenofibrate administration [IAUC, (5.2 +/- 4.6 vs. 10.7 +/- 9.3) mg dL(-1) h(-1), P = 0.03; (131.3 +/- 95.1 vs. 259.1 +/- 201.5) mg dL(-1) h(-1), P = 0.02; (0.46 +/- 1 vs. 3 +/- 3.7) mg dL(-1) h(-1), P = 0.025, all respectively]. CONCLUSIONS During the post-prandial state fenofibrate appeared to be more effective than atorvastatin in reducing the chylomicron response.

Nutrient determinants of postprandial triglyceride (TG) are matter of debate, especially for type II diabetes.This study was performed to evaluate the impact of dietary habits on postprandial TG response in a population-based sample of type II diabetic patients.One-hundred and forty type II diabetic patients (63 men/77 women, age 45-70 years) referring to the same health district, not on hypolipidemic drugs and without any other chronic disease, performed four TG profiles (at fasting, before, 2 and 3 h after lunch) with a specific device (Accutrend GCT, Roche Diagnostics Mannheim, Germany) validated previously. Dietary habits were recorded by a dietitian utilizing a previously validated semiquantitative questionnaire.Triglyceride values (mmol/l, mean +/- s.d.) were 2.22 +/- 0.93 at fasting, decreased before lunch (2.03 +/- 0.81), reached peak values 3 h after lunch (2.73 +/- 1.11). Postprandial TG increments (3 h after lunch minus pre-lunch concentration) significantly correlated with the intake (g/day) of animal protein (r = 0.20, P0.02), total fat (r = 0.21, P0.01), animal fat (r = 0.19, P0.03) and vegetable fat (r = 0.19, P0.03), also after adjusting for fasting TG and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Expressing nutrient intake as percentage of total calorie intake, total and animal fat remained significantly and directly related to postprandial TG increment (r = 0.21, P0.01 for total fat; r = 0.19, P0.03 for animal fat) whereas the percentage of carbohydrates was inversely related (r = -0.23, P0.007).Fat intake seems the major nutritional determinant of postprandial TG response in type II diabetic patients.

Self-monitoring of plasma triglycerides (TG) may be a very useful tool to monitor, on a daily basis, the TG responses to different nutrients, particularly carbohydrates (CHO) and fat, whose influence on postprandial TG levels is not very well known. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the TG response of hypertriglyceridemic patients to a similar amount of calories deriving from different sources of CHO and fat. Thirty-nine hypertriglyceridemic patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 experimental groups. In 1 group (the fat group), patients were given a standard meal plus a fat supplement of 300 kcal derived from different types of fat (butter, sunflower margarine, olive oil) for dinner, once a week for 3 weeks. In the other group (the CHO group), patients consumed the same standard meal plus a supplement of 300 kcal derived from different types of CHO (bread, coke, fruit). In both groups, patients measured their plasma TG before and 3 hours after each meal by Accutrend GCT (ROCHE, Mannheim, Germany). A subgroup of patients (n = 18) also performed TG determinations 2 hours after the test meals. The 3-hour TG increments were not significantly different between the different test meals (f = 0.671; P = .52); instead, the TG increments induced by fat supplements were significantly higher than those induced by the CHO supplements (f = 14.31; P = .0001). Similar results were also obtained 2 hours after the test meals. In conclusion, this study shows that the 2- and 3-hour TG responses to fat are higher compared with that induced by carbohydrate. This point, especially if confirmed by experiments with more frequent after meal measurements and of longer duration, should be taken into account in defining the best dietary approach to lower plasma TG levels throughout the whole day.

Objective— To evaluate the role of insulin resistance in development of postprandial dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients in an experimental setting in which these patients were compared with nondiabetic subjects at similar glucose and insulin blood levels. Methods and Results— Eight type 2 diabetic patients in optimal blood glucose control and 7 control subjects (aged 50.0±2.6 and 48.1±1.3 years; body mass index 28.3±1.2 and 25.6±1.1 kg/m 2 ; fasting plasma triglycerides 1.12±0.13 and 0.87±0.08 mmol/L, respectively; mean±SEM; NS) consumed a mixed meal during an 8-hour hyperinsulinemic glycemic clamp. Mean blood glucose during clamp was ≈7.8 mmol/L, and plasma insulin during the preprandial steady state was ≈480 pmol/L in both groups, that differed for insulin sensitivity (M/I value lower in diabetic subjects [1.65±0.30 and 3.42±0.60; P P P P Conclusions— Insulin resistance is also associated with postprandial lipoprotein abnormalities in type 2 diabetes after acute correction for hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.

Background. Homocysteine is involved in a complex and dynamic system of vascular injury and repair and may thus contribute to the development of diabetic microangiopathy. This still debated issue has important scientific and clinical implications, since hyperhomocysteinemia can be corrected nutritionally.Aims. 1) To evaluate the association between fasting plasma homocysteine, type I diabetes and its microvascular complications; 2) to elucidate the basis of this association by investigating the major determinants of plasma homocysteine in relation to diabetic microangiopathy.Methods. We studied sixty-six consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus of >10 years duration and normal serum creatinine (mol/L, 1.3 mg/dL), and free from clinically detectable cardiovascular diseases. Forty;four non-diabetic controls were also studied. Plasma concentrations of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 were investigated together with the C677T mutation in the gene coding for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a key enzyme in homocysteine metabolism. Renal and retinal diabetic complications were evaluated as albumin/creatinine ratio on early-morning urine spot collection and fundus photographs.Findings. Fasting plasma homocysteine levels were very similar in patients and controls. Patients with microalbuminuria or proliferative retinopathy had significantly higher values than those without: 9.4 +/-3.1 vs 7.4 +/-2.8 mu mol/L, p2.6 vs 7.3 +/-3.0 mu mol/L, p

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether hyperfibrinogenemia represents a component of the metabolic syndrome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on the relation between fibrinogen and the metabolic syndrome in a working population of 1,252 nondiabetic men, aged 35–64 years, randomly selected among all men participating in a health screening. We measured anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, fasting plasma fibrinogen, cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL), triglycerides, glucose, and insulin. Individuals with two or more metabolic abnormalities (defined as being in the highest quartile of the distribution of diastolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, or triglycerides or being in the lowest quartile of HDL cholesterol) were considered to have the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS Age-adjusted fibrinogen levels correlated significantly with BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and HDL cholesterol (inversely). Subjects with the metabolic syndrome had significantly higher plasma fibrinogen levels than those without (285.1 ± 1.9 vs. 300.2 ± 3.0 mg/dl, mean ± SE, P = 0.0001). Plasma fibrinogen concentrations and the prevalence of hyperfibrinogenemia (defined as ≥350 mg/dl) increased progressively from 279 to 307 mg/dl (P = 0.0001) and from 9 to 22% (P = 0.0024), respectively, across categories with an increasing number of metabolic disorders characterizing the syndrome (only one, any two, three or more). In multivariate analyses, both plasma insulin and the metabolic syndrome were significantly and independently associated with plasma fibrinogen. CONCLUSIONS The finding suggests that hyperfibrinogenemia may be considered a component of the metabolic syndrome. This may also explain the increased cardiovascular risk associated with hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance.

The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic effects of a high-carbohydrate (CHO), high-fiber diet with only moderate protein restriction with those of a low-CHO, low-fiber diet with a low protein content in six diabetic patients with moderate chronic renal failure. The high-CHO, high-fiber diet induced a significant improvement in blood glucose control, a significant decrease in serum cholesterol, and a significant increase in fecal nitrogen losses. Other variables evaluated were not significantly different between the two diets, except for a significant increase in serum phosphorus during the high-CHO, high-fiber diet. N balance was not significantly different from 0 at the end of either dietary period and was very similar for both diets. The high-CHO, high-fiber diet presents many beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic patients with chronic renal failure.