Showing papers by "Vincenzo Monda published in 2021"

COVID-19: Role of Nutrition and Supplementation.

Abstract: At the end of 2019, a new coronavirus (COVID-19) appeared on the world scene, which mainly affects the respiratory system, causing pneumonia and multi-organ failure, and, although it starts with common symptoms such as shortness of breath and fever, in about 2-3% of cases it leads to death. Unfortunately, to date, no specific treatments have been found for the cure of this virus and, therefore, it is advisable to implement all possible strategies in order to prevent infection. In this context, it is important to better define the role of all behaviors, in particular nutrition, in order to establish whether these can both prevent infection and improve the outcome of the disease in patients with COVID-19. In the literature, it is widely shown that states of malnutrition, overweight, and obesity negatively affect the immune system, leading to viral infections, and several studies have shown that nutritional interventions can act as immunostimulators, helping to prevent viral infections. Even if several measures, such as the assumption of a specific diet regimen, the use of dietary supplements, and other similar interventions, are promising for the prevention, management, and recovery of COVID-19 patients, it is important to highlight that strong data from randomized clinical trials are needed to support any such assumption. Considering this particular scenario, we present a literature review addressing several important aspects related to diet and SARS-CoV-2 infection, in order to highlight the importance of diet and supplementation in prevention and management of, as well as recovery from COVID-19.

Effects of a Plastic-Free Lifestyle on Urinary Bisphenol A Levels in School-Aged Children of Southern Italy: A Pilot Study

Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor (ED) frequently used in food packaging. BPA is used as a monomer in the manufacture of some food packaging. This study aimed to evaluate the urinary BPA concentration in an Italian pediatric cohort, testing the levels of this ED over a period of 6 months, evaluating the effects of a diet regimen with a reduction of Plastic Food Packaging (PFP). One hundred thirty Italian children were enrolled and divided into two groups "School Canteen" and "No School Canteen." The first group consumed one meal at school using a plastic-free service for 5 days/weeks, while the other group did not modify their normal meal-time habits. The BPA levels were tested in urine samples at three time points: T0, is the time before the application of the plastic-free regimen diet; T3, 3 months later; and T6, 6 months later. A reduction of urine BPA levels was detected in the "School Canteen" group. In particular, the reduction was significant analyzing both the intra (among the three testing times) group and inter (between "School Canteen" and "No School Canteen") group variability. Our results show the effects of a diet regimen with a reduction of PFP, demonstrating a connection between urinary BPA levels and food packaging.

Obese Subjects without Eating Disorders Experience Binge Episodes Also Independently of Emotional Eating and Personality Traits among University Students of Southern Italy

Abstract: It is widely acknowledged that obesity is a growing public clinical issue involving both physical and psychological well-being. Nevertheless, the relationship between psychological features and weight gain is still unclear. Although emotional eating (EE) and personality traits are considered significant predictors of eating disorders, their role in obesity without eating disorders (OB-wed) is far from proven. The present study aimed at investigating the cumulative effect of EE and personality traits on overeating behavior in a sample of 266 university students (169 female; mean age = 21.85, SD = 2.39) stratified based on their body mass index (BMI; normal weight, overweight, obese). They were enrolled during free screening days promoted by the Human Dietetic and Sport Service of a Southern Italian university. The results show a psychological pattern of increasing overeating behavior and lower Self-Directedness combined with higher Sadness and Anger. However, OB-wed subjects overate regardless of this emotional/personological configuration.

Role of Vitamin E and the Orexin System in Neuroprotection.

Abstract: Microglia are the first line of defense at the level of the central nervous system (CNS). Phenotypic change in microglia can be regulated by various factors, including the orexin system. Neuroinflammation is an inflammatory process mediated by cytokines, by the lack of interaction of specific receptors such as the OX2-OX2R complex, caused by systemic tissue damage or, more often, associated with direct damage to the CNS. Chronic activation of microglia could lead to long-term neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to explore how tocopherol (vitamin E) and the orexin system may play a role in the prevention and treatment of microglia inflammation and, consequently, in neurodegenerative diseases thanks to its antioxidant properties. The results of animal and in vitro studies provide evidence to support the use of tocopherol for a reduction in microglia inflammation as well as a greater activation of the orexinergic system. Although there is much in vivo and in vitro evidence of vitamin E antioxidant and protective abilities, there are still conflicting results for its use as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases that speculate that vitamin E, under certain conditions or genetic predispositions, can be pro-oxidant and harmful.

The Role of Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet in Sympathetic Activation through Cortisol Secretion in Male Obese Population

Abstract: Adipose tissue is considered an endocrine organ, and its excess compromises the immune response and metabolism of hormones and nutrients. Furthermore, the accumulation of visceral fat helps to increase the synthesis of cortisol. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a neuroendocrine system involved in maintaining homeostasis in humans under physiological conditions and stress, and cortisol is the main hormone of the HPA axis. It is known that a stress-induced diet and cortisol reactivity to acute stress factors may be related to dietary behavior. In obesity, to reduce visceral adipose tissue, caloric restriction is a valid strategy. In light of this fact, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a commercial dietary ketosis program for weight loss on the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis, through evaluation of salivary cortisol and GSR levels. Thirty obese subjects were recruited and assessed before and after 8 weeks of Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) intervention to evaluate body composition and biochemical parameters. Salivary cortisol levels and GSR significantly decreased after dietary treatment; in addition, body composition and biochemical features were ameliorated. The VLCKD had a short-term positive effect on the SNS and HPA axes regulating salivary cortisol levels. Finally, the effects of the VLCKD on the SNS and HPA axis may lead to more individualized treatment strategies that integrate obesity and stress and support the usefulness of such therapeutic interventions in promoting the reduction of the individual disease burden.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Tool to Investigate Motor Cortex Excitability in Sport.

Abstract: Transcranial magnetic stimulation, since its introduction in 1985, has brought important innovations to the study of cortical excitability as it is a non-invasive method and, therefore, can be used both in healthy and sick subjects. Since the introduction of this cortical stimulation technique, it has been possible to deepen the neurophysiological aspects of motor activation and control. In this narrative review, we want to provide a brief overview regarding TMS as a tool to investigate changes in cortex excitability in athletes and highlight how this tool can be used to investigate the acute and chronic responses of the motor cortex in sport science. The parameters that could be used for the evaluation of cortical excitability and the relative relationship with motor coordination and muscle fatigue, will be also analyzed. Repetitive physical training is generally considered as a principal strategy for acquiring a motor skill, and this process can elicit cortical motor representational changes referred to as use-dependent plasticity. In training settings, physical practice combined with the observation of target movements can enhance cortical excitability and facilitate the process of learning. The data to date suggest that TMS is a valid technique to investigate the changes in motor cortex excitability in trained and untrained subjects. Recently, interest in the possible ergogenic effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in sport is growing and therefore in the future it could be useful to conduct new experiments to evaluate the impact on learning and motor performance of these techniques.

Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet Modulates the Autonomic Nervous System Activity through Salivary Amylase in Obese Population Subjects

Abstract: In obesity, to reduce visceral adipose tissue (VAT), caloric restriction is a valid strategy. Salivary amylase is an enzyme that cleaves large starch carbohydrates molecules and its production is modulated by the central nervous system. In addition, heart rate variability (HRV) is simply a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. This variation is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. In the light of this evidence, the aim of this study is to characterize the effect of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) on the autonomic nervous system in obese patients. Twenty subjects affected by obesity were recruited before and after 8 weeks of VLCKD intervention to evaluate salivary amylase by the ELISA test and HRV analysis. These parameters significantly increased after dietary treatment, and positively correlate to each other. VLCKD exerts a positive effect on salivary amylase and HRV, ameliorating body composition and biochemical features. In brief, this dietary intervention improves the autonomic nervous system activity. This is the first study about the effects of VLCKD upon the autonomic nervous system, but further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism undergone VLCKD effects.