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Editor's Choice : Oral L-Arginine Supplementation Effects on Cardiometabolic Factors in Hypertensive Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Relationship with Body Mass Index
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Abstract: Hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis are regarded as a conditions associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. As known endothelial dysfunction is an early pathophysiological feature and an independent predictor cardiovascular disease. L-arginine is the amino acid with potential to improve endothelial function and is expected to play a role in the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease.In addition, data exists that L-arginine aspartate can reduce insulin resistance.We aimed to evaluate the effects of oral L-arginine supplementation on cardiometabolic factors by determining endothelial function, insulin resistance, adiponectin level in hypertensive patients combined with rheumatoid arthritisand its relationship with body mass index.69 females with mean age – 54 [50,3; 61,5] years were enrolled. The 1st group made up 29 patients with hypertension combined with rheumatoid arthritis, 2nd group – 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 3rd group – 20 patients with hypertension. In the endpoint patients were randomized to study subgroups patients, which received L-Arginine aspartate 30 ml/day during 4 weeks in addition to standard treatment, and control subgroups – received only the standard treatment. The levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, body mass index, body area index were determined. Insulin resistance, adiponectin level, endothelial-dependent flow mediated vasodilatation of brachial artery were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. In patients with hypertension combined with rheumatoid arthritis identified a significant increase in insulin levels, insulin resistance, adiponectin, which were associated with cardiovascular risk, abdominal obesity, inflammatory activity levels. Oral supplementation of L-arginine causes multiple beneficial effects on the complex of cardiometabolic factors including: endothelial dysfunction, peripheral insulin resistance, adiponectin level in hypertensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis,mainly in obesity case. With the correction of endothelial function were established more significantly changes in the investigated parameters. Keywords: L-arginine, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, adiponectin, obesity.Download Full Article |
Editor's Choice : Plant Sterols/Stanols: Do they have a Role in Current Cardiovascular Disease Prevention?
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Abstract: Plant sterols/stanols inhibit cholesterol absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The daily consumption of2 g/day of plant sterols/stanols decreaseslow-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by approximately 10%. Plant sterols/stanols also reduce LDL-C levels when co-administered with statins, a fact useful for patients intolerable to high-dose statins. However, no randomized, controlled clinical trials have examined the clinical benefit of daily consumption of plant sterols/stanols. Furthermore, concerns regarding a possible atherogenic effect of plant sterols have been expressed. The use of plant sterols/stanols-enriched foods is a useful adjunct for hypercholesterolemic patients to achieve their LDL-C target, but we need more data to establish if this hypolipidemic effect results to reduced cardiovascular risk. Keywords: Plant sterols, plant stanols, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease.Download Full Article |
Editor's Choice : Pomegranate Juice Improves Iron Status and Ameliorates Iron Deficiency Induced Cellular Changes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Abstract: Background: Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is most prevalent form of anemia affecting around 2 billion people world-wide. Ayurveda, an Indian system of medicine, describes pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruits as a Rasayana and a dietary supplement for managing a condition called Pandu, which is akin to IDA. Rasayanas are methods to maintain homeostasis by improving digestion, metabolism and absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been a well-accepted model organism to study iron metabolism. Materials & Methods: In the current study we developed ‘anemic yeast’ by culturing yeast cells in iron-free medium with bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS). The effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) on reversing the ‘IDA like’ condition in yeast was studied. Results: Culturing iron deficient (ID) cells in the presence of 10% PJ supplemented medium (IDP), improved iron status by at least 7 fold (p<0.0001) and reversed mitochondrial degeneration induced by iron deficiency. Percentage of healthy reticulate mitochondria in IDP cells was >30% higher (p<0.0001) than that in the ID cells grown in iron deficient medium (IDD) and at least 14% more than that in ID cells grown in 10% PJ-equivalent iron substituted media. Interestingly, PJ substitution improved the functional ferrous (Fe2+) form as well as the bio-assimilated heme form of iron, but not the ferric (Fe3+) storage form in ID cells. Conclusion: Yeast model can be useful as a quick screen to identify potential nutritional supplements. Pomegranate’s potential role as a nutritional supplement in IDA management and as a hematinic is worthy of further research. Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia, Ayurveda, Pandu, Pomegranate, Rasayana, S. cerevisiae.Download Full Article |
Editor's Choice : Understanding Consumers’ Attitudes Toward Fruits and Vegetable Attributes: A Multi-Method Approach
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Abstract: Background: Results from previous work indicated that when consumers make purchasing decisions, they pay more attention to freshness, taste and hygiene attributes of fruits and vegetables than price and nutritional value, when these attributes are considered individually. Methods: To shed light on the underlying factors that shape the pattern of reported preferences, researchers used five doubly censored Tobit models to analyze data generated from a fuzzy pairwise comparison model (FPC) to explain the pattern of reported preferences. In the model, nutritive value, hygiene, taste, price and freshness were separately regressed on a number of demographic and personal characteristics variables. For this study, a random sample was drawn proportionate to population size by county in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Data were collected from 412 respondents. Results: Higher levels of education and income did not affect how consumers rate the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables. This relative lack of difference among consumers as classified in the model, along with results that showed consumers giving a higher preference rating to hygiene, taste and price offer support for the notion that the nutritional value attribute plays a subsidiary role in consumers purchasing decisions. Conclusion: The multi-method approach used in this study provides information on the demographic characteristics of consumers that influence attitudes and behaviors toward fruit and vegetable attributes. Nutrition educators and marketers will be able to use this knowledge about consumers’ attitudes and behaviors to customize programs that more accurately address consumers’ preferences. Keywords: Consumer Preferences, Purchasing Behavior, Fruits and Vegetables, Tobit, Fuzzy Pairwise Comparison.Download Full Article |
