Dietary Supplementation with Virgin Coconut Oil Improves Lipid Profile and Hepatic Antioxidant Status and Has Potential Benefits on Cardiovascular Risk Indices in Normal Rats.

Research findings that suggest beneficial health effects of dietary supplementation with virgin coconut oil (VCO) are limited in the published literature. This study investigated the in vivo effects of a 5-week VCO-supplemented diet on lipid profile, hepatic antioxidant status, hepatorenal function, and cardiovascular risk indices in normal rats. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1 control and 2 treatment groups (10% and 15% VCO-supplemented diets) for 5 weeks. Serum and homogenate samples were used to analyze lipid profile, hepatorenal function markers, hepatic activities of antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde level. Lipid profile of animals fed VCO diets showed significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level increased significantly (p < .05) compared to control; and there were beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk indices. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker, remarkably reduced and activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-were markedly increased in VCO diet-fed rats. The VCO diet significantly modulated creatinine, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) compared to control. The findings suggest a beneficial effect of VCO on lipid profile, renal status, hepatic antioxidant defense system, and cardiovascular risk indices in rats.

Primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency presenting as fatal neonatal multiorgan failure.

Coenzyme Q10 deficiency is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder, with manifestations that may range from fatal neonatal multisystem failure, to adult-onset encephalopathy. We report a patient who presented at birth with severe lactic acidosis, proteinuria, dicarboxylic aciduria, and hepatic insufficiency. She also had dilation of left ventricle on echocardiography. Her neurological condition rapidly worsened and despite aggressive care she died at 23 h of life. Muscle histology displayed lipid accumulation. Electron microscopy showed markedly swollen mitochondria with fragmented cristae. Respiratory-chain enzymatic assays showed a reduction of combined activities of complex I+III and II+III with normal activities of isolated complexes. The defect was confirmed in fibroblasts, where it could be rescued by supplementing the culture medium with 10 µM coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 levels were reduced (28% of controls) in these cells. We performed exome sequencing and focused the analysis on genes involved in coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis. The patient harbored a homozygous c.545T>G, p.(Met182Arg) alteration in COQ2, which was validated by functional complementation in yeast. In this case the biochemical and morphological features were essential to direct the genetic diagnosis. The parents had another pregnancy after the biochemical diagnosis was established, but before the identification of the genetic defect. Because of the potentially high recurrence risk, and given the importance of early CoQ10 supplementation, we decided to treat with CoQ10 the newborn child pending the results of the biochemical assays. Clinicians should consider a similar management in siblings of patients with CoQ10 deficiency without a genetic diagnosis.

Synergistic effect of black tea and curcumin in improving the hepatotoxicity induced by aflatoxin B1 in rats.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxic compound commonly found as a contaminant in human food. It is carcinogenic due its potential in inducing the oxidative stress and distortion of the most antioxidant enzymes. Since black tea possesses strong antioxidant activity, it protects cells and tissues against oxidative stress. Curcumin (CMN), a naturally occurring agent, has a combination of biological and pharmacological properties that include antioxidant activity. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the possible role of separate and mixed supplementation of black tea extract and CMN in the hepatotoxicity induced by AFB1 in rats. A total of 48: adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into eight groups with six rats in each group. Group 1 (normal control) includes rats that received no treatment. Groups 2, 3, and 4 (positive control) include rats that received olive oil, black tea extract, and CMN, respectively. Group 5 includes rats that received AFB1 at a dose of 750 µg/kg body weight (b.w.) dissolved in olive oil. Groups 6, 7, and 8 include rats that received AFB1 along with 2% black tea extract, CMN at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w., and both black tea extract and CMN at the same previous doses, respectively. After 90 days, biochemical and histopathological examination was carried out for the blood samples and liver tissues. A significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes and a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide in the rats treated with AFB1 were observed. Moreover, there were dramatic changes in the liver function biomarkers, lipid profile, and liver architecture. Supplementation of black tea extract or CMN showed an efficient role in repairing the distortion of the biochemical and histological changes induced by AFB1 in liver. This improvement was more pronounced when both CMN and black tea were used together.

κ-Selenocarrageenan prevents microcystin-LR-induced hepatotoxicity in BALB/c mice.

Microcystins (MCs) are a family of cyclic heptapeptides that are produced by blooming algae Microcystis. MCs have been implicated in the development of liver cancer, necrosis and even intrahepatic bleeding. Effective prophylactic approaches and complete removal of MCs are urgently needed. Accumulating evidence suggests that microcystin-LR (MC-LR)-induced damage is accompanied by oxidative stress. Supplementation of Se can enhance resistance to oxidative stress. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the protective effects of κ-Selenocarrageenan (Se-Car), a kind of organic Se compound, in Balb/c mice exposed to MC-LR. Our results proved that Se-Car could significantly ameliorate the hepatic damage induced by MC-LR, including serum markers of liver dysfunction, oxidative damages and histological alterations. Furthermore, Se-Car could significantly alleviate the up-regulation of the molecular targets indicating mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by MC-LR. In conclusion, Se-Car showed clear protection against toxicity induced by MC-LR. Thus, Se-Car could be useful as a new category of anti-MC-LR toxicity reagent.

Hiperamonemia en niños: clasificación y opciones terapéuticas / Hyperammonaemia in children: classification and therapeutic options

La hiperamonemia se presenta en forma secundaria por aumento en la producción de amonio, como en la hemorragia gastrointestinal o disminución de la eliminación, como ocurre en errores innatos del metabolismo, principalmente en aquellos con defectos en el ciclo de la urea, insuficiencia hepática o fármacos. Clasificar la hiperamonemia y reportar las opciones terapéuticas en niños, su abordaje clínico y revisión de la literatura. Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo y transversal de niños con hiperamonemia. Variables: edad, género, etiología, niveles de amonio, clínica, tratamiento. 21 pacientes, 12 (57,12%) varones y 9 (42,88%) hembras. Edad promedio 3,91 años (rango:<1mes-14 años). Amonio promedio general 214,66 mmol/l (rango:110-980), clasificados según severidad: sin insuficiencia hepática 11/21 con promedio de amonio 99,44 y 201 mmol/l en hiperamonemia leve y moderada respectivamente. Clínica y laboratorio de insuficiencia hepática en 10/21 con promedio de amonio de 114,44, 287,51 y 756,66 en leve, moderada y severa hiperamonemia, con una diferencia significativa entre el nivel de amonio y la presencia o ausencia de insuficiencia hepática (p<0,0001); 5/10 con insuficiencia hepática ingresaron a terapia intensiva, 4 de ellos presentaron encefalopatía hepática, un paciente fallecido. Etiología: Error innato del metabolismo 33,33%, toxicidad por medicamentos 23,80%, hepatitis viral A fulminante 19,04% y otros virus 9,52%, hepatitis autoinmune 4,76% y urosepsis 4,76%. En los casos leves-moderados se administró lactulosa dosis respuesta vía oral 19/21 y por enema rectal 7/21 con L-carnitina en 15/21 y en Hiperamonemia severa adicionalmente Benzoato de sodio en 4/21 y hubo indicación de hemodiálisis en 3 pacientes. Restricción proteica en todos, vitaminoterapia y 6 niños tratados con ácido ursodeoxicólico. La hiperamonemia es multifactorial, requiere diagnóstico temprano, la clasificación de severidad permite el tratamiento oportuno para evitar complicaciones....

Hyperammonaemia occurs secondarily by increased production of ammonia, as gastrointestinal bleeding or decreased elimination, as occurs in inborn errors of metabolism, especially in those with defects in the urea cycle, liver failure or drugs. To classify the report hyperammonaemia and therapeutic options in children, its clinical approach and review of the literature. Prospective, descriptive and transversal children with hyperammonaemia. Variables: age, gender, etiology, ammonia levels, clinical treatment. 21 patients, 12 (57,12%) males and 9 (42,88%) females. Mean age 3,91 years (range: <1m-14a). ammonium 214,66 mmol / l (range :110-980), classified according to severity: no hepatic impairment 11/21 with 99,44 average ammonium and 201 mmol / l in Hyperammoanemia mild and moderate respectively. Clinical and laboratory liver failure 10/21 with ammonium averaging 114,44, 287,51 and 756,66 as mild, moderate and severe hyperammonemia, with a significant difference between the level of ammonia and the presence or absence of liver failure (p < 0,0001), 5/10 with liver failure admitted to intensive care, 4 of them had hepatic encephalopathy, a patient died. Etiology: An inborn error of metabolism 33,33%, 23,80% drug toxicity, fulminant viral hepatitis and other viruses 19,04% 9,52% 4,76% autoimmune hepatitis and urosepsis 4,76%. In mild-moderate cases were given oral lactulose Dose 19/21 and by enema rectal 7/21 with L-carnitine in 15/21 and further severe Hyperammonemia sodium benzoate 4/21 and was indication of hemodialysis in 3 patients. Protein restriction at all, vitamin therapy and 6 children treated with ácidoursodeoxicólico. Hyperammonemia is multifactorial, requires early diagnosis, classification of severity allows early treatment to avoid complications and development of irreversible neurological sequelae

Fenofibrate prevents orotic acid--induced hepatic steatosis in rats.

The experiments performed in this report were designed to investigate the mechanisms involved in the metabolic alterations associated with orotic acid-induced hepatic steatosis and the effect of fenofibrate, a stimulant of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), on these alterations. Male Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups: 1) fed a balanced diet (C); 2) fed a balanced diet supplemented with 1% orotic acid (OA); 3) fed OA diet containing 100 mg.kg(-1) bw.day(-1) fenofibrate (OA+F), for 9 days. Administration of OA to rats induced significant increase in the hepatic total lipids content, marked microvesicular steatosis and decrease in plasma lipids concentrations compared to control group. Fenofibrate treatment prevented fatty liver induction, caused an additional reduction on plasma lipids concentrations and caused a 40% decrease in the lipogenic rate in adipose tissue. The results also showed a 40% increase in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in adipose tissue from OA treated group and fenofibrate administration induced a 50% decrease in LPL activity. The liver mRNA expression of PPARalpha and ACO (acyl CoA oxidase) were 85% and 68% decreased in OA group when compared to control, respectively. Fenofibrate treatment increased the PPARalpha and ACO expressions whereas the CPT-1 (carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1) expression was not altered. Our results have shown that fenofibrate treatment decreases the hepatic lipid content induced by OA which is mediated by an important increase in fatty acid oxidation consequent to an increase in hepatic mRNA expression of PPARalpha and ACO.