Effect of Spirulina on Lipid Profile, Glucose and Malondialdehyde Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract The study aimed to assess possible spirulina effects on lipid profile, glucose, and malondialdehyde levels in new cases of type 2 diabetes. The subjects consisted of 30 new cases of types 2 diabetes that divided into two groups; each consisted of 15 diabetic patients. Group I did not take any functional food or supplement and received no spirulina supplementation. Group II or experimental group also did not take any functional food or supplement but received spirulina supplementation. Analysis of data was done using SPSS 16.0. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Spearman correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. After eight weeks of spirulina supplementation, significant differences were shown in the serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride, and malondialdehyde. The serum fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles, and malondialdehyde levels at baseline were negatively and positively correlated with changes in these parameters. Spirulina supplementation may have a beneficial effect on lipid profile and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels through an interventional 8 weeks. This effect may protect subjects against free radicals and the development of some diseases such as atherosclerosis. The spirulina supplementation also showed a potential lipid-lowering effect on new case type 2 diabetic patients which may help the diabetics to have control on lipid levels. In addition, spirulina may be used as a functional food for the management of lipid profiles and MDA levels.

Genetic Polymorphisms of Cytochrome p450 (2C9) Enzyme in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Turkmen and Fars Ethnic Groups.

BACKGROUND: Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP450 2C9) has an important role in metabolic processes. Mutations in CYP450 2C9 genes may affect the catalytic activity of this enzyme. The aim of the present study is to assess the genetic polymorphisms of Cytochrome P450 (2C9) enzyme in Turkmen and Fars ethnic groups with type 2 diabetes compared with controls. METHODS: A total of 336 Turkmen and 336 Fars type 2 diabetic patients and 336 healthy Turkmen and Fars individuals were included in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples and then the CYP2C9 genotyping was done using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism technique. RESULTS: The CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 allele frequencies in type 2 diabetic patients were 85.27%, 11.68%, and 3.05%, and in control were 87.13%, 8.56%, and 4.31%, respectively. We found significant differences between allele distribution of 2C9 in type 2 diabetic patients and controls. CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3 allele frequency was significantly different in Turkmen and Fars type 2 diabetic compared to two ethnic controls. The CYP2C9*1/*1 and CYP2C9*1/*2 genotypes frequencies in type 2 diabetic Turkmen showed significant differences compared to Turkmen control. There were significant differences in the genotype frequency of CYP2C9*1/*1, CYP2C9*1/*2, CYP2C9*1/*3, CYP2C9*2/*2, and CYP2C9*2/*3 between type 2 diabetic Fars and Fars controls. Two diabetic ethnic groups showed statistically significant differences in frequencies of CYP2C9*2/*2 and CYP2C9*2/*3 genotypes. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that diabetic patients with mutant CYP2C9 polymorphism may show different antidiabetic drug metabolism compared to the wild-type allele. In this regard, determination of CYP2C9 alleles and genotypes can be a useful tool for the treatment of diabetic patients with antidiabetic drugs because it may assist physicians' to determine optimal dosage and efficiency of drugs metabolized by this polymorphic enzyme.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and thyroid hormone status in hemodialysis patients in Gorgan.

AIMS: The aim of this study focused on serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in hemodialysis patients and compared with control groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five hemodialyzed patients and 45 control groups recruited in this study. Serum creatinine and urea, thyroid hormones (THs) levels and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities were determined. RESULTS: Hemodialysis (HD) patients showed higher levels of MDA than control groups (P < 0.01), but the levels of thyroxin (T3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and free thyroxin (fT4), SOD and CAT were low in HD patients (P < 0.01). Serum T3, fT3, and fT4 levels were significantly negative correlated with MDA (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that serum lipid peroxidation is markedly increased in HD patients. This means that elevated reactive oxygen species may interact with the lipid molecules in HD patients. HD may cause significant changes in TH levels. Thyroid-stimulating hormone level in HD patients is slightly similar to that of control groups. This suggests that thyroid is able to resynthesize for hormonal urinary losses.

GB virus C Viremia and Anti-E2 Antibody Response Among Hemodialysis Patients in Gorgan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: GB Virus C is a blood-borne virus and a member of Flaviviridae, like hepatitis C that is distributed globally and puts hemodialysis patients at high risk of developing liver disease. The clinical significance of GBV-C in this population remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to evaluate GBV-C infection among hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Totally, 149 patients receiving hemodialysis were included in the study. The detection of GBV-C sequences in plasma was done by the nested Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers selected from highly conserved regions of 5' UTR of GBV-C and antibodies to the envelope protein of GBV-C (anti-E2 GBV-C antibody) were analyzed by also serological methods. In addition, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) IgM, anti- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and anti- hepatitis E virus (HEV) Ab was determined in patients who were GBV-C RNA and anti-E2 GBV-C antibody positive. RESULTS: The total prevalence of GBV-C infection was 14.7% (95%CI: 0.09-0.21) among patients receiving hemodialysis. The rate of GBV-C viremia and anti-E2 antibody positivity were 6.04% and 10.73%, respectively. Among the subjects who were positive for GBV-C, 27.27% (95% CI: 0.02-0.09), 45.45% (95% CI: 0.03-0.11), 59.9% (95% CI: 0.06-0.16) and 0% (95% CI: 0.01-0.07) were positive for anti-HCV, anti-HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM and anti-(HEV) Ab, respectively. In addition, the rate of both anti-HBc IgM /anti-HCV/ HBsAg and anti-HBc IgM /anti-HCV positivity in GBV-C infected cases were 9.09%. The liver enzymes were normal in all of them. There was significant difference between GBV-C exposures with viral hepatitis co-infection, but there was no correlation between GBV-C exposure with gender, age, ethnicity, time on dialysis and history of blood transfusions. A relatively high frequency of positivity GBV-C-exposure among hemodialysis patients suggested that the transmission route for GBV-C may be nosocomial transmission, and via transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: The current study found a relatively high frequency of positivity GBV-C-exposure among the patients receiving hemodialysis in the area understudy. Nosocomial transmission seems to be the main route of GBV-C infection in the area.

The metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic subjects in Gorgan, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in subjects diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in Gorgan, Iran. METHODS: Data were collected from 200 subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and they were categorized as with or without the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using Adult Treatment Panel-III (ATP-III) guidelines. RESULTS: The overall metabolic syndrome prevalence was 51.50%. The mean age of all the subjects was 53.65 +/- 9.50 years. There were 122 females and 78 males of whom 65 females and 38 males had the metabolic syndrome. The mean duration of diabetes was 7.70 +/- 1.29 years. Mean triglycerides were 185.15 +/- 56.63 mg/dl, and fasting blood glucose 153 +/- 19.6 mg/dl. These levels were significantly higher in the subjects with type-2 diabetes with metabolic syndrome, but the mean HDL-cholesterol was 37.96 +/- 5.09 mg/dl and this was lower (p < 0.001). Female and male subjects with metabolic syndrome had significantly longer (except HDL-cholesterol) duration of diabetes, higher Triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Females were more affected than males.