scholarly journals Plant-Based Diet as a Strategy for Weight Control

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3052
Author(s):  
Stanislava Ivanova ◽  
Cédric Delattre ◽  
Diana Karcheva-Bahchevanska ◽  
Niko Benbasat ◽  
Vanya Nalbantova ◽  
...  

According to the World Health Organization, obesity has nearly tripled since the 1970s. Obesity and overweight are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, inflammatory-mediated diseases, and other serious medical conditions. Moreover, recent data suggest that obesity, overweight, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality. Different strategies for weight control have been introduced over the last two decades. Unfortunately, these strategies have shown little effect. At the same time, many studies show that plants might be the key to a successful strategy for weight control. Following the PRISMA guidelines for conducting systematic reviews, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase using the following keywords: obesity, globesity, vegan, plant-based diet, etc. Our results show that vegan diets are associated with improved gut microbiota symbiosis, increased insulin sensitivity, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and over-expression of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. The key features of this diet are reduced calorie density and reduced cholesterol intake. The combination of these two factors is the essence of the efficiency of this approach to weight control. Our data suggest that plant-based/vegan diets might play a significant role in future strategies for reducing body weight.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-14
Author(s):  
Kamal M. Kassem ◽  
Mahboob Ali ◽  
Nour-Eddine Rhaleb

Hypertension is one of the major physiological risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and it affects more than 1 billion adults worldwide, killing 9 million people every year according to World Health Organization. Also, hypertension is associated with increased risk of kidney disease and stroke. Studying the risk factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension is key to preventing and controlling hypertension. Numerous laboratories around to globe are very active pursuing research studies to delineate the factors, such as the role of immune system, which could contribute to hypertension. There are studies that were conducted on immune-deficient mice for which experimentally induced hypertension has been ameliorated. Thus, there are possibilities that immune reactivity could be associated with the development of certain type of hypertension. Furthermore, interleukin 4 has been associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension, which could lead to right ventricular remodeling. Also, the immune system is involved in valvular and nonvalvular cardiac remodeling. It has been demonstrated that there is a causative relationship between different interleukins and cardiac fibrosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 2140-2165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena B. Popovic-Djordjevic ◽  
Ivana I. Jevtic ◽  
Tatjana P. Stanojkovic

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2) is an endocrine disease of global proportions which is currently affecting 1 in 12 adults in the world, with still increasing prevalence. World Health Organization (WHO) declared this worldwide health problem, as an epidemic disease, to be the only non-infectious disease with such categorization. People with DMT2 are at increased risk of various complications and have shorter life expectancy. The main classes of oral antidiabetic drugs accessible today for DMT2 vary in their chemical composition, modes of action, safety profiles and tolerability. Methods: A systematic search of peer-reviewed scientific literature and public databases has been conducted. We included the most recent relevant research papers and data in respect to the focus of the present review. The quality of retrieved papers was assessed using standard tools. Results: The review highlights the chemical structural diversity of the molecules that have the common target-DMT2. So-called traditional antidiabetics as well as the newest and the least explored drugs include polypeptides and amino acid derivatives (insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors, amylin), sulfonylurea derivatives, benzylthiazolidine- 2,4-diones (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ agonists/glitazones), condensed guanido core (metformin) and sugar-like molecules (α-glucosidase and sodium/ glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors). Conclusion: As diabetes becomes a more common disease, interest in new pharmacological targets is on the rise.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S51-S52
Author(s):  
Kajal Mehta ◽  
Nikitha Thrikutam ◽  
Kiran K Nakarmi ◽  
Paa Ekow Hoyte-Williams ◽  
Michael Peck ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Cooking- and cookstove-related burns (CSBs) comprise a large proportion of burn injuries globally. A cookstove is any apparatus that provides heat and is used for cooking (e.g., three-stone fire, traditional or improved cookstove). There are limited data on patterns of cooking behaviors and CSBs to inform prevention initiatives and advocacy. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes of cooking-related burns and CSBs, specifically. Methods Patients with cooking and non-cooking related burns from 2018 to 2020 were identified in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Burn Registry (GBR). Patient demographics, cooking arrangement, injury characteristics [mechanism, total body surface area (TBSA), revised Baux score] and outcomes were described. Differences in proportions and medians were compared. Bivariate regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with occurrence of CSB. Results GBR contained data of 6,965 burn-injured patients from 17 countries; 88% were from middle-income countries. One quarter of burn injuries (1,723 burns) were cooking-related. More than half of cooking-related burns (55%) occurred in females. Median age for cooking-related burns was 11 years (IQR 2–35). Of cooking-related burns, 22% were cookstove-related burns (CSBs; 311 burns). The most common mechanism in CSB was flame (87%), whereas the most common mechanism in other cooking burns was scald (62%). Patients with CSBs were more often female (65% vs 53%; p< 0.001) and much older than patients with other cooking burns (32 years, IQR 22–47 vs 5 years, IQR 2–30). CSBs were significantly larger in TBSA size (30%, IQR 15–45% vs 15%, IQR 10–25%; p< 0.001), had higher revised Baux scores (70, IQR 46–95 vs 28, IQR 10–25; p< 0.001) and more often resulted in death (41 vs 11%; p< 0.001) than other cooking burns (Table1). Patients with CSBs were more likely to be burned by fires (OR 4.74; 95% CI 2.99–7.54) and explosions (OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.03–4.18) than other cooking injuries. Kerosene had the highest odds of CSB than all other cooking fuels (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.52–3.69). Conclusions Cooking-related burns are common and have different epidemiology than CSBs, specifically (e.g., more often female, older, larger burn size, higher mortality). CSBs were more likely caused by structural factors (e.g., explosion, fire) than behavioral factors (e.g., accidental movements) when compared to other cooking burns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3654
Author(s):  
Brigitte Sipos ◽  
Peter Jirak ◽  
Vera Paar ◽  
Richard Rezar ◽  
Moritz Mirna ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common causes of death globally, according to the World Health Organization. In recent years, a great number of biomarkers have been investigated, whereas only some have gained value in the diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification of different cardiovascular illnesses. As numerous studies have investigated the diagnostic yield of novel biomarkers in various disease entities every year, this review aims to provide an overview of the current status of four promising representatives. In particular, this manuscript refers to soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), growth differentiation factor (GDF-15) and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). These markers are of special interest as they are thought to provide an accurate estimate of cardiovascular risk in certain patient populations, especially those with pre-existing diseases, such as obesity or diabetes mellitus. We sought to give an overview of their function, individual diagnostic and predictive value and determination in the laboratory. A review of the literature regarding the aforementioned cardiovascular biomarkers yielded manifold results with respect to their individual diagnostic and prognostic value. Yet, the clinical relevance of these findings remains unclear, warranting further studies to identify their optimal use in clinical routine.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Md Mokbul Hossain ◽  
Fahmida Akter ◽  
Abu Abdullah Mohammad Hanif ◽  
Md Showkat Ali Khan ◽  
Abu Ahmed Shamim ◽  
...  

Abstract The World Health Organization set a target of a 15% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity (IPA) by 2025 among adolescents and adults globally. In Bangladesh, there are no national estimates of the prevalence of IPA among adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and risk factors associated with IPA among adolescent girls and boys. Data for 4865 adolescent girls and 4907 adolescent boys, collected as a part of a National Nutrition Surveillance in 2018–19, were analysed for this study. A modified version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect physical activity data. The World Health Organization recommended cut-off points were used to estimate the prevalence of IPA. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with IPA. Prevalences of IPA among adolescent girls and boys were 50.3% and 29.0%, respectively, and the prevalence was significantly higher among early adolescents (10–14 years) than late adolescents (15–19 years) among both boys and girls. The IPA prevalence was highest among adolescents living in non-slum urban areas (girls: 77.7%; boys: 64.1%). For both boys and girls, younger age, non-slum urban residence, higher paternal education and increased television viewing time were significantly associated with IPA. Additionally, residing in slums was significantly associated with IPA only among the boys. Higher maternal education was associated with IPA only among the girls. This study identified several modifiable risk factors associated with IPA among adolescent boys and girls in Bangladesh. These factors should be addressed through comprehensive public health interventions to promote physical activity among adolescent girls and boys.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdzisława Chmiel ◽  
Grażyna Hejda ◽  
Monika Binkowska-Bury

Introduction. A World Health Organization (WHO) conference on a “second wave” epidemic of cardiovascular diseases, directly linked to arterial sclerosis (AS), predicts that in 2020 cardiovascular diseases will most likely be the leading cause of death in the world. The development of AS begins in youth and progresses with age. It’s intensity depends on the risk factors involved, such as: smoking, hypertension, obesity and fat and sugar disorders in the body. Aim. The aim of this study was to establish the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and their existence, among the youth of the upper gymnasium school. Material and methods. The research was conducted using 511 volunteer students from upper and lower gymnasium schools, between 16-19 years of age. Our research methods included: a diagnostic questionnaire, the measurement of blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric measurements. In the statistical study, we used chi-square independence testing, the V-Kramer test and the tau-b Kendall test; the level of changes α = 0.05 – was used. Results. Over a half of the study group (52.5%) was characterised with the lack of recommended physical activity, much more common in girls than boys (p = 0.000), just like smoking (p = 0.009) which was declared by 39.7% of the interviewed youth. In turn, a heightened value of systolic and diastolic pressure occurred more often in boys (19.6%) than in girls (12.1%); (p = 0.000 vs. p = 0.003). Excessive body mass was noted in 15.7% of the respondents, also more often in boys than in girls (p = 0.02), and abdominal obesity occurred in 10.2% of the respondents, with no significant differences between the sexes. 42.3% of the respondents showed one, 29.9% showed two and 18.8% showed three atherosclerosis risk factors. 9.0% of the study group showed 4 and more such risk factors. Accumulation of atherosclerosis risk factors occurred significantly more often in girls than in boys (p = 0.002). Conclusions. In all the respondents at least one atherosclerosis risk factor was found, and in over half of the study group, more frequently in girls than in boys, an accumulation of two or more risk factors was observed. Lack of recommended physical activity was the most frequent atherosclerosis risk factor occurring in the youth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 394-402
Author(s):  
O.B. Aribodor ◽  
C.E. Okaka ◽  
S.O. Sam-Wobo ◽  
B.C. Okpala ◽  
D.N. Aribodor ◽  
...  

Urinary schistosomiasis is considered a major public health parasitic disease in African communities. Prior to this study, Nsugbe community was not considered endemic for the disease and as such was not involved in Praziquantel-Preventive Chemotherapy (PC). Longitudinal study of 281 consented pupils aged 5-16 years was carried out with aim of determining the status of urinary schistosomiasis. Urinalysis laboratory test strip, urine filtration technique and syndromic diagnosis were used for the confirmation of the presence of haematuria in urine samples, identification of Schistosoma haematobium ova and the confirmation of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), respectively. Risk factors for urinary schistosomiasis infection were determined using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Minitab 17 software and intensity of infection categorized following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Of the 281 pupils, 117 (42%) were males and 164 (58%) were females with mean age of 9 years. At baseline, an overall prevalence of 0.4% (1/281) which was of light intensity was established. At follow-up, an overall prevalence of 2.1% (6/281) which was of both light (16.7%) and heavy infection (83.3%) was established. The result of the clinical examination showed eggs of S. haematobium in and around the vaginal area indicating FGS of a female pupil aged 12 years. This was treated. Identified risk factors for S. haematobium infection in the community include water-contact activities, ignorance, source of water supply among others. The study revealed the need for an all inclusive mass administration of Praziquantel-PC in the study community for effective control and possible elimination.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Al-Shahrani ◽  
Mohammed A. Al-Saleem ◽  
Mohamed O’haj ◽  
Faleh Th. Mohammed ◽  
Mutasim E. Ibrahim

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes mellitus (DM) among the adult population in Bisha province, Saudi Arabia.METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted during December, 2015 using the World Health Organization STEPS wise approach for data collection. Blood glucose level and anthropometric measurements of blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference were performed per standard methods.  Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the prevalence and risk of diabetes.RESULTS: Of 542 adult individuals included in the study, 13.3% (72) had diabetes, of which 8.1% were previously diagnosed and 5.2% represented new cases. The proportions of DM were 14.7% for men and 10.8% for women. Diabetes was significantly higher among married compared to unmarried individuals (19.3% vs 5.5 %; p<0.001) and among individuals aged ≥40 years old compared to those <40 years (31.3% vs 9.3%; p<0.001). The risk of diabetes was significantly increased with older age (Odds Ratio=4.470; 95% CI 2.264-7.614), married individuals (OR=4.097; 95% CI 2.188-7.672), weight/obesity (OR=2.827; 95% CI 1.567-5.072), hypertension (OR=4.383; 95% CI 2.085-9.214) and having a job (OR=2.327; 95% CI 1.347-4.02). The independent risk factors predicted diabetes were hypertension (Adjusted OR=2.897; 95% CI 1.269-66.13) and job patterns (Adjusted OR=2.793; 95% CI 1.064-7.329).CONCLUSION: Different risk factors alarming diabetes among adult population in Bisha province were detected.  Strategies aimed to improving a healthy lifestyle are necessary to reduce the burden of the disease. 


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