The cardiometabolic health of the population is a crucial indicator of public health, considering... more The cardiometabolic health of the population is a crucial indicator of public health, considering the significant impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes on global mortality. Determining the population’s knowledge and the predictors of these pathologies is essential in developing effective educational and clinical strategies for the prevention and management of cardiometabolic risk (CMR). Polyphenols are natural compounds with a multitude of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health. This study explored the current knowledge, understanding, and awareness of CMR, the benefits of polyphenols among Romanians, and how sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influence this aspect. Five hundred forty-six subjects responded anonymously to an online questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge. The data were collected and analyzed based on gender, age, education level, and BMI status. Most respondents expressed concern to a great or very great extent about their hea...
One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research a... more One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research and industry are actively involved to meet the increasing requirement for plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs). The production tendency of PBDAs is growing with a predictable rate of over 18.5% in 2023 from 7.4% at the moment. A multitude of sources can be used for development such as cereals, pseudocereals, legumes, nuts, and seeds to obtain food products such as vegetal milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, and different sweets, such as ice cream, which have nearly similar nutritional profiles to those of animal-origin products. Increased interest in PBDAs is manifested in groups with special dietary needs (e.g., lactose intolerant individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly) or with pathologies such as metabolic syndromes, dermatological diseases, and arthritis. In spite of the vast range of production perspectives, certain industrial challenges arise during development, su...
Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, el... more Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, elderberry (EB) Sambucus nigra L., is beneficial for both therapeutic and dietary purposes. This study determined the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds and the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols from freeze-dried EB powder (FDEBP), along with the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of this extract. The most significant phenolic compounds in black EB are represented by anthocyanins (41.8%), predominating cyanidin-sambubiosides and cyanidin-glucosides (90.1% of the identified anthocyanins). The FRAP assay obtained the highest antioxidant activity value (185 ± 0.18 μmol Fe2+/g DW). The most sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of the extract was proven to be Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.95 mg/mL. To determine the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols, the cell growth of five probiotic strains (Lact...
Introduction. The past years have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infecti... more Introduction. The past years have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR). Furthermore, liver fibrosis has recently been redefined as a dynamic, reversible process. Methods. We performed a prospective cohort study to assess the role of laboratory evaluations and non-invasive measurement of liver stiffness in establishing the right time for starting treatment and in assessing the regression of liver fibrosis in Romanian patients treated with direct acting antivirals (DAA) for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Results. We present the results for 102 patients, with a mean age of 58.5 years, and a rate of SVR of 100%. Our study has ruled out older age (p=0.628), IL28B non-CC genotype (p=0.693), baseline viral load above the cutoff of 600,000 IU/mL (p=0.353), and the presence of diabetes mellitus (p=0.272) or baseline steatosis (p=0.706) as factors potentially influencing the regression of liver fibrosis foll...
, Romania reported the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coro... more , Romania reported the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)-a 25-yearold man from Gorj county, Romania. An epidemiological investigation in Gorj county was started on 25 February 2020 following the news that an Italian citizen who had just returned from Romania had been diagnosed with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Rimini, Italy. The Italian citizen (the patient zero) had visited Romania from 18 to1 22 February and was initially considered to
Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver d... more Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide, with a prevalence of 20%-40% in Western populations. The purpose of this article is to review data related to lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD. Method: We searched a public domain database (PubMed) with the following categories: disease (NAFLD, fatty liver, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) and intervention (lifestyle intervention, diet, nutrition) with each possible combination through 25 September 2014, for relevant articles. Review of articles was restricted to those published in English. We selected the studies involving adult patients only. Conclusion: There is no consensus as to what diet or lifestyle approach is the best for NAFLD patients. However, patients with NAFLD may benefit from a moderate-to low-carbohydrate (40%-45% of total calories) diet, coupled with increased dietary MUFA and n-3 PUFAs, reduced SFAs. More CRT are needed to clarify the specific effects of different diets and dietary components on the health of NAFLD patients.
Romanian Journal of Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 2012
Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junkfood intake in ... more Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junkfood intake in relation with the metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and Method:
Background and aims: inflammatory bowel disease development has been associated with several envi... more Background and aims: inflammatory bowel disease development has been associated with several environmental factors, among which, diet can play a key role, probably due to a westernized lifestyle. However, its involvement in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is difficult to demonstrate. The aim of this study was to analyze dietary composition in a Romanian and Belgian population with IBD. Methods: an observational retrospective comparative study was performed using two European cohorts (Romanian and Belgian). The IBD group included 76 Romanian and 53 Belgian patients with an IBD diagnosis, while the control group included a total of 56 healthy people (35 Romanians and 21 Belgians). All subjects were interviewed and asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding diet. Results: in the entire IBD cohort (Romanian + Belgian), a significantly increased consumption of sweets (OR 3.36 [95 %
Background:Several environmental factors have been associated with onset of inflammatory bowel di... more Background:Several environmental factors have been associated with onset of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): smoking, hygiene, microorganisms, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, appendectomy, diet, breastfeeding, vitamin D, stress and ambient air pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of these factors in a Romanian and Belgian population with IBD. Material and methods:A total of 129 patients with an IBD diagnosis (76 from Romania and 53 from Belgium) participated in an interview and were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding environmental factors before and after the onset of IBD; 35 Romanian and 21 Belgian healthy individuals constituted the control group. Results:A total of 40 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 89 with Crohn's disease (CD) were included. Gender distribution was 43% males and 57% females. They had a median age of 42 years (range between 19-74 years), a median disease durat...
Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of the me tabolic syndrome and its components among a R... more Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of the me tabolic syndrome and its components among a Romanian population of young adults. Methods : During 2010-2011, 235 medical students were enroll ed in this cross sectional study to investigate the metabolic syndrome prevalence. The metabolic syndrome was def ine based on the International Diabetes Federation crit eria. Data were processed using SPSS version 17. Tstudent test, Chi square test and Pearson coefficient were used for statistical anal ysis. Results: The metabolic syndrome prevalence recorded on the entire group was 1.28%. The highest prevalence for a metabolic syndr ome component was abnormal waist circumference (49.4%), follo wed by low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (13.58%); the prevalence of hypertriglyceride mia was 3.08%. The average value of HDLc was signif icantly lower in the subgroup with abnormal waist cir cumference compared to the subgroup with a normal one both in women and in men. In wo...
Background: Young, non-obese adults are considered at low risk for cardiometabolic diseases, alth... more Background: Young, non-obese adults are considered at low risk for cardiometabolic diseases, although markers of an unhealthy metabolic state are not uncommon findings in this population. Adipose tissue dysfunction, evaluated by the adipokine profile, significantly influences lipid and glucose metabolism and low-grade systemic inflammation. Aims: To determine the relation between adipose tissue dysfunction and the already confirmed cardiometabolic risk indicators, including the atherogenic index of plasma, lipid accumulation product, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and the low-grade inflammation markers, namely, interleukin 6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We recruited 93 non-obese, healthy young adults. Anthropometric, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and adipokines were measured. An abnormal adipokine profile (high leptin-toadiponectin ratio) was considered as a marker of a dysfunctional adipose tissue. The correlation between the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio and the anthropometric measurements, atherogenic index of plasma, lipid accumulation product, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, interleukin 6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was determined. Results: We found a direct correlation between the abnormal adipokine profile and the cardiometabolic risk indicators mentioned above, except for the low-grade inflammatory markers. In the regression model derived from our data, the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio was best correlated with the unfavorable plasma lipid profile, as estimated by the atherogenic index of plasma (r=0.097, confidence interval=0.015-0.180, p=0.021). A significantly higher leptin-toadiponectin ratio was found in the insulin-resistant group (p=0.012) and in the highest lipid accumulation product quartile (p=0.032). Conclusion: In a non-obese young population, the high rate of leptinadiponectin may be a good predictor of cardiovascular and metabolic risk assessment.
Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver d... more Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide, with a prevalence of 20%-40% in Western populations. The purpose of this article is to review data related to lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD. Method: We searched a public domain database (PubMed) with the following categories: disease (NAFLD, fatty liver, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) and intervention (lifestyle intervention, diet, nutrition) with each possible combination through 25 September 2014, for relevant articles. Review of articles was restricted to those published in English. We selected the studies involving adult patients only. Conclusion: There is no consensus as to what diet or lifestyle approach is the best for NAFLD patients. However, patients with NAFLD may benefit from a moderate-to low-carbohydrate (40%–45% of total calories) diet, coupled with increased dietary MUFA and n-3 PUFAs, reduced SFAs. More CRT are needed to clarify the specific effects of different diets and dietary components on the health of NAFLD patients.
Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junk food intake in... more Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junk food intake in relation with the metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and Method: 235 medical students completed a food frequency questionnaire; MS risk factors were recorded. Junk food was grouped in 5 categories, according to the predominant nutrient in its composition. Statistical data were processed by SPSS program. Results: 97% of subjects did not fully comply with the WHO recommendations of healthy nutrition. No statistically significant correlations were found between the nutritional intake of nutrients or junk food categories and waist circumference or HDLc, except the glycemic index in women (r=–0.230, p=0.003). A correlation between the intakes of different categories of junk food was found. Conclusions: Most subjects consume in excess nutrients considered risk factors and very few have an optimum intake of nutritional protection factors against MS. The " western diet " pattern prevalent in this population is an argument for educational interventions.
Introduction: Physical inactivity has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as t... more Introduction: Physical inactivity has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Aim: our study aimed at exploring the level of physical activity in a group of medical students, in relation to the risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. Methods: we performed a cross-sectional survey on a sample of 235 medical students. Due to the low prevalence of some risk factors, we restrained our analysis to gender and waist circumference (WC). Results: significant difference in energy expenditure and time dedicated to physical activity was found between girls and boys (in favour of boys). Globally, 16% of boys and 28% of girls had lower level of both moderate and vigorous physical activity compared to WHO recommendation. Subjects with increased waist circumference were not engaged in more recreational or vigorous activities compared to those with normal WC. No correlation between WC and physical activity variables was found in boys. In girls, significant, weak, direct correlation was found between waist circumference and energy expenditure for all physical activity and also time for moderate physical activity, but not for recreational or vigorous activities. Conclusion: Our results underline two public health problems. First, it is related to an insufficient level of physical activity in the young medical students, especially in girls, and especially for recreational and vigorous activities. The second problem is related to the passivity of the subjects with increased WC, which do not seem to be engaged in corrective programmes of physical activity. These problems could be higher in the general population of young adults, because our group had a high level of information on healthy lifestyle, being medical students. Cuvinte cheie: activitate fizică, sindrom metabolic, factori de risc Rezumat: Introducere: Inactivitatea fizică a fost recunoscută de Organizația Mondială a Sănătății (OMS) ca al patrulea factor de risc pentru mortalitatea globală. Scop: Studiul nostru şi-a propus să evalueze nivelul activităţii fizice într-un grup de studenţi medicinişti, în relaţie cu factorii de risc ai sindromului metabolic. Metodologie: Am efectuat un studiu transversal, pe un lot de 235 studenţi medicinişti. Deoarece unii factori de risc ai sindromului metabolic au fost întâlniți la un număr foarte redus de subiecți, am restrâns analiza la gen și circumferința abdominală (CA). Rezultate: În studiul nostru s-au evidențiat diferenţe semnificative statistic în consumul energetic și în timpul alocat pentru activitatea fizică între băieți și fete (în favoarea băieţilor). Per total, 16% dintre băieţi şi 28% dintre fete au avut un nivel scăzut de activitate fizică-atât pentru activitatea fizică moderată, cât şi pentru cea de mare intensitate-comparativ cu recomandările OMS. Subiecții cu circumferința abdominală crescută nu desfășurau mai multe activități fizice recreative sau de intensitate mare (viguroase), comparativ cu subiecții cu CA normală. Nu s-au evidențiat corelaţii între variabilele activităţii fizice şi circumferinţa abdominală la băieţi. O corelaţie semnificativă slabă și directă, a fost găsită la fete, între circumferinţa abdominală şi consumul energetic pentru activitatea fizică globală şi respectiv timpul alocat activităţii fizice moderate. Nici la fete nu s-au evidențiat corelații ale CA cu activitatea fizică recreativă sau viguroasă. Concluzii: Rezultatele noastre descriu două probleme de sănătate publică. Prima este legată de nivelul insuficient de activitate fizică la studenții mediciniști, în special în rândul fetelor și în special pentru activităţi recreative și de intensitate mare. A doua problemă este reprezentată de pasivitatea subiecților cu CA mare, care nu par a fi implicați în programe de activitate fizică pentru corecția greutății corporale. Aceste probleme pot fi mai accentuate în populaţia generală a adulţilor tineri, deoarece subiecții noștri au un nivel mai ridicat de informare privind stilul de viaţă sănătos, fiind studenți mediciniști.
The cardiometabolic health of the population is a crucial indicator of public health, considering... more The cardiometabolic health of the population is a crucial indicator of public health, considering the significant impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes on global mortality. Determining the population’s knowledge and the predictors of these pathologies is essential in developing effective educational and clinical strategies for the prevention and management of cardiometabolic risk (CMR). Polyphenols are natural compounds with a multitude of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health. This study explored the current knowledge, understanding, and awareness of CMR, the benefits of polyphenols among Romanians, and how sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influence this aspect. Five hundred forty-six subjects responded anonymously to an online questionnaire designed to assess their knowledge. The data were collected and analyzed based on gender, age, education level, and BMI status. Most respondents expressed concern to a great or very great extent about their hea...
One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research a... more One significant food group that is part of our daily diet is the dairy group, and both research and industry are actively involved to meet the increasing requirement for plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs). The production tendency of PBDAs is growing with a predictable rate of over 18.5% in 2023 from 7.4% at the moment. A multitude of sources can be used for development such as cereals, pseudocereals, legumes, nuts, and seeds to obtain food products such as vegetal milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, butter, and different sweets, such as ice cream, which have nearly similar nutritional profiles to those of animal-origin products. Increased interest in PBDAs is manifested in groups with special dietary needs (e.g., lactose intolerant individuals, pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly) or with pathologies such as metabolic syndromes, dermatological diseases, and arthritis. In spite of the vast range of production perspectives, certain industrial challenges arise during development, su...
Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, el... more Due to its abundance of physiologically active ingredients, one of the oldest medicinal herbs, elderberry (EB) Sambucus nigra L., is beneficial for both therapeutic and dietary purposes. This study determined the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds and the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols from freeze-dried EB powder (FDEBP), along with the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of this extract. The most significant phenolic compounds in black EB are represented by anthocyanins (41.8%), predominating cyanidin-sambubiosides and cyanidin-glucosides (90.1% of the identified anthocyanins). The FRAP assay obtained the highest antioxidant activity value (185 ± 0.18 μmol Fe2+/g DW). The most sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of the extract was proven to be Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.95 mg/mL. To determine the prebiotic potential of the polyphenols, the cell growth of five probiotic strains (Lact...
Introduction. The past years have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infecti... more Introduction. The past years have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR). Furthermore, liver fibrosis has recently been redefined as a dynamic, reversible process. Methods. We performed a prospective cohort study to assess the role of laboratory evaluations and non-invasive measurement of liver stiffness in establishing the right time for starting treatment and in assessing the regression of liver fibrosis in Romanian patients treated with direct acting antivirals (DAA) for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. Results. We present the results for 102 patients, with a mean age of 58.5 years, and a rate of SVR of 100%. Our study has ruled out older age (p=0.628), IL28B non-CC genotype (p=0.693), baseline viral load above the cutoff of 600,000 IU/mL (p=0.353), and the presence of diabetes mellitus (p=0.272) or baseline steatosis (p=0.706) as factors potentially influencing the regression of liver fibrosis foll...
, Romania reported the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coro... more , Romania reported the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)-a 25-yearold man from Gorj county, Romania. An epidemiological investigation in Gorj county was started on 25 February 2020 following the news that an Italian citizen who had just returned from Romania had been diagnosed with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Rimini, Italy. The Italian citizen (the patient zero) had visited Romania from 18 to1 22 February and was initially considered to
Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver d... more Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide, with a prevalence of 20%-40% in Western populations. The purpose of this article is to review data related to lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD. Method: We searched a public domain database (PubMed) with the following categories: disease (NAFLD, fatty liver, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) and intervention (lifestyle intervention, diet, nutrition) with each possible combination through 25 September 2014, for relevant articles. Review of articles was restricted to those published in English. We selected the studies involving adult patients only. Conclusion: There is no consensus as to what diet or lifestyle approach is the best for NAFLD patients. However, patients with NAFLD may benefit from a moderate-to low-carbohydrate (40%-45% of total calories) diet, coupled with increased dietary MUFA and n-3 PUFAs, reduced SFAs. More CRT are needed to clarify the specific effects of different diets and dietary components on the health of NAFLD patients.
Romanian Journal of Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 2012
Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junkfood intake in ... more Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junkfood intake in relation with the metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and Method:
Background and aims: inflammatory bowel disease development has been associated with several envi... more Background and aims: inflammatory bowel disease development has been associated with several environmental factors, among which, diet can play a key role, probably due to a westernized lifestyle. However, its involvement in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is difficult to demonstrate. The aim of this study was to analyze dietary composition in a Romanian and Belgian population with IBD. Methods: an observational retrospective comparative study was performed using two European cohorts (Romanian and Belgian). The IBD group included 76 Romanian and 53 Belgian patients with an IBD diagnosis, while the control group included a total of 56 healthy people (35 Romanians and 21 Belgians). All subjects were interviewed and asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding diet. Results: in the entire IBD cohort (Romanian + Belgian), a significantly increased consumption of sweets (OR 3.36 [95 %
Background:Several environmental factors have been associated with onset of inflammatory bowel di... more Background:Several environmental factors have been associated with onset of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): smoking, hygiene, microorganisms, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, appendectomy, diet, breastfeeding, vitamin D, stress and ambient air pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of these factors in a Romanian and Belgian population with IBD. Material and methods:A total of 129 patients with an IBD diagnosis (76 from Romania and 53 from Belgium) participated in an interview and were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding environmental factors before and after the onset of IBD; 35 Romanian and 21 Belgian healthy individuals constituted the control group. Results:A total of 40 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 89 with Crohn's disease (CD) were included. Gender distribution was 43% males and 57% females. They had a median age of 42 years (range between 19-74 years), a median disease durat...
Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of the me tabolic syndrome and its components among a R... more Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of the me tabolic syndrome and its components among a Romanian population of young adults. Methods : During 2010-2011, 235 medical students were enroll ed in this cross sectional study to investigate the metabolic syndrome prevalence. The metabolic syndrome was def ine based on the International Diabetes Federation crit eria. Data were processed using SPSS version 17. Tstudent test, Chi square test and Pearson coefficient were used for statistical anal ysis. Results: The metabolic syndrome prevalence recorded on the entire group was 1.28%. The highest prevalence for a metabolic syndr ome component was abnormal waist circumference (49.4%), follo wed by low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (13.58%); the prevalence of hypertriglyceride mia was 3.08%. The average value of HDLc was signif icantly lower in the subgroup with abnormal waist cir cumference compared to the subgroup with a normal one both in women and in men. In wo...
Background: Young, non-obese adults are considered at low risk for cardiometabolic diseases, alth... more Background: Young, non-obese adults are considered at low risk for cardiometabolic diseases, although markers of an unhealthy metabolic state are not uncommon findings in this population. Adipose tissue dysfunction, evaluated by the adipokine profile, significantly influences lipid and glucose metabolism and low-grade systemic inflammation. Aims: To determine the relation between adipose tissue dysfunction and the already confirmed cardiometabolic risk indicators, including the atherogenic index of plasma, lipid accumulation product, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and the low-grade inflammation markers, namely, interleukin 6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We recruited 93 non-obese, healthy young adults. Anthropometric, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and adipokines were measured. An abnormal adipokine profile (high leptin-toadiponectin ratio) was considered as a marker of a dysfunctional adipose tissue. The correlation between the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio and the anthropometric measurements, atherogenic index of plasma, lipid accumulation product, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, interleukin 6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was determined. Results: We found a direct correlation between the abnormal adipokine profile and the cardiometabolic risk indicators mentioned above, except for the low-grade inflammatory markers. In the regression model derived from our data, the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio was best correlated with the unfavorable plasma lipid profile, as estimated by the atherogenic index of plasma (r=0.097, confidence interval=0.015-0.180, p=0.021). A significantly higher leptin-toadiponectin ratio was found in the insulin-resistant group (p=0.012) and in the highest lipid accumulation product quartile (p=0.032). Conclusion: In a non-obese young population, the high rate of leptinadiponectin may be a good predictor of cardiovascular and metabolic risk assessment.
Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver d... more Background and aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide, with a prevalence of 20%-40% in Western populations. The purpose of this article is to review data related to lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD. Method: We searched a public domain database (PubMed) with the following categories: disease (NAFLD, fatty liver, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]) and intervention (lifestyle intervention, diet, nutrition) with each possible combination through 25 September 2014, for relevant articles. Review of articles was restricted to those published in English. We selected the studies involving adult patients only. Conclusion: There is no consensus as to what diet or lifestyle approach is the best for NAFLD patients. However, patients with NAFLD may benefit from a moderate-to low-carbohydrate (40%–45% of total calories) diet, coupled with increased dietary MUFA and n-3 PUFAs, reduced SFAs. More CRT are needed to clarify the specific effects of different diets and dietary components on the health of NAFLD patients.
Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junk food intake in... more Objective: to evaluate the nutritional behavior of medical students regarding junk food intake in relation with the metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and Method: 235 medical students completed a food frequency questionnaire; MS risk factors were recorded. Junk food was grouped in 5 categories, according to the predominant nutrient in its composition. Statistical data were processed by SPSS program. Results: 97% of subjects did not fully comply with the WHO recommendations of healthy nutrition. No statistically significant correlations were found between the nutritional intake of nutrients or junk food categories and waist circumference or HDLc, except the glycemic index in women (r=–0.230, p=0.003). A correlation between the intakes of different categories of junk food was found. Conclusions: Most subjects consume in excess nutrients considered risk factors and very few have an optimum intake of nutritional protection factors against MS. The " western diet " pattern prevalent in this population is an argument for educational interventions.
Introduction: Physical inactivity has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as t... more Introduction: Physical inactivity has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Aim: our study aimed at exploring the level of physical activity in a group of medical students, in relation to the risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. Methods: we performed a cross-sectional survey on a sample of 235 medical students. Due to the low prevalence of some risk factors, we restrained our analysis to gender and waist circumference (WC). Results: significant difference in energy expenditure and time dedicated to physical activity was found between girls and boys (in favour of boys). Globally, 16% of boys and 28% of girls had lower level of both moderate and vigorous physical activity compared to WHO recommendation. Subjects with increased waist circumference were not engaged in more recreational or vigorous activities compared to those with normal WC. No correlation between WC and physical activity variables was found in boys. In girls, significant, weak, direct correlation was found between waist circumference and energy expenditure for all physical activity and also time for moderate physical activity, but not for recreational or vigorous activities. Conclusion: Our results underline two public health problems. First, it is related to an insufficient level of physical activity in the young medical students, especially in girls, and especially for recreational and vigorous activities. The second problem is related to the passivity of the subjects with increased WC, which do not seem to be engaged in corrective programmes of physical activity. These problems could be higher in the general population of young adults, because our group had a high level of information on healthy lifestyle, being medical students. Cuvinte cheie: activitate fizică, sindrom metabolic, factori de risc Rezumat: Introducere: Inactivitatea fizică a fost recunoscută de Organizația Mondială a Sănătății (OMS) ca al patrulea factor de risc pentru mortalitatea globală. Scop: Studiul nostru şi-a propus să evalueze nivelul activităţii fizice într-un grup de studenţi medicinişti, în relaţie cu factorii de risc ai sindromului metabolic. Metodologie: Am efectuat un studiu transversal, pe un lot de 235 studenţi medicinişti. Deoarece unii factori de risc ai sindromului metabolic au fost întâlniți la un număr foarte redus de subiecți, am restrâns analiza la gen și circumferința abdominală (CA). Rezultate: În studiul nostru s-au evidențiat diferenţe semnificative statistic în consumul energetic și în timpul alocat pentru activitatea fizică între băieți și fete (în favoarea băieţilor). Per total, 16% dintre băieţi şi 28% dintre fete au avut un nivel scăzut de activitate fizică-atât pentru activitatea fizică moderată, cât şi pentru cea de mare intensitate-comparativ cu recomandările OMS. Subiecții cu circumferința abdominală crescută nu desfășurau mai multe activități fizice recreative sau de intensitate mare (viguroase), comparativ cu subiecții cu CA normală. Nu s-au evidențiat corelaţii între variabilele activităţii fizice şi circumferinţa abdominală la băieţi. O corelaţie semnificativă slabă și directă, a fost găsită la fete, între circumferinţa abdominală şi consumul energetic pentru activitatea fizică globală şi respectiv timpul alocat activităţii fizice moderate. Nici la fete nu s-au evidențiat corelații ale CA cu activitatea fizică recreativă sau viguroasă. Concluzii: Rezultatele noastre descriu două probleme de sănătate publică. Prima este legată de nivelul insuficient de activitate fizică la studenții mediciniști, în special în rândul fetelor și în special pentru activităţi recreative și de intensitate mare. A doua problemă este reprezentată de pasivitatea subiecților cu CA mare, care nu par a fi implicați în programe de activitate fizică pentru corecția greutății corporale. Aceste probleme pot fi mai accentuate în populaţia generală a adulţilor tineri, deoarece subiecții noștri au un nivel mai ridicat de informare privind stilul de viaţă sănătos, fiind studenți mediciniști.
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