Effect of Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché on glutathione level and glycosylated hemoglobin percentage in a Mexican rural population with type 2 diabetes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché fruit is widely used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) because it has been attributed with antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties in different experimental models and T2D patients. An imbalance in physiological glutathione (GSH) concentrations increases the susceptibility to developing complications associated with oxidative stress in T2D patients. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of C. ficifolia on the antioxidant properties of GSH, general health measurements, and biochemical parameters in a Mexican rural population, and to evaluate the changes in socio-affective scores of patients due to improvement in T2D. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven women diagnosed with T2D with poor glycemic control volunteered and were divided into two groups: C. ficifolia (0.5 g/kg of fresh pulp weight) with hypoglycemic pharmacotherapy, and another group with only hypoglycemic pharmacotherapy, for 12 weeks. We evaluated the effect of the fresh pulp of C. ficifolia on body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and GSH. Expanding the study, we evaluated the quality of life, anxiety, and depression scores before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Treatment with the fresh pulp of C. ficifolia for 12 weeks reduced glycosylated hemoglobin, similar to the hypoglycemic pharmacotherapy group, and significantly increased GSH concentrations. The patients' moods did not change despite increased GSH concentrations and improved T2D control. CONCLUSIONS: The increased GSH concentrations due to the consumption of fresh pulp of C. ficifolia could help to protect against oxidative stress and extend therapeutic benefits in addition to the usual hypoglycemic drugs in patients with T2D.

Efecto del consumo de agua endulzada con sacarosa al 12% en el estado nutricional de ratas Wistar / Effect of consumption of water sweetened with 12% sucrose on the nutritional status of Wistar rats / Efeito do consumo de água dourada com 12% de sacrose sobre o estado nutricional de ratos Wistar

Resumen La relación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas con sacarosa y la reducción en la ingesta de alimentos ha sido objeto de estudio en el ámbito de la salud pública y la nutrición. A medida que el consumo de estas bebidas ha aumentado en las últimas décadas, se ha observado un aumento de los problemas de salud relacionados con la alimentación. En este trabajo se analiza el efecto que tiene la ingesta crónica de agua endulzada con sacarosa sobre el consumo de alimento balanceado, el perfil lipídico, la resistencia a la insulina, y en algunos marcadores del estado nutricional como el peso, la proteína sérica total, albúmina, hemoglobina y creatinina en ratas Wistar macho. El agua endulzada con sacarosa al 12% se administró a un grupo de 9 ratas durante 8 semanas. Un grupo control de 9 ratas bebieron agua natural. El consumo de alimentos entre ambos grupos y los marcadores bioquímicos se analizaron al final del tratamiento. Las concentraciones séricas de glucosa, lípidos, proteínas totales, albúmina, creatinina y hemoglobina se midieron mediante espectroscopia. Los resultados mostraron que el grupo de ratas que consumieron agua endulzada con sacarosa ingirieron menos alimento balanceado; consumieron una mayor cantidad de líquidos y calorías. Sin embargo, el consumo de agua endulzada no modificó el perfil lipídico. Los resultados de marcadores nutricionales tales como peso, creatinina, proteínas totales, albúmina y hemoglobina mostraron que el consumo crónico de sacarosa al 12% no ocasionaba un estado de desnutrición a largo plazo por menor consumo de alimento balanceado.

Abstract The relationship between the consumption of sucrose-sweetened beverages and the reduction in the intake of foods has been the subject of study in the field of public health and nutrition. As consumption of these beverages has increased in recent decades, an increase in diet-related health problems has been observed. In the present work, the effect of chronic intake of water sweetened with 12% sucrose on balanced food consumption, lipid profile, insulin resistance, as well as on some markers of nutritional status such as weight, total serum, protein, albumin, hemoglobin and creatinine in male Wistar rats is analysed. Water sweetened with sucrose was administered to a group of 9 rats for 8 weeks, with a group of 9 rats that drank natural water as a control. Food consumption between both groups, as well as blood chemistry markers, were analysed at the end of treatment. Serum concentrations of glucose, lipids, total protein, albumin, creatinine, and hemoglobin were measured by spectroscopy. The results showed that the group of rats that consumed water sweetened with sucrose ingested less balanced food; they consumed a greater amount of fluids and calories. However, consumption of sweetened water did not modify the lipid profile. The results of nutritional markers such as weight, creatinine, total protein, albumin and hemoglobin show that chronic consumption of 12% sucrose does not cause a state of long-term malnutrition due to lower consumption of balanced food.

Resumo A relação entre o consumo de bebidas açucaradas com sacarose e a redução na ingestão de alimentos tem sido objeto de estudo na área de saúde pública e na nutrição. Como o consumo destas bebidas tem crescido nas últimas décadas, foi observado um aumento dos problemas de saúde relacionados com a alimentação. No presente trabalho foi analisado o efeito da ingestão crônica de água açucarada com sacarose sobre o consumo de alimento balanceado, perfil lipídico, resistência à insulina, bem como em alguns marcadores do estado nutricional como peso, proteína sérica total, albumina, hemoglobina e creatinina em ratos Wistar machos. Água adoçada com sacarose a 12% foi administrada a um grupo de 9 ratos durante 8 semanas, com um grupo de 9 ratos que beberam água natural como grupo controle. O consumo alimentar entre os dois grupos, bem como os marcadores bioquímicos, foram analisados no final do tratamento. As concentrações séricas de glicose, lipídios, proteínas totais, albumina, creatinina e hemoglobina foram medidas por espectroscopia. Os resultados mostraram que o grupo de ratos que consumiu água adoçada com sacarose ingeriu menos alimento balanceado; Eles consumiram maior quantidade de líquidos e calorias. Entretanto, o consumo de água adoçada não modificou o perfil lipídico. Os resultados dos marcadores nutricionais como peso, creatinina, proteína total, albumina e hemoglobina mostraram que o consumo crônico de sacarose a 12% não causava estado de desnutrição no longo prazo devido ao menor consumo de alimentos balanceados.

TPH2-703 G/T polymorphism is associated with stress, depression, and psychosocial symptoms in mentally healthy Mexicans.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of serotonin synthesis. TPH2 is the brain-specific isoform of this enzyme, and genetic variations in the TPH2 gene have been shown to impact its transcription and enzymatic activity and are associated with mood disorders. In this study we focused on the rs4570625 (-703G/T) single nucleotide polymorphism of TPH2 gene. By using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we examined the effect of this polymorphism on stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms as well as quality of life, evaluated based on the Holmes-Rahe Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Short Version, respectively. We found that individuals with the homozygous recessive T/T genotype had lower stress and depression scores. In addition, the quality of life in the psychological health domain was better in males with the T/T genotype. These results suggest that T/T genotype could decrease the susceptibility to developing stress and depression in the Mexican population without a diagnosis for an emotional disorder.

Association Between Socio-Affective Symptoms and Glutathione and CD4 and CD8 Lymphocytes in College Students.

Background: The prevalence of anxiety and depression in young students is associated with biosocial factors and scholastic stress. However, few studies have evaluated emotional-affective symptoms that are related to the immune system and antioxidant parameters in young individuals without diagnoses of affective disorders. Aim: This study aims to assess the relationship between emotional-affective symptoms and glutathione concentrations and CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts in college students. Methods: College students (n = 177) completed standardized psychometric instruments, including the Perceived Stress Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Familiar Social and Friends Support Scale, and Rosenberg Scale. Blood samples were biochemically analyzed. Analyses of variance were conducted between four groups according to symptom severity. Results: A considerable prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms was observed and negatively correlated with self-esteem and socio-familiar support. Perceived stress was sexually dimorphic. Although biochemical parameters were within reference ranges, glutathione, CD4, and CD8 tended to be lower in participants with anxiety and depression symptoms, which may be of predictive value. Conclusion: The relationship between antioxidant/immune parameters and socio-affective scores is latent in undiagnosed college students who might develop affective disorders. The findings suggest that during the initial development of affective disorders, stress management strategies should be implemented to help college students cope with the academic load and monitor negative changes in their physiological state.