The cardiovascular complications of diabetes: a striking link through protein glycation.

Diabetes mellitus is a predominant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. One of its serious health problems is cardiovascular complications. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a group of heterogeneous toxic oxidant compounds that are formed after a non-enzymatic reaction between monosaccharides and free amino groups of proteins, compound lipids, and nucleic acids. AGE interacts with various types of cells through a receptor for AGE (RAGE). The interaction between AGE and RAGE is responsible for a cascade of inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of calcium homeostasis in cardiac cells of diabetic patients. There is striking evidence that the AGE/RAGE axis with its consequences on inflammation and oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular complications. Therefore, considering AGE as a therapeutic target with foreseeable results would be a wise direction for future research. Interestingly, several studies on nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and natural products have begun to reveal promising therapeutic results, and this could lead to better health outcomes for many diabetic patients worldwide. This article discusses the current literature addressing the connection between protein glycation and diabetes cardiovascular complications and suggests future avenues of research.

The effect of defatted cocoa powder on cholesterol-induced changes of serum lipids in rats

INTRODUCTION: Cocoa has been known for many health benefits, but its lipid-lowering activity still remains unresolved. OBJECTIVES: To investigate effects of varying amounts of defatted cocoa on serum lipids in cholesterol-fed rats. METHODS: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four cholesterol-free (control) and four cholesterol-supplemented (experimental) diets containing 0, 1, 2 or 3% defatted cocoa (DC) and given ad libitumto the rats for ten weeks. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low- and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and VLDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were quantified, atherogenic index (AI) was calculated, and other biological parameters were assessed. RESULTS: Food intake and body weight did not respond to DC. Compared to 0% DC, 3% DC had the most prominent effect on serum lipids inducing significant fall in LDL-C and TG, and rise in TC/TG in cholesterol-deprived rats, and increase in VLDL-C and AI, and decrease in HDL-C in cholesterol-fed rats. Compared to cholesterol-deprived rats, 3% DC caused significant rise in VLDL-C, AI and TC/TG, and fall in TG in cholesterol-fed rats. This lipid-modifying effect was markedly substantiated by corresponding linear trend responses to DC. Differences in lipid variables of rats fed on DC diets were less evident. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that, in contrast to cholesterol-free situations, defatted cocoa is seemingly incapable of counteracting the atherogenic effect of cholesterol in rats, perhaps in an interaction that is likely to have clinical implications in cardiometabolic conditions.

The effect of defatted cocoa powder on cholesterol-induced changes of serum lipids in rats / El efecto del polvo de cacao desgrasado en los cambios de colesterol inducidos de los lípidos séricos en ratas

Introduction: Cocoa has been known for many health benefits, but its lipid-lowering activity still remains unresolved. Objectives: To investigate effects of varying amounts of defatted cocoa on serum lipids in cholesterol-fed rats. Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four cholesterol-free (control) and four cholesterol-supplemented (experimental) diets containing 0, 1, 2 or 3% defatted cocoa (DC) and given ad libitum to the rats for ten weeks. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low- and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and VLDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were quantified, atherogenic index (AI) was calculated, and other biological parameters were assessed. Results: Food intake and body weight did not respond to DC. Compared to 0% DC, 3% DC had the most prominent effect on serum lipids inducing significant fall in LDL-C and TG, and rise in TC/TG in cholesterol-deprived rats, and increase in VLDL-C and AI, and decrease in HDL-C in cholesterol-fed rats. Compared to cholesterol-deprived rats, 3% DC caused significant rise in VLDL-C, AI and TC/TG, and fall in TG in cholesterol-fed rats. This lipid-modifying effect was markedly substantiated by corresponding linear trend responses to DC. Differences in lipid variables of rats fed on DC diets were less evident. Conclusions: Results suggest that, in contrast to cholesterol-free situations, defatted cocoa is seemingly incapable of counteracting the atherogenic effect of cholesterol in rats, perhaps in an interaction that is likely to have clinical implications in cardiometabolic conditions (AU)

Introducción: los beneficios del cacao para la salud se conocen desde hace muchos años, pero su actividad hipolipemiante aún permanece sin resolver. Objetivos: investigar los efectos de cantidades variables de cacao desgrasado en los lípidos séricos en ratas alimentadas con colesterol. Métodos: cuarenta y ocho ratas Sprague-Dawley macho fueron asignadas aleatoriamente en cuatro dietas libres de colesterol (control) y cuatro dietas con suplemento de colesterol (experimentales) que contenían 0, 1, 2 o 3% de cacao desgrasado (CD), suministradas a las ratas ad libitum durante diez semanas. Se cuantificaron el colesterol sérico total (TC), las lipoproteínas de baja o muy baja densidad (LDL-C y VLDL-C), las lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL-C) y los triglicéridos (TG), se calculó el índice aterogénico (IA), y se evaluaron otros parámetros biológicos. Resultados: la ingesta de alimentos y el peso corporal no respondieron al CD. En comparación con el 0% de CD, la dieta con un 3% de CD tuvo el efecto más prominente en los lípidos séricos, produciendo una bajada significativa de LDL-C y TG y subida de TC/TG en ratas privadas de colesterol, y un aumento de VLDL-C y IA y descenso del HDL-C en ratas alimentadas con colesterol. En comparación con las ratas privadas de colesterol, la dieta con un 3% de CD causó un aumento significativo de VLDL-C, IA y TC/TG y un descenso de los TG en ratas alimentadas con colesterol. Este efecto modificador de los lípidos estuvo claramente reflejado en respuestas al CD de tendencia lineal. Las diferencias en las variables lipídicas de las ratas alimentadas con dietas con CD fueron menos evidentes. Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren que, en contraste con situaciones libres de colesterol, el cacao desgrasado es aparentemente incapaz de contrarrestar el efecto aterogénico del colesterol en ratas, lo que sugiere una interacción que puede tener implicaciones clínicas en las condiciones cardiometabólicas (AU)

The effect of dietary wheat bran on sucrose-induced changes of serum glucose and lipids in rats / El efecto del salvado de trigo en la dieta sobre los cambios inducidos por la sacarosa de glucosa y los lípidos en suero en ratas

Introduction: wheat bran has been known for many health benefits, but its glucose- and lipid-lowering activity still remains unresolved. Objective: to investigate effects of varying amounts of wheat bran and feeding period on serum glucose and lipids in sucrose-fed rats. Methods: eighty male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned into 4 sucrose-based diets containing either 0, 5, 10 or 20% wheat bran (WB) and given ad libitum to rats for 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks. Serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (PL) and total lipids (TL) were quantified at end of each feeding period and other biological parameters were assessed. Results: in all feeding periods, food intake showed ascending linear trend (p < 0.05), whereas body weight did not respond to WB. Compared to 0%, 10 or 20% WB induced decrease (p < 0.05) in TC (16 weeks) and HDL-C (12 or 16 weeks), whereas 5, 10 or 20% WB induced similar decrease in PL (4 or 12 weeks), TL (all periods) and glucose (4 or 8 weeks). This glucose- and lipid- lowering effect was substantiated by descending linear responses (p < 0.05) to WB. PL and TL descending responses to WB were seen in all feeding periods. TG exhibited no change with WB, but linearly responded (4 or 8 weeks). Differences in glucose or lipid variables of rats fed WB diets for all feeding periods were less evident. Conclusions: results suggest that wheat bran reduces serum glucose and lipids mainly phospholipids in sucrose fed rats in an interaction that is likely to have clinical implications in cardiometabolic conditions (AU)

Introducción: son conocidos los muchos beneficios del salvado de trigo para la salud, pero su glucosa y la actividad hipolipemiante aún sigue sin resolverse. Objetivos: investigar los efectos de cantidades variables de salvado de trigo en la alimentación sobre la glucosa en suero y los lípidos en ratas alimentadas con sacarosa. Métodos: se asignaron a ochenta ratas Sprague-Dawley macho cuatro dietas a base de sacarosa que contenían 0, 5, 10 o 20% de salvado de trigo (WB) dadas ad libitum a las ratas durante 4, 8, 12 o 16 semanas. Glucosa sérica, colesterol total (CT), colesterol de baja y alta densidad de lipoproteínas (LDL -C y HDL -C), los triglicéridos (TG), fosfolípidos (PL) y lípidos totales (TL) se cuantificaron al final de cada período de alimentación y otros parámetros biológicos se evaluaron. Resultados: en todos los períodos de alimentación, la ingesta de alimentos mostró una tendencia lineal ascendente (p < 0,05), mientras que el peso corporal no respondió a WB. En comparación con 0%, 10% o 20 inducida WB disminución (p < 0.05) en TC (16 semanas) y HDL-C (12 o 16 semanas), mientras que 5, 10 o 20% WB inducida disminución similar en PL (4 o 12 semanas), TL (todos los períodos) y glucosa (4 u 8 semanas). Este efecto de glucosa y lípidos bajar se justificó descendiendo respuestas lineales (p < 0.05) a WB. PL y TL descendente respuestas a WB se observaron en todos los períodos de alimentación. TG exhibió ningún cambio con WB, pero respondió linealmente (4 u 8 semanas). Las diferencias en la glucosa o lípidos variables de ratas alimentadas con dietas WB para todos los períodos de alimentación fueron menos evidentes. Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren que el salvado de trigo reduce la glucosa y los lípidos en suero, principalmente fosfolípidos, en ratas alimentadas con sacarosa en una interacción que puede tener implicaciones clínicas en condiciones cardiometabólicas (AU)

References of anthropometric indices of central obesity and metabolic syndrome in Jordanian men and women.

AIMS: To set references and evaluate the associations between the predictive powers of the anthropometric indices of obesity, particularly central obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHpR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR), and the risk factor accumulations of ≥ 2 of the components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in a group of Jordanian men and women. METHODS: Five hundreds subjects were randomly selected from among the visitors attending several family clinics in Amman. Obesity was assessed using BMI, WC, WHpR and WHtR anthropometric indices. MS risk factors as defined by the International Diabetes Federation were determined. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine the predictive powers and the cut off points of each index associated with increased MS risk. RESULTS: There were 212 men and 288 women with age ranged 20-85 years. Optimal cut off points of BMI, WC, WHpR for MS diagnosis in men were 28.4 kg/m(2), 97.8 cm and 0.89, respectively. In women, these were 30.3 kg/m(2), 95.6 cm and 0.84, respectively. WHtR was 0.61 in both genders. Area under the curve (AUC) of ROC analysis for identifying of MS (≥ 2 risk factors) was the highest for WHpR (AUC=0.71), followed by WHtR (AUC=0.67), WC (AUC=0.64) and BMI (AUC=0.59) in men; whereas in women WHpR, WHtR and WC were almost equal (AUC=0.76, 0.75 and 0.74, respectively), followed by BMI (AUC=0.67). Correlation coefficients (r) between WHpR and MS risk factors were the strongest among the other obesity indices, followed by WC and WHtR. WHpR correlated significantly with FBG (r=0.27, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (r=0.20, p<0.01), TGs (r=0.24, p<0.01) and HDL-C (r=-0.39, p<0.01). The respective r-values between WC and WHtR and each MS risk factors were: FBG (r=0.15, p<0.001 or r=0.13, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (r=0.16, p<0.01 or r=0.11, p<0.05), TGs (r=0.20, p<0.01 or r=0.14, p<0.01) and HDL-C (r=-0.25, p<0.01 or r=-0.11, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This study showed that BMI tended to be the weakest index for identifying MS risk factors in both sexes. WHpR exhibited the best predictive index for MS, particularly in men. Almost similar predictive powers of WHtR, WHpR and WC for identifying MS risk factors were seen in women. WHtR had the highest sensitivity for MS diagnosis among obesity indices in men and its boundary value was the same for both men and women. These cut off values of obesity particularly waist circumference should be advocated and used in Arab Jordanians until larger cross sectional studies shows different results.