Abstract Background: Malnutrition is associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Thus, it is essential to apply reliable indicators to assess the nutritional status of these individuals. Objective: To evaluate the thickness of the adductor pollicis muscle (APM) in patients with HF as an indicator of somatic protein status and correlate the obtained values with conventionally used parameters and electrical bioimpedance (EBI) markers. Methods: Cross-sectional study with patients with HF undergoing regular outpatient treatment. APM thickness was measured in the dominant arm, and the values obtained were classified according to gender and age. The anthropometric parameters assessed included the body mass index (BMI) and specific parameters to assess the muscle (arm muscle circumference [AMC] and arm muscle area [AMA]). Values of phase angle (PA), standard PA (SPA), and lean mass were obtained by EBI. Statistical analyses were performed with the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 19, using unpaired Student’s t, Mann-Whitney, or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests for comparisons between groups, as appropriate. The correlation between variables of interest was performed using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficient, as adequate. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results: About 70% of the 74 patients evaluated were classified as malnourished according to the APM thickness. Values of AMC, AMA, and lean mass correlated positively with APM thickness (p < 0.005). The APM thickness also correlated positively with PA and SPA (r = 0.49, p < 0.001 and r = 0.31, p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: Patients with HF presented a high frequency of protein malnutrition when APM thickness was used as an indicator of nutritional status. APM thickness values correlated with conventional measures of somatic protein evaluation and may be related to the prognosis of these patients, since they correlated positively with PA and SPA.

Introduction: Fructose intake has increased dramatically in consequence of the consumption of fructose-based sweetened foods and beverages. Research suggests that high fructose intake has a strong association with uric acid (UA) levels and worse prognosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of fructose intake on plasma UA levels in nondialysis-dependent CKD patients. Methods: Fifty-two patients on stages 3-5 (64.2 ± 9.6 years, 24 men, glomerular filtration rate of 30.5 ± 10.3ml/ min) were divided into two groups: high fructose intake (>50g/d, n=29, 61.7 ± 9.3years) and low fructose intake (<50g/d, n=23, 65.8 ± 9.7years). Blood samples were collected to determine lipid profile and plasma levels of UA, inflammatory (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP)) and cardiovascular markers (monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)). The energy, protein and fructose intake was estimated using 3-day 24-hour food recall. Results: High fructose intake was observed in 55.8% of patients and the mean UA levels were 7.7 ± 1.3 and 6.2 ± 1.6mg/dl in patients with high and low fructose intake, respectively (p<0.05). According to the regression analysis, fructose intake was the only variable able to affect the AU levels (ß=0.42, p=0.016) after adjustment for gender, BMI, energy and protein intake, cardiovascular markers and lipid profile. Conclusions: These findings support a potential role for fructose in hyperuricemia in these patients.

Introducción: El consumo de fructosa ha aumentado dramáticamente en consecuencia del consumo de alimentos y bebidas azucaradas a base de fructosa. Pesquisas sugieren que el alto consumo de fructosa tiene una fuerte asociación con niveles de ácido úrico (AU) y empeora el pronóstico de la enfermedad renal crónica (ERC). Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la influencia del consumo de fructosa en los niveles plasmáticos de ácido úrico en pacientes con ERC que no son dependiente de diálisis. Métodos: Cincuenta y dos pacientes en fases 3-5 (64,2±9,6 años, 24 hombres, tasa de filtración glomerular de 30,5±10,3ml/min) se dividieron en dos grupos: alto consumo de fructosa (>50g/día, n=29, 61,7±9,3 años) y bajo consumo de fructosa (<50g/día, n=23, 65,8±9,7 años). Muestras de sangre fueron recogidas para determinación del perfil lipídico y niveles plasmáticos de AU, citocinas inflamatorias (interleucina-6 (IL-6), factor de necrosis tumoral-α (TNF-α), proteína C-reactiva (CRP)), y marcadores cardiovasculares (proteína quimiotáctica de monocitos-1 (MCP-1), molécula de adhesión inter-celular-1 (ICAM-1) y molécula de adhesión vascular-1 (VCAM-1)). El consumo de energía, proteína y fructosa fue estimulado utilizando 3 días de recordatorio alimentar de 24 horas. Resultados: El alto consumo de fructosa fue observado en el 55,8% de los pacientes y los niveles medios de AU fueron 7,7±1,3 y 6,2±1,6mg/dl en pacientes con alto y bajo consumo de fructosa, respectivamente (p<0,05). De acuerdo con el análisis de regresión, el consumo de fructosa fue la única variable capaz de afectar los niveles de AU (b=0,42, p=0,016) después del ajuste para el género, composición corporal, energía y proteína, marcadores cardiovasculares y el perfil lipídico. Conclusiones: Estos resultados apoyan un papel potencial de la fructosa ocasionando la hiperuricemia en estos pacientes.

Introdução: Polifenóis contidos em fontes naturais, como as uvas, têm sido considerados agentes farmacológicos no combate ao estresse oxidativo e inflamação, condições comuns na Doença Renal Crônica. Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de farinha de uva sobre marcadores inflamatórios e antioxidantes em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise (HD). Métodos: Estudo randomizado, duplo-cego, placebocontrolado, no qual foram avaliados pacientes não diabéticos em HD que receberam farinha de uva (500 mg de polifenóis/dia) (n = 16, 9 homens, 53,0 ± 9,8 anos, 111,6 ± 58,2 meses em HD) ou placebo (n = 16, 9 homens, 52,7 ± 13,7 anos, 110,4 ± 93,1 meses em HD) por cinco semanas. A atividade da glutationa peroxidase (GSH-Px) e os níveis plasmáticos de proteína C-reativa (PCR) foram mensurados por meio do método ELISA. Resultados: Após o período de intervenção, os pacientes que receberam farinha de uva apresentaram elevação na atividade da GSH-Px (16,5 (41,0) para 42,0 (43,3) nmol/min/ml) (p < 0,05) e não foi observada elevação nos níveis de PCR, como visto no grupo placebo (2,6 (0,28) para 2,8 (0,23) mg/L) (p < 0,05). Conclusão: O uso da farinha de uva como fonte de polifenóis pode desempenhar um importante papel anti-inflamatório e antioxidante em pacientes não diabéticos submetidos à HD.

Introduction: Polyphenols contained in natural sources such as grapes, have been considered pharmacological agents to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, common features in Chronic Kidney Disease patients. Objective: To evaluate the effects of grape powder supplementation on inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: The double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial evaluated non-diabetic HD patients that received grape powder (500 mg of polyphenols/day) (n = 16, 9 men, 53.0 ± 9.8 years of age, 111.6 ± 58.2 HD months) or placebo (n = 16, 9 men, 52.7 ± 13.7 years of age, 110.4 ± 93.1 HD months) for five weeks. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were evaluated by ELISA method. Results: After the intervention period, the patients receiving grape powder showed an increase in the GSH-Px activity (16.5 (41.0) to 42.0 (43.3) nmol/min/ml) (p < 0.05) and they did not have the CRP levels increased as seen in placebo group (2.6 (0.28) to 2.8 (0.23 mg/L) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of grape powder as phenolic source could play an important role as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in non-diabetic HD patients.

A acidose metabólica é uma das complicações da doença renal crônica e está associada ao aumento do catabolismo protéico, à diminuição da síntese de proteínas e ao balanço nitrogenado negativo. A dieta tem forte influência sobre a geração de ácidos, podendo contribuir, portanto, para determinar a gravidade da acidose no paciente com doença renal crônica. Alguns pesquisadores têm observado que é possível estimar a excreção ácida renal, e que o cálculo dessa carga ácida a partir de alguns componentes da dieta, permitiria uma predição apropriada dos efeitos da dieta na acidose metabólica. Este artigo é uma comunicação sobre as bases fisiológicas, bem como as implicações clínicas da acidose em pacientes com doença renal crônica e a influência da dieta no balanço ácido-básico desses pacientes.

Metabolic acidosis is a common manifestation of chronic kidney disease and is associated with increased protein catabolism, decreased protein synthesis and negative nitrogen balance. Diet strongly influences acid generation, determining the level of acidosis in chronic kidney disease patients. Some researchers have observed that it is possible to estimate renal net acid excretion, and the analysis of the renal acid load of selected, frequently consumed foods may allow an appropriate prediction of the effects of diet on metabolic acidosis. This article discusses the physiological bases as well as the clinical implications of acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease and the influence of the diet on the acid-base balance of these patients.