Zoe Pafili - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Zoe Pafili

Research paper thumbnail of What the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Us: Limited Time Resources as an Important Factor of Diabetes Management

Kompass Nutrition & Dietetics, 2020

COVID-19 related restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus result in changes in... more COVID-19 related restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus result in changes in daily routines and physical activity which can have a negative effect on eating and health habits. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with diabetes and their nutrition and health behaviours. A survey conducted in July 2020 included 124 individuals with type 1 (n = 90) and 2 (n = 34) diabetes mellitus from Poland. To assess nutritional and health behaviours, an online questionnaire covering basic information, anthropometric data, and details regarding physical activity, eating, and hygiene habits was used. Almost 40% of all respondents with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) stated that their disease self-management had significantly improved. Over 60% of all participants declared that they had started eating more nutritious and regular meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhanced hygiene, in particular, during the period, a statistically ...

Research paper thumbnail of Age and Frailty as Key Determinants for Nutritional Therapy Individualization in Elderly Adults with Diabetes

Kompass Nutrition & Dietetics, 2021

The increasing prevalence of older adults with diabetes has become a major social burden. Diabete... more The increasing prevalence of older adults with diabetes has become a major social burden. Diabetes, frailty, and cognitive dysfunction are closely related to the mechanisms of aging. Insulin resistance, arteriosclerosis, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction may be common mechanisms shared by frailty and cognitive impairment. Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, obesity, vascular factors, physical inactivity, and malnutrition are important risk factors for cognitive impairment and frailty in older adults with diabetes. The impact of nutrients on health outcomes varies with age; thus, shifting diet therapy strategies from the treatment of obesity/metabolic syndrome to frailty prevention may be necessary in patients with diabetes who are over 75 years of age, have frailty or sarcopenia, and experience malnutrition. For the prevention of frailty, optimal energy intake, sufficient protein and vitamin intake, and healthy dietary patterns should be recommended. The...

Research paper thumbnail of Novel trends and concepts in the nutritional management of glycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus—beyond dietary patterns: a narrative review

Hormones

A variety of eating patterns are recommended by international guidelines to help people with type... more A variety of eating patterns are recommended by international guidelines to help people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) achieve general health and glycemia goals. Apart from eating patterns, there is evidence that other approaches related to the everyday application of dietary advice, such as meal frequency, breakfast consumption, daily carbohydrate distribution, and order of food consumption during meals, have significant effects on glycemia management. The aims of this review were to examine published diabetes nutrition guidelines concerning specific recommendations with regard to the above approaches, as well as to review evidence from studies that have investigated their effect on glycemia in T2DM. The data suggest that eating breakfast regularly, consuming most carbohydrates at lunch, avoiding large dinners late at night, and applying the carbohydrate-last meal pattern are effective practices towards better nutritional management of T2DM.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Two Workload-Matched High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols on Regional Body Composition and Fat Oxidation in Obese Men

Nutrients

The effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on regional body composition... more The effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on regional body composition and fat oxidation in men with obesity were compared using a parallel randomized design. Sixteen inactive males (age, 38.9 ± 7.3 years; body fat, 31.8 ± 3.9%; peak oxygen uptake, VO2peak, 30.9 ± 4.1 mL/kg/min; all mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to either HIIT10 (48 × 10 s bouts at 100% of peak power [Wpeak] with 15 s of recovery) or HIIT60 group (8 × 60 s bouts at 100% Wpeak with 90 s of recovery), and subsequently completed eight weeks of training, while maintaining the same diet. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed only a main effect of time (p < 0.01) and no group or interaction effects (p > 0.05) in the examined parameters. Total and trunk fat mass decreased by 1.81 kg (90%CI: −2.63 to −0.99 kg; p = 0.002) and 1.45 kg (90%CI: −1.95 to −0.94 kg; p < 0.001), respectively, while leg lean mass increased by 0.86 kg (90%CI: 0.63 to 1.08 kg; p < 0.001), following both HIIT pr...

Research paper thumbnail of Involvement of dietitians in diabetes care, results from a secondary care hospital in Greece

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

IntroductionAccording to diabetes care standards nutrition therapy should be an integral part of ... more IntroductionAccording to diabetes care standards nutrition therapy should be an integral part of diabetes management, and all individuals with diabetes should be referred to a registered dietitian for nutrition therapy at—or soon after—diagnosis and for ongoing follow-up. There is limited international data that indicate that a large percentage of people with diabetes have not received structured diabetes education and have not visited a dietitian. The aim of this study was to assess the involvement of dietitians in diabetes care in Greece.Materials and MethodsAll adult diabetic patients admitted to a secondary care general hospital in Greece during 30 consecutive days were included in the study. Patients admitted in the ICU, CICU, day clinics and hemodialysis patients were excluded. Data were obtained by personal interviews using a 40 item questionnaire which included 10 questions regarding number of visits to dietitians for diabetes management, whether patients were referred by th...

Research paper thumbnail of What the COVID-19 Pandemic Showed Us: Limited Time Resources as an Important Factor of Diabetes Management

Kompass Nutrition & Dietetics, 2020

COVID-19 related restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus result in changes in... more COVID-19 related restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus result in changes in daily routines and physical activity which can have a negative effect on eating and health habits. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with diabetes and their nutrition and health behaviours. A survey conducted in July 2020 included 124 individuals with type 1 (n = 90) and 2 (n = 34) diabetes mellitus from Poland. To assess nutritional and health behaviours, an online questionnaire covering basic information, anthropometric data, and details regarding physical activity, eating, and hygiene habits was used. Almost 40% of all respondents with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) stated that their disease self-management had significantly improved. Over 60% of all participants declared that they had started eating more nutritious and regular meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhanced hygiene, in particular, during the period, a statistically ...

Research paper thumbnail of Age and Frailty as Key Determinants for Nutritional Therapy Individualization in Elderly Adults with Diabetes

Kompass Nutrition & Dietetics, 2021

The increasing prevalence of older adults with diabetes has become a major social burden. Diabete... more The increasing prevalence of older adults with diabetes has become a major social burden. Diabetes, frailty, and cognitive dysfunction are closely related to the mechanisms of aging. Insulin resistance, arteriosclerosis, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction may be common mechanisms shared by frailty and cognitive impairment. Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, obesity, vascular factors, physical inactivity, and malnutrition are important risk factors for cognitive impairment and frailty in older adults with diabetes. The impact of nutrients on health outcomes varies with age; thus, shifting diet therapy strategies from the treatment of obesity/metabolic syndrome to frailty prevention may be necessary in patients with diabetes who are over 75 years of age, have frailty or sarcopenia, and experience malnutrition. For the prevention of frailty, optimal energy intake, sufficient protein and vitamin intake, and healthy dietary patterns should be recommended. The...

Research paper thumbnail of Novel trends and concepts in the nutritional management of glycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus—beyond dietary patterns: a narrative review

Hormones

A variety of eating patterns are recommended by international guidelines to help people with type... more A variety of eating patterns are recommended by international guidelines to help people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) achieve general health and glycemia goals. Apart from eating patterns, there is evidence that other approaches related to the everyday application of dietary advice, such as meal frequency, breakfast consumption, daily carbohydrate distribution, and order of food consumption during meals, have significant effects on glycemia management. The aims of this review were to examine published diabetes nutrition guidelines concerning specific recommendations with regard to the above approaches, as well as to review evidence from studies that have investigated their effect on glycemia in T2DM. The data suggest that eating breakfast regularly, consuming most carbohydrates at lunch, avoiding large dinners late at night, and applying the carbohydrate-last meal pattern are effective practices towards better nutritional management of T2DM.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Two Workload-Matched High-Intensity Interval Training Protocols on Regional Body Composition and Fat Oxidation in Obese Men

Nutrients

The effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on regional body composition... more The effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on regional body composition and fat oxidation in men with obesity were compared using a parallel randomized design. Sixteen inactive males (age, 38.9 ± 7.3 years; body fat, 31.8 ± 3.9%; peak oxygen uptake, VO2peak, 30.9 ± 4.1 mL/kg/min; all mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to either HIIT10 (48 × 10 s bouts at 100% of peak power [Wpeak] with 15 s of recovery) or HIIT60 group (8 × 60 s bouts at 100% Wpeak with 90 s of recovery), and subsequently completed eight weeks of training, while maintaining the same diet. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed only a main effect of time (p < 0.01) and no group or interaction effects (p > 0.05) in the examined parameters. Total and trunk fat mass decreased by 1.81 kg (90%CI: −2.63 to −0.99 kg; p = 0.002) and 1.45 kg (90%CI: −1.95 to −0.94 kg; p < 0.001), respectively, while leg lean mass increased by 0.86 kg (90%CI: 0.63 to 1.08 kg; p < 0.001), following both HIIT pr...

Research paper thumbnail of Involvement of dietitians in diabetes care, results from a secondary care hospital in Greece

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

IntroductionAccording to diabetes care standards nutrition therapy should be an integral part of ... more IntroductionAccording to diabetes care standards nutrition therapy should be an integral part of diabetes management, and all individuals with diabetes should be referred to a registered dietitian for nutrition therapy at—or soon after—diagnosis and for ongoing follow-up. There is limited international data that indicate that a large percentage of people with diabetes have not received structured diabetes education and have not visited a dietitian. The aim of this study was to assess the involvement of dietitians in diabetes care in Greece.Materials and MethodsAll adult diabetic patients admitted to a secondary care general hospital in Greece during 30 consecutive days were included in the study. Patients admitted in the ICU, CICU, day clinics and hemodialysis patients were excluded. Data were obtained by personal interviews using a 40 item questionnaire which included 10 questions regarding number of visits to dietitians for diabetes management, whether patients were referred by th...