0000000001086633
AUTHOR
Davide Corleo
Serum Irisin Concentrations in Severely Inflamed Patients
AbstractIrisin is a recently discovered exercise-induced myokine that has been attributed the role of favoring white-to-brown adipose tissue trans-differentiation. We confirmed in a population-based cohort that irisin serum concentrations are independently correlated with the habitual level of physical activity, but we also observed an independent correlation with serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), thus suggesting that inflammation may influence irisin production. In order to investigate the association between irisin and inflammation, we measured serum irisin concentrations in a group of inflamed inpatients. We hypothesized that if an association between …
Factors associated with circulating concentrations of irisin in the general population cohort of the ABCD study
Animal studies have shown that irisin is a myokine secreted following physical exercise, and that it induces the remodeling of white adipose tissue toward brown adipose tissue. Therefore, a protective role of irisin against obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic and cardiovascular conditions has been hypothesized. However, data in humans are contradictory and few data are available concerning the general population.We aimed to evaluate the association between serum irisin concentrations and habitual physical activity, as well as other metabolic and cardiovascular factors in a general population in a Mediterranean area.We considered 858 consecutive individuals included in the ABCD (Alimentaz…
Influence of habitual dairy food intake on LDL cholesterol in a population-based cohort
Background: Cholesterol has a pivotal role in human physiology, exerting both structural and functional activity. However, higher blood cholesterol levels, especially low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), are a major cardiovascular risk factor. Therefore, special attention has been given to the effect of dietary factors in influencing LDL-C blood levels. In particular, much research has focused on dairy products, since they are a main component of different dietary patterns worldwide. A large body of evidence did not support the hypothesis that dairy products significantly increase circulating LDL-C, but no definitive data are available. Hence, we aimed to assess the relationships am…
Ketogenic diet, physical activity, and hypertension—a narrative review
Several studies link cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with unhealthy lifestyles (unhealthy dietary habits, alcohol consumption, smoking, and low levels of physical activity). Therefore, the strong need for CVD prevention may be pursued through an improved control of CVD risk factors (impaired lipid and glycemic profiles, high blood pressure, and obesity), which is achievable through an overall intervention aimed to favor a healthy lifestyle. Focusing on diet, different recommendations emphasize the need to increase or avoid consumption of entire classes of food, with only partly known and only partly foreseeable consequences on the overall level of health. In recent years, the ketogenic diet (…
Obesity and Circulating Levels of Vitamin D before and after Weight Loss Induced by a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet
Background: Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, also influencing bone tissue. Several studies have reported that vitamin D blood levels were significantly lower in people with obesity, probably due to its uptake by the adipose tissue. Clinical studies that investigated the changes of circulating levels of vitamin D following weight loss reported controversial data. A very low-calorie ketogenic diet is acknowledged as a reliable treatment to achieve a rapid weight loss. Therefore, we investigated the effect of weight loss, consequent to a very low-calorie ketogenic diet, on vitamin D blood concentrations. Methods: A cohort of 31 people with obesity underwent …
Characterization of Metabolically Healthy Obese People and Metabolically Unhealthy Normal-Weight People in a General Population Cohort of the ABCD Study.
There is actually no consensus about the possibility that in some instances, obesity may be a benign metabolically healthy (MH) condition as opposed to a normal-weight but metabolically unhealthy (MUH) state. The aim of this study was to characterize MH condition and to investigate possible associations with metabolic and cardiovascular complications. One thousand nineteen people (range of age 18–90 years) of the cohort of the ABCD_2 study were investigated. Participants were classified as normal weight (BMI < 24.9 kg/m2) or overweight-obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2); they were also classified as MH in the presence of 0-1 among the following conditions: (a) prediabetes/type 2 diabetes, (b) hyperte…
High adherence to Mediterranean diet, but not individual foods or nutrients, is associated with lower likelihood of being obese in a Mediterranean cohort
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the Mediterranean diet and obesity in a Mediterranean cohort. Methods: The study population of MEAL (Mediterranean Healthy Eating, Ageing, and Lifestyle) study comprised 1814 men and women (18 + years) recruited in the city of Catania, southern Italy. Food intake was evaluated through a validated food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed through the MEDI-LITE score. Results: Individuals highly adherent to the Mediterranean diet (highest quartile of the score) were less likely to be obese (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32, 0.89) despite there was no significant associations when considering…
Association of obesity and diabetes with thyroid nodules
Aim: There are conflicting data concerning the possibility that obesity and diabetes raise the risk of thyroid nodules. The incidence of thyroid nodules is increasing, as is that of obesity and diabetes; therefore, understanding whether these metabolic and nutritional disorders influence nodular thyroid disease is important for organizing prevention strategies. This study investigated the association between thyroid nodules, obesity, diabetes, and dietary habits. Materials and methods: A cohort of randomly selected adults (455 males, 746 females; age: 18â90 years) living in Palermo (Italy), a mild iodine deficiency area, was cross-sectionally investigated. Participants underwent high-reso…
The Mediterranean diet and its individual components: Linking with obesity in Italy
Abstract A prolonged positive energy balance may contribute to fat accumulation and obesity development. It was observed several years ago that population resident in southern Italy consumed a particular diet and was less obese and lived significantly longer, and it was referred as the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is a dietary plan based on fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and low intake of saturated fatty acids. A large body of literature suggested that the Mediterranean diet is effective in preventing obesity. Both observational and intervention studies clearly demonstrated that a higher adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of being obese and that …
<p>Endothelial Function in Obese Patients Treated with Bariatric Surgery</p>
Purpose Bariatric surgery (BS) is becoming an increasingly frequent treatment option especially in people with morbid obesity, demonstrating that it is able to reduce total mortality and cardiovascular (CV) risk. Despite endothelial dysfunction is an essential requisite contributing to atherosclerosis and predicting CV events, only some studies have investigated the effects of BS on endothelial function with controversial results. In this study, the effects of weight loss on endothelial function were investigated in obese patients after BS and compared with patients after medical nutrition treatment (MNT). Patients and Methods Seventeen obese patients who underwent BS procedures (9 adjustab…
Risk Factors for COVID-19: Diabetes, Hypertension, and Obesity
Introduction: The recent global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has involved more than 7 million people worldwide and been associated with more than 400,000 deaths. No clear information is known about all the potential risk factors for COVID-19 or what factors adversely influence its clinical course and mortality. Therefore, we analyzed the role of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension as risk factors for COVID-19. Methods: We identified articles for inclusion by searching PubMed and Google Scholar (last accessed 15 June 2020). Retrospective review of literature. Analysis of epidemiological data co…
Emerging Increase in the prevalence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: epidemiological study from general Mediterranean population
Background and Aims: The worldwide spread of obesity and diabetes is leading to a drastic increase in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its complications.We aimed to assess prevalence of NAFLD and of its severity among a general Mediterranean population. Methods:We considered 886 consecutive individuals included in the ABCD study (ISRCTN15840340). Hepatic ultrasound (US) was used to diagnose steatosis and FibroScan (M and XL probe) to measure liver stiffness and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). Liver stiffness >6.9 KPa was considered suggestive of significant liver fibrosis (Petta S et al., Hepatology 2015), and CAP ≥ 310 dB was considered suggestive of moderate-severe …
Endothelial Function in Obese Patients Treated with Bariatric Surgery
Antonio Maria Borz&igrave;,1,2,* Carola Buscemi,3,4,* Davide Corleo,3,4 Cristiana Randazzo,3,4 Giuseppe Rosafio,3,4 Gianni Pantuso,5 Silvio Buscemi3,4 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Specialization School in Geriatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; 2Specialization School in Geriatrics, Catania, Italy; 3Dipartimento di Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palerno, Italy; 4Unit of Malattie Endocrine, del Ricambio e della Nutrizione, Policlinico University Hospital, Palermo, Italy; 5Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche e Odontostomatologiche (DICHIRONS), Unit of Chirurgia …
Does iris(in) bring bad news or good news?
Irisin, a novel myokine produced in response to physical activity, promotes white-to-brown fat transdifferentiation. The name irisin referred to the ancient Greek goddess Iris, the messenger who delivered (bad) news from the gods. In mice, it has been demonstrated that irisin plays a key role in metabolic regulation, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. New findings from various studies carried out in both animals and humans suggest that irisin might also have other favorable effects, such as increasing bone cortical mass, preventing hepatic lipid accumulation, and improving cognitive functions, thus mediating many exercise-induced health benefits. However, data on the role and funct…
The Effect of Lutein on Eye and Extra-Eye Health
Lutein is a carotenoid with reported anti-inflammatory properties. A large body of evidence shows that lutein has several beneficial effects, especially on eye health. In particular, lutein is known to improve or even prevent age-related macular disease which is the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment. Furthermore, many studies have reported that lutein may also have positive effects in different clinical conditions, thus ameliorating cognitive function, decreasing the risk of cancer, and improving measures of cardiovascular health. At present, the available data have been obtained from both observational studies investigating lutein intake with food, and a few intervention tri…