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Promoting healthy European lifestyle by exercise and nutrition in adolescents: The HELENA study

La clave para la promoción de la salud y la prevención de enfermedades en el siglo XXI es crear u... more La clave para la promoción de la salud y la prevención de enfermedades en el siglo XXI es crear un entorno que favorezca los comportamientos positivos y un estilo de vida saludable. Para la mayoría de las enfermedades, se pueden identificar factores de riesgo durante la edad infanto-juvenil, aunque todavía existen muchas lagunas en comprender la relación entre la evolución durante la adolescencia y el desarrollo de enfermedades no transmisibles. La adolescencia es una etapa de vida crucial que implica múltiples cambios fisiológicos y psicológicos que afectan a las necesidades nutricionales y a los hábitos alimentarios. El proyecto europeo HELENA surge de esa necesidad identificada por el Sexto Programa Marco, que era la escasa información científica disponible sobre el estado nutricional y los estilos de vida en los adolescentes europeos. El imparable aumento de la prevalencia de obesidad entre la población infanto-juvenil en todos los países y los factores de riesgo asociados a est...

Is soft drink consumption associated with body composition? A cross-sectional study in Spanish adolescents

Nutricion hospitalaria, 2009

OBJECTIVES Published data about the association between the consumption of sweetened soft-drinks ... more OBJECTIVES Published data about the association between the consumption of sweetened soft-drinks (SSD) and obesity in childhood are controversial and still inconsistent. In addition, data are lacking in the Spanish population. The purpose of this study was therefore, to explore the cross-sectional association between body composition-related parameters and SSD consumption in Spanish adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A representative sample of 1,523 adolescents (768 boys and 755 girls), with complete dietary data as well as anthropometric measurements, were included in this study. Weight, height, waist circumferences, and 6 skinfolds were measured, and BMI and percentage body fat were calculated. From a 24h dietary recall the subjects were grouped in 3 groups according to their SSD consumption: 1) Non-consumers (0 g of SSD consumption); 2) Moderate consumption (< 336 g/day of SSD, equivalent to the average SSD portion size); and 3) High consumption (> 336 g/day of SSD). RESULTS...

Diet quality index as a predictor of treatment efficacy in overweight and obese adolescents: The EVASYON study

Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), Jan 29, 2018

A diet quality index (DQI) is a tool that provides an overall score of an individual's dietar... more A diet quality index (DQI) is a tool that provides an overall score of an individual's dietary intake when assessing compliance with food-based dietary guidelines. A number of DQIs have emerged, albeit their associations with health-related outcomes are debated. The aim of the present study was to assess whether adherence to dietary intervention, and the overall quality of the diet, can predict body composition changes. To this purpose, overweight/obese adolescents (n = 117, aged: 13-16 years; 51 males, 66 females) were recruited into a multi-component (diet, physical activity and psychological support) family-based group treatment programme. We measured the adolescents' compliance and body composition at baseline and after 2 months (intensive phase) and 13 months (extensive phase) of follow-up. Also, at baseline, after 6 months, and at the end of follow-up we calculated the DQI. Global compliance with the dietary intervention was 37.4% during the intensive phase, and 14.3% ...

Inflammation in metabolically healthy and metabolically abnormal adolescents: The HELENA study

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, Jan 13, 2017

Inflammation may influence the cardio-metabolic profile which relates with the risk of chronic di... more Inflammation may influence the cardio-metabolic profile which relates with the risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess the inflammatory status by metabolic health (MH)/body mass index (BMI) category and to assess how inflammatory markers can predict the cardio-metabolic profile in European adolescents, considering BMI. A total of 659 adolescents (295 boys) from a cross-sectional European study were included. Adolescents were classified by metabolic health based on age- and sex-specific cut-off points for glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides, high density cholesterol and BMI. C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), complement factors (C3, C4) and cell adhesion molecules were assessed. Metabolically abnormal (MA) adolescents had higher values of C3 (p < 0.001) and C4 (p = 0.032) compared to those metabolically healthy (MHy). C3 concentrations significantly increased with the deterioration of the metabolic health and BMI (p &...

Ideal cardiovascular health and inflammation in European adolescents: The HELENA study

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, 2017

Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and this process seems to appear in childhood. T... more Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and this process seems to appear in childhood. The ideal cardiovascular health index (ICHI) has been inversely related to atherosclerotic plaque in adults. However, evidence regarding inflammation and ICHI in adolescents is scarce. The aim is to assess the association between ICHI and inflammation in European adolescents. As many as 543 adolescents (251 boys and 292 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study, a cross-sectional multi-center study including 9 European countries, were measured. C-reactive protein (CRP), complement factors C3 and C4, leptin and white blood cell counts were used to compute an inflammatory score. Multilevel linear models and multilevel logistic regression were used to assess the association between ICHI and inflammation controlling by covariates. Higher ICHI was associated with a lower inflammatory score, as well as with several individual components, both in boys...

Inflammatory proteins are related to total and abdominal adiposity in a healthy adolescent population: the AVENA Study

The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2006

In adults, obesity is characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation accompanied by m... more In adults, obesity is characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation accompanied by moderately high concentrations of acute phase inflammatory proteins. Recent results regarding C-reactive protein (CRP) point to a similar status in adolescents; however, studies of associations of the serum inflammatory proteins CRP, ceruloplasmin, and complement factors C3 and C4 with body fat distribution remain scarce. We aimed to establish the possible relations of serum inflammatory proteins with body fat estimates and body fat distribution in an apparently healthy adolescent population. This report included 472 adolescents (248 males and 224 females) aged 13-18.5 y who were recruited from the Spanish cross-sectional multicenter AVENA Study for whom anthropometric and immunologic data were complete. The concentrations of the serum proteins and the in vitro production of cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) by isolated and stimulated white blood cells were measure...

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Encyclopedia of Exercise Medicine in Health and Disease, 2012

euglycemic (overnight insulininfused) patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), c... more euglycemic (overnight insulininfused) patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), compared with nondiabetic controls, exhibit similar, but somewhat delayed plasma glucose nadirs, delayed glucose recovery from hypoglycemia, and posthypoglycemic hyperglycemia after the rapid intravenous injection of 0.075 U/kg of regular insulin. These abnormalities are associated with and potentially attributable to markedly diminished glucagon secretory responses, partially reduced epinephrine secretory responses and delayed clearance of injected insulin in the diabetic patients. Because glucagon normally plays a primary role in hypoglycemic glucose counterregulation and enhanced epinephrine secretion largely compensates for glucagon deficiency, we hypothesized that patients with IDDM, who exhibit diminished glucagon secretory responses to hypoglycemia, would be more dependent upon epinephrine to promote glucose recovery from hypoglycemia than are nondiabetic persons. To test this hypothesis, glucose counterregulation during ,B-adrenergic blockade with propranolol was compared with that during saline infusion in both nondiabetic controls and in patients with IDDM. Glucose counterregulation was unaffected by B-adrenergic blockade in controls. In contrast, glucose

Inflammatory Joint Disease

Encyclopedia of Exercise Medicine in Health and Disease, 2012

Objective-To determine the presence of adhesion molecules on monocytes/ macrophages (Mφ) from per... more Objective-To determine the presence of adhesion molecules on monocytes/ macrophages (Mφ) from peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory joint diseases (rheumatoid (RA) and reactive arthritis (ReA)) in order to improve our understanding of the possible mechanisms underlying the inflammatory process. Methods-Whole blood and SF cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies against CD11a (LFA-1), CD15 s (sialyl-Lewis X), CD44, CD54, VLA-4, and HLA-DR counterstained with anti-CD14 antibodies as a Mφ marker for dual fluorescence analysis by flowcytometry. Results-On PB-Mφ, CD15s was markedly increased in both RA as well as ReA compared with OA. Furthermore, in the PB LFA-1, CD44, and HLA-DR showed a higher surface density on Mφ in ReA than in OA. Comparison between SF and PB showed significantly higher CD44 and CD54 expression on SF-Mφ. These molecules play an important part in lymphocyte-Mφ interaction. Conclusion-In PB from patients with inflammatory joint diseases, Mφ are activated, allowing recruitment into the synovial compartment. These disorders, in contrast with OA seem to be "systemic" in nature. Within the SF, diVerent adhesion molecules are expressed on CD14 + Mφ as compared with PB.

Physical activity, immunity and infection

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010

During the last few decades, scientific evidence has confirmed a wide range of health benefits re... more During the last few decades, scientific evidence has confirmed a wide range of health benefits related to regular physical activity. How physical activity affects the immune function and infection risk is, however, still under debate. Commonly, intensive exercise suppresses the activity and levels of several immune cells, while other immune functions may be stimulated by moderate physical activity. With this knowledge, the understanding of the relationship between different levels of physical activity on the immune function has been raised as a potential tool to protect health not only in athletes but also in the general population; the mechanisms that translate a physically active lifestyle into good health continue to be investigated. Reviewing the literature, although several outcomes (i.e. the mechanisms by which different levels and duration of physical activity programmes affect numerous cell types and responses) remain unclear, given that the additional benefits encompass hea...

Lifestyle-related determinants of inflammation in adolescence

British Journal of Nutrition, 2007

Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of the most common chronic non-communicab... more Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases and may also play an important initiating role in their development. Only recently have inflammatory markers been included in epidemiological studies focusing on nutritional status, body composition and physical activity. We are just starting to understand how different lifestyles can determine basal levels of inflammatory biomarkers in early ages. This review aims to summarise what is known about the relationships between lifestyle-related determinants (focusing on overweight, physical activity and dietary habits) and inflammatory markers in apparently healthy young populations. Obesity is the most widely studied determinant. Several large-scale studies have now demonstrated that healthy young subjects with more body fat or higher BMI have moderately higher concentrations of inflammatory markers than their leaner peers, supporting the idea that obesity should be considered a...

Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in different stages of life

British Journal of Nutrition, 2007

The immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and foods containing them (e.g., fe... more The immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and foods containing them (e.g., fermented milks) is a topic currently under investigation. Individuals could potentially benefit from the inclusion of LAB in the diet at different times during the life cycle. One of the most accepted specific uses of probiotic bacteria is the prevention of atopic eczema in infants with family history of the disease who receive the probiotic bacteria early, through supplementation of the gestating mother and orally after birth. Immune enhancing effects have also been suggested to be beneficial in diarrhoea treatment, especially in children infected with rotavirus and in malnourished patients, infants and adolescents, whose capacity to produce IFN-γ can be increased after LAB-containing yoghurt intake. Regarding young people and adults, investigations have been conducted exploring the immunomodulation by LAB in subjects under stressful situations, in the prevention of urinary tract infecti...

Characterisation of the haematological profile, peripheral lymphocytes and cytokine production capacity of children with mild allergic asthma

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010

Reference values of lymphocyte subpopulations in European adolescents. Preliminary results from the HELENA study

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010

Immunological changes after dehydration resulting from physical effort in a hot environment

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2008

Immunomodulation and antioxidant capacity of hydroxytyrosol present at oleic acid-rich sunflower oil

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2008

Changes in cardiometabolic risk factors, appetite-controlling hormones and cytokines after a treatment program in overweight adolescents: preliminary findings from the EVASYON study

Pediatric Diabetes, 2011

Objective: We investigated the effects of the EVASYON programme on body fatness, cardiometabolic ... more Objective: We investigated the effects of the EVASYON programme on body fatness, cardiometabolic risk factors, gut appetite-controlling hormones and serum levels of cytokines in adolescents with overweight or obesity (OW/OB). Methods: The study comprised 13 boys (10 obese) and 12 girls (8 obese), aged 13 to 16 years, from a Madrid Hospital. The EVASYON programme was based on a calorie-restricted diet (10-40%), increased physical activity (at least 60 min/day 5 days a week), psychological therapy and nutritional education for 13-month. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were measured before and after intervention. Serum glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin, total peptide YY and insulin levels were determined before and after intervention. Serum levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF- were also assessed before and after intervention. Results: A decrease in body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score, skinfolds (triceps, biceps, subscapular, thigh, and calf), sum of 6 skinfolds and body circumferences (arm relaxed and flexed, waist, hip and proximal thigh) values were observed after the intervention programme (all P<0.05). In addition, diastolic blood pressure also decreased (P<0.05). A decrease in serum leptin levels (-48.4%, P<0.001) was observed after intervention without changes in total peptide PYY and insulin levels. Levels of IL-8, IL-10 and TNF- also decreased (all P<0.05) after the intervention programme. Conclusions: These preliminary results evidence that the EVASYON programme may improve body fat, leptin, and some pro-inflammatory cytokines in adolescents with OW/OB.

Combined Influence of Lifestyle Risk Factors on Body Fat in Spanish Adolescents – the AVENA Study

Obesity Facts, 2011

Objective: To examine the combined influence of four lifestyle risk factors related to physical a... more Objective: To examine the combined influence of four lifestyle risk factors related to physical activity, television viewing, sleep duration, and meal frequency on body fat (BF) in adolescents. Method: This cross-sectional study comprised 1,310 Spanish adolescents (age 13-18.5 years). Lifestyle variables were self-reported and BF indicators (weight, height, six skinfold thicknesses, waist circumference) measured during the years 2000-2002. Lifestyle risk factors were: physically inactive, 3 h/day watching television, <8 h/day sleep duration, and <5 meals a day. The number of lifestyle risk factors was calculated for each participant, ranging from 0 to 4. Results: The number of lifestyle risk factors was positively associated with sum of six skinfolds, %BF, waist circumference, and waist-height ratio (all p < 0.001). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of overweight (including obesity) for groups with 1, 2, and 3-4 lifestyle risk factors compared with those with 0 were 2.86 (1.77-4.62), 3.61 (2.16-6.04), and 5.81 (3.07-10.99), respectively (p for trend <0.001). All the observations were independent of age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and fat free mass. Conclusion: The combined influence of four lifestyle risk factors is positively associated with BF and an approximately sixfold risk of overweight in adolescents.

Associations of physical activity and fitness with adipocytokines in adolescents: The AFINOS study

Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2012

Effects of a Running Bout in the Heat on Cognitive Performance

Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 2011

Suggestive evidence of associations between liver X receptor β polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in three cohort studies: HUNT2 (Norway), MONICA (France) and HELENA (Europe)

BMC Medical Genetics, 2010

Background The liver X receptors (LXR) α and β regulate lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis and in... more Background The liver X receptors (LXR) α and β regulate lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis and inflammation. Lxrβ -/- mice are glucose intolerant and at the same time lean. We aimed to assess the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LXRβ and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity and related traits in 3 separate cohort studies. Methods Twenty LXRβ SNPs were identified by sequencing and genotyped in the HUNT2 adult nested case-control study for T2DM (n = 835 cases/1986 controls). Five tag-SNPs (rs17373080, rs2695121, rs56151148, rs2303044 and rs3219281), covering 99.3% of the entire common genetic variability of the LXRβ gene were identified and genotyped in the French MONICA adult study (n = 2318) and the European adolescent HELENA cross-sectional study (n = 1144). In silico and in vitro functionality studies were performed. Results We identified suggestive or significant associations between rs17373080 and the risk of (i) T2DM in HUNT2 (OR = 0.82...

Promoting healthy European lifestyle by exercise and nutrition in adolescents: The HELENA study

La clave para la promoción de la salud y la prevención de enfermedades en el siglo XXI es crear u... more La clave para la promoción de la salud y la prevención de enfermedades en el siglo XXI es crear un entorno que favorezca los comportamientos positivos y un estilo de vida saludable. Para la mayoría de las enfermedades, se pueden identificar factores de riesgo durante la edad infanto-juvenil, aunque todavía existen muchas lagunas en comprender la relación entre la evolución durante la adolescencia y el desarrollo de enfermedades no transmisibles. La adolescencia es una etapa de vida crucial que implica múltiples cambios fisiológicos y psicológicos que afectan a las necesidades nutricionales y a los hábitos alimentarios. El proyecto europeo HELENA surge de esa necesidad identificada por el Sexto Programa Marco, que era la escasa información científica disponible sobre el estado nutricional y los estilos de vida en los adolescentes europeos. El imparable aumento de la prevalencia de obesidad entre la población infanto-juvenil en todos los países y los factores de riesgo asociados a est...

Is soft drink consumption associated with body composition? A cross-sectional study in Spanish adolescents

Nutricion hospitalaria, 2009

OBJECTIVES Published data about the association between the consumption of sweetened soft-drinks ... more OBJECTIVES Published data about the association between the consumption of sweetened soft-drinks (SSD) and obesity in childhood are controversial and still inconsistent. In addition, data are lacking in the Spanish population. The purpose of this study was therefore, to explore the cross-sectional association between body composition-related parameters and SSD consumption in Spanish adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A representative sample of 1,523 adolescents (768 boys and 755 girls), with complete dietary data as well as anthropometric measurements, were included in this study. Weight, height, waist circumferences, and 6 skinfolds were measured, and BMI and percentage body fat were calculated. From a 24h dietary recall the subjects were grouped in 3 groups according to their SSD consumption: 1) Non-consumers (0 g of SSD consumption); 2) Moderate consumption (< 336 g/day of SSD, equivalent to the average SSD portion size); and 3) High consumption (> 336 g/day of SSD). RESULTS...

Diet quality index as a predictor of treatment efficacy in overweight and obese adolescents: The EVASYON study

Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), Jan 29, 2018

A diet quality index (DQI) is a tool that provides an overall score of an individual's dietar... more A diet quality index (DQI) is a tool that provides an overall score of an individual's dietary intake when assessing compliance with food-based dietary guidelines. A number of DQIs have emerged, albeit their associations with health-related outcomes are debated. The aim of the present study was to assess whether adherence to dietary intervention, and the overall quality of the diet, can predict body composition changes. To this purpose, overweight/obese adolescents (n = 117, aged: 13-16 years; 51 males, 66 females) were recruited into a multi-component (diet, physical activity and psychological support) family-based group treatment programme. We measured the adolescents' compliance and body composition at baseline and after 2 months (intensive phase) and 13 months (extensive phase) of follow-up. Also, at baseline, after 6 months, and at the end of follow-up we calculated the DQI. Global compliance with the dietary intervention was 37.4% during the intensive phase, and 14.3% ...

Inflammation in metabolically healthy and metabolically abnormal adolescents: The HELENA study

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, Jan 13, 2017

Inflammation may influence the cardio-metabolic profile which relates with the risk of chronic di... more Inflammation may influence the cardio-metabolic profile which relates with the risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess the inflammatory status by metabolic health (MH)/body mass index (BMI) category and to assess how inflammatory markers can predict the cardio-metabolic profile in European adolescents, considering BMI. A total of 659 adolescents (295 boys) from a cross-sectional European study were included. Adolescents were classified by metabolic health based on age- and sex-specific cut-off points for glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides, high density cholesterol and BMI. C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), complement factors (C3, C4) and cell adhesion molecules were assessed. Metabolically abnormal (MA) adolescents had higher values of C3 (p < 0.001) and C4 (p = 0.032) compared to those metabolically healthy (MHy). C3 concentrations significantly increased with the deterioration of the metabolic health and BMI (p &...

Ideal cardiovascular health and inflammation in European adolescents: The HELENA study

Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD, 2017

Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and this process seems to appear in childhood. T... more Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis and this process seems to appear in childhood. The ideal cardiovascular health index (ICHI) has been inversely related to atherosclerotic plaque in adults. However, evidence regarding inflammation and ICHI in adolescents is scarce. The aim is to assess the association between ICHI and inflammation in European adolescents. As many as 543 adolescents (251 boys and 292 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study, a cross-sectional multi-center study including 9 European countries, were measured. C-reactive protein (CRP), complement factors C3 and C4, leptin and white blood cell counts were used to compute an inflammatory score. Multilevel linear models and multilevel logistic regression were used to assess the association between ICHI and inflammation controlling by covariates. Higher ICHI was associated with a lower inflammatory score, as well as with several individual components, both in boys...

Inflammatory proteins are related to total and abdominal adiposity in a healthy adolescent population: the AVENA Study

The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2006

In adults, obesity is characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation accompanied by m... more In adults, obesity is characterized by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation accompanied by moderately high concentrations of acute phase inflammatory proteins. Recent results regarding C-reactive protein (CRP) point to a similar status in adolescents; however, studies of associations of the serum inflammatory proteins CRP, ceruloplasmin, and complement factors C3 and C4 with body fat distribution remain scarce. We aimed to establish the possible relations of serum inflammatory proteins with body fat estimates and body fat distribution in an apparently healthy adolescent population. This report included 472 adolescents (248 males and 224 females) aged 13-18.5 y who were recruited from the Spanish cross-sectional multicenter AVENA Study for whom anthropometric and immunologic data were complete. The concentrations of the serum proteins and the in vitro production of cytokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) by isolated and stimulated white blood cells were measure...

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Encyclopedia of Exercise Medicine in Health and Disease, 2012

euglycemic (overnight insulininfused) patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), c... more euglycemic (overnight insulininfused) patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), compared with nondiabetic controls, exhibit similar, but somewhat delayed plasma glucose nadirs, delayed glucose recovery from hypoglycemia, and posthypoglycemic hyperglycemia after the rapid intravenous injection of 0.075 U/kg of regular insulin. These abnormalities are associated with and potentially attributable to markedly diminished glucagon secretory responses, partially reduced epinephrine secretory responses and delayed clearance of injected insulin in the diabetic patients. Because glucagon normally plays a primary role in hypoglycemic glucose counterregulation and enhanced epinephrine secretion largely compensates for glucagon deficiency, we hypothesized that patients with IDDM, who exhibit diminished glucagon secretory responses to hypoglycemia, would be more dependent upon epinephrine to promote glucose recovery from hypoglycemia than are nondiabetic persons. To test this hypothesis, glucose counterregulation during ,B-adrenergic blockade with propranolol was compared with that during saline infusion in both nondiabetic controls and in patients with IDDM. Glucose counterregulation was unaffected by B-adrenergic blockade in controls. In contrast, glucose

Inflammatory Joint Disease

Encyclopedia of Exercise Medicine in Health and Disease, 2012

Objective-To determine the presence of adhesion molecules on monocytes/ macrophages (Mφ) from per... more Objective-To determine the presence of adhesion molecules on monocytes/ macrophages (Mφ) from peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and inflammatory joint diseases (rheumatoid (RA) and reactive arthritis (ReA)) in order to improve our understanding of the possible mechanisms underlying the inflammatory process. Methods-Whole blood and SF cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies against CD11a (LFA-1), CD15 s (sialyl-Lewis X), CD44, CD54, VLA-4, and HLA-DR counterstained with anti-CD14 antibodies as a Mφ marker for dual fluorescence analysis by flowcytometry. Results-On PB-Mφ, CD15s was markedly increased in both RA as well as ReA compared with OA. Furthermore, in the PB LFA-1, CD44, and HLA-DR showed a higher surface density on Mφ in ReA than in OA. Comparison between SF and PB showed significantly higher CD44 and CD54 expression on SF-Mφ. These molecules play an important part in lymphocyte-Mφ interaction. Conclusion-In PB from patients with inflammatory joint diseases, Mφ are activated, allowing recruitment into the synovial compartment. These disorders, in contrast with OA seem to be "systemic" in nature. Within the SF, diVerent adhesion molecules are expressed on CD14 + Mφ as compared with PB.

Physical activity, immunity and infection

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010

During the last few decades, scientific evidence has confirmed a wide range of health benefits re... more During the last few decades, scientific evidence has confirmed a wide range of health benefits related to regular physical activity. How physical activity affects the immune function and infection risk is, however, still under debate. Commonly, intensive exercise suppresses the activity and levels of several immune cells, while other immune functions may be stimulated by moderate physical activity. With this knowledge, the understanding of the relationship between different levels of physical activity on the immune function has been raised as a potential tool to protect health not only in athletes but also in the general population; the mechanisms that translate a physically active lifestyle into good health continue to be investigated. Reviewing the literature, although several outcomes (i.e. the mechanisms by which different levels and duration of physical activity programmes affect numerous cell types and responses) remain unclear, given that the additional benefits encompass hea...

Lifestyle-related determinants of inflammation in adolescence

British Journal of Nutrition, 2007

Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of the most common chronic non-communicab... more Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases and may also play an important initiating role in their development. Only recently have inflammatory markers been included in epidemiological studies focusing on nutritional status, body composition and physical activity. We are just starting to understand how different lifestyles can determine basal levels of inflammatory biomarkers in early ages. This review aims to summarise what is known about the relationships between lifestyle-related determinants (focusing on overweight, physical activity and dietary habits) and inflammatory markers in apparently healthy young populations. Obesity is the most widely studied determinant. Several large-scale studies have now demonstrated that healthy young subjects with more body fat or higher BMI have moderately higher concentrations of inflammatory markers than their leaner peers, supporting the idea that obesity should be considered a...

Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in different stages of life

British Journal of Nutrition, 2007

The immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and foods containing them (e.g., fe... more The immunomodulatory properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and foods containing them (e.g., fermented milks) is a topic currently under investigation. Individuals could potentially benefit from the inclusion of LAB in the diet at different times during the life cycle. One of the most accepted specific uses of probiotic bacteria is the prevention of atopic eczema in infants with family history of the disease who receive the probiotic bacteria early, through supplementation of the gestating mother and orally after birth. Immune enhancing effects have also been suggested to be beneficial in diarrhoea treatment, especially in children infected with rotavirus and in malnourished patients, infants and adolescents, whose capacity to produce IFN-γ can be increased after LAB-containing yoghurt intake. Regarding young people and adults, investigations have been conducted exploring the immunomodulation by LAB in subjects under stressful situations, in the prevention of urinary tract infecti...

Characterisation of the haematological profile, peripheral lymphocytes and cytokine production capacity of children with mild allergic asthma

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010

Reference values of lymphocyte subpopulations in European adolescents. Preliminary results from the HELENA study

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010

Immunological changes after dehydration resulting from physical effort in a hot environment

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2008

Immunomodulation and antioxidant capacity of hydroxytyrosol present at oleic acid-rich sunflower oil

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2008

Changes in cardiometabolic risk factors, appetite-controlling hormones and cytokines after a treatment program in overweight adolescents: preliminary findings from the EVASYON study

Pediatric Diabetes, 2011

Objective: We investigated the effects of the EVASYON programme on body fatness, cardiometabolic ... more Objective: We investigated the effects of the EVASYON programme on body fatness, cardiometabolic risk factors, gut appetite-controlling hormones and serum levels of cytokines in adolescents with overweight or obesity (OW/OB). Methods: The study comprised 13 boys (10 obese) and 12 girls (8 obese), aged 13 to 16 years, from a Madrid Hospital. The EVASYON programme was based on a calorie-restricted diet (10-40%), increased physical activity (at least 60 min/day 5 days a week), psychological therapy and nutritional education for 13-month. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were measured before and after intervention. Serum glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin, total peptide YY and insulin levels were determined before and after intervention. Serum levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF- were also assessed before and after intervention. Results: A decrease in body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score, skinfolds (triceps, biceps, subscapular, thigh, and calf), sum of 6 skinfolds and body circumferences (arm relaxed and flexed, waist, hip and proximal thigh) values were observed after the intervention programme (all P<0.05). In addition, diastolic blood pressure also decreased (P<0.05). A decrease in serum leptin levels (-48.4%, P<0.001) was observed after intervention without changes in total peptide PYY and insulin levels. Levels of IL-8, IL-10 and TNF- also decreased (all P<0.05) after the intervention programme. Conclusions: These preliminary results evidence that the EVASYON programme may improve body fat, leptin, and some pro-inflammatory cytokines in adolescents with OW/OB.

Combined Influence of Lifestyle Risk Factors on Body Fat in Spanish Adolescents – the AVENA Study

Obesity Facts, 2011

Objective: To examine the combined influence of four lifestyle risk factors related to physical a... more Objective: To examine the combined influence of four lifestyle risk factors related to physical activity, television viewing, sleep duration, and meal frequency on body fat (BF) in adolescents. Method: This cross-sectional study comprised 1,310 Spanish adolescents (age 13-18.5 years). Lifestyle variables were self-reported and BF indicators (weight, height, six skinfold thicknesses, waist circumference) measured during the years 2000-2002. Lifestyle risk factors were: physically inactive, 3 h/day watching television, <8 h/day sleep duration, and <5 meals a day. The number of lifestyle risk factors was calculated for each participant, ranging from 0 to 4. Results: The number of lifestyle risk factors was positively associated with sum of six skinfolds, %BF, waist circumference, and waist-height ratio (all p < 0.001). The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of overweight (including obesity) for groups with 1, 2, and 3-4 lifestyle risk factors compared with those with 0 were 2.86 (1.77-4.62), 3.61 (2.16-6.04), and 5.81 (3.07-10.99), respectively (p for trend <0.001). All the observations were independent of age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and fat free mass. Conclusion: The combined influence of four lifestyle risk factors is positively associated with BF and an approximately sixfold risk of overweight in adolescents.

Associations of physical activity and fitness with adipocytokines in adolescents: The AFINOS study

Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2012

Effects of a Running Bout in the Heat on Cognitive Performance

Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 2011

Suggestive evidence of associations between liver X receptor β polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in three cohort studies: HUNT2 (Norway), MONICA (France) and HELENA (Europe)

BMC Medical Genetics, 2010

Background The liver X receptors (LXR) α and β regulate lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis and in... more Background The liver X receptors (LXR) α and β regulate lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis and inflammation. Lxrβ -/- mice are glucose intolerant and at the same time lean. We aimed to assess the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LXRβ and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity and related traits in 3 separate cohort studies. Methods Twenty LXRβ SNPs were identified by sequencing and genotyped in the HUNT2 adult nested case-control study for T2DM (n = 835 cases/1986 controls). Five tag-SNPs (rs17373080, rs2695121, rs56151148, rs2303044 and rs3219281), covering 99.3% of the entire common genetic variability of the LXRβ gene were identified and genotyped in the French MONICA adult study (n = 2318) and the European adolescent HELENA cross-sectional study (n = 1144). In silico and in vitro functionality studies were performed. Results We identified suggestive or significant associations between rs17373080 and the risk of (i) T2DM in HUNT2 (OR = 0.82...