Diferencias en antioxidantes plasmáticos según nivel socioeconómico en mujeres chilenas / Differences in plasma antioxidants according to socioeconomic level in chilean women

Background: Free radical-mediated oxidative damage is a known initial event in atherogenesis. Cardiovascular disease is frequent in the Chilean population showing differences in the prevalence of risk factors of the disease according to socioeconomic level (SEL). Aim: To determine levels of antioxidants and lipid peroxides in Chilean women from different SEL. Patients and methods: Blood samples were taken from 81 women for measurements of plasma ascorbic acid, ß-carotene, a-tocopherol, licopene, ubiquinol, glutathione, total plasma antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxides (TBARS). Results:Individuals in the lower SEL showed reduced levels of plasma ß-carotene, ascorbic acid, a-tocopherol, and ubiquinol compared to women in the higher SEL. There were no differences between groups in the plasma levels of glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, or TBARS. Conclusions: The results could be explained in part by the higher consumption of fruits and vegetables in women from the upper SEL

Vino y salud: estudios epidemiológicos y posibles mecanismos de los efectos protectores / Wine and health: epidemiological studies and possible mechanisms for protective effect

Epidemiological studies show that moderate alcohol consumption, particularly wine, is associated to a decreased risk of ischemic heart disease death. A series of in vitro observations also support this association. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) oxidation apparently plays a key pathogenic role. Wine contains compounds with antioxidant capacity that could account for its postulated stabilizing effect on LDL. Furthermore, in human volunteers wine increases plasma total antioxidant capacity. Other additional effects also contribute to decrease the risk of ischemic heart disease: increased HDL cholesterol, and decreased blood coagulation. In another series of observations, moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with decreased physical and mental deterioration in elderly people. However, it is still under analysis if exaggerated alcohol consumption does increase the incidence of some cancers. On the whole, the presently available evidences clearly indicate that the posittive effects associated to moderate wine or alcohol consumption, predominate over the negative effects. In fact, it seems reasonable to reassure moderate alcohol consumers that their cardiovascular death risk is lower; yet there are not enough studies to recommend moderate drinking to non-drinkers

Efecto de la preñez y la lactancia en el estado nutricional de los ácidos grasos esenciales en la rata / Effect of pregnancy and lactation in nutritional state of essential fatty acids in rats

To study the effect of pregnancy and lactation on red blood cell phospholipids percentual fatty acid composition of virgin, pregnant and lactating rats,,24 pregnant rats of 50ñ1 days of age were supplement with soy and 24 with fish oil during 21 days. Twelve rats of each group were sacrificed after 18 days of lactation, 24 non pregnant rats received soy oil and acted as controls of pregnant and lactating rats. Red blood cell phospholipid fatty acid composition was analized by gas chromatography. The percentage of total w-6 fatty acids of red blood cell phospholipid was 37.8ñ5.9, 32,6ñ0.6 and 38.3ñ3.5 percent in non pregnant, pregnant and lactating rats respectively (p<0.001). The figures for total w-3 fatty acids were 6.33ñ1.52, 4,31ñ0.39 and 2.7ñ0.46 respectively (p<0.001). There was no change in eicosatrienoic fatty acid percentage. Supplementation with fish oil reverted the decrease in w-6 and w-3 fatty acid percentage of pregnant and lactating rats. In conclusion, pregnancy and lactation decrease the capacity to transform precursors of essential fatty acids in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids