Effects of dietary extra virgin olive oil on serum lipid resistance to oxidation and fatty acid composition in elderly lipidemic patients.

An inverse relation between high consumption of olive oil and low incidence of coronary heart disease among the people living in Mediterranean countries has been proposed. It has been shown, that an oleic acid-rich diet could increase the resistance of human LDL to in vitro oxidation which is postulated to play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of extra virgin olive oil consumptiom on the resistance of serum lipids to in vitro oxidation and on fatty acid composition in the serum of elderly lipidemic patients. A total of 26 patients (mean age 69 years) with combined hyperlipidemia consumed daily 2 table spoons (approx. 20 g) of extra virgin olive oil for 6 weeks. Plasma lipids, total antioxidant capacity, indices of serum lipid oxidizability (lag time and maximal rate of oxidation) and the content of fatty acids in serum phospholipids were determined before and after dietary supplementation with olive oil. Plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased significantly after 6 weeks of dietary intervention. A significant increase in the lag time of conjugated diene formation (p = 0.026) and the decrease in the rate of lipid oxidation (p = 0.030) were observed after olive oil consumption. The changes in the fatty acid profile were characterized by an increase in oleic acid content (p = 0.005) as well as by a decline in the content of linoleic acid (p = 0.020) and arachidonic acid (p = 0.022). Linear regression analysis revealed some interesting and significant correlations between indices of serum lipid resistance to oxidation and individual fatty acids, suggesting a protective effects of olive oil in lipoprotein oxidation. In conclusion, the daily consumption of extra virgin olive oil in elderly lipidemic patients favourably affected serum lipoprotein spectrum and fatty acid composition that probably contributed to the increased resistance of serum lipids to oxidation. (Tab. 2, Ref. 18).

Supplementation with long-chain n-3 fatty acids in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients leads to the lowering of oleic acid content in serum phospholipids.

BACKGROUND: The dietary supplementation with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid; 20:5n3) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid; 22:6n3) has been recommended because of their favourable effects on the cardiovascular system (including complications of NIDDM). Oleic acid (18:1n9) from olive oil has some analogous and complementary effects. Potential competitive relations between long-chain n-3 fatty acids (FAs) and the oleic acid would therefore mean a problem. AIM OF THE STUDY: We focused primarily on the oleic acid changes in serum phospholipids (SPL) after a supplementation with EPA and DHA. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) were supplemented for 28 days with 1.7 g of EPA plus 1.15 g of DHA/day (as Maxepa capsules, Seven Seas, U. K.). After that, a 3-month wash-out control period with 21 patients followed. A fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids (SPL) was determined by capillary gas-chromatography. Values were calculated as relative percentages of all FAs. RESULTS: After the supplementation with the Maxepa capsules, there was a very strong increase in EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n3) and DHA content in SPL. It was followed by a strong decrease after the wash-out (all p < 0.0001). The oleic acid SPL content after the intervention significantly decreased from 10. 105 +/- 0.307% (mean +/- S. E. M.) to 9.082 +/- 0.276 % (p < 0.0003). During the wash-out, the change was in the opposite direction (p < 0.0001). When the intervention and the wash-out periods were taken together, changes in the oleic acid were inversely correlated with changes in EPA, docosapentaenoic acid and DHA (r = -0.729; r = -0.552; r = -0.629, respectively; p < 0.0001; n = 56). On the background of the overall n-6 FA reduction, the decline in the arachidonic acid after the supplementation (p < 0.0001) and its rise after the wash-out (p < 0.0003) were similar. There were no significant changes in the saturated FA spectrum. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with long-chain n-3 FAs in NIDDM patients leads to the lowering of oleic acid SPL content. Whereas the reduction of the arachidonic acid may have some desirable aspects (e. g. suppression of thromboxane TxA2 or 4 series leukotriene production), the decline of the former is to be regarded as a potential problem. Therefore, the search for optimally balanced blends of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) seems to be more promising than a supplementation with only one type of FA.

[Importance of certain hemostatic indicators as cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes]. / Význam niektorých hemostatických ukazovatelvov ako kardiovaskulárnych rizík u diabetikov 2. typu.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal levels of some hemostatic factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are associated with increased risk of severe cardiovascular complications. OBJECTIVES: For the purpose of clinical practice it is necessary to specify most relevant coagulation factor abnormalities pertaining to a particular patient's risk profile (e.g. diabetes duration, his/her lipoprotein profile), since a routine examination to their full extent is in common ambulatory practice hardly manageable. This information is also needed for aiming the efforts to influence them purposefully. METHODS: The investigated group included 42 out-patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Selected hemostatic factors and lipoproteins were measured with standard methods. Patients were stratified into terciles based on supposedly causative factors (diabetes duration for vWF and lipoproteins for F VII), these relations being also examined in the whole group using regression analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: vWF (antigen) plasma concentration mean value in the whole group (in % of reference plasma: 149.917; 95% CI 134.296 to 165.538) was on the upper limit of the normal value reference range (56 to 140), exceeding it distinctly in the tercile III with the longest diabetes duration (vWF mean was 180.115; 95% CI 151.961 to 208.270). The mean in this tercile was also by 42.187 (95% CI of diff. 10.231 to 74.142; sign. level 0.012) higher than in the tercile I with the shortest diabetes duration. These 2 variables significantly correlated (r = 0.345; p = 0.025) also in the whole group. F VII plasma concentration mean values in terciles III with highest triacylglycerol (TAG) or total cholesterol (TCH) serum levels (in %: 129.286, 95% CI 121.117 to 137.455 or 121.071, 95% CI 109.228 to 132.915, respectively; the normal value reference range being 70 to 130) clearly surpassed the analogous values in tercile I by 35.0 (95% CI of diff. 22.793 to 47.207; sign. level < 10(-5)) or by 26.0 (95% CI of diff. 10.815 to 41.185; sign. level 0.002), respectively. There were also positive significant correlations between lipoproteins (TAG, TCH or LDL) and F VII in the whole group (r = 0.697, r = 0.580, r = 0.397; p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.018, respectively). Therefore the estimation of vWF seems to be useful in all diabetic patients and most elevated values are to be expected in long-duration-diabetics. F VII should be cared for especially in patients with concomitantly elevated TAG, TCH or LDL-cholesterol serum levels. (Tab. 6, Fig. 4, Ref. 24.)

Oleic acid serum phospholipid content is linked with the serum total- and LDL-cholesterol in elderly subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Increased dietary intake of the olive oil has been found to lower several cardiovascular risk factors. Aim of our study was to check if there is any link between the oleic acid (OL-18:1n9) serum phospholipid (SPL) content and some of these factors in subjects living relatively far from the Mediterranean region and in habitual conditions, i.e. without any dietary intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigated group included 62 out-patients older than 51 yr. Serum lipids were measured using standard hospital laboratory methods, the LDL-cholesterol was calculated using Friedewald's formula. Gas chromatography was used for estimation of fatty acids (FA) in SPL, their values were calculated as relative percentages of all FA. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between the OL SPL content and the serum total cholesterol (TCHOL) in all 62 patients (r = -0.294; p = 0.020). Analogous correlation was marginally significant for the LDL (r = -0.245; p = 0.055). After a division into 2 groups based on the median of the OL, the group with OL higher than median had significantly lower both TCHOL and LDL (p = 0.014; p = 0.033, respectively). OL correlated positively with the alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n3; r = 0.281; p = 0.027) but inversely with the stearic acid (18:0; r = -0.303; p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The subjects with less OL in their SPL had higher TCHOL and LDL serum levels and also their fatty acid SPL spectrum showed some other features which may be characterized as undesirable. This is an independent argument emphasizing the need for enhancing OL dietary intake.

[The effect of n-3 fatty acid administration on selected indicators of cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Vplyv podávania n-3 mastných kyselín na vybrané ukazovatele kardiovaskulárnych rizík u pacientov s diabetom mellitus II. typu.

BACKGROUND: Serum triacylglycerols (TG), VLDL, HDL, fatty acid and eicosanoid spectrum are among the factors determining the risk of cardiovascular complications in NIDDM. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are expected to have beneficial effects on these factors. In NIDDM patients there have however been previously reported (late 1980s) some adverse effects. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to verify the effects of n-3 PUFA in NIDDM patients using relatively low dosage. METHODS: The investigated group included 21 NIDDM patients with dyslipoproteinemia type IV. The patients were treated for 28 days with 1.7 g EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) + 1.15 g DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)/day (10 capsules/day of MAXEPA, Seven Seas U.K.). The lipoproteins were measured using the BIO-LACHEMA kits, the fatty acid spectrum in phospholipids was determined by gas chromatography and prostanoids (after their separation) were measured by RIA methods. MAIN RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: After the MAXEPA treatment there has been a strong decrease in TG (p < 0.005) and VLDL (p < 0.002) serum levels, accompanied by a significant increase in HDL (p < 0.02). The final-to-baseline TG ratio in individual patients negatively correlated with the relative percentage of EPA in phospholipids after the treatment (p < 0.03; r = -0.474). There was no significant change in serum total cholesterol, fasting glycaemia and glycosylated hemoglobin. There was a slight, but statistically already significant (p < 0.05), rise in LDL. The relative percentage of EPA, docosapentaenoic acid and DHA in serum phospholipids increased sharply (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001). The increase of n-3 PUFA in individual patients was linked with the decrease in n-6 PUFA (p < 0.001; r = -0.686). The spectrum of the latter has changed also very markedly. The prostacyclin PGI2-to-thromboxane TxA2 ratio increased significantly (p < 0.001). Beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids have prevailed and this kind of treatment seems very encouraging also in NIDDM patients. The results are logically compatible with other authors' results pattern formed in 1990s. A slight rise in serum LDL needs a more detailed discussion since only its phenotype B ("small dense LDL particles") has been recently found to be atherogenic. (Tab. 2, Fig. 5, Ref. 15.)

[Risk of cardiovascular complications in patients with type II diabetes mellitus in relation to serum triacylglycerols]. / Riziko kardiovaskulárnych komplikácií u pacientov s diabetes mellitus II. typu vo vztahu k sérovým triacylglycerolom.

BACKGROUND: The importance of serum triacylglycerols (TG) as a risk factor of cardiovascular complications in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients has been emphasized in recent studies. OBJECTIVES: In the study of our group of NIDDM patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD), it has been expedient to follow: 1. the difference in their serum TG, VLDL lipoprotein, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, 2. dependence of other parameters on TG, 3. to answer the question as to what extent the lowering of TG in NIDDM patients is expected to be decreasing the risk of CAD. METHODS: The investigated groups included the total of 39 NIDDM out-patients; 20 with manifest signs of CAD. The lipoproteins were measured using the BIO-LACHEMAR kits. MAIN RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In CAD group, the serum TG and VLDL were significantly increased, HDL cholesterol being lower (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.02, respectively). The TG-to-HDL cholesterol, TG-to-total cholesterol ratios and atherogenic index (= total cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio) were in the CAD group also significantly higher (p < 0.02, p < 0.02 and p < 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, the serum TG was positively correlated with the atherogenic index and LDL (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05; r = 0.603 and r = 0.397, respectively). The logarithm of TG was a strong positive correlate of the total cholesterol (p < 0.001; r = 0.584). On the other hand, the serum TG was negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (p < 0.005; r = -0.466). When logarithm of TG was taken, the statistical significance of all these correlations was even higher. The serum TG levels were significantly higher in patients with CAD. (Tab. 2, Fig. 7, Ref. 10.)

[The effect of dietary proteins on the fluorescence of Nile red in the aortic arch in guinea pigs]. / Vplyv diétnych proteínov na fluorescenciu nílskej cervenej z aortálneho oblúka morciat.

The purpose of the paper was to investigate the effect of soy and casein protein, present in the diets in various ratios, upon cholesterolemia and intensity of Nile red fluorescence (as indicator of lipoproteins) from the wall of the arch of aorta in guinea pigs. A special optoelectronic device was constructed to allow objective quantitative measurement of fluorescence from histologic sections. Administration of soy protein, compared to cassein protein, resulted in significantly lower cholesterolemia values and lower fluorescence intensity. The study has verified the effect of the two dietary proteins tested also at the level of the vessel wall.

Nile red fluorescence response from the aortic arch to serum cholesterol changes.

Histologic sections of the aortic arches from guinea pigs were stained with nile red to verify the possibility of quantitating the earliest changes in the arterial wall. Nile red fluorescence intensity was quantitated by conversion to electric signal. Fluorescence in a group fed cholesterol and casein was significantly higher than that in a control group. Its dependence on the logarithm of serum cholesterol concentrations between 1.33 and 7.67 mmol/l was found. Small fluorescence intensity differences far beyond the possibilities of visual observation were detected by the method.