Evaluation of cardiometabolic risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and obesity: Project metainflammation

• Grant number: 23/02401-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: June 05, 2023
• End date: August 04, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Carolina Nicoletti Ferreira Fino
• Grantee: Jhulia Caroline Nunes Leal da Mota
• Supervisor: J Alfredo Martinez
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Research Institute on Food & Health Sciences (IMDEA Food), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/09745-5 - Effect of methyl-donor nutrient supplementation on methylation profile of inflammatory-related genes in lupus patients with obesity: a clinical trial, BP.MS

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease, included in the class of rheumatic diseases and characterized by a series of symptoms in different systems. The mechanism of the disease is understood by the production of autoantibodies, resulting in a multisystemic immune response represented by inflammation and tissue damage. Studies show that lifestyle plays a preponderant role in the progressive prevalence of autoimmune diseases andassociations between the impact of obesity on the pathogenesis of SLE are beginning to emerge. The Mediterranean diet seems to decrease the risk of autoimmune diseases and the positive impact of this diet on inflammation and cardiometabolic health is well established. The development of studies that address the relationship between obesity, inflammation, nutrition and autoimmune diseases becomes important for understanding underlying mechanisms and designing therapeutic and nutritional strategies. The project aims to 1) characterize and assess the cardiometabolic risk ofpatients with SLE; 2) improve knowledge in patient recruitment and clinical trial data collection and 3) develop skills in bioinformatics in order to ensure better interpretation in data analysis. Patients diagnosed with SLE will be clinically evaluated by means of anthropometry with measurement of weight, height, abdominal circumference and subsequent calculation of the body mass index (BMI). The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS-14) will be applied to assess the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet.