Vitamin D attenuates biofilm-associated infections via immunomodulation and cathelicidin expression: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Infections are becoming more difficult to treat, at least partly on account of microbes that produce biofilms. Reports suggest that decreased levels of antimicrobial peptides like cathelicidin, elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, and biofilm formation are all associated with vitamin D deficiency, making vitamin D - deficient individuals more susceptible to infection. Infections attributable to biofilm-producing microbes can be managed by adjuvant therapy with vitamin D because of its immunomodulatory role, particularly because of the ability of vitamin D-pathway to induce the antimicrobial peptides like cathelicidin and decrease proinflammatory cytokines. AREAS COVERED: This narrative review covers biofilm formation, infections associated with biofilm due to vitamin D deficiency, putative role of vitamin D in host protection and the effect of vitamin D supplementation in biofilm-associated infections. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar utilizing suitable keywords at multiple time points extracted relevant articles. EXPERT OPINION: Although vitamin D deficiency has been associated with infections by biofilm producing microbes, comprehensive clinical trials in various ethnicities are required to understand the likely relationships between vitamin D receptor gene expression, cathelicidin levels, and infection outcome. Current evidence hypothesizes that maintaining normal vitamin D level can help prevent and treat these infections.

Evaluation of the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Triphala in high fat diet fed rats: Studies with two combinations.

Background: Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. Triphala, a polyherbal Ayurvedic formulation made from dried fruits of Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica Roxb.), and Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica Gaertn.) has been suggested to be useful in mitigating hyperlipidemia. In the Ayurveda texts, depending on the patient's condition and body type, Triphala is formulated and used in one of the two combination (1:1:1 and 1:2:4 of individual constituents) forms. Aims: The present study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of two combinations (1:1:1 and 1:2:4 of individual constituents) of Triphala against high fat diet induced-hyperlipidemia in rats. Materials and method: Hyperlipidemia was induced in Spraque-Dawley albino rats by feeding them with high fat diet. The animals were concomitantly administered with graded dose of one of the two combination (combination of Haritaki, Bibhitaki, and Amalaki in ratio of 1:1:1 or 1:2:4, respectively) of Triphala (250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg body wt.) or atorvastatin. The animals were sacrificed on day 22 and serum was processed for lipid profile and the liver for lipid peroxidation. The statistical analysis was performed by the mean analysis of variance followed by Dunnet's test. Results: The results indicated that when compared to placebo group, levels of serum total cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly lower, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in both the Triphala combination and atorvastatin groups. Of the two groups of Triphala, the formulation having 1:2:4 ratio was better than the 1:1:1. The group having highest drug dose (1000 mg/kg body wt.) of 1:2:4 formulation was better than atorvastatin in rectifying high fat diet-induced dyslipidemia and the atherogenic index was equal to that of atorvastatin. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that of the two Triphala formulations, the 1:2:4 ratio was better than the 1:1:1 ratio for anti-hyper-lipidemic effects.

Effect of saturated fatty acid-rich dietary vegetable oils on lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of saturated fatty acid (SFA)-rich dietary vegetable oils on the lipid profile, endogenous antioxidant enzymes and glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Type 2 diabetes was induced by administering streptozotocin (90 mg/kg, i.p.) in neonatal rats. Twenty-eight-day-old normal (N) and diabetic (D) male Wistar rats were fed for 45 days with a fat-enriched special diet (10%) prepared with coconut oil (CO) - lauric acid-rich SFA, palm oil (PO) - palmitic acid-rich SFA and groundnut oil (GNO) - control (N and D). Lipid profile, endogenous antioxidant enzymes and oral glucose tolerance tests were monitored. RESULTS: D rats fed with CO (D + CO) exhibited a significant decrease in the total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Besides, they also showed a trend toward improving antioxidant enzymes and glucose tolerance as compared to the D + GNO group, whereas D + PO treatment aggravated the dyslipidemic condition while causing a significant decrease in the superoxide dismutase levels when compared to N rats fed with GNO (N + GNO). D + PO treatment also impaired the glucose tolerance when compared to N + GNO and D + GNO. CONCLUSION: The type of FA in the dietary oil determines its deleterious or beneficial effects. Lauric acid present in CO may protect against diabetes-induced dyslipidemia.