Effect of dietary chia supplementation on glucose metabolism and adipose tissue function markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease subjects.

Introduction: Background: adipose tissue dysfunction is a key factor for diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. Chia (Salvia hispanica) is an abundant source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber which could improve adipose tissue functionality. Aim: to analyze the effect of an isocaloric chia-supplemented diet on glucose metabolism, adipose tissue inflammation, and endothelial function markers in patients with NAFLD and early stages of diabetes. Methods: in 32 patients with previous NAFLD diagnosis, without known diabetes, the effect of a diet supplemented with ground chia (25 g/day/8 weeks) was evaluated. Visceral (VAF) and liver fat, plasma lipids, fatty acids, and cytokine profiles, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulinogenic index (IGI30), insulin disposition index (DIO), and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) were analyzed. Before and after eight weeks of diet supplementation. Results: chia supplementation promoted increases in plasma alpha-linolenic acid (75 %) and fiber consumption (55 %), and a higher number of EPC (+126 %). Basal OGTT showed that nine patients had normal OGTT, 17 pre-diabetes, and six newly diagnosed diabetes. In patients with diabetes, chia favored a healthier adipose tissue (VAF -7 %, NAFLD -100 %, adiponectin +47 %, resistin -30 %, IL-6 -44 %, IL-1ß -22 %) and upturn glucose metabolism through the improvement of beta-cell function (IGI30 +50 %, DIO +66 %). Conclusions: dietary supplementation with 25 g/day of ground chia may promote a healthier adipose tissue and improve pancreatic ß-cell and endothelial function. Among patients with early metabolic abnormalities, phytochemical properties of chia may retard diabetes progression and advanced stages of liver damage.

Introducción: Antecedentes: la disfunción del tejido adiposo es un factor clave para el desarrollo de diabetes e hígado graso no alcohólico (HGNA). La chía (Salvia hispanica) es una fuente abundante de ácidos grasos omega-3, antioxidantes y fibra, que podrían mejorar la funcionalidad del tejido adiposo. Objetivo: analizar el efecto de una dieta isocalórica suplementada con chía sobre el metabolismo de glucosa y los marcadores de inflamación del tejido adiposo y de función endotelial en pacientes con HGNA y etapas tempranas de diabetes. Métodos: en 32 pacientes con diagnóstico previo de HGNA, pero sin diabetes conocida, se evaluó el efecto de una dieta suplementada con chía molida (25 g/día) sobre la grasa visceral (GAV) y hepática, el perfil de lípidos, los ácidos grasos y las citoquinas en plasma, la prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa (OGTT), el índice insulinogénico (IGI30), el índice de disposición de insulina (DIO) y las células progenitoras endoteliales (EPC), antes y después de ocho semanas de suplementación. Resultados: la suplementación con chía promovió aumentos en el consumo de ácido alfa-linolénico en plasma (75 %) y fibra de alta viscosidad (55 %) y un mayor número de EPC (+126 %). La OGTT basal mostró que nueve pacientes tenían curva normal, 17 tenían prediabetes y seis, diabetes de recién diagnóstico. En los pacientes con diabetes, la chía favoreció un tejido adiposo más sano (GAV -7 %, NAFLD -100 %, adiponectina +47 %, resistina -30 %, IL-6 -44 %, IL-1ß -22 %) y un aumento del metabolismo de la glucosa a través de la mejora de la función de las células beta (IGI30 +50 %, DIO +66 %). Conclusiones: la suplementación de la dieta con 25 g/día de chía molida puede promover un tejido adiposo más saludable y mejorar la función endotelial y de las células ß pancreáticas. Entre los pacientes con anomalías metabólicas tempranas, las propiedades fitoquímicas de la chía pueden retrasar la progresión de la diabetes y el desarrollo de etapas avanzadas de daño hepático.

Effect of preshipment preconditioning and injectable antioxidant trace elements (Cu, Mn, Se, Zn) and vitamins (A, E) on plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations and growth in weaned beef cattle.

Weaning and transport represent a high stress time for calves. Preconditioning (PC) by weaning before the transport separate these stressors. The stressors generate oxidative stress, which can be reduced by mineral and vitamin supplementation (MVS) with an antioxidant capacity. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of PC and MVS on performance of steers. The experiment used a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement design, considering a 26-d PC treatment from weaning to transport to the feedlot (day 0), and injectable MVS on days -45, -26, and 0. The MVS consisted of Cu, Zn, Mn, Se, vitamin E (0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg body weight [BW], respectively), and vitamin A (1,190 IU/kg). Sixty Angus-crossbred steers (186.4 ± 27.6 kg) were randomly assigned to the four treatments (MVS+PC; N+PC; MVS+N; N+N; n = 15 per treatment). BW was recorded on days -45, -26, 0, 8, 15, and 29. On day 0, an additional BW was taken 30 min after the 5-h transportation (day 0.5). Between days 0 and 29, dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) to DMI ratio (G:F) were measured. Between days -26 and 29 plasma concentrations of glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), cortisol, insulin, total antioxidant status (TAS), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with repeated measures, using treatment, time, and treatment × time as fixed effects and steer as a random effect. Between days -26 and 0, there was an interaction of MVS × PC (P ˂ 0.01) for ADG. From days -26 to 0, N+N and N+PC had the greatest and lesser ADG, respectively. On day 0.5, no-PC steers tended to lose BW, whereas the PC steers tended to gain BW (P = 0.09). In the period days 0 to 8, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.27) in DMI, but the PC steers had greater G:F and ADG (P < 0.01) compared with no-PC steers. Plasma NEFA concentration on day 0 was affected by MVS × PC (P < 0.01) because MVS decreased plasma NEFA concentration in no-PC steers, but it increased in the PC steers. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and cortisol did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.23). There was an MVS × PC interaction (P = 0.09) for TAS on day 0; N+N had the greatest TAS concentrations and MVS+N had the lowest TAS concentrations. In conclusion, a 26-d PC decreased steers BW compared with no-PC steers. The BW loss during PC was not recovered 29 d after feedlot entry. Despite this BW loss, MVS treatment decreased BW loss in the steers allocated to PC treatment on the day of transport.

Chia (Salvia hispanica)-supplemented diet ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its metabolic abnormalities in humans.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a public health problem lacking an approved pharmacological treatment. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown to reverse NAFLD. Chia is a seed rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), antioxidants, and fiber; therefore, it could be useful to treat NAFLD. METHODS: In a single arm experimental design study, the effect of 25 g/day of milled chia was assessed in 25 patients with NAFLD. After two weeks of dietary stabilization (basal condition) and eight weeks of a chia-supplemented isocaloric diet, liver:spleen attenuation index and visceral abdominal fat (VAF) were measured by computed tomography. Lipids, lipoproteins, free fatty acids (FFA), and ALA plasma concentrations were also determined. RESULTS: Dietary chia supplementation induced an increase in plasma ALA concentration (75%) and dietary fiber (55%) consumption. After chia supplementation, VAF (9%), body weight (1.4%), total cholesterol (2.5%), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.2%), and circulating FFA (8%) decreased. Furthermore, NAFLD regressed in 52% of the treated patients (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show that 25 g/day of milled chia ameliorates NAFLD. Chia is an accessible vegetal source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, which could have the potential to prevent metabolic abnormalities in NAFLD patients. Considering that there is no pharmacological treatment approved for NAFLD, the findings of the present study suggest that a chia-supplemented diet could be an innovative alternative to control this disease. RETROSPECTIVELY REGISTERED: https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03942822.

Sodium Selenite Improves In Vitro Maturation of Bos primigenius taurus Oocytes.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element with important functions in animals and whose deficiency is associated with reproductive failures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Se concentrations during in vitro maturation (IVM) of Bos taurus oocyte within the reference ranges for Se status in cattle. For this purpose, Aberdeen Angus cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in IVM medium supplemented with 0, 10, 50, and 100 ng/mL Se (control, deficient, marginal, and adequate, respectively). The results demonstrated that marginal and adequate Se concentrations added during IVM increased viability and non-apoptotic cumulus cells (CC). Moreover, the addition of Se to culture media decreased malondialdehyde level in COC with all studied concentrations and increased total glutathione content in CC and oocytes with 10 ng/mL Se. On the other hand, total antioxidant capacity of COC, nuclear maturation, and the developmental capacity of oocytes were not modified by Se supplementation. However, 10 ng/mL Se increased hatching rate. In conclusion, supplementation with 10 ng/mL Se during in vitro maturation of Bos primigenius taurus oocytes should be considered to improve embryo quality.

Effects of Copper and Zinc Supplementation on Weight Gain and Hematological Parameters in Pre-weaning Calves.

Cow-calf operations may be affected by trace mineral deficiencies, particularly copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) deficiency, which may decrease the calf daily weight gain and alter hematological parameters. We evaluated the effect of Cu and Zn supplementation on pre-weaning calves (n = 40; 92 ± 6 kg initial body weight) from the Salado River basin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Calves were divided into four groups (n = 10 each) and subcutaneously administered 0.3 mg/kg Cu (Cu group), 1 mg/kg Zn (Zn group), Cu and Zn together (Cu + Zn group), and sterile saline solution (control group) every 40 days for 120 days. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations, hematological parameters, and weight were recorded every 40 days. A completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial treatment design was used and data were analyzed with a mixed model for repeated measures over time. Cu and Zn were detected in plasma after the second sampling. Cu × Zn interaction was significant (p = 0.09), being Cu concentration higher in the Cu + Zn than in the Cu group. Differences in weight gain (Zn × time interaction; p < 0.01) were observed in the Zn but not in the Cu group (p > 0.1). On the other hand, none of the treatments altered any of the hematological parameters assessed (p > 0.1). Our results show the risk of lower weight gain due to Zn deficiency in pre-weaning calves raised in the Salado River basin.