CRIS

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://cris.ute.edu.ec/handle/123456789/1

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 17

Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Timing matters: lipid intake and its influence on menopausal-related symptoms
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-08-18)
Ludovica Verde
;
Luigi Barrea
;
Evelyn Frias-Toral
;
Raynier Zambrano-Villacres
;
SIMANCAS RACINES, DANIEL ALEJANDRO
Background Menopause contributes to central obesity and increases cardiovascular risk in women. Diet influences both menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular health, but the impact of chrononutrition, namely food timing, is not well understood. This cross-sectional study investigated whether the timing of food intake affected menopausal symptoms in 100 postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity. Methods Anthropometric and clinical parameters, and lifestyle habits were assessed. Menopausal symptoms were evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Nutritional assessment utilized 7-day food records. Food intake was divided into morning intake (meals from breakfast to lunch) and evening intake (meals from afternoon snacks to dinner). Results The mean MRS score was 22.7 ± 7.8, showing a high prevalence of symptoms in the study population. Postmenopausal women under the median of morning energy intake showed a significantly a higher score for heart discomfort (p = 0.045), while those under the median of morning intake of lipids showed significantly higher scores for heart discomfort and lower scores for bladder problems (p = 0.013 and p = 0.040, respectively). Postmenopausal women above the median evening intake of lipids showed a significantly higher score for heart discomfort (p = 0.007). The heart discomfort score correlated negatively and positively with the morning (r = -0.210, p = 0.034) and evening (r = 0.210, p = 0.034) intakes of lipids, respectively, even after correction for confounding factors (r = -0.219 and r = 0.219, p = 0.028 for both). Conclusion Consuming most of the energy and lipids later in the day was linked to higher prevalence of menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity. This eating pattern may potentially have adverse effects on the cardiovascular health of these women. Therefore, adopting chrononutrition behaviors, particularly favoring an earlier intake of energy and lipids, could prove beneficial as an additional measure in the nutritional therapy for postmenopausal women dealing with overweight or obesity.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Beyond dietary therapy: addressing weight stigma awareness in medical students
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-08-22)
Giuseppe Annunziata
;
Giordano Bruno Zonzini
;
Evelyn Frias-Toral
;
Raynier Zambrano-Villacres
;
Alexander Bertuccioli
Background The growing prevalence of obesity worldwide has drawn increased attention to the issue of weight stigma. Discriminatory attitudes related to body weight are evident across various settings, including those that should ideally offer support to individuals with obesity, such as schools and sports facilities. This research aimed to examine weight-related stigma among university students enrolled in healthcare-related academic programs. Methods To measure weight stigma, researchers administered the Italian version of the Attitude Toward Obese Persons (I-ATOP) questionnaire to 201 students from the University of Urbino (Italy) and the University of Malaga (Spain). The analysis explored variations in stigma levels based on gender, BMI classification, nationality, Italian regional location, level of academic education, medical history, and lifestyle factors. Results The participant pool was predominantly female (58.2%) and Spanish (66.7%), with an average age of 22.86 ± 3.08 years and a mean BMI of 22.80 ± 3.25 kg/m, placing most respondents in the normal weight range. Nearly half (47.8%) demonstrated a low degree of stigmatising attitudes. Within the sample, significantly lower stigma levels were reported among female and Spanish students (> = 0.001 and > = 0.011, respectively), as well as among those without a history of eating disorders (> = 0.017) and those who engaged in physical activity (> = 0.029). Additionally, stigma showed a notable decline in relation to higher educational attainment ConclusionThis pilot study reveals the presence of weight stigma even within healthcare education settings, where future health professionals are being trained. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive educational strategies aimed at fostering inclusive and nonjudgmental attitudes toward individuals with obesity. Importantly, the assessment and management of weight stigma should extend beyond nutritional therapy alone, recognizing its psychological, social, and structural dimensions. Integrating this broader perspective into healthcare curricula is thus essential to improve the quality of care for individuals living with one of the most prevalent and complex chronic conditions.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Expert Consensus on the Nutrition Care Process in Guatemalan Hospitals: Findings from a Delphi Study of nutritionDay 2022 Participants
(MDPI AG, 2025-09-30)
Karen Girón
;
Isabel Chinchilla
;
Christa Gómez
;
Marietta Lau
;
María René Oroxon
Background: Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) remains an underdiagnosed condition in Latin American hospitals, with substantial clinical and economic consequences. The global nutritionDay initiative, promoted by ESPEN, provides a standardized audit to evaluate and improve hospital nutritional care. This study aimed to develop expert consensus recommendations to optimize the nutritional care process in Guatemalan hospitals, based on the findings from nutritionDay 2022. Methods: A modified Delphi study was conducted, including three meetings held before and after each round to discuss the results. Sixteen clinical nutrition professionals from eleven hospitals participated. A total of 89 items were assessed, with a predefined consensus threshold of 70%. Data were analyzed using R software (version 4.5.0) and Kendall’s W coefficient was applied to evaluate inter-round agreement. Results: Consensus was achieved for 51 key recommendations covering nutritional screening, clinical assessment, anthropometry, body composition, functional assessment, biochemical monitoring, dietary intervention, and post-discharge follow-up. The proposed actions are aligned with international guidelines (ESPEN, ASPEN, GLIM) and adapted to the Guatemalan healthcare context. Conclusions: This consensus provides a comprehensive and context-specific framework for standardizing and improving hospital nutritional care in Guatemala and similar settings. Its implementation could help reduce DRM prevalence and foster the development of quality indicators and digital tools for clinical nutrition management.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Differential impact of coffee quantity and sweetening on body composition parameters and inflammation
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025-09-17)
Giuseppe Annunziata
;
Evelyn Frias-Toral
;
Francesco Campa
;
Maria Antonieta Touriz Bonifaz
;
Ludovica Verde
Background: Coffee is the most consumed and popular beverage worldwide. The health benefits of its regular, moderate consumption are well known, and include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as metabolic effects, reducing the risk of obesity and related diseases. The available literature, however, provides no information about the effect of coffee consumption on body composition (BC) and inflammation. The present cross-sectional observational study aims to investigate the effect of coffee consumption on BC and inflammation-related parameters, as well as the possible impact of adding sugar and the frequency of consumption. Coffee consumption habits, preference for adding sugar and frequency of daily consumption were assessed in 2,556 adults (1,080 men and 1,476 women). BC was assessed using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), whilst high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were monitored for inflammatory status. Results: A total of 1,855 subjects (680 men and 1,175 women) were included in the statistical analysis. Compared to non-consumers, coffee consumers showed lower body mass index (BMI), waist girth (WG), and hs-CRP levels, and higher skeletal muscle mass (SMM), appendicular SMM (ASMM), phase angle (PhA), and standardised PhA (SPA) (p< 0.001 for all). The same trend was observed for unsweetened coffee consumers compared to subjects consuming sweetened coffee. With increasing coffee consumption, BMI, WG, and hs-CRP generally decreased, whilst SMM and ASMM showed a bell-shaped trend with peak values in those consuming 2–3 cups per day. Similarly, PhA and SPA values were highest among moderate coffee consumers. Conclusion: These findings suggest that moderate coffee consumption, particularly unsweetened coffee, is associated with more favourable body composition and inflammatory profiles. Given the observational design, causality cannot be established. Nevertheless, the results may inform dietary guidance aimed at supporting muscle maintenance and mitigating obesity-related metabolic risk.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Effects of Preoperative Exercise Interventions in Patients Undergoing Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
(MDPI AG, 2025-09-01)
SIMANCAS RACINES, DANIEL ALEJANDRO
;
PARISE VASCO, JUAN MARCOS
;
ANGAMARCA IGUAGO, JAIME WLADIMIR
;
Ashley Carolina Cuzco Macias
;
Carlos Soria
Background: Obesity affects over one billion people globally. Bariatric surgery is the most effective long-term intervention for severe obesity. However, postoperative outcomes can vary considerably, with such factors as baseline fitness and cardiorespiratory reserve influencing surgical outcomes. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of preoperative exercise or physical activity, compared to standard care or no intervention, on preoperative fitness parameters and perioperative surgical outcomes in adults with obesity undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook and the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies with control groups evaluating preoperative exercise interventions were included. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using Cochrane tools. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects models, with standardized mean differences calculated for continuous outcomes. Evidence certainty was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: A total of 15 studies, including 1378 participants, were identified for qualitative synthesis, with 12 contributing data for quantitative meta-analysis. Preoperative exercise interventions significantly improved six-minute walk test distance (SMD 2.01; 95% CI: 0.51 to 3.50; p = 0.009) and VO2 peak (SMD 1.02; 95% CI: 0.52 to 1.51; p < 0.0001). BMI reduction was significant (SMD −0.96; 95% CI: −1.75 to −0.16; p = 0.02), while weight change was not statistically significant (SMD −0.81; 95% CI: −1.72 to 0.09; p = 0.08). One study reported a reduction in hospital length of stay of 0.64 days (95% CI: −0.86 to −0.42; p < 0.00001). Evidence certainty was rated as very low to low across all outcomes. Conclusions: Preoperative exercise interventions have been shown to significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in bariatric surgery candidates, with large effect sizes for functional capacity measures. Despite the low certainty of the evidence, these findings suggest that supervised exercise programs should be incorporated into the preoperative care of bariatric surgery patients.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Handgrip strength values and body composition in Ecuadorian university young adults
(Medwave Estudios Limitada, 2025-03-03)
Diana Fonseca-Pérez
;
Víctor Sierra Nieto
;
Cecilia Arteaga-Pazmiño
;
Ludwig Álvarez Córdova
;
Evelyn Frias-Toral
Introduction Handgrip strength is a key indicator of functional health and overall muscular strength. These parameters are essential for assessing physical performance and health status. This study aims to assess handgrip strength and body composition in young Ecuadorian university adults. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among university students from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire for demographic variables. Handgrip strength was assessed in both hands with an hydraulic dynamometer. Body composition was measured using a bioelectrical impedance device. Results 350 participants were included in the study, consisting of 65.5% (n=233) females and 33.4% (n=177) males. The mean age was 22 ± 2.09 years. The mean muscle mass was 24.4 ± 6.9 kg, and the mean fat mass was 22.0 ± 12.9 kg. The visceral fat value was 8.0 ± 3.1 points. The mean handgrip strength for males was 39.6 ± 8.07 kg in the right arm and 38.5 ± 8.07 kg in the left hand, and for females, was 23.0 ±5.57 kg in the right arm and 22.0 ± 5.84 kg in the left arm. Muscle mass positively correlated with handgrip strength in both sexes and both hands, with Rho = 0.813 (p<0.001) for the right arm and Rho = 0.798 (p<0.001) for the left arm. Conclusions We established reference values for handgrip strength and body composition in healthy young Ecuadorian adults, showing handgrip strength’s positive association with muscle mass and anthropometric variables.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Unlocking the potential: very-low-energy ketogenic therapy in obesity-related disorders
(Informa UK Limited, 2025-01-16)
Daniel Simancas-Racines
;
Claudia Reytor-González
;
ZAMBRANO ESPINOSA, ANA KARINA
;
Giuseppe Annunziata
;
Angelo Michele Carella
The Very Low-Energy Ketogenic Therapy (VLEKT) is a structured, multi-phase dietary regimen characterized by a carbohydrate intake of less than 50 g/day and a daily caloric intake of fewer than 800 kcal, which induces ketosis and facilitates significant weight loss. Evidence suggests that this nutritional therapy can improve glycemic control, lipid profiles, and blood pressure, making it a promising option for managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and reducing cardiovascular risk. These benefits are achieved through reductions in triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), alongside increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). However, the effects of the VLEKT on lipid metabolism remain controversial. The review emphasizes the urgent need for further research to validate the long-term safety and efficacy of the VLEKT. It also highlights the critical role of personalized dietary plans, supervised by healthcare professionals, to optimize health outcomes and address individual patient needs.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Mediterranean diet and breast cancer: A narrative review
(Medwave Estudios Limitada, 2025-03-04)
Claudia Reytor-González
;
ZAMBRANO ESPINOSA, ANA KARINA
;
Evelyn Frias-Toral
;
Martín Campuzano-Donoso
;
Daniel Simancas-Racines
Breast cancer is the second most common neoplasm and the deadliest among women worldwide. Its incidence varies according to human development and is associated with several risk factors, including age, genetic factors, obesity, and dietary habits. Recent research has revealed a significant influence of dietary habits on the onset and progression of this disease, which is why this review aims to comprehensively analyze the available literature to understand better the role played by the mediterranean diet in the development and management of breast cancer. The mediterranean diet has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, may influence gene regulation, and produce hormonal and intestinal microbiota changes, resulting in improved quality of life for breast cancer patients by alleviating symptoms such as pain, inflammation, and reducing the risk and mortality from this disease. Evidence suggests that greater adherence to the mediterranean diet reduces the risk of breast cancer, as well as an improvement in patients' quality of life and mortality. These findings underscore its potential relevance in the context of dietary patterns associated with breast cancer prevention and management, which could inform considerations for public health policies. Further research is needed to confirm these observations and to understand the underlying mechanisms better.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Innovation and bioethics in surgery: Redefining boundaries for a safe and human-centered future
(Medwave Estudios Limitada, 2025-03-06)
Evelyn Frias-Toral
;
Alex Enrique Vásconez García
;
Melannie Toral-Noristz
;
Martín Campuzano-Donoso
;
ZAMBRANO ESPINOSA, ANA KARINA
Since surgery is a complex procedure due to multiple factors, it is more difficult to rigorously evaluate innovative processes in this field than clinical trials of new drugs. Being able to carry out an adequate study design with all its corresponding implications, achieving high-quality standards for these studies, ensuring respect for patients' rights, and verifying that their principles of beneficence, minimization of the risk of harm, justice and autonomy are a challenge for many researchers and professionals involved in the surgical process. Hence, it is advantageous to have guides that guarantee the methodological quality of research on innovative surgical procedures and that these guides include the ethical aspects involved in each of their stages. This review aims to make a historical overview of what has been published on the ethical approach to surgical innovation. In addition, the ethical aspects of the stages of the IDEAL framework for surgical innovation will be explained.
Some of the metrics are blocked by your
consent settings
Preventing and Managing Pre- and Postoperative Micronutrient Deficiencies: A Vital Component of Long-Term Success in Bariatric Surgery
(MDPI AG, 2025-02-20)
REYTOR GONZÁLEZ, CLAUDIA MARÍA
;
Evelyn Frias-Toral
;
NUÑEZ VASQUEZ, CRISTINA ELIZABETH
;
PARISE VASCO, JUAN MARCOS
;
Raynier Zambrano-Villacres
Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective treatment for severe obesity and its related comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. However, the anatomical and physiological changes associated with these procedures significantly increase the risk of preoperative and postoperative micronutrient deficiencies, which can lead to severe complications such as anemia, osteoporosis, and neurological disorders. This narrative review examines the prevalence and clinical implications of micronutrient deficiencies in BS patients, as well as evidence-based strategies for their prevention and management. The most common deficiencies include iron, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, vitamin D, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, and K). Procedures with a hypoabsorptive component, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS), pose higher risks of deficiencies compared to restrictive procedures like sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Effective strategies involve the preoperative correction of deficiencies, continuous monitoring, and tailored supplementation. However, long-term adherence to supplementation tends to decrease over time, influenced by behavioral and socioeconomic factors. Hence, preventing and managing micronutrient deficiencies are crucial for the long-term success of BS. While current guidelines provide valuable recommendations, many are based on low-certainty evidence, underscoring the need for more robust studies. A multidisciplinary approach, combined with innovative strategies, such as telemedicine, can enhance adherence and achieve sustainable clinical outcomes.

CRIS

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results