Community pharmacy-based interventions with Valeriana officinalis or Passiflora incarnata together with sleep hygiene education improve climacteric symptoms and sleep problems in menopause / Las intervenciones farmacéuticas con Valeriana officinalis o Passiflora incarnata junto con la educación en la higiene del sueño mejoran los síntomas climatéricos y los problemas del sueño en la menopausia

INTRODUCTION: Physiological and endocrine changes occur during menopause that can negatively affect the sleep-wake cycle and contribute to objective and subjective sleep problems. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a pharmaceutic intervention with two different complementary treatments and sleep hygiene education on climacteric symptoms and sleep domains in menopausal women with sleep disturbance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of 109 women (45-64 years) participated in a 3-month randomized study, 35 received sleep hygiene instructions (SHI), 36 received capsules containing Passiflora incarnata 3 times a day plus SHI (PI), and 38 received capsules containing Valerian officinalis 3 times a day plus SHI (VO). Participants were evaluated by a) the Menopause Quality of Life (MENQOL) instrument, b) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), c) Insomnia Severity Index, d) Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and e) Mental component of SF-12 health survey. RESULTS: MENQOL scores were similar at baseline in the three groups but were reduced (improved vasomotor domain and physical subscale) at the end of the study in the VO group when compared with PI and SHI counterparts (both, p < 0.05). The SF-12 mental function showed improvement in the VO group (p < 0.05). Global PSQI score was significantly improved by PI and VO treatments at the end of treatment (p = 0.046 and p = 0.034, respectively). VO group was more effective than PI in alleviating mild insomnia. Change in vasomotor symptoms positively and significantly correlated with changes in all items of PSQI components, except for sleep duration and the association was strongest with sleep latency. Most participants evaluated the pharmaceutical and educational interventions provided as satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The Valerian officinalis was the preferable treatment for the climateric symptoms and sleep difficulties associated with menopause. This study provided evidence that community pharmacists can play a crucial role in referring menopausal women with symptoms of insomnia to potential medicinal plants therapy and sleep hygiene instructions

INTRODUCCIÓN: Durante la menopausia se producen cambios fisiológicos y endocrinos que pueden afectar negativamente al ciclo sueño-vigilia y contribuir a problemas objetivos y subjetivos del sueño. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la efectividad de la intervención farmacéutica con dos tratamientos complementarios diferentes y educación en la higiene del sueño sobre los síntomas climatéricos y los dominios del sueño en mujeres menopáusicas con trastornos del sueño. MÉTODOS: Una muestra de 109 mujeres (45-64 años) participaron en un estudio aleatorizado de 3 meses, 35 recibieron instrucciones de higiene del sueño (SHI), 36 recibieron cápsulas que contenían Passiflora incarnata 3 veces al día más SHI (PI), y 38 recibieron cápsulas que contenían Valerian officinalis 3 veces al día más SHI (VO). Las participantes completaron los cuestionarios de a) calidad de vida especifica de la menopausia (MENQOL), b) índice de calidad del sueño de Pittsburgh (PSQI), c) índice de gravedad del insomnio, d) escala de somnolencia de Epworth y e) dimensión salud mental del cuestionario de salud SF-12. RESULTADOS: Las puntuaciones del cuestionario de calidad de vida específico de la menopausia fueron similares en todos los grupos al inicio del estudio y se redujeron (dominio vasomotor y subescala física) al final del estudio en el grupo VO en comparación con PI y SHI (ambos, p <0.05). La función mental SF-12 mostró una mejoría en las mujeres del grupo VO (p <0.05). La puntuación global de PSQI mejoró significativamente con PI y VO al final del tratamiento (p = 0.046 y p = 0.034, respectivamente). El grupo VO fue más efectivo que PI para aliviar el insomnio leve. El cambio en los síntomas vasomotores mostró correlaciones significativas positivas con todos los ítems en los componentes del PSQI, excepto en la duración del sueño. La asociación fue más mayor con la latencia del sueño. La mayoría de las participantes evaluaron las intervenciones farmacéuticas y educativas prestadas como satisfactorias. CONCLUSIONES: La Valeriana officinalis asociada a la higiene del sueño fue el tratamiento preferible para los síntomas climáticos y las dificultades de sueño en la menopausia. Este estudio proporcionó evidencia de que los farmacéuticos comunitarios pueden desempeñar un papel importante derivando a las mujeres menopáusicas con síntomas de insomnio a la terapia potencial de plantas medicinales e higiene del sueño

Effect of Extract and Ellagic Acid from Geranium schiedeanum on the Antioxidant Defense System in An Induced-Necrosis Model.

Geranium schiedeanum has been used in traditional therapies as an antiseptic, antipyretic, and as analgesic. The present study was designed to evaluate the pretreatment with G. schiedeanum total extract (GS) and its active metabolites on stimulating the endogenous antioxidant defense system (EADS): catalase (Cat), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione reduction index (RI GSH/GSSG) in rat liver treated with a sublethal dose (6.6 mmol/Kg) of thioacetamide (TAA) in order to probe the capacity of GS and the active compounds to reduce liver injury. This was assessed by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (BILT) in rats pretreated or not with TAA, and pretreated or not with GS and its metabolites. The results showed that GS was able to induce the production of EADS enzymes, increasing redox index GSH/GSSG at 24 and 48 h after intoxication, and both the extract and the ellagic acid exhibited a significant reduction of hepatic damage markers. Our data confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of GS and its metabolites, like ellagic acid, support the possible use of this extract in the treatment of liver injury.

Glucomannan or Glucomannan Plus Spirulina-Enriched Squid-Surimi Diets Reduce Histological Damage to Liver and Heart in Zucker fa/fa Rats Fed a Cholesterol-Enriched and Non-Cholesterol-Enriched Atherogenic Diet.

Glucomannan-enriched squid surimi improves cholesterolemia and liver antioxidant status. The effect of squid surimi enriched with glucomannan or glucomannan plus spirulina on liver and heart structures and cell damage markers was tested in fa/fa rats fed highly saturated-hyper-energetic diets. Animals were fed 70% AIN-93M rodent diet plus six versions of 30% squid surimi for 7 weeks: control (C), glucomannan (G), and glucomannan plus spirulina (GS). The cholesterol-control (HC), cholesterol-glucomannan (HG), and cholesterol-glucomannan plus spirulina (HGS) groups were given similar diets that were enriched with 2% cholesterol and 0.4% cholic acid. G and GS diets versus C diet significantly inhibited weight gain and lowered plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, liver steatosis, lipogranulomas, and total inflammation and alteration scores. The hypercholesterolemic agent significantly increased the harmful effects of the C diet. Liver weight, the hepatosomatic index, all damage markers, and total histological scoring rose for HC versus C (at least P < .05). The addition of glucomannan (HG vs. HC) improved these biomarkers, and non-additional effects from spirulina were observed except for the total liver alteration score. In conclusion, glucomannan and glucomannan plus spirulina blocked the highly saturated-hyper-energetic diet negative effects both with and without added cholesterol. Results suggest the usefulness of including these functional ingredients in fish products.

Glucomannan- and glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched pork affect liver fatty acid profile, LDL receptor expression and antioxidant status in Zucker fa/fa rats fed atherogenic diets.

We evaluated the effects of glucomannan or glucomannan plus spirulina-restructured pork (RP) on liver fatty acid profile, desaturase/elongase enzyme activities and oxidative status of Zucker fa/fa rats for seven weeks. Control (C), glucomannan (G) and glucomannan/spirulina (GS)-RP; HC (cholesterol-enriched control), HG and HGS (cholesterol-enriched glucomannan and glucomannan/spirulina-RP) experimental diets were tested. Increased metabolic syndrome markers were found in C, G and GS rats. Cholesterol feeding increased liver size, fat, and cholesterol and reduced antioxidant enzyme levels and expressions. Cholesterolemia was lower in HG and HGS than in HC. GS vs. G showed higher stearic but lower oleic levels. SFA and PUFA decreased while MUFA increased by cholesterol feeding. The arachidonic/linoleic and docosahexaenoic/alpha-linolenic ratios were lower in HC, HG, and HGS vs. C, G, and GS, respectively, suggesting a delta-6-elongase-desaturase system inhibition. Moreover, cholesterol feeding, mainly in HGS, decreased low-density-lipoprotein receptor expression and the delta-5-desaturase activity and increased the delta-9-desaturase activity. In conclusion, the liver production of highly unsaturated fatty acids was limited to decrease their oxidation in presence of hypercholesterolaemia. Glucomannan or glucomannan/spirulina-RP has added new attributes to their functional properties in meat, partially arresting the negative effects induced by high-fat-high-cholesterol feeding on the liver fatty acid and antioxidant statuses.

GLUCOMANNAN AND GLUCOMANNAN PLUS SPIRULINA-ENRICHED SQUID-SURIMI ADDED TO HIGH SATURATED DIET AFFECT GLYCEMIA, PLASMA AND ADIPOSE LEPTIN AND ADIPONECTIN LEVELS IN GROWING FA/FA RATS.

Type 2 diabetes is a very prevalent chronic disease. Among dietary factors for its prevention and treatment, interest has grown in satiating fibre (konjac glucomannan) and spirulina. Our previous studies suggest that glucomannan itself and/or in conjunction to spirulina displayed hypolipemic and antioxidant effects when incorporated to squid surimi as functional ingredients. The present study aims to determine whether glucomannan- enriched or glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched squid-surimi improve plasma glucose and insulin levels in Zucker fa/fa rats fed a high saturated fat diet. Twenty four growing rats, divided into three groups, were given modified AIN-93M diets for seven weeks: 30% squid-surimi control diet (C), 30% glucomannan-enriched squid-surimi diet (G) and 30% glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched squid-surimi diet (GS). All rats became hyperglycemics and hyperinsulinemics, but G and GS diets induced significantly lower glucose levels (20%; p < 0.05) but did not modify insulinemia with respect to C diet. GS animals showed higher HOMA-D (p < 0.05) than C ones suggesting increased insulin availability. Plasma leptin and adiponectin decreased in G and GS vs. C group (p < 0.05). Adipose adiponectin increased significantly in G and GS vs. C rats (16-20 times, p < 0.01). Leptin in adipose tissue was higher in GS vs. G group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both glucomannan-diets were able to reduce hyperglycemia and increase adipose tissue adiponectin levels in fa/fa rats, suggesting an anti-hypertrophic and insulin-sensitizing adipokine effect in this tissue. Spirulina inclusion increased insulin availability. Although results are promising, the utility of consuming glucomannan surimis as part of usual diets demands future studies.

La diabetes tipo 2 es una enfermedad crónica de gran prevalencia. Entre otros factores dietéticos para su prevención y tratamiento, la fibra saciante (p. ej. glucomanano de konjac) y la espirulina han experimentado un interés creciente. Estudios previos sugieren que el glucomanano solo o en conjunción con la espirulina, incorporados a surimi de calamar, como ingredientes funcionales, induce efectos hipolipemiantes y antioxidantes. En el presente estudio tratamos de determinar si dichos surimis de calamar mejoran la glucemia y la insulinemia en ratas Zucker fa/fa alimentadas con una dieta hipersaturada. Veinticuatro ratas en crecimiento, divididas en tres grupos, fueron alimentadas durante siete semanas con las siguientes dietas AIN-93M modificadas: dieta control con 30% de surimi de calamar (C), dieta glucomanano con 30% de surimi de calamar enriquecido con 15% glucomanano (G) y dieta glucomanano/espirulina con 30% de surimi de calamar enriquecido con 15% de glucomanano y espirulina 3 g/kg dieta (GS). Todos los grupos presentaron hiperglucemia e hiperinsulinemia, pero las dietas G y GS redujeron significativamente los niveles de glucosa (20%; p < 0,05) con respecto a la dieta C, aunque no lograron modificar la insulinemia. Los animales alimentados con GS tuvieron valores de HOMA-D (p < 0,05) más elevados respecto al grupo C, sugiriendo un aumento de la disponibilidad de insulina. La leptina y la adiponectina plasmáticas disminuyeron en la dieta G y GS respecto a la C (p < 0,05). La adiponectina en tejido adiposo aumentó significativamente en G y GS vs. C (16-20 veces, p < 0,01). La leptina en tejido adiposo fue mayor en GS vs. G (p < 0,05). En resumen, ambas dietas con glucomanano fueron capaces de reducir la hiperglucemia e incrementar la adiponectina en tejido adiposo, sugiriendo para este tejido efectos antihipertróficos y sensibilizantes a la insulina. La inclusión de espirulina incrementó la disponibilidad de insulina. Aunque los resultados son prometedores, la conveniencia del consumo de surimis con glucomanano como parte de una dieta normal requiere futuros estudios.

Effects of glucomannan/spirulina-surimi on liver oxidation and inflammation in Zucker rats fed atherogenic diets

Cholesterolemia is associated with pro-oxidative and proinflammatory effects. Glucomannan- or glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched surimis were included in cholesterol-enriched high-saturated diets to test the effects on lipemia; antioxidant status (glutathione status, and antioxidant enzymatic levels, expressions and activities); and inflammation biomarkers (endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-Alpha)) in Zucker fa/fa rats. Groups of eight rats each received diet containing squid-surimi (C), squid-surimi cholesterol-enriched diet (HC), glucomannan-squid-surimi cholesterol-enriched diet (HG), or glucomannan-spirulina-squid-surimi cholesterol-enriched diet (HGS) over a period of 7 weeks. HC diet induced severe hyperlipemia, hepatomegalia, increased inflammation markers, and impaired antioxidant status significantly (at least p < 0.05) vs. C diet. HG diet decreased lipemia and liver size and normalized antioxidant status to C group levels, but increased TNF-Alpha with respect to HC diet (p < 0.05). In general terms, 3 g/kg of spirulina in diet maintained the positive results observed in the HG diet but, in addition, increased inflammation index [eNOS/(eNOS + iNOS)] and decreased plasma TNF-Alpha (both p < 0.05). In conclusion, glucomannan plus a small amount of spirulina blocks negative effects promoted by hypercholesterolemic diets. Although more studies are needed, present results suggest the utility of including glucomannan and/or spirulina as functional ingredients into fish derivates to be consumed by people on metabolic syndrome risk

Glucomannan and glucomannan plusspirulina added to pork significantly block dietary cholesterol effects on lipoproteinemia, arylesterase activity, and CYP7A1 expression in Zucker fa/fa rats

Zucker fa/fa rats easily develop dyslipidemia and obesity. Restructured pork (RP) is a suitable matrix for including functional ingredients. The effects of glucomannan- RP or glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched RP on plasma lipid/lipoprotein levels, cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) expression, and arylesterase activity in growing fa/fa rats fed high-energy, high-fat cholesterol-enriched diets were tested. Groups of six rats each received diet containing 15 % control-RP (C), 15 % glucomannan-RP diet (G), 15 % glucomannan + spirulina-RP diet (GS), and same diets enriched with 2.4 % cholesterol and 0.49 % cholic acid (cholesterol-enriched control (HC), cholesterol-enriched glucomannan (HG), and cholesterol-enriched glucomannan + spirulina (HGS) diets) over a 7-week period. C diet induced obesity, severe hyperglycemia, moderate hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Those facts were not significantly modified by G or GS diets. G diet increased CYP7A1 expression but decreased the total cholesterol/high density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol ratio (p < 0.05) vs. C diet. GS vs. G diet increased (p < 0.05) CYP7A1 expression. HC vs. C diet reduced food intake, body weight gain, and plasma glucose (p < 0.01) but increased cholesterolemia (p < 0.01), lipidemia (plasma cholesterol plus triglycerides) (p < 0.001), cholesterol/triglyceride ratio in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), and HDL (p < 0.05), cholesterol transported by VLDL and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) + low density lipoproteins (LDL), total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and CYP7A1 expression (at least p < 0.05). HG and HGS diets vs. HC noticeably reduced lipidemia (p < 0.001), normalized VLDL and IDL + LDL lipid composition, and increased CYP7A1 expression (p < 0.01) but did not modify the cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio. HGS vs. HG decreased triglyceridemia, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and increased arylesterase/HDL-cholesterol activity (p < 0.05). In conclusion, G- and GS-RP act as functional foods and notably blocked the dietary cholesterol effects. In addition, HGS-RP improved the glucomannan hypolipidemic effects, increased arylesterase/HDL-cholesterol activity, and decreased insulin resistance

Glucomannan and glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched squid-surimi added to high saturated diet affect glycemia, plasma and adipose leptin and adiponectin levels in growing fa/fa rats / Las dietas hipersaturadas que contienen surimi de calamar enriquecido con glucomanano y glucomanano/espirulina afectan a la glucemia y a los niveles plasmáticos y adiposos de leptina y adiponectina en ratas fa/fa en crecimiento

Type 2 diabetes is a very prevalent chronic disease. Among dietary factors for its prevention and treatment, interest has grown in satiating fibre (konjac glucomannan) and spirulina. Our previous studies suggest that glucomannan itself and/or in conjunction to spirulina displayed hypolipemic and antioxidant effects when incorporated to squid surimi as functional ingredients. The present study aims to determine whether glucomannan-enriched or glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched squid-surimi improve plasma glucose and insulin levels in Zucker fa/fa rats fed a high saturated fat diet. Twenty four growing rats, divided into three groups, were given modified AIN-93M diets for seven weeks: 30% squid-surimi control diet (C), 30% glucomannan-enriched squid-surimi diet (G) and 30% glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched squid-surimi diet (GS). All rats became hyperglycemics and hyperinsulinemics, but G and GS diets induced significantly lower glucose levels (20%; p < 0.05) but did not modify insulinemia with respect to C diet. GS animals showed higher HOMA-D (p < 0.05) than C ones suggesting increased insulin availability. Plasma leptin and adiponectin decreased in G and GS vs. C group (p < 0.05). Adipose adiponectin increased significantly in G and GS vs. C rats (16-20 times, p < 0.01). Leptin in adipose tissue was higher in GS vs. G group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both glucomannan-diets were able to reduce hyperglycemia and increase adipose tissue adiponectin levels in fa/fa rats, suggesting an anti-hypertrophic and insulin-sensitizing adipokine effect in this tissue. Spirulina inclusion increased insulin availability. Although results are promising, the utility of consuming glucomannan surimis as part of usual diets demands future studies (AU)

La diabetes tipo 2 es una enfermedad crónica de gran prevalencia. Entre otros factores dietéticos para su prevención y tratamiento, la fibra saciante (p. ej. glucomanano de konjac) y la espirulina han experimentado un interés creciente. Estudios previos sugieren que el glucomanano solo o en conjunción con la espirulina, incorporados a surimi de calamar, como ingredientes funcionales, induce efectos hipolipemiantes y antioxidantes. En el presente estudio tratamos de determinar si dichos surimis de calamar mejoran la glucemia y la insulinemia en ratas Zucker fa/fa alimentadas con una dieta hipersaturada. Veinticuatro ratas en crecimiento, divididas en tres grupos, fueron alimentadas durante siete semanas con las siguientes dietas AIN-93M modificadas: dieta control con 30% de surimi de calamar (C), dieta glucomanano con 30% de surimi de calamar enriquecido con 15% glucomanano (G) y dieta glucomanano/espirulina con 30% de surimi de calamar enriquecido con 15% de glucomanano y espirulina 3 g/kg dieta (GS). Todos los grupos presentaron hiperglucemia e hiperinsulinemia, pero las dietas G y GS redujeron significativamente los niveles de glucosa (20%; p < 0,05) con respecto a la dieta C, aunque no lograron modificar la insulinemia. Los animales alimentados con GS tuvieron valores de HOMA-D (p < 0,05) más elevados respecto al grupo C, sugiriendo un aumento de la disponibilidad de insulina. La leptina y la adiponectina plasmáticas disminuyeron en la dieta G y GS respecto a la C (p < 0,05). La adiponectina en tejido adiposo aumentó significativamente en G y GS vs. C (16-20 veces, p < 0,01). La leptina en tejido adiposo fue mayor en GS vs. G (p < 0,05). En resumen, ambas dietas con glucomanano fueron capaces de reducir la hiperglucemia e incrementar la adiponectina en tejido adiposo, sugiriendo para este tejido efectos antihipertróficos y sensibilizantes a la insulina. La inclusión de espirulina incrementó la disponibilidad de insulina. Aunque los resultados son prometedores, la conveniencia del consumo de surimis con glucomanano como parte de una dieta normal requiere futuros estudios (AU)

Glucomannan and glucomannan plus spirulina added to pork significantly block dietary cholesterol effects on lipoproteinemia, arylesterase activity, and CYP7A1 expression in Zucker fa/fa rats.

Zucker fa/fa rats easily develop dyslipidemia and obesity. Restructured pork (RP) is a suitable matrix for including functional ingredients. The effects of glucomannan- RP or glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched RP on plasma lipid/lipoprotein levels, cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) expression, and arylesterase activity in growing fa/fa rats fed high-energy, high-fat cholesterol-enriched diets were tested. Groups of six rats each received diet containing 15% control-RP (C), 15% glucomannan-RP diet (G), 15% glucomannan + spirulina-RP diet (GS), and same diets enriched with 2.4% cholesterol and 0.49% cholic acid (cholesterol-enriched control (HC), cholesterol-enriched glucomannan (HG), and cholesterol-enriched glucomannan + spirulina (HGS) diets) over a 7-week period. C diet induced obesity, severe hyperglycemia, moderate hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Those facts were not significantly modified by G or GS diets. G diet increased CYP7A1 expression but decreased the total cholesterol/high density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol ratio (p < 0.05) vs. C diet. GS vs. G diet increased (p < 0.05) CYP7A1 expression. HC vs. C diet reduced food intake, body weight gain, and plasma glucose (p < 0.01) but increased cholesterolemia (p < 0.01), lipidemia (plasma cholesterol plus triglycerides) (p < 0.001), cholesterol/triglyceride ratio in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), and HDL (p < 0.05), cholesterol transported by VLDL and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) + low density lipoproteins (LDL), total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and CYP7A1 expression (at least p < 0.05). HG and HGS diets vs. HC noticeably reduced lipidemia (p < 0.001), normalized VLDL and IDL + LDL lipid composition, and increased CYP7A1 expression (p < 0.01) but did not modify the cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio. HGS vs. HG decreased triglyceridemia, the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and increased arylesterase/HDL-cholesterol activity (p < 0.05). In conclusion, G- and GS-RP act as functional foods and notably blocked the dietary cholesterol effects. In addition, HGS-RP improved the glucomannan hypolipidemic effects, increased arylesterase/HDL-cholesterol activity, and decreased insulin resistance.

Effects of glucomannan/spirulina-surimi on liver oxidation and inflammation in Zucker rats fed atherogenic diets.

Cholesterolemia is associated with pro-oxidative and proinflammatory effects. Glucomannan- or glucomannan plus spirulina-enriched surimis were included in cholesterol-enriched high-saturated diets to test the effects on lipemia; antioxidant status (glutathione status, and antioxidant enzymatic levels, expressions and activities); and inflammation biomarkers (endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) in Zucker fa/fa rats. Groups of eight rats each received diet containing squid-surimi (C), squid-surimi cholesterol-enriched diet (HC), glucomannan-squid-surimi cholesterol-enriched diet (HG), or glucomannan-spirulina-squid-surimi cholesterol-enriched diet (HGS) over a period of 7 weeks. HC diet induced severe hyperlipemia, hepatomegalia, increased inflammation markers, and impaired antioxidant status significantly (at least p < 0.05) vs. C diet. HG diet decreased lipemia and liver size and normalized antioxidant status to C group levels, but increased TNF-α with respect to HC diet (p < 0.05). In general terms, 3 g/kg of spirulina in diet maintained the positive results observed in the HG diet but, in addition, increased inflammation index [eNOS/(eNOS + iNOS)] and decreased plasma TNF-α (both p < 0.05). In conclusion, glucomannan plus a small amount of spirulina blocks negative effects promoted by hypercholesterolemic diets. Although more studies are needed, present results suggest the utility of including glucomannan and/or spirulina as functional ingredients into fish derivates to be consumed by people on metabolic syndrome risk.

Liver oxidation and inflammation in Fa/Fa rats fed glucomannan/spirulina-surimi.

The effect of high-fat squid-surimi diets enriched in glucomannan or glucomannan-spirulina on lipemia, liver glutathione status, antioxidant enzymes and inflammation biomarkers was determined in Zucker Fa/Fa rats. Groups of eight rats each received for 7weeks the squid-surimi control (C), glucomannan-enriched squid-surimi (G) and glucomannan-spirulina enriched squid-surimi (GS). Liver weight, cytochrome P450 7A1 expression and cholesterolemia were decreased in G and GS vs. C, improving glutathione red-ox index (p<0.05). G also showed increased glutathione reductase (GR) levels vs. C, but reduced the endothelial (eNOS) and increased the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels (p<0.05). The GS diet improved superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and GR activities and eNOS, iNOS and TNF-α levels (p<0.05). The glucomannan enriched surimi-diet induced hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant and proinflammatory effects, while the addition of 3g/kg spirulina kept those hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant effects but reduced the inflammation observed.

Protective effects of sea spaghetti-enriched restructured pork against dietary cholesterol: effects on arylesterase and lipoprotein profile and composition of growing rats.

There is a general assumption that seaweeds are hypocholesterolemics and antioxidants. However, controversial results suggest specific properties for each individual alga. This study aims to assess the effect of including Sea Spaghetti alga (S) in a restructured-pork (RP) diet, both enriched and not enriched with dietary cholesterol, on arylesterase (AE) activity and lipoprotein concentration and composition of Wistar rats. Four groups of 10 growing male Wistar rats were each fed a mix of 85% AIN-93M diet and 15% freeze-dried RP for 5 weeks. The control group (C) consumed control RP-C; the S group consumed RP-S with 5% seaweeds; the Chol-C group consumed the C diet but enriched with cholesterol (2.43%) and cholic acid (0.49%); the Chol-S group consumed the S diet but enriched with cholesterol and cholic acid. AE activity was five times higher (P<.01) in S compared with C rats, but three times lower in Chol-S compared with Chol-C rats (P<.01). The Chol-C diet induced hypercholesterolemia but reduced triglycerides (TG), giving rise to the presence of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) that was enriched in cholesterol. The Chol-S diet partially blocked (P<.001) the hypercholesterolemic induction of the Chol-C diet, and reduced TG levels (P<.05) with respect to S rats. The cholesterol supplementation increased total cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, and intermediate-density lipoprotein+LDL-cholesterol (IDL+LDL)-cholesterol (P<.001) in Chol-C rats, but the effect was lower in the Chol-S diet. In conclusion, RP-S increases the antioxidant capacity within a noncholesterol enriched diet while improving the lipoprotein profile within a cholesterol-enriched diet.

Effects of Nori- and Wakame-enriched meats with or without supplementary cholesterol on arylesterase activity, lipaemia and lipoproteinaemia in growing Wistar rats.

Some seaweeds exert antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic properties. The effects of diets including restructured meats (RM) containing Wakame (W) or Nori (N) algae on arylesterase (AE) activity and lipoprotein concentration and composition were tested. In the present study, six groups of ten male growing Wistar rats each were fed a mix of 85 % AIN-93M diet and 15 % freeze-dried RM for 35 d. The control group (C) consumed control RM, the W and N groups consumed RM with 5 % W and 5 % N, respectively. The cholesterol-enriched C (CC), W (CW) and N (CN) groups consumed their corresponding basal diets with supplementary cholesterol (2·43 %) and cholic acid (0·49 %). Cholesterol in the diet induced lower (P < 0·001) growth ratios. Both W and N diets significantly increased AE activity. VLDL-cholesterol values were lower in N rats than in W rats. AE activity increased (P < 0·001) in CC and CW rats but not in CN rats compared with their corresponding counterparts. AE was lower (P < 0·05) in the CN group than in the CC and CW groups. The CN diet partially blocked (P < 0·001) the hypercholesterolaemic induction observed in CC and CW diets and reduced TAG levels (at least P < 0·05) with respect to those of CC rats. Although dietary cholesterol supplementation increased total cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and (intermediate-density lipoprotein+LDL)-cholesterol (all P < 0·001) in all rats, the CN diet moderately improved the lipoprotein profile of hypercholesterolaemic rats. Changes in AE activity and plasma cholesterol in CN rats but not in CW rats suggest a possible relationship between the two parameters. It is concluded that inclusion of RM enriched with N may be used in hypercholesterolaemic diets to improve lipoprotein metabolism.

Effects of APOA5 S19W polymorphism on growth, insulin sensitivity and lipoproteins in normoweight neonates.

Apolipoprotein (Apo) A5 is a protein involved in the activation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and the metabolism of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins. LPL plays a major role in the metabolism of TG-rich lipoproteins, and placental LPL activity is known to correlate positively with foetal fat deposition and size. We examine the association between the common APOA5 S19W polymorphism and neonatal anthropometrical measurements, lipoprotein and hormone concentrations, and insulin sensitivity in 58 normal weight Caucasian newborns from the Mérida cohort. Neonates with the W allele displayed lower BMI (P < 0.001), ponderal index (P < 0.001), birth weight (P < 0.01), insulin levels (P < 0.05), the insulin/cortisol ratio (P < 0.05), HOMA-R (P < 0.05) and Apo B values (P < 0.01), but higher oxidised LDL (LDLox) values and a higher LDLox/low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ratio (both P < 0.05) than S-homozygous newborns. The APOA5 S19W polymorphism was associated with foetal growth as well as with glucose and lipoprotein metabolism in the neonates. Concurrence of the S19W polymorphism in neonates and their mothers did not affect neonatal lipid and lipoprotein concentrations but was associated with impaired foetal growth. Specifically, W allele carriers displayed a higher degree of LDL oxidation and lower body weight, plasma insulin values, insulin/cortisol ratio and Apo B concentrations than homozygotes for the common S allele. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the W allele carriers received a less optimal nutrition during gestation and that their lipoprotein antioxidant status was inferior to that of their homozygous S allele counterparts.

Effects of hydroxytyrosol-enriched sunflower oil consumption on CVD risk factors.

Inclusion of biophenols in traditional foods transforms them into functional foods that may help to decrease CVD risk. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the consumption of hydroxytyrosol-enriched sunflower oil (HSO) improves certain CVD biomarker values. A total of twenty-two healthy volunteers participated in a cross-over study involving two 3-week periods, separated by a 2-week washout period, in which volunteers consumed 800-1275 µg/d [corrected] of either HSO (45-50 mg/d of hydroxytyrosol) or non-enriched (control) sunflower oil. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, arylesterase activity, oxidised LDL and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) levels were measured in the plasma obtained at the beginning and at the end of each treatment period. The HSO group displayed a significantly higher level (P < 0·01) of arylesterase activity and significantly lower levels of oxidised LDL and sVCAM-1 (both P < 0·05) than the control group. These results suggest that HSO may help prevent CVD.