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Biomedical subjects

A Laffitte

Publications and source records attributed to A Laffitte.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Chronic consumption of short-chain fructooligosaccharides by healthy subjects decreased basal hepatic glucose production but had no effect on insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism.

We aimed to study the effects of chronic ingestion of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS), an indigestible carbohydrate, on hepatic glucose production, insulin-mediated glucose metabolism, erythrocyte insulin binding, and blood lipids in healthy subjects. Twelve healthy volunteers received either 20 g FOS/d or sucrose for 4 wk in a double-blind crossover design. FOS did not modify fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Mean (+/- SEM) basal hepatic glucose production was lower after FOS than after sucrose consumption (2.18 +/- 0.10 compared with 2.32 +/- 0.09 mg.kg-1, min-1, respectively; P < 0.02, paired Student's t test). However, neither insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production nor insulin stimulation of glucose uptake measured by hyperinsulinemic clamp was significantly different between the two dietary periods. Erythrocyte insulin binding was also comparable. Serum triacylglycerols, total and high-density- lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I and B, and lipoprotein(a) were not modified by FOS. To try to understand why FOS did not increase serum lipids, the in vitro production of short-chain fatty acids from FOS was evaluated by using human fecal inoculum and compared with that from lactulose, which was found to increase serum lipids. FOS produced an acetate-propionate ratio two times lower than that of lactulose. We conclude that 4 wk of 20 g FOS/d decreased basal hepatic glucose production but had no detectable effect on insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in healthy subjects. The colonic fermentation pattern of undigestible carbohydrates may be relevant to predicting their metabolic effects.

Adult

Low-fat (41%) butter consumption decreases total energy and lipid intake in diabetic patients under acute conditions.

Decreasing fat intake in subjects at risk of cardiovascular diseases and particularly diabetics is a major issue. To investigate whether low-fat (41%) butter (LFB) is of any benefit compared to regular butter (RB), 97 hospitalized diabetics (41 insulin-dependent) were studied on four consecutive days. Breakfast (bread, butter and drink) was served at 0830 hrs, on successive mornings. LFB and RB were presented ad libitum, on alternate days. Satiety was assessed at 10 and 12 h, using line rating scales. At 1230 hrs lunch was served, with large servings corresponding to 130% of the recommended lunch intake, so that carry-over effects from the breakfast manipulation could be measured. At breakfast, LFB was consumed in higher amounts, 27 vs. 21 g, F(1,96) = 33.24, p < 0.0001, than RB; however, the energy intake was significantly lower (by about -38%) on LFB days, F(1,96) = 158.3, p = 0.0001. Hunger at 10 h but not at 12 h was affected by breakfast conditions. Lunch intake was comparable following LFB and RB breakfasts. In conclusion, LFB utilization under acute conditions seems to benefit diabetics by reducing caloric and fat intake.

Adult

Low-fat (41%) butter use decreases butter lipid intake over 4-week trials in healthy persons.

All members of 18 families (n = 75; ages from 1 to 65 years) participated in a cross-over study of butter usage. Two types of butter were compared: regular (82%) fat) and low-fat (41%) butter. Butter was supplied to the families by the laboratory for use in raw (spread) form over two successive periods of 5 weeks (first week served as training). No other butter was allowed. The number of consumers (75) remained constant throughout the study. Over four consecutive weeks, the families consumed as much low-fat as regular butter (10.70 +/- 1 g versus 10.06 +/- 1.17 g per day per person). However, lipid intake from butter was significantly reduced during the low-fat butter period as compared to the regular butter period (4.39 +/- 0.41 g versus 8.25 +/- 0.96 g per day per person, p = 0.0005). Since previous studies showed that nutrient-specific compensatory intake is unlikely, it is suggested that use of low-fat butter can facilitate a reduction in fat intake over extended periods of time in healthy persons.

Adolescent

[Intraerythrocytic potassium and diuretic therapy].

Diuretic-induced hypokalemia is one of the most common and important disturbances during antihypertensive therapy. However, it has been suggested that determination of serum potassium levels may not reflect significant changes of its intracellular concentration. This study was performed to evaluate whether there is any change of red cell potassium concentration as compared to serum potassium levels, in ten patients receiving chlorthalidone, 25 mg/day, during 4 weeks. Significant antihypertensive effect was achieved and despite serum potassium levels less than 3.5 mEq/1 occurred in four patients, no significant change in intracellular concentration of potassium was observed in this population with essential hypertension.

Adult

[Uremic polyneuropathy: a study of vibratory perception threshold in 19 patients].

A vibratory perception threshold study was done in 19 patients with uremic polyneuropathy, using a palesthesiometer. Three patients were maintained in conservative treatment (controls), 7 patients maintained with hemodialysis and 9 patients with peritoneal dialysis, during a period of 4 to 72 months. Abnormal vibratory perception threshold was found in 94.73% when the first toe was studied, 36.84% with the fifth finger and 52.63% with the second finger. The statistical analysis between the hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and control group was non significant. It was not found any correlation between the severity and duration of neuropathy with the low perception threshold. The authors conclude that this is a simple method, easy to be done and very useful in the quantification of the vibratory perception threshold in the uremic patient, but lack specificity regarding severity of the illness.

Adult