Spirulina maxima Decreases Endothelial Damage and Oxidative Stress Indicators in Patients with Systemic Arterial Hypertension: Results from Exploratory Controlled Clinical Trial.

(1) Background: Spirulina (Arthrospira) maxima has shown beneficial effects such as being anti-dyslipidemic, antiviral, antioxidant and antihypertensive. However, there are few and limited clinical studies. (2) Methods: a prospective, randomized, parallel pilot study of 4.5 g administration of Spirulina maxima or placebo for 12 weeks in 16 patients with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) undergoing treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors was performed to assess the effects on endothelial damage and oxidative stress indicators. The blood levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, endothelin-1, and sE-selectin were quantified; the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and concentrations of reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, were also quantified before and after the treatment period. (3) Results: There were statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in systolic blood pressure, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin and endothelin-1 levels, and increases in glutathione peroxidase activity and oxidized glutathione levels. (4) Conclusion: The effects found in the present study agree with antihypertensive and antioxidant effects previously reported for Spirulina maxima. However, this is the first report about the effects on indicators of endothelial damage. More research in this field is necessary to gain an insight into the effects of Spirulina on these indicators.

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure and restraint stress induce changes on the brain lipid profile of Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to electromagnetic fields can affect human health, damaging tissues and cell homeostasis. Stress modulates neuronal responses and composition of brain lipids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure, restraint stress (RS) or both (RS + ELF-EMF) on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in Wistar rat brain. METHODS: Twenty-four young male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: control, RS, ELF-EMF exposure, and RS + ELF-EMF for 21 days. After treatment, rats were euthanized, the blood was obtained for quantitate plasma corticosterone concentration and their brains were dissected in cortex, cerebellum and subcortical structures for cholesterol, triacylglycerols, total free fatty acids, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) analysis. In addition, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were identified by gas chromatography. RESULTS: Increased values of plasma corticosterone were found in RS and ELF-EMF exposed groups (p < 0.05), this effect was higher in RS + ELF-EMF group (p < 0.05, vs. control group). Chronic ELF-EMF exposure increased total lipids in cerebellum, and total cholesterol in cortex, but decreased polar lipids in cortex. In subcortical structures, increased concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids were observed in RS + ELF-EMF group. FAMEs analysis revealed a decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids of cerebellum and increases of subcortical structures in the ELF-EMF exposed rats. TBARS concentration in lipids was increased in all treated groups compared to control group, particularly in cortex and cerebellum regions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that chronic exposure to ELF-EMF is similar to physiological stress, and induce changes on brain lipid profile.

Los ácidos grasos y la lipotoxicidad: implicaciones metabólicas / Fatty acids and lipotoxicity: metabolic implications

La obesidad constituye un gran problema de salud pública, y México se encuentra dentro de los primeros lugares en términos de prevalencia e incidencia. En adultos es el principal factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de resistencia a la insulina, síndrome metabólico, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y sus complicaciones a corto y largo plazo. El exceso de tejido adiposo central tiene como consecuencia un aumento en la lipólisis basal con la liberación subsecuente de ácidos grasos al torrente sanguíneo; al llegar a sus células blanco, éstos son captados para ser metabolizados. El aumento de los ácidos grasos intracelulares tiene como consecuencia la activación de vías metabólicas no oxidativas, como lo es la formación de ceramidas, la degradación lisosomal y la generación de estrés de retículo endoplasmático. Este último tiene como consecuencia la activación de vías de señalización relacionadas con el inicio de la muerte celular programada. Dicho aumento en la apoptosis es característica en enfermedades relacionadas con la deposición ectópica de ácidos grasos en tejidos, como la esteatohepatitis no alcohólica, disfunción β-pancreática y cardiotoxicidad. Comprender estos mecanismos es necesario para iniciar medidas destinadas al control de peso y sus complicaciones.

Obesity is a major public health problem, Mexico is in first place in terms of prevalence and incidence, in adults is the main risk factor for developing insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. Central fat excess, results in an increase in basal lipolysis with subsequent release of fatty acids into the bloodstream, to reach their target cells, this fatty acids are taken by the cells to be metabolized. The increase in intracellular fatty acids results in the activation of non-oxidative metabolic pathways, such as the formation of ceramides, lysosomal degradation, pattern recognition receptors activation and endoplasmic reticulum stress generation. The endoplasmatic reticulum stress results in activation of signaling pathways associated with programmed cell death activation. This increase in apoptosis is characteristic of diseases associated with ectopic fatty acids deposition in tissues, such non alcoholic steatohepatitis, β-pancreatic cell dysfunction and cardiotoxicity. Understanding these mechanisms is mandatory to start measures aimed at controlling weight and its complications.

Effect of acute extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure on the antioxidant status and lipid levels in rat brain.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is generally accepted that electromagnetic fields (EMF) can exert biological effects; however, the mechanisms by which EMF elicits responses are still unknown. The present study was designed to assess the immediate effects of acute EMF exposure, movement restriction, and the combination of both on the antioxidant systems and lipid content in the whole brain of rat. METHODS: Thirty two male Wistar rats were arranged in four groups: control, EMF exposed, movement restrained (MR), and EMF + MR for 2 h. Rats were then sacrificed and their brains analyzed for superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, reduced glutathione, nitric oxide, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol levels, as well as plasma corticosterone concentrations. RESULTS: Acute exposure to EMF induces reduction in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, whereas the combination of EMF + MR also decreases both reduced glutathione and nitric oxide levels. Our results show that the acute exposure to EMF does not induce elevation of stress-hormone corticosterone but impairs the antioxidant status in rat brain. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma corticosterone concentration and antioxidant data indicate that the acute exposure to EMF appears to be a mild stressor that leads to some adaptive responses due to the activation of systems controlling the brain oxidative balance.

Effects of acute electromagnetic field exposure and movement restraint on antioxidant system in liver, heart, kidney and plasma of Wistar rats: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the early effects of acute (2 h) exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF), as well as movement restraint (MR) and the combination of both on the antioxidant systems in the plasma, liver, kidney, and heart of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were divided in two groups, restrained and unrestrained. The restrained animals were confined into an acrylic tube for 120 min. Half of the animals of each group were exposed to ELF-EMF (60 Hz, 2.4 mT) during the period of restriction. Immediately after treatment, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in tissues. RESULTS: GSH concentration was significantly lower in the heart of all experimental animals when compared to the control group; furthermore, the decrease was higher in the liver of restrained animals. SOD activity was lower in the plasma of restrained and EMF exposed animals compared to unrestrained rats. There were no significant differences in CAT activity and TBARS levels among all the experimental groups vs. the control group. CONCLUSION: Two hours of 60 Hz EMF exposure might immediately alter the metabolism of free radicals, decreasing SOD activity in plasma and GSH content in heart and kidney, but does not induce immediate lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress induced by movement restraint was stronger than that produced by EMF.