Energy balance and sleep characteristics

Recent data from epidemiological studies suggest a role for sleep in the development of obesity. The evidence supports an inverse relationship between sleep duration and body mass index; however, there have been only a few experimental studies that have addressed this connection. This study used electroencephalography to monitor sleep while subjects spent 48 hours in a respiratory chamber on two occasions in order to determine the relationships between energy balance, slow wave sleep, or rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep. The researchers found that a positive energy balance due to overeating was explained by a smaller amount of slow wave sleep and higher amount of REM sleep. These associations were mediated by hunger, fullness, State Trait Anxiety Index-state scores, glucose/insulin ratio and ghrelin and cortisol concentrations.

Effects of niacin and omega-3 fatty acids on metabolic syndrome risk
Elevated triglycerides (TG) and reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are two of the three most prevalent factors in the metabolic syndrome. Although diet and exercise can improve these parameters, pharmacotherapy is often needed to normalize the values. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 metabolic syndrome subjects who completed 16 weeks of treatment. Subjects were assigned to one of four treatments, which included dual placebo, prescription omega-3 fatty acids (P-OM3, 4g/day), extended-release niacin (ERN,2 g/day), or combination of the two in a double-blind trial. The authors found that combination therapy with ERN and POM-3 produced additive effects on serum TG and on HDL and LDL size and buoyancy. These changes are consistent with a decrease in risk for coronary events.

Sugar-sweetened vs. sugar-free beverages: Effect on weight gain in children
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may cause excessive weight gain; however, well conducted studies proving this link are lacking. The DRINK study (Double-blind, Randomized Intervention Study in Kids) aimed to directly examine the effect on weight gain of replacement of sugar-sweetened beverages with non-caloric, artificially sweetened beverages in school-age children. The authors conducted an 18-month trial involving 641 primarily normal-weight children who were given either (8 oz.) per day of a sugar-free, artificially sweetened beverage or a similar sugar-containing beverage that provided 104 kcal. Replacement of a sugar-containing beverages with sugar-free beverages significantly reduced weight gain and body fat gain in healthy children, suggesting that curtailing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages could help to reduce weight gain in children.