Serum Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels Research Articles

The Metabolic and Analytical Changes of Healthy Volunteers upon Intake of Portuguese Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Comparison Study between Pre- and Post-Intervention.

(1) Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is studied mostly for its health benefits in preventing non-communicable chronic diseases, particularly within a Mediterranean dietary pattern. However, few studies have addressed the effect of EVOO in healthy individuals, prior to an established disease. This study aims to evaluate the impact of Northern Portuguese polyphenol-rich EVOO (NPPR-EVOO) consumption on various important clinical parameters in healthy adult volunteers. (2) Methods: This quasi-experimental intervention study assessed the impact of NPPR-EVOO for a period of 100 days. Serum total cholesterol, HbA1c, HDL-c, LDL-c, and CRP, and anthropometric measures-waist and hip perimeters, hand grip strength, and body fat-were assessed and food logs were analyzed. (3) Results: Serum HbA1c (5.12 ± 0.32%; 4.93 ± 0.24, p = 0.000) and LDL-c (96.50 ± 28.57 mg/dL; 87.41 ± 31.38 mg/dL, p = 0.017) significantly decreased following NPPR-EVOO. Also, daily energy significantly increased, but no changes in other dietary parameters, or anthropometry, were seen. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet did not explain the differences found in individuals regarding serum lipid profile and HbA1c, reinforcing the role of EVOO's effect. (4) Conclusions: NPPR-EVOO lowered the serum levels of LDL cholesterol and HbA1c, providing clues on the effect of EVOO-putative health benefits. These results pave the way for a deeper exploration of EVOO as a functional food.

The prognostic role of the low and very low baseline LDL-C level in outcomes of patients with cardiac revascularization; comparative registry-based cohort design

BackgroundAlthough low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level is considered one of the main prognostic factors in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the question about “the lower the better” is still unanswered. We aimed to evaluate and compare the outcomes of patients with CABG and low or very low baseline LDL-C, regardless of statin usage.MethodsIn this registry-based cohort study, 10,218 patients with low/very low (70–100 and ≤ 70 mg/dL) baseline LDL-C who underwent isolated and the first-time CABG without known previous history of cardio-cerebrovascular events, were included and compared. The median follow-up was 73.33 (72.15–74.51) months. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (consisted of all-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome, stroke or transient ischemic attack, and the need for repeat revascularization [percutaneous coronary intervention or redo-CABG]). Cox regression analyses before and after the propensity score matching (PSM) model were applied to evaluate and compare outcomes.ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 66.17 ± 9.98 years old and 2506 (24.5%) were women. Diabetes mellitus and a history of cigarette smoking were significantly higher in the very low LDL group (P-value ≤ 0.001). In Cox regression analyses before applying PSM model, both all-cause mortality (14.2% vs. 11.9%, P-value = 0.004 and MACCE (26.0% vs. 23.6%, P-value = 0.006) were significantly higher in the very low LDL group compared to low LDL. However, these results were no longer significant after applying the PSM model (all-cause mortality HR: 1.115 [95% CI: 0.986–1.262], P = 0.083 and MACCE HR: 1.077 [95%CI: 0.984–1.177], P = 0.095). The sensitivity analysis to remove the statin effect demonstrated that very low LDL-C level was correlated to higher risk of all-cause mortality in both unmatched and PSM analyses.ConclusionVery low serum LDL-C levels (≤ 70 mg/dl) could increase long-term all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in patients who have undergone isolated CABG.

Association between serum LDL-C concentrations and risk of diabetes: A prospective cohort study.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and diabetes mellitus are both modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease; however, whether elevated LDL-C levels confer a risk for diabetes remains unclear. We aimed to examine the association between serum LDL-C concentrations at baseline and the risk of developing diabetes at follow-up in the general population of Chinese adults. This study included 5274 adults aged ≥ 40 years from a community cohort who were without diabetes and followed for a median of 4.4 years. A standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was conducted at baseline and follow-up visits to diagnose diabetes. Logistic regression models and a restricted cubic spline were used to examine the association between baseline serum LDL-C levels and the risk of diabetes development. Subgroup analyses were conducted stratifying on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, family history of diabetes, and LDL-C levels. A total of 652 participants (12%) developed diabetes during the follow-up period. Compared to quartile 1 of serum LDL-C, quartiles 2, 3, and 4 were associated with a 30%, 33%, and 30% significantly higher risk of diabetes, respectively after adjustment for confounders including homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance. The linear relationship between baseline LDL-C down to 30.1 mg/dL and incident diabetes was demonstrated by restricted cubic spline analysis, and each 1-SD increase in LDL-C concentration (28.5 mg/dL) was associated with a 12% increase in the risk of diabetes (odds ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.22). In this community-based general population, higher serum LDL-C levels were linearly associated with an elevated risk of incident diabetes.

Association between blood lipid levels and risk of gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The association between blood lipid levels and the risk of gastric cancer (GC) is well known. Therefore, to clarify this association, all relevant prospective cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. Our study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022354899) prior to its commencement. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA recommendations. Chinese databases (CNKI, CBM, Wanfang, and VIP) and English databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched up to October 2022. This study included all relevant cohort studies that reported hazard ratios (HRs) or relative risks (RRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to examine the association between various lipid profiles (e.g., total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and the risk of developing gastric cancer (GC). Fixed effects or random effects models were used based on the level of heterogeneity among the studies, and these models were employed to obtain pooled hazard ratios. Additionally, sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis were conducted to ensure the robustness and reliability of the findings. After conducting a systematic search, a total of 10 studies were selected out of 10,525 papers involving a total of 5,564,520 individuals. Among these individuals, there were 41,408 GC cases. The analysis revealed that the highest versus lowest serum total cholesterol (TC) concentration was associated with a pooled hazard ratio of 0.89 (95% CI = 0.87-0.92, I2 = 15%). For triglycerides (TGs), the hazard ratio was 1.00 (95% CI = 0.96-1.04, I2 = 37%), while for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the hazard ratio was 0.90 (95% CI = 0.86-0.93, I2 = 0%). The hazard ratio for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.91-1.00, I2 = 0%). Based on the results of this meta-analysis, it was found that serum TC and HDL-C levels were inversely correlated with the risk of GC. No association was observed between serum TG levels and the risk of GC. Similarly, no association was found between serum LDL-C levels and the risk of GC.

Association of ADP-Induced Whole-Blood Platelet Aggregation with Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease When Receiving Maintenance Ticagrelor-Based Dual Antiplatelet Therapy.

The degree of platelet inhibition in patients undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) affects cardiovascular outcomes after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention. Our aim was to search for correlates of residual ex vivo platelet reactivity and circulating soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), an index of in vivo platelet activation, in patients being treated by DAPT with ticagrelor. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregability (by multiple electrode aggregometry) and plasma sP-selectin were estimated in 62 stable post-ACS subjects (46 men and 16 women; mean age: 64 ± 10 years; 30 with type 2 diabetes (T2DM)) undergoing maintenance DAPT with ticagrelor and aspirin. These patients did not exhibit heart failure or other relevant coexistent diseases except for properly controlled T2DM, mild renal insufficiency, and hypertension. We also assessed this in 64 subjects on clopidogrel-based DAPT matched for age, sex, and T2DM status. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was below the optimal levels (190-460 arbitrary units (AU) * min) in most patients receiving ticagrelor-based DAPT, especially in those with below-median (<1.9 mmol/L) serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (128 ± 61 vs. 167 ± 73 AU * min for below-median and above-median LDL-c, respectively, p = 0.025). In contrast, platelet reactivity did not differ by LDL-c on clopidogrel-based DAPT (246 ± 101 vs. 268 ± 108 AU * min for below-median and above-median LDL-c, respectively, p > 0.4). Plasma sP-selectin was found to be unrelated to serum LDL-c when receiving DAPT with ticagrelor (p > 0.4) or clopidogrel (p > 0.8). In conclusion, our preliminary observational study suggests the association of lower residual ex vivo platelet aggregability with better LDL-c control in patients undergoing ticagrelor-based maintenance DAPT, which does not appear to be reflected by plasma sP-selectin. Whether the serum LDL-c level should be considered among the factors affecting the degree of platelet inhibition for those treated with ticagrelor-based DAPT needs to be investigated in larger studies.

Is poor sleep quality associated with lipid profile in elderly population? Finding from Iranian Longitudinal Study on Ageing.

Abnormal lipid profile as one of reversible cardiovascular disease risk factors might be affected by poor sleep quality. This study aimed to assess the association between poor sleep quality and serum concentration of lipid profile in Iranian elderly population. The study was performed on a representative sample of 3452 Iranian older people (≥60 years) who contributed in the Iranian Longitudinal Study on Ageing (IRLSA). Sleep quality was measured through the validated Persian version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Fasting blood samples were collected from the participants to measure plasma levels lipid profile. We used multiple linear regression model to evaluate the independent association of poor sleep quality with lipid profile. The mean age of participants was 68.0±6.7 years and 52.5% of them were male. In total, 52.4% of study population reported poor sleep quality (PSQI>5). Mean serum concentration of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was 143.2±74.2 mg/dl, 195.6±43.2 mg/dl, 112.9±31.0 mg/dl, and 57.3±12.4 mg/dl, respectively. Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with serum levels of TG (β=17.85;P=0.006), LDL-C (β=5.45; P=0.039) and HDL-C (β=-2.13; P=0.039) after adjusting for studied covariates. Our study illustrates that poor sleep quality is a risk factor for poorer lipid profile. Therefore, early behavioral or pharmacological interventions that improve sleep quality are necessary to modify lipid profile in elderly population.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in advance aged patients.

This study aimed to assess the impact of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on outcomes in elderly patients compared to younger patients. An observational case-control study was conducted involving 535 patients, divided into two groups: older adults (≥75 years) and younger adults (<75 years). All patients underwent CABG following a similar protocol. The primary endpoints focused on early post-procedure outcomes, including in-hospital mortality and the duration of ICU or hospital stay. Patients were followed up for six months, and secondary study endpoints included long-term mortality, left ventricular ejection fraction, re-hospitalization rates, and repeated revascularization. 535 patients who underwent CABG were enrolled in this study. The smoking habit was significantly higher among younger adults (38.2% vs. 12.5%, P=0.001). Hypertension was more prevalent among older adults than younger adults (75% vs. 60%, P=0.044). LDL cholesterol serum levels were higher among younger adult patients (94.9±32.5 vs. 80.9±32.9, P=0.028). In-hospital death was not significantly different between younger and older adults (2.8% vs. 5.0%, P=0.34). Mortality in the six-month follow-up was non-significantly higher in the elderly (2.1% vs. 8.1%, P=0.06).A significant proportion of patients in both groups (46.9% in younger patients vs. 40% in older ones, P=0.40) received dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) prior to CABG due to a recent myocardial infarction and receipt of a new stent, but without increased major bleeding in both groups. CABG should be considered a viable treatment option for elderly patients with acceptable operative risk in current clinical practice.

Evaluation of the role of hydroxychloroquine as a lipid profile improving and glucose adjusting drug in Egyptian females with inactive rheumatoid arthritis

Background/aim Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that leads to joint destruction and disability with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in RA. Modifying CVD risk factors, such as lowering plasma glucose and total cholesterol, may be helpful for preventing CVD. A disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) with a good safety profile and low cost has been reported to improve lipid profiles and glucose level in RA. The study was designed to evaluate the responsibility of HCQ in the improvement of lipid profile and glucose level in Egyptian Inactive Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) females. Subjects and methods This trial study included fifty adult RA females in remission treated with 400 mg daily of HCQ orally for 6 months. The patients are regular visiting outpatient clinic of rheumatology unit at the department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Mataria Teaching Hospital, National Institute of Neuro-Motor System (NINMS) and Rheumatology clinic at Centre of Medical Excellence of National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. Visits and follow-up are monthly to ensure adherence to treatment. All the patients have been evaluated at the start of the trial, after 3 and 6 months. Lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), anthropometric parameters and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were assessed. Results After 3 months of treatment, most of the metabolic characteristics were improved significantly. FBS level was significantly lowered (P&lt;0.001), and lipid profiles were significantly improved as total cholesterol (P&lt;0.001), HDL-cholesterol (P&lt;0.001), LDL-cholesterol (P&lt;0.001) and artherogenic index (TC/HDL-cholesterol (P&lt;0.001) and LDL-C/HDL-cholesterol(P&lt;0.001). The triglyceride level and the anthropometric variables were significant statistically as (P&lt;0.001). Moreover after 6 months, all metabolic parameters were statistically improved as FBS (P&lt;0.001), TC (P&lt;0.001), TG (P&lt;0.001), HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and artherogenic index (P&lt;0.0001). Moreover, the best improvement was at 6 months of treatment. Conclusion HCQ significantly improved the blood glucose level in patients with inactive RA, in addition to the serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and arthrogenic index. Moreover, lessen the use of anti-lipids and diabetic medications.

Prognostic value of perioperative serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level for postoperative prognosis of pancreatic cancer: a retrospective study

BackgroundAs a common malignant tumour, pancreatic cancer (PC) has the worst clinical outcome. Early evaluation of the postoperative prognosis has certain clinical value. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), which is mainly composed of cholesteryl esters, phospholipids, and proteins, plays an important role in transporting cholesterol into peripheral tissues. LDL-c has also been reported to be correlated with the occurrence and progression of malignant tumours and can predict postoperative prognosis in various tumours.AimsTo determine correlation between serum LDL-c level and clinical outcome in PC patients after surgery.MethodsData of PC patients that received surgery at our department from January 2015 to December 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves between perioperative serum LDL-c at different timepoints and survival rate at postoperative 1-year were drawn, and the optimal cut-off value was calculated. Patients were categorized into low and high LDL-c groups, and their clinical data and outcome were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to screen out risk markers for poor prognosis of PC patients after surgery.ResultsThe area under the ROC curve of serum LDL-c at 4 weeks after surgery and prognosis was 0.669 (95% CI: 0.581–0.757), and the optimal cut-off value was 1.515 mmol/L. The median disease-free survival (DFS) rates of low and high LDL-c groups were 9 months and 16 months, respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year DFS rates were 42.6%, 21.1% and 11.7% in low LDL-c group, respectively, and, 60.2%, 35.3% and 26.2% in high LDL-c group, respectively (P = 0.005). The median overall survival (OS) rates of low and high LDL-c groups were 12 months and 22 months, respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year OS rates were 46.8%, 22.6% and 15.8% in low LDL-c group, respectively, and 77.9%, 46.8% and 30.4% in high LDL-c group, respectively (P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis confirmed low postoperative 4-week serum LDL-c as independent risk marker for early tumour recrudesce and poor clinical outcome in PC patients.ConclusionHigh postoperative 4-week serum LDL-c is a prognostic marker for prolonged DFS and OS time in PC patients.

Association of Non-Genetic Risk Factors with Prostate Cancer in the Population of Jammu Region of J and K, India

ABSTRACT: The rising incidence rates of prostate cancer (CAP) have become a global health disorder. It has a complex etiology and includes both potentially modifiable environmental factors and non-modifiable genetic components. In this study, we aimed to identify the potential and significant non-genetic risk factors associated with CAP in the population of Jammu and Kashmir. A total of 320 study subjects (120 clinically confirmed CAP patients and 200 healthy age-matched unrelated participants) were registered for this investigation after obtaining their prior consent. A predesigned health questionnaire and hospital-based patient history were used to collect data pertaining to clinical variables, sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric parameters, and biochemical indices. The result revealed that diet patterns (non-vegetarianism, p=0.01), lack of physical activity (p=0.0007), dwelling (urban residents, p=0.0105), higher levels of serum LDL-cholesterol (p=&lt;0.0001), triglyceride (p=0.01), VLDL-cholesterol (p=0.02), total cholesterol (p=0.0527), creatinine (p=0.0006), sodium (p=0.0429), urea (p=0.0006), and PSA (p=&lt;0.0001) were significantly associated with CAP. Moreover, higher mean age (69.82±15.5), the extent/duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) (p=0.0007), lack of physical activity (p=0.0007), high intake of red meat (p=0.0005), LDL-Cholesterol (p=&lt;0.0001) and positive family history (p=&lt;0.0001) were found to be the most significant risk factors for CAP. The study notably identified the most significant and novel (extent/duration of diabetes and serum levels of LDL, VLDL) non-genetic risk factors associated with prostate cancer in the population of the Jammu region thus helping to target the high-risk populations and informing preventive interventions.

Effects and action mechanisms of lotus leaf (Nelumbo nucifera) ethanol extract on gut microbes and obesity in high-fat diet-fed rats.

The present study aimed to clarify the effect of the lotus leaf ethanol extract (LLEE) on the mechanism of antiobesity and the intestinal microbiota of obese rats. A total of 40 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were split into the blank control group, the model control group, the Orlistat capsule control group, and the LLEE group. All the groups were intervened and fed specific diets for 5 months. During the experiment, we evaluated the rats' body weight, length, serum biochemical indicators, and inflammatory factor levels. After dissection, the liver; epididymal and perirenal white adipose tissue (WAT); and the contents of the cecum were collected for pathological evaluation and intestinal flora analysis. Lotus leaf alcohol extract can significantly reduce the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. It also decreases the accumulation of fatty deposits in the liver of rats and the levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α and increases the level of IL-10. Lotus leaf alcohol extracts significantly increased the abundance of Muribaculaceae in the intestinal flora of rats, reduced the abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria Firmicutes, and relieved fatty liver and other inflammation and diseases caused by a high-fat diet. Besides, the ethanol extract of the lotus leaf significantly regulated the abundance of Ruminococcus, suggesting that the ethanol extract of the lotus leaf may prevent hyperlipidemia. We elucidated the effects and action mechanisms of LLEE on obesity in high-fat diet-fed rats to provide suggestions for regulating intestinal flora through dietary intervention and thus improving blood lipid metabolism.

Evaluation of Ruta graveolen, coriander and basil seed extracts as natural additives on productive performance, blood profiles and egg quality of White Leghorn layers

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of mixtures of Ruta graveolen (Rg), coriander (C), and basil (B) seed extracts on productive performance, blood profiles, egg quality and egg chemi-cal composition of White Leghorn (WL) layers. One hundred eighty WL layers at twenty- six weeks of age were randomly distributed to four treatments, each replicated three times with fifteen layers per replications in a completely randomized design and kept on a deep litter system for eight weeks. The treatments (T) were water containing mixtures of Ruta graveolen, coriander, and basil seed extract with the proportion of 0 ml (T1), 2 ml (T2), 4ml (T3), and 6 ml (T4) per liter of water. The hen day egg pro-duction (HDEP) was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher for layers in T3 (50.75%). Serum cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels decreased significantly while, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and globulin increased significantly (P&lt;0.01) when compared with the control. There were no significant differences (P&gt;0.05) among treatments in egg weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell weight and thickness. Generally; the mixtures of Rg, C, and B seed extracts in 4ml/1lt in drinking water could increase HDEP and egg quality and reduce serum cholesterol.

Influence of Sex Differences on Serum Lipid Profiles among Habitual Coffee Drinkers: Evidence from 23,072 Taiwan Biobank Participants.

The bioactive compounds of coffee are involved in lipid metabolism, and sex differences may play an important role. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of sex differences on serum lipid profiles among habitual coffee drinkers. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study of 23,628 adults using data obtained from the Taiwan Biobank database. Adults who drank more than one cup of coffee per day and those who drank less than one cup per day were compared with non-drinkers. After adjusting for baseline demographics and lifestyle, a generalized linear model was used to estimate the change in serum lipid profiles in men and women and in postmenopausal and premenopausal women among different coffee-drinking behaviors. We found that habitual coffee consumption changed the serum lipid profiles of men and women. Further, coffee drinkers had higher serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lower serum triglyceride levels than non-drinkers. Compared with premenopausal women, both men and postmenopausal women had increased serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Menopausal status may play an important role in modulating the effect of habitual coffee intake on dyslipidemia. Moreover, premenopausal women potentially benefit more from habitual coffee drinking than men and postmenopausal women.

Anti-Obesity Effects of SPY Fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus BST-L.601 via Suppression of Adipogenesis and Lipogenesis in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

In this research, the potential anti-obesity efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus BST-L.601 and its fermented product (named SPY) with mashed sweet potato paste were investigated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and high-fat diet (HD)-induced obese mice. SPY (0-0.5 mg/mL) dose-dependently and significantly reduced lipid accumulation and TG content and the expression of adipogenic markers (C/EBPα, PPAR-γ, and aP2) and fatty acid synthetic pathway proteins (ACC and FAS) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, demonstrating that SPY suppresses adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis. Oral administration of SPY (4 × 107 CFU/kg body weight) to HD-induced obese mice for 12 weeks significantly reduced the body and liver weight, the size of adipocytes, and the weight of epididymal, visceral, and subcutaneous fat tissues. SPY was more effective in decreasing body weight gain in HD mice than in treatment with BST-L.601 alone. Administration of SPY or BST-L.601 also reduced the serum level of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and leptin secretion at a similar level. These results revealed that both SPY and BST-L.601 effectively suppress HD-induced adipogenesis and lipogenesis, suggesting that these materials would be useful in the functional foods industry to ameliorate and/or prevent obesity.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruits as a Potential Lipid-Lowering Therapy: Effect on High-Fat Diet and Triton-WR-1339-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

The present study was designed to establish the phenolic profile and explore the potential lipid-lowering effect of two Moroccan date fruit varieties (Majhoul and Bousrdoun). HPLC-DAD has been used for phenolic profiling. Lipid peroxidation was measured in terms of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) by using egg yolk homogenate as lipid-rich media. The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the methanolic extract was examined using both models Triton-WR-1339 and chronic high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipemic rats. Further, the serum lipid profile was determined. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of seven phenolic acids and three flavonoids, of which gallic, caffeic acids and rutin were found to be the most abundant compounds. The gathered results indicate that rats treated with both varieties showed a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with Triton and high-fat diet controls. Moreover, a significant decrease in body weight was observed in the date-treated groups when compared to the hyperlipidemic control group. A thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test showed that these extracts significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation. Bousrdoun, which showed the highest lipid-lowering effects, is the one that displayed the greatest inhibition of lipid peroxidation and contains the largest amount of caffeic, p-coumaric, gallic, vanillic acids, rutin and luteolin. Accordingly, dates could be used as a potential functional food, which may be used to prevent lipid disorders and oxidation.

Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1077 Attenuates Hyperlipidemia by Modulating the Gut Microbiota Composition and Fecal Metabolites: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

An increasing number of studies have indicated that gut microbiota and its metabolites are crucial in the development of hyperlipidemia. Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) CCFM1077 has been shown to have lipid-lowering effects in animals. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of B. longum CCFM1077 in lowering the lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidemia and investigate the effect of this bacterium on serum lipid abnormalities, gut microbiota, and fecal metabolites in these patients. This study was a six-week, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. Subjects with hyperlipidemia (N = 62) were randomly assigned to receive placebo (N = 31) or B. longum CCFM1077 (1 × 1010 colony-forming units (CFUs) per day; N = 31). Serum lipid levels including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were examined at the baseline and interventional endpoints. Changes in the gut microbiota composition and diversity were measured based on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing of the V3–V4 region at the end of the intervention period. Non-targeted metabolomics of the feces was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/mass spectrometer. Oral administration of B. longum CCFM1077 for six weeks significantly decreased the serum levels of TC (p < 0.01) and LDL-C (p < 0.01) in patients with hyperlipidemia. B. longum CCFM1077 treatment markedly increased gut microbiota diversity and the relative abundance of anti-obesity-related genera, including Lactobacillus, Butyricicoccus, Bifidobacterium, and Blautia, whereas it decreased the relative abundance of obesity-related genera, including Alistipes, Megamonas, and Catenibacterium. Additionally, some key metabolites (bile acids (BAs), biotin, and caffeine) and their corresponding metabolic pathways (primary BA biosynthesis, and taurine and hypotaurine, biotin, purine, and caffeine metabolisms) were enriched by B. longum CCFM1077, and thus it may lower lipid levels. B. longum CCFM1077 is a probiotic strain with the potential to lower serum TC and LDL-C levels patients with hyperlipidemia. The underlying mechanism may be related to the increased abundance of anti-obesity-related genera and fecal metabolites. These findings provide a foundation for future clinical applications of lipid-lowering probiotics in managing individuals with hyperlipidemia.

The 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase inhibitor SW033291 ameliorates abnormal hepatic glucose metabolism through PGE2–EP4 receptor–AKT signaling in a type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a lipid signaling molecule that can ameliorate the symptoms of some metabolic diseases, including T2DM, and improve tissue repair and regeneration. Although SW033291 can increase PGE2 levels through its action as a small molecule inhibitor of the PGE2-degrading enzyme 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase, its effects on T2DM remain unclear. In the present study, we evaluated whether SW033291 treatment exerts a protective effect against T2DM and explored the underlying mechanisms. A T2DM mouse model was established using a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin treatment. Palmitic acid-treated LO2 cells were used as an insulin-resistant cell model. SW033291 treatment reduced body weight and fasting blood glucose levels as well as serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in vivo. In addition to ameliorating glucose and insulin tolerance, SW033291 treatment reversed the T2DM-induced decrease in glycogen synthesis and increase in gluconeogenesis in the liver. Furthermore, SW033291 administration increased hepatic glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) phosphorylation levels to promote glycogen synthesis. SW033291 treatment also inhibited gluconeogenesis by upregulating AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) phosphorylation and reducing glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 expression in the livers of T2DM model mice. Additionally, SW033291 treatment improved abnormal hepatic glucose metabolism through the PGE2–EP4 receptor–AKT–GSK3β/FOXO1 signaling pathway in vitro. These results suggest a novel role of SW033291 in improving T2DM and support its potential as a novel therapeutic agent.

Fecal metabolomics analysis for deciphering the lipid-lowering effect of Qizhi capsule on high-fat feed induced hyperlipidemia.

Qizhi capsule (QZC), a Chinese patent drug, has been utilized to treat hyperlipidemia. The present study aims to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of QZC, as well as the mechanism of action for treating hyperlipidemia. High-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia rats were administrated with different doses of QZC for 28 days, and atorvastatin calcium tablets was used as the positive control. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were used to evaluate the effectiveness of QZC treatment. The metabolic profiles of feces were analyzed by UPLC-MS-based metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate data analysis. The levels of serum TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C were significantly reversed in QZC treatment groups, showing a similar or even better treatment effect compared with the atorvastatin calcium group. Thirty-two potential fecal biomarkers related to hyperlipidemia were identified. QZC could partially recover the disturbed metabolic pathways of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis. Meanwhile, the signal pathways of regulation of lipid metabolism by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), PPARα activates gene expression, and transcriptional regulation of white adipocyte differentiation can be also regulated by QZC. The lipid-lowering effect of QZC was confirmed by both serum biochemistry and metabolomics analysis. The beneficial effects of QZC were mainly attributed to the correction of metabolic disorders and the maintenance of the dynamic balance of metabolites.

Bifidobacterium supplementation attenuates hypercholesterolemia induced gut-brain-testis dysfunction in a rat model

Hypercholesterolemia is the state of high LDL blood cholesterol levels. This may lead to cholesterol accumulation in organs and cause diseases such as male infertility and NAFLD. Recent studies have shown strong correlations between Bifidobacterium strains and plasma cholesterol reduction. Bifidobacterium species are gram positive bacteria known to colonize the human gastrointestinal tract. Studies suggest that Bifidobacterium may reduce serum cholesterol levels by increasing bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity. BSH increases fecal excretion of bile salt, and to compensate the loss of circulating bile acids, productions of bile acids using cholesterol are promoted. Currently, medications such as statins are commonly used. However, long term consumption could cause adverse effects on male reproductive organs. Bifidobacterium strains are known to regulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis by modulating gut microbiota . Gut microbial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium contribute to the host metabolism by enhancing gut barrier integrity, reducing inflammation cytokine expressions, and increasing metabolite productions such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Particularly, SCFAs like butyrate can cross the blood-brain barrier, and consequently affect the HPG axis. This suggests that Bifidobacterium strains may lower serum cholesterol while protecting reproductive organs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the serum cholesterol lowering and HPG axis protecting effects of Bifidobacterium strains with statin in the gut-brain-testis axis of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) induced hypercholesterolemia rat model. 6-week oral gavage of Bifidobacterium strains known to have BSH activity effectively reduced serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in rats given HCD for the same period. Moreover, serum inflammatory cytokine IL-1β was reduced by Bifidobacterium treatment. Bifidobacterium also exerted protective effects against intestinal, testicular, and cerebral damage by attenuating disruption of histology and modulating transcript levels of inflammation markers. Notably, Bifidobacterium alleviated the HCD-induced reduction of male sex hormone synthesis markers in the testis, which statin had no effect. Fecal analysis revealed that Bifidobacterium treatment modulates gut microbiota compositions and metabolite levels such as SCFAs. Particularly, 16s rRNA genomic annotation showed that Bifidobacterium strains may have specific functions related to cholesterol reduction. Altogether, Bifidobacterium supplementation may reduce serum cholesterol levels by altering gut microbiota compositions, which affect gut metabolite compositions, inflammatory markers, and sex hormone synthesis markers. In conclusion, Bifidobacterium supplementation is a potential therapeutic approach for hypercholesterolemia-induced intestine, brain, and testis dysfunction. This work was supported by Cellbiotech Co., Ltd. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Prevalence and risk factors of keratoconus (including oxidative stress biomarkers) in a cohort study of Shiraz university of medical science employees in Iran

BackgroundTo determine the prevalence of keratoconus in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Employees and the related risk factors including oxidative stress biomarkers.Methods2546 subjects’ mean age ± SD, 40.35 ± 6.70 (46% male) were recruited. All participants underwent objective refraction using auto-refractometer and retinoscopy, followed by subjective refraction, and bio-microscopy. Pentacam imaging was performed for the detected keratoconus patients. The prevalence of keratoconus and frequency of the visual impairment among keratoconus cases were evaluated. Potential risk factors of sex, age, family history of keratoconus, body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, serum levels of glucose ≥ 100 mg/d, low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) ≥ 110 mg/dL, high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol ≤ 40 mg/d, and triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL in the blood were evaluated.ResultsThe prevalence of keratoconus at least in one eye was 0.98% (95% CI: 0.6- 1.4%). The best corrected visual acuity in the keratoconus group was 0.06 ± 0.1 and the rest of the population was 0.01 ± 0.07 logMAR (p < 0.001). The frequency of visual impairment in the keratoconus group was zero. Odds ratios of the family history of keratoconus (21.00, 95% CI: 9.00–48.00, p < 0.001) and LDL ≥ 110 mg/dL (3.00, 95% CI: 1.20–6.40, p = 0.01) were significant.ConclusionsKeratoconus is rare and is not considered a risk factor for visual impairment. A family history of keratoconus and elevated serum LDL levels are contributing risk factors, suggesting an inflammatory background for the disease. Serum levels of LDL ≥ 110 mg/dL in the blood increased the risk of keratoconus three folds.