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Biomedical subjects

P M Suter

Publications and source records attributed to P M Suter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Water--the forgotten nutrient].

Approximately 70% of the body is water. Daily we are overwhelmed and bombarded with information about healthy nutrition and different single nutrients but not about the role of an adequate water intake for health maintenance. In this article the major issues about the physiological role of water is reviewed. Further recommendations for water intake are critically reviewed and discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Obesity during growth in Switzerland: role of early socio-cultural factors favouring sedentary activities.

Depending upon age, gender and geographical area, 3-20% of the children and young adolescents in Switzerland are overweight and 0-6% obese, using the criteria of the International Obesity Task Force. The most likely explanation for this increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity is a decline in physical activity, and hence diminished energy expenditure that is not matched by a corresponding reduction in energy intake. In this paper, we first review the epidemiological situation in Switzerland regarding the rising prevalence of obesity and the decline in physical activity, and then focus upon the environmental, social and cultural factors that predispose children to sedentary behaviours. Several of these socio-cultural factors and in particular television viewing and poor-parental model, confer early 'learned behaviours' for low physical activity which track throughout growth into adulthood, and which also predispose to the overconsumption of less healthy foods. It is time to focus on preventive strategies directed at curtailing these 'learned behaviours', that we have acquired during the transition from the stone-age to the chip-age, if we want to hold the current pandemic of obesity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[About fruits and vegetables: the paradise does not come back].

An increased fruit and vegetable consumption might be associated with a protection for the development of chronic diseases. The postulated mechanisms of this protection are multiple and no single mechanism can be identified. It is important to remember that the protection is mediated by the ideal combination of nutrients and phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables and not by a single chemical component. Accordingly it is more wise to eat fruits and vegetables instead of isolated compounds in pharmacological dosage.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Carbohydrates and dietary fiber.

The most widely spread eating habit is characterized by a reduced intake of dietary fiber, an increased intake of simple sugars, a high intake of refined grain products, an altered fat composition of the diet, and a dietary pattern characterized by a high glycemic load, an increased body weight and reduced physical activity. In this chapter the effects of this eating pattern on disease risk will be outlined. There are no epidemiological studies showing that the increase of glucose, fructose or sucrose intake is directly and independently associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease (CHD). On the other hand a large number of studies has reported a reduction of fatal and non-fatal CHD events as a function of the intake of complex carbohydrates--respectively 'dietary fiber' or selected fiber-rich food (e.g., whole grain cereals). It seems that eating too much 'fast' carbohydrate [i.e., carbohydrates with a high glycemic index (GI)] may have deleterious long-term consequences. Indeed the last decades have shown that a low fat (and consecutively high carbohydrate) diet alone is not the best strategy to combat modern diseases including atherosclerosis. Quantity and quality issues in carbohydrate nutrient content are as important as they are for fat. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that for cardiovascular disease prevention a high sugar intake should be avoided. There is growing evidence of the high impact of dietary fiber and foods with a low GI on single risk factors (e.g., lipid pattern, diabetes, inflammation, endothelial function etc.) as well as also the development of the endpoints of atherosclerosis especially CHD.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Fruit and vegetable].

An increased fruit and vegetable intake is associated with a reduced risk for chronic diseases. The protective effects are due to different mechanisms such as an increased intake of essential micronutrients as well as different non-nutritive phytochemicals. A dietary pattern characterised by a high intake of fruits and vegetables has a much higher protective effect than the intake of pharmacological doses of single nutrients or phytochemicals.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2004

[Low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides--well known but often ignored].

A reduced HDL-Cholersterol and increased triglyzerides are an often seen laboratory abnormality. They are known risk factors for arteriosclerosis. However the small influence of a pharamcologic treatment on the two reduced the interest in them. We therefore want to show the relation of the triglyzerides with the HDL-Cholesterol and the nonpharmacologic treatment of these two factors. Some clinical examples are illustrating the topic.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Elevated lipid levels during pregnancy--what to do?].

Based on a clinical case we discuss the physiological changes in the lipid metabolism during pregnancy. The changes are characterised by a marked elevation of the total plasma cholesterol and the triglyceride levels. Usually there is no need for a specific therapy.

Cholesterol↗
PubMed2004

[Forgotten metabolic side effects of diuretics: lipids, glucose and vitamin B1 (thiamin) metabolism].

Diuretics could lead to an impairment of lipid and glucose metabolism. These potentially adverse effects of the diuretics could be compensated by non-pharmacological strategies such as weight loss or physical activity. Diuretics lead to an increased urinary loss of vitamin B1 (thiamine), a diuretic side effect which is often forgotten. In the setting of a high vitamin B1 intake the increased urinary excretion is of no pathophysiologic relevance. However, in the setting of low or suboptimal dietary intakes of thiamine the insufficient thiamine nutriture may be of importance. Vitamin B1 plays an important role in energy metabolism, especially also at the level of the heart muscle. Wet beri-beri is the characteristic vitamin B1 deficiency disease, which is besides others also characterized by heart failure. Evidence suggests that heart failure can be improved by the additional administration of Vitamin B1. Older individuals under a chronic diuretic therapy should obtain an oral vitamin B1 supplementation.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗
PubMed2003

[Is the Swiss population gaining body weight? Body mass index in insurance applications between 1950 and 1990].

In this study 4435 insurance applications to the Swiss Life insurance company ("Rentenanstalt") by individuals aged 20-39 years from the time period 1950-1990 were evaluated. Each application contained the self-reported body weight, height, and other informations such as martial status or city of residence. For each individual the body mass index (BMI) was computed and the prevalence of overweight and obesity for each year was calculated using standard definitions. This is the first study which tries to determine the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Switzerland over time. The absolute body weight (kg) increased continuously from 1950 to the year 2000. The most pronounced increase was seen in individuals (aged 20-29 years) above the 90th percentile of body weight and BMI, i.e. already overweight and/or obese individuals showed the largest increase in body weight. In men (aged 20-29 years) the prevalence of overweight increased between 1980 and 1990 by more than 10% to a prevalence rate of 25%. In women (aged 20-29 years) the prevalence of overweight increased continuously from 1960 onward and reached a rate of 10.5% in 1990. In the age group of the 30-39 years old individuals no change in the prevalence rates was observed. These data suggest that there is a trend for an increased prevalence of overweight in Switzerland. Since the study sample was not representative for the Swiss population the results have to be interpreted with caution only. Nevertheless the results are in agreement with the trends in other countries and it can be assumed that similar developments do occur also in Switzerland.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Nutritional issues in hypertension: useful or useless?].

In view of the very efficient pharmacological therapy of hypertension the nonpharmacological strategies are nearly forgotten. Many nutritional strategies are known to reduce blood pressure. In the past single strategies have been implemented with variable success. Salt restriction leads to lowering of blood pressure in salt sensitive individuals. In daily practice the restriction of salt is still the top priority. However, salt restriction alone is often not successful. A change in the whole dietary pattern, i.e. a reasonable restriction of salt intake in combination with an increased potassium intake from food as well as control of body weight has a much higher potential for blood pressure reduction. Potassium rich food is usually low in sodium, in addition potassium has favorable effects on sodium handling (e.g. natriuretic effect of potassium). In addition it is easier to implement a moderate sodium restriction in combination with a higher potassium intake (i.e. a diet rich in fruits and vegetables). Future strategies should focus on a global moderate change in the diet and life style pattern.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

[The metabolic syndrome].

Alterations in the intermediary metabolism respectively a "metabolic maladaptation" to the modern lifestyle represents an important risk factor for most chronic diseases, especially also for cardiovascular risk. An increased concentration of free fatty acids plays a central role in the pathophysiological sequence of events. Overweight and obesity represent one important cause for the increase in free fatty acids and are thus potentially preventable causes. It seems that the metabolic syndrome represents the result of our genetic predisposition as a response to the modern lifestyle characterized by physical inactivity and a increase in the duration of the postprandial status.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed2003

[Treatment refractory hypertension with atrophic kidney: attending to one and not neglecting the other].

The incidence of primary aldosteronism in patients with difficult to treat hypertension is higher than previously stated in texts. The clinical picture of hypokalemic hypertensive patients remains unreliable as a third of the patients are normokalemic. Considering the diagnosis is the most important step in diagnosing primary aldosteronism. The clinical suspicion has to be confirmed biochemically.

Adult↗