lactoferrin and Weight-Loss

Myelofibrosis (MF) is characterized by shortened survival and a greatly compromised quality of life. Weight loss and cachexia seem to be the most important factors influencing survival in patients with MF. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an integrated supportive therapy in improving cachexia and MF-related symptoms.. We reported on a case of a patient with MF who presented with weight loss and cachexia associated with severe anemia, fatigue, fever, and bone pain. The circulating levels of inflammatory, oxidative stress parameters, hepcidin, and erythropoietin were evaluated and were above normal ranges. The patient was treated with a multitargeted approach specifically developed for cachexia including oral l-carnitine, celecoxib, curcumin, lactoferrin, and subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO)-α.. Surprisingly, after 1 y, cachexia features improved, all MF symptoms were in remission, and inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters, hepcidin, and EPO were reduced.. Because our protocol was targeted at inflammation and the metabolic state, its effectiveness may emphasize the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of MF symptoms and demonstrates a need for the study of new integrated therapeutic strategies.

Topics: Anemia; C-Reactive Protein; Cachexia; Carnitine; Celecoxib; Curcumin; Erythropoietin; Fatigue; Ferritins; Fever; Hepcidins; Humans; Interleukin-6; Iron; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Patient Compliance; Primary Myelofibrosis; Quality of Life; Reactive Oxygen Species; Recombinant Proteins; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Weight Loss

The aim of this study was to investigate the cumulative effects of prolonged, intensive training and rapid weight loss on immunological parameters and antioxidation activity of elite male Taiwanese taekwondo athletes.. 16 Elite male taekwondo athletes (mean age, 21.6 (1.3) years; mean height, 173.7 (5.5) cm) volunteered to participate in this study. Beginning at 30 days before a national competition, saliva samples were obtained during a 7-week training, the competition and the postcompetition period. Levels of salivary IgA, cortisol, lactoferrin and free-radical scavenging activity were measured at 30-, 14-, 7- and 1-day precompetition and 1-, 7- and 19-day postcompetition. Body weight and body fat were also recorded.. The mean body weight was notably decreased during the week immediately before the competition. Results reveal that the levels of salivary IgA were differentially regulated during the training, competition and recovery period, while the salivary cortisol and lactoferrin concentrations and free-radical scavenging activity were not appreciably affected during the training and the competition period. Furthermore, the results of an upper respiratory tract infection incidence indicate that following the decreases of mucosal immunity, the risk of acquiring infection was significantly increased.. Our results demonstrated that mucosal immunity in elite male taekwondo athletes is modulated by exercise and rapid weight reduction during the training, competition and recovery period. Cumulative effects of prolonged intensive training and rapid weight reduction suppressed mucosal immunity. Furthermore, because of the "open window" of impaired immunity during the precompetition period, the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection was significantly increased after the competition.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Antioxidants; Body Mass Index; Exercise; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Immunity, Mucosal; Immunoglobulin A; Lactoferrin; Male; Martial Arts; Saliva; Taiwan; Urinary Tract Infections; Weight Loss; Young Adult

Long-term care facilities (LTCF) residents have been estimated to have the highest incidence of diarrheal illness among adults living in the developed world. This study describes undiagnosed diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, and Clostridium difficile colonization in a LTC population and explores whether these are associated with functional decline, as defined by weight loss or a change in cognitive or ADL status.. An observational study of a convenience sampling of residents in a 180-bed LTCF was obtained; evaluation of stool and medical records was done. Stool specimens were evaluated for consistency, gross blood, inflammation (via quantitative fecal lactoferrin, IBD-SCAN), and C difficile (via PCR for gdh). SPSS and STATA were used and significance was set at P < .05.. There were 46 stools collected; 13 of the subjects were male, 28 were older than 65 years, and 35 were prescribed 5 to 15 medications. Twenty-six of the 46 stools collected had elevated quantitative fecal lactoferrin levels. Although only 5 subjects were reported to have diarrhea (4 with elevated lactoferrin), 28 stool specimens were observed to be liquid or semi-solid (19 with elevated lactoferrin), and these liquid/ semisolid stools were significantly correlated with lactoferrin positivity (P = .017). In analysis of functional status, there was no statistically significant association between change in ADL (n = 17) or cognitive status (n = 5) and elevated lactoferrin. However, all 3 subjects who had significant weight loss had elevated lactoferrin, although the mean fecal lactoferrin was not statistically different from those without weight loss. Of the 2 samples with C difficile, both were liquid and, when compared with all other liquid stools (n = 22), the mean lactoferrin was statistically higher (134.1 versus 28.8 microg/mL, P = .008). These 2 subjects had neither weight loss nor change in cognitive status, but 1 had a change in ADL status.. Diarrhea in LTCF residents is underdiagnosed. Diarrhea and the presence of C difficile in the stool are associated with intestinal inflammation, as detected by fecal lactoferrin. With our small numbers, we were not able to identify a specific link; however, we were able to identify a correlation between weight loss and intestinal inflammation, but, with just 2 samples, not C difficile colonization. This relationship highlights the importance of larger studies to further examine the rate of diarrhea in LTCF; the effect of diarrhea and intestinal inflammation on weight loss; and the interaction of C difficile colonization with weight loss, malnutrition, and functional decline.

Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Clostridioides difficile; Diarrhea; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Medical Audit; Middle Aged; Observation; Residential Facilities; Virginia; Weight Loss

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of different whey protein-containing high-Ca diets on weight loss and weight regain in a model of diet-induced obesity. Obesity was induced in C57BL/6J mice with a high-fat (60 % of energy) diet. Weight loss by energy restriction was performed on four different high-Ca diets (1.8 % CaCO3) containing different whey proteins (18 % of energy): alpha-lactalbumin (ALA), beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), lactoferrin (LF) and whey protein isolate (WPI). After 7 weeks of energy restriction some of the mice were killed and the rest were fed with the same diets ad libitum for 7 weeks. The mice on the LF diet lost significantly more weight than mice on the WPI diet. The body fat content in the ALA and LF groups was significantly lower than in the WPI group (P < 0.05) and the LF group differed significantly even from the BLG group (P < 0.05). Ad libitum feeding after weight loss resulted in weight regain in all groups and only the ALA diet significantly reduced fat accumulation during weight regain. The weight regain was most pronounced in the LF group, but the adipocyte size was still significantly smaller than in the other groups. There were no differences in food intake or apparent fat digestibility between the groups. It can be concluded that a high-Ca diet with ALA significantly improves the outcome of weight loss and subsequent weight regain during the feeding of a high-fat diet in C57BL/6J mice, in comparison with WPI.

Topics: Adipocytes; Animals; Blood Glucose; Calcium; Calcium, Dietary; Cell Size; Dietary Fats; Energy Intake; Feces; Lactalbumin; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Milk Proteins; Models, Animal; Obesity; Treatment Outcome; Weight Loss; Whey Proteins

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Breast Feeding; Colonic Neoplasms; Depression, Chemical; Diarrhea, Infantile; Endotoxins; Female; Humans; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Infant, Newborn; Interleukin-6; Lactoferrin; Lipopolysaccharides; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Milk, Human; Pregnancy; Spleen; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Weight Loss