ORIGINAL

 

Influence of fat intake on body composition, lipemia and glycemia of type 1 diabetics

Influencia de la ingesta de grasas en la composición corporal, respuesta inflamatoria y metabolismo de los lipidios de la glucosa en los diabéticos tipo 1

 

 

P. Mansur Leal, D. Lopes Souto, E. dos Santos Lima, M. Paes de Miranda and E. Lopes Rosado

Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Brazil.

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and body composition is important in the disease control. The nutritional intervention has relevance in the improvement of glycemia and lipemia in diabetic patients.
Aim: Evaluate the influence of fat intake on body composition, lipemia and glycemia on patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Methods: 19 patients were evaluated by anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference), body composition (fat mass, lean body mass and total body water by bioelectrical impedance) and biochemical variables, after 8 hours of fasting. Dietary assessment was performed using the dietary records for 3 days, analyzed for nutritional software DietPró 5i. The groups were formed according to the usual intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (G1 < 10% of total energy expenditure (TEE) of SFA and G2 ≥ 10% of TEE of SFA). Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS 16.0, considering p < 0.05.
Results: There was no difference in anthropometric and biochemical variables between groups, but G1 presented higher fat mass (FM) and G2 high SFA and adequate mounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) intake. The lipemia and glycemia were not affected by high SFA intake, but adequate MUFA intake may have influenced the results of these variables. No found relation between type of fat ingested and biochemistry variables.
Conclusion: Body composition can be influenced by type of fat ingested. Lipemia and glycemia were not influenced by high SFA intake, perhaps due to MUFA intake adequate.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus. Lipemia. Glycemia. Body composition. Fat intake.

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RESUMEN

Introducción: La diabetes mellitus es una enfermedad metabólica caracterizada por hiperglucemia crónica y la composición corporal es importante en el control de la enfermedad. La intervención nutricional tiene relevancia en la mejora de la glucemia y lipemia en pacientes diabéticos.
Objetivo: Evaluar la influencia de la ingesta de grasa en la composición corporal, lipemia y glucemia en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1.
Métodos: 19 pacientes fueron evaluados por parámetros antropométricos (índice de masa corporal y circunferencia de la cintura), composición corporal (masa grasa, masa corporal magra y agua corporal total por impedancia bioeléctrica) y bioquímicos, después de 8 horas de ayuno. La evaluación dietética se realizó mediante registros dietéticos de 3 días, analizados en el software nutricional DietPró 5i. Los grupos se formaron según la ingesta habitual de ácidos grasos saturados (AGS) (G1 < 10% del gasto energético total (GET) de AGS y G2 ≥ 10% del GET de AGS). El análisis estadístico se realizó en SPSS 16.0, con p < 0,05.
Resultados: No hubo diferencia en los parámetros antropométricos y bioquímicos entre los grupos, pero G1 presentó mayor masa grasa (MG) y G2 mayor ingesta de AGS y adecuada de ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (AGMI). La lipemia y glucemia no fueron afectadas por la elevada ingesta de AGS, pero la ingesta adecuada de AGMI puede influenciar en los resultados de estos parámetros. No fueron verificadas relaciones entre el tipo de grasa y los parámetros bioquímicos.
Conclusión: La composición corporal puede ser influenciada por el tipo de grasa ingerida. La lipemia y la glucemia no fueron influenciadas por la alta ingesta de AGS, tal vez debido a la adecuada ingesta de AGMI.

Palabras clave: Diabetes mellitus. Lipemia. Glucemia. Composición corporal. Ingesta de grasas.

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Abbreviations
BMI: Body mass index.
CHO: Carbohydrate.
CVD: Cardiovascular disease.
DM: Diabetes mellitus.
FM: Fat mass.
HbA1c: Glycated hemoglobin.
HDL: High-density lipoprotein.
LBM: Lean body mass.
LDL: Low-density lipoprotein.
MUFA: Monounsaturated fatty acids.
PTN: Protein.
PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acids.
SFA: Saturated fatty acids.
TBW: Total body water.
TEE: Total energy expenditure.
TG: Triglycerides.
VLDL: Very-low-density lipoprotein.
WC: Waist circumference.

 

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from inability to produce and/or secrete insulin.¹

The prevalence of DM increases every year. According to the World Health Organization (2003), the number of patients around the world was 177 million in 2000, and expects to reach 350 million in 2025.²

Chronic hyperglycemia cause lower-limb amputations, blindness, chronic kidney disease, risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is 2-4 times higher and stroke.³ Study with patients with type 1 DM and type 2 DM showed for every 1% reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations decrease in 37% the risk of the complications on DM.⁴ HbA1c concentrations above 8% indicate the average glucose have been above 200 mg/dL in 3 last months.⁵

An unfavorable lipid profile may facilitate the foam cells formation in arterial wall and, as triglycerides (TG) concentrations rise, reduced the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles become more susceptible to oxidation, a process that further enhances the development of atherogenic lesion.⁶

Anthropometric measures are important to assess the nutritional status, as help to monitor the possible changes in body composition and choice the most appropriate dietary treatment.⁷ The body composition, particularly fat mass (FM) and body fat distribution, may contribute to changes in insulin action. The visceral fat accumulation is positively related to high doses of exogenous insulin in type 1 DM.^8-9

Type 1 DM treatment must be individualized and involves insulin, glucometer, diet, physical activity, diabetes education and emotional support. The individualized diet plan aims at better glycemic control, reducing the complications associated with the hyperglycemia, lipemia and weight control.² Inadequate diet is associated with DM uncontrolled.¹⁰

The diet plan composition for diabetic patients are similar to recommended for healthy individuals, with 50 to 60% of total energy expenditure (TEE) of carbohydrate (CHO) (15 g of fiber each 1,000 kcal), 25 to 35% of fats (≤10% saturated fatty acids (SFA), < 10% of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 10 to 15% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and ≤ 200 mg/day by cholesterol) and 0,8 to 1g of protein/kg of body weight.¹

The high SFA intake is an important determinated factor of the increasing of mortality by CVD, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recomends the sequence of control of dyslipidemia in this order, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and TG.¹

Lipemia, blood glucose, weight and body composition control are important in the prognosis of patients with type 1 DM. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of type of fat intake in these variables in individuals with type 1 DM.

 

Methods

Sample

A cross-sectional study was carried with 19 patients with type 1 DM, selected on Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (6 female (31,57%) and 13 male (63,15%), aged 21,0 ± 2,0 years). We excluded of study volunteers with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m (WHO, 1995) or BMI-for-age > Z-scores + 2, smokers, alcoholic, in use of lipid-lowering or hypoglycemic drug, changes in diet along 3 months or other diseases associated with the DM. The sample was selected for convenience, and reason from fact, the results will be described without the intention of making inferences to other populations.¹¹

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital Universitario Clementino Fraga Filho (no. 050/09).

Usual dietetic intake was evaluated during three days. Anthropometric, body composition and biochemical variables were assessed, in fasting. Groups formed according with SFA intake (G1 < 10% of TEE of TEE, G2 ≥ 10% of TEE of SFA).

Biochemical assessment

Blood samples were collected after an overnight fasting of 8 hours (ADA, 2008). Cholesterol, HDL and TG levels were analyzed by automated colorimetricenzyme method. LDL (LDL = cholesterol-HDL-TG/5) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (VLDL = TG/5) was calculated.¹² Reference values adopted to define the lipid profile of atherogenic risk were TG < 150 mg/dL, cholesterol < 200 mg/dL, HDL > 35 mg/dL and LDL < 100 mg/dL.¹³

The HbA1c determination was obtained by turbi-dimetry method certified by National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program. HbA1c less than 7% are considered normal for diabetics. The serum glucose was analyzed by enzymatic colorimetric method. Values of fasting glucose recommended for diabetics from 90 to 110 mg/dL.¹

Anthropometric and body composition assessment

The weight (kg) and height (m) were used to obtain the body mass index (BMI) (WHO, 1995)¹⁴ or BMI for age (WHO, 2006).¹⁵

Waist circumference (WC) was measured at the mean point between the lower rib and the iliac crest, at the moment of minimum respiration, using a SANNY flexible metal anthropometric tape measure with a 0.1-cm scale. WC was classified according to American Heart Association¹² and International Diabetes Federation,¹⁶ adopting measurements for men and women over age 16 years > 94 cm and > 80 cm, respectively, with increased risk of metabolic complications.⁴

Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance (Biodynamics model 450), which is based on the body resistance principle to passage of electric current in tissue hydrated, to obtain the values of total body water (TBW), lean body mass (LBM) and FM considering the two-compartment model.¹⁷

Dietary assessment

Was performed using the dietary records for 3 days (2 typical and 1 atypical day) to assess usual dietary intake. All records were analyzed using the nutritional software DietPró 5i. The composition of macronutrients and energy was evaluated. TEE was calculated for equations proposed by Food and Nutrition Organization.¹⁸

Statistical analysis

The data were expressed as mean values and standard deviation. Evaluated to normality of data distribution was made by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The t-test was used for non paired analysis between group. The Pearson correlation was used to describe the relationship between dietary, anthropometric and biochemical variables.

Analysis were performed in the SPSS 16.0 (Chicago, IL) statistical software considering a significance level at p < 0.05.

 

Results

Table I shows the anthropometric and biochemical variables in G1 and G2, indicating normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m²) in both groups. There was an increased in FM in G1 (28.83 ± 19.76%), but hadn´t difference between groups. G1 presented excess body fat.¹⁷ Lipemia did not differ between groups.

 

In both groups, the usual intakes are bellow of the TEE (WHO, 1995). Was a trend to lower CHO intake in G2 (46.76 ± 6.77%), compared G1 (52.46 ± 5.41%). However, the protein intake was similar between the groups (G1 = 17.96 ± 3.29% and G2 = 17.95 ± 3.06%), characterizing a normoprotean diet¹. Fat intake in both groups was adequate (G1:26.45 ± 6.37%; G2 30.33 ± 9.06%), but G1 presented a SFA intake above recommended (≤ 10% to TEE)¹ (table II).

 

MUFA intake by G1 (6.57 ± 1.39%) was low, but in G2 (10.34 ± 3.41%) was adequated1, and presented difference between groups (p = 0.01). G2 presented high PUFA intake, compared with G1, but both groups were eating according to recommendations¹ (table II).

There were no significant relations between the total fat intake, SFA, PUFA and MUFA with anthropometric and biochemical variables except the MUFA intake were positively related to TBW (tables III and IV).

 

Discussion

Studies found that the type of fat diet is associated with obesity, independent of the amount of fat intake.^19,20 Moussavi et al. (2008)²⁰ showed that populations with lower prevalence of obesity, consumed a larger amount of MUFA, while PUFA and SFA were associated with a higher prevalence of obesity. Larson et al. (1996)²¹ observed in non-diabetic individuals, that SFA intake was positively related to FM, while PUFA intake were negatively associated with it.

Paniagua et al. (2007)²² and Puebla et al. (2003)²³ observed positive effects of the MUFA intake in weight loss. The replacement of SFA by MUFA resulted in a significant weight and FM loss in men and women. The same studies have shown that in humans there is greater PUFA oxidation compared with SFA.

In the present study, the MUFA and PUFA intake was higher in G2 compared with G1, being that MUFA intake was inadequate in G1. G2 presented high SFA intake, but also adequated MUFA intake and this may have influenced the less FM. This relationship may be associated with the unsaturated fats intake have been around the recommendations proposed by the ADA. However, Doucet et al.,²⁴ found that SFA and MUFA intake was associated with increased FM.

In our study was observed the positively association between MUFA and TBW, suggesting influence the type of fat dietary on body composition, whereas the TBW is inversely proportional to the FM.

HbA1c values in both the groups indicate risk for diabetic complications1 According to Delahanty et al. (2009),²⁵ a high fat and SFA intake, and lower CHO intake was associated with a poor glycemic control in type 1 DM. In nondiabetic individuals the SFA intake was associated with increase HbA1C values.²⁶ In the present study SFA intake did not influenced in HbA1C.

Dietary recommendations for patients with DM are similar to recommendations for non-diabetic subjects. However, in order to prevent CVD is necessary reduce SFA intake. The type of fat ingested is more important than the total amount in relation to risk of CVD.^27,28 However, this relationship between SFA intake and increase LDL concentrations was not observed in our study. There were no difference in lipemia between groups.

It is suggested that patients with type 1 DM should be encouraged to adjust their diet in order to reduce the complications of the disease. Methods of assessing food intake must be constantly used to detect failure in diet and anthropometric and biochemical markers, that are important in monitoring the patient and to evaluate the response to nutritional therapy.

The type of fat ingested influence the body composition, but dos not affect lipemia and glycemia. The adequate MUFA intake may match the high SFA intake.

 

References

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Correspondence:
Priscila Mansur Leal.
Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro.
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil.
E-mail: priscila.unirio@gmail.com

Recibido: 11-II-2010.
1^a Revisión: 8-X-2010.
Aceptado: 4-III-2011.