Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Prevalence in Adults from Two Remote First Nations Communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada

Objective. To assess the prevalence rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults from two First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Methods. Body weight, height, and waist circumference as well as fasting and postprandial glucose levels following an oral glucose tolerance test were measured in 31 men and 41 women. Results. The mean age of the sample was 43 ± 13 y. The prevalence of obesity was 65.3% and was comparable between men and women. 90.3% of the individuals presented waist circumference levels greater than the thresholds associated with an increased risk of developing health problems. 26 of the 72 individuals (36.1%) were found to be type 2 diabetic. The prevalence of diabetes was not different between men and women. Conclusion. Using objective measurements, this study confirms that First Nations adults from remote communities of Canada continue to experience a disproportionately higher prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes than nonaboriginal Canadians

Dysregulation of Cytokine Response in Canadian First Nations Communities: Is There an Association with Persistent Organic Pollutant Levels?

In vitro and animal studies report that some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) trigger the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Whether POP exposure is associated with a dysregulation of cytokine response remains to be investigated in humans. We studied the strength of association between plasma POP levels and circulating cytokines as immune activation markers. Plasma levels of fourteen POPs and thirteen cytokines were measured in 39 Caucasians from a comparator sample in Québec City (Canada) and 72 First Nations individuals from two northern communities of Ontario (Canada). Caucasians showed significantly higher levels of organochlorine insecticides (β-HCH, p,p′-DDE and HCB) compared to First Nations. Conversely, First Nations showed higher levels of Mirex, Aroclor 1260, PCB 153, PCB 170, PCB 180 and PCB 187 compared to Caucasians. While there was no difference in cytokine levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-22 between groups, First Nations had significantly greater average levels of IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-17A, TNFα and TNFβ levels compared to Caucasians. Among candidate predictor variables (age, body mass index, insulin resistance and POP levels), high levels of PCBs were the only predictor accounting for a small but significant effect of observed variance (∼7%) in cytokine levels. Overall, a weak but significant association is detected between persistent organochlorine pollutant exposure and elevated cytokine levels. This finding augments the already existing information that environmental pollution is related to inflammation, a common feature of several metabolic disorders that are known to be especially prevalent in Canada's remote First Nations communities

Les édulcorants de la controverse

La littérature révèle un lien important entre la consommation de boissons sucrées et des effets néfastes sur la santé humaine, comme la prévalence de l’obésité et des maladies métaboliques. Différentes stratégies ont été adoptées par de nombreux pays afin d’inciter la population à réduire leur consommation de boissons sucrées. Les industries alimentaires ont, quant à elles, promu les substituts de sucre (ou édulcorants), les présentant comme une saine alternative qui permettrait de réduire l’apport calorique sans avoir à compromettre l’agréable goût sucré des aliments et des boissons. Toutefois, l’utilisation des substituts de sucre comme moyen de limiter ou de réduire l’apport énergétique est-elle sans conséquence pour la santé ? Cette revue vise à discuter des différents effets associés à la consommation d’édulcorants sur la santé et à élucider si leur utilisation devrait être recommandée par les professionnels de la santé à leurs patients dans le cadre de la gestion de leur poids

Les édulcorants de la controverse

La littérature révèle un lien important entre la consommation de boissons sucrées et des effets néfastes sur la santé humaine, comme la prévalence de l’obésité et des maladies métaboliques. Différentes stratégies ont été adoptées par de nombreux pays afin d’inciter la population à réduire leur consommation de boissons sucrées. Les industries alimentaires ont, quant à elles, promu les substituts de sucre (ou édulcorants), les présentant comme une saine alternative qui permettrait de réduire l’apport calorique sans avoir à compromettre l’agréable goût sucré des aliments et des boissons. Toutefois, l’utilisation des substituts de sucre comme moyen de limiter ou de réduire l’apport énergétique est-elle sans conséquence pour la santé ? Cette revue vise à discuter des différents effets associés à la consommation d’édulcorants sur la santé et à élucider si leur utilisation devrait être recommandée par les professionnels de la santé à leurs patients dans le cadre de la gestion de leur poids.</jats:p

Maximizing Acute Fat Utilization: Effects of Exercise, Food, and Individual Characteristics

In discussion of the physiological mechanisms that regulate fat metabolism, and with consideration of the metabolic stimuli that modulate substrate metabolism, the issue of how an acute state of negative lipid balance can be maximized is addressed. The regulation of lipolysis by catecholamines and insulin is reviewed, and the mechanisms of fatty acid mobilization and uptake by muscle are also briefly discussed. The implications of substrate availability and the hormonal response during physiological states such as fasting, exercise, and after food intake are also addressed, with particular regard to the influences on fatty acid mobilization and/or oxidation from eliciting these stimuli conjointly. Finally, a brief discussion is given of both the nature of exercise and the exercising individual, and how these factors influence fat metabolism during exercise. It is also a primary thrust of this paper to underline gaps in the existing literature with regard to exercise timing concerning food ingestion for maximizing acute lipid utilization. Key words: lipid balance, catecholamines, insulin, exercise, glycemic index</jats:p

Maximizing acute fat utilization : effects of exercise, food, and individual characteristics

Revue : la régulation du métabolisme lipidique. Régulation de la lipolyse par les catécholamines et l'insuline; mécanismes qui influencent la mobilisation et l'entrée des des acides gras dans le muscle; disponibilité des substrats et réponse hormonale lors du jeûne, lors de l'exercice physique et après la prise alimentaire : effets combinés sur le métabolisme des lipides; type d'exercice et différences interindividuelles influençant l'utilisation des lipides

Are Fruit Juices Healthier Than Sugar-Sweetened Beverages? A Review

Free sugars overconsumption is associated with an increased prevalence of risk factors for metabolic diseases such as the alteration of the blood lipid levels. Natural fruit juices have a free sugar composition quite similar to that of sugar-sweetened beverages. Thus, could fruit juice consumption lead to the same adverse effects on health as sweetened beverages? We attempted to answer this question by reviewing the available evidence on the health effects of both sugar-sweetened beverages and natural fruit juices. We determined that, despite the similarity of fruits juices to sugar-sweetened beverages in terms of free sugars content, it remains unclear whether they lead to the same metabolic consequences if consumed in equal dose. Important discrepancies between studies, such as type of fruit juice, dose, duration, study design, and measured outcomes, make it impossible to provide evidence-based public recommendations as to whether the consumption of fruit juices alters the blood lipid profile. More randomized controlled trials comparing the metabolic effects of fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption are needed to shape accurate public health guidelines on the variety and quantity of free sugars in our diet that would help to prevent the development of obesity and related health problems.</jats:p