What Is the Profile of Overweight Individuals Who Are Unsuccessful Responders to a Low-Energy Diet? A PREVIEW Sub-study

This study was performed to evaluate the profile of overweight individuals with pre-diabetes enrolled in PREVIEW who were unable to achieve a body weight loss of ≥8% of the baseline value in response to a 2-month low-energy diet (LED). Their baseline profile reflected potential stress-related vulnerability that predicted a reduced response of body weight to a LED programme. The mean daily energy deficit maintained by unsuccessful weight responders of both sexes was less than the estimated level in successful female (656 vs. 1,299 kcal, p < 0.01) and male (815 vs. 1,659 kcal, p < 0.01) responders. Despite this smaller energy deficit, unsuccessful responders displayed less favorable changes in susceptibility to hunger and appetite sensations. They also did not benefit from the intervention regarding the ability to improve sleep quality. In summary, these results show that some individuals display a behavioral vulnerability which may reduce the ability to lose weight in response to a diet-based weight loss program. They also suggest that this vulnerability may be accentuated by a prolonged diet restriction.

Application of logistic model to predict egg production pattern of quails given a low-energy diet supplemented with methionine

Tropical countries such as Indonesia face high temperatures, which impact the energy utilization in poultry. This study aims to predict the egg production pattern of quail supplemented with methionine in a low-energy diet. In total, 204 laying quails were divided into two treatments: Control (T0) and 0.12% methionine supplementation (T1). After three weeks adaptation period, daily egg production data were collected for two periods of four weeks each (treatment period week 4-11). The t-test was applied to analyze the egg production data. Egg production patterns were predicted using logistic regression. The egg production pattern of T1 showed a significant increase compared to T0 during the treatment period (p<0.01) and overall period (p<0.01). Peak production from T0 and T1 was 59.14% vs. 66.82%, with a production rate of 0.22 vs. 0.18 and prediction accuracy of 91% vs. 86%, respectively. In conclusion, methionine supplementation to a low-energy diet increased egg production of quails.

Effects of a Combination of Lysolecithin, Synthetic Emulsifier, and Monoglycerides on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, and Selected Carcass Traits in Broilers Fed Low-Energy Diets

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing a combination of lysolecithin, synthetic emulsifier, and monoglycerides (LEX) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, and selected carcass traits in broilers fed low-energy diets without added oil. Three hundred one-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) broilers (40.3 ± 3.3 g) were assigned to two dietary treatments with six replicates of 25 birds each and were fed a control low-energy diet without added oil supplemented with 0 and 250 g/t of LEX for 30 days. Growth performance was measured and recorded throughout the study. At slaughter, 60 birds per treatment were used to assess the effect of LEX on the carcass traits. Final average body weight and feed conversion ratio were improved (p < 0.05) in LEX treated birds compared to control. LEX supplementation was linked to higher (p < 0.05) carcass weight and yield and to lower (p < 0.05) abdominal fat and liver weight. Moisture content was higher (p < 0.05) in ground deboned broilers from LEX treatment. Villus height was increased (p < 0.05), and crypt depth reduced (p < 0.05) in the jejunum of birds treated with LEX. This study demonstrates that supplementation of LEX to a low-energy diet without added oil improved performance, carcass weight and yield, reduced abdominal fat deposition, and improved intestinal morphology in broiler chickens.

Lower Interstitial Glucose Concentrations but Higher Glucose Variability during Low-Energy Diet Compared to Regular Diet—An Observational Study in Females with Obesity

This is an observational study of interstitial glucose (IG) concentrations, IG variability and dietary intake under free-living conditions in 46 females with obesity but without diabetes. We used continuous glucose monitoring, open-ended food recording and step monitoring during regular dietary intake followed by a low-energy diet (LED). Thirty-nine participants completed both study periods. The mean BMI at baseline was 43.6 ± 6.2 kg/m2. Three weeks of LED resulted in a mean weight loss of 5.2% with a significant reduction in diurnal IG concentration but with greater glycemic variability observed during LED. The mean 24 h IG concentration decreased from 5.8 ± 0.5 mmol/L during the regular diet period to 5.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L (p < 0.001) during LED, while the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion increased from 1.5 ± 0.7 to 1.7 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p = 0.031). The positive incremental area under the curve at breakfast was significantly larger for LED compared to regular diet. The daily fiber intake and the glycemic index of breakfast meals were significantly associated with the glycemic variability during regular dietary intake. In conclusion, the 24 h mean IG concentration was lower but with more pronounced glycemic variability during LED compared to a regular diet.

TIMER: A Clinical Study of Energy Restriction in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Medical nutrition therapy is an integral part of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) management; however, the prescription of optimal energy intake is often a difficult task due to the limited available evidence. The present pilot, feasibility, parallel, open-label and non-randomized study aimed to evaluate the effect of a very low energy diet (VLED, 1600 kcal/day), or a low energy diet (LED, 1800 kcal/day), with or without personalized exercise sessions, among women with GDM in singleton pregnancies. A total of 43 women were allocated to one of four interventions at GDM diagnosis: (1) VLED (n = 15), (2) VLED + exercise (n = 4), (3) LED (n = 16) or (4) LED + exercise (n = 8). Primary outcomes were gestational weight gain (GWG), infant birth weight, complications at delivery and a composite outcomes score. Secondary outcomes included type of delivery, prematurity, small- for-gestational-age (SGA) or large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants, macrosomia, Apgar score, insulin use, depression, respiratory quotient (RQ), resting metabolic rate (RMR) and middle-upper arm circumference (MUAC). GWG differed between intervention groups (LED median: 12.0 kg; VLED: 5.9 kg). No differences were noted in the type of delivery, infant birth weight, composite score, prevalence of prematurity, depression, RQ, Apgar score, MUAC, or insulin use among the four groups. Regarding components of the composite score, most infants (88.4%) were appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and born at a gestational age of 37–42 weeks (95.3%). With respect to the mothers, 9.3% experienced complications at delivery, with the majority being allocated at the VLED + exercise arm (p < 0.03). The composite score was low (range 0–2.5) for all mother-infant pairs, indicating a “risk-free” pregnancy outcome. The results indicate that adherence to a LED or VLED induces similar maternal, infant and obstetrics outcomes.

Factors associated with engagement and adherence to a low-energy diet to promote 10% weight loss in patients with clinically significant non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

ObjectiveClinical guidelines recommend weight loss to manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the majority of patients find weight loss a significant challenge. We identified factors associated with engagement and adherence to a low-energy diet (LED) as a treatment option for NAFLD.Design23 patients with NAFLD enrolled in a LED (~800 kcal/day) were individually interviewed. Transcripts were thematically analysed.Results14/23 patients achieved ≥10% weight loss, 18/23 achieved ≥7% weight loss and 19/23 achieved ≥5% weight loss. Six themes were generated from the data. A desire to achieve rapid weight loss to improve liver health and prevent disease progression was the most salient facilitator to engagement. Early and significant weight loss, accountability to clinicians and regular appointments with personalised feedback were facilitators to engagement and adherence. The desire to receive positive reinforcement from a consultant was a frequently reported facilitator to adherence. Practical and emotional support from friends and family members was critically important outside of the clinical setting. Irregular working patterns preventing attendance at appointments was a barrier to adherence and completion of the intervention.ConclusionsEngagement and adherence to a LED in patients with NAFLD were encouraged by early and rapid weight loss, personalised feedback and positive reinforcement in the clinical setting combined with ongoing support from friends and family members. Findings support those identified in patients who completed a LED to achieve type 2 diabetes remission and highlight the importance of behaviour change support during the early stages of a LED to promote adherence.

DIETS AND DIETARY INGREDIENTS SELECTION BY BROILER CHICKEN: EFFECTS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY AND ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION

A total of 90day – old Hypeco broiler chicks were used in a choice-feeding trial to investigate whether meat-type chicken could select adequate nutrients that would support fast growth rate from a choice of imbalanced diet and feed ingredients. Three diets were used: a control diet (diet A= 200g/kg CP, 3031 kcal/kg ME) and two test diets; a low protein, high-energy diet (diet B=166g/kgCP, 3021 kcal/kg ME) and a low-protein, low-energy diet (diet C=168g/kgCP, 2838 kcal/kg ME). The diets were fed singly. The test diets were also used in a choice-feeding with ground maize and soya-bean meal (SBM). The study lasted for 5weeks and the response criteria included growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics, and economics of production. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P < 0.01) and (P < 0.001 respectively) influenced. Birds on the control diets had the highest weight gain and best feed conversion ratio. Birds on the low-protein, high-energy diet had performances not significantly (P > 0.05) lower than the control. The low-protein, low-energy diet depressed performance. Feeding the imbalanced diets (diets B and C) singly produced better performances than feeding them with a choice of dietary ingredients. Birds exhibited selection potentials by selecting the ground maize and SBM to compensate for deficiencies in the imbalanced diets but not at a level adequate enough to improve performances. Only the relative chest weight was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced amongst the carcass and organ weights measured. It decreased with decreasing feed quality. Economics of production showed that low quality and cheaper priced feeds do not necessarily give higher income and profit. The benefits of feeding single balanced diets and the possibility of decreasing the protein content of broiler finisher diets without compromising profits were revealed. It was suggested that broiler chicken appeared to select nutrients for maximize economic performance and that feed quality control should be enforced.