Beneficial Effects of Plant-Derived Natural Products on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming in one of the most prevalent liver diseases that leads to liver transplantation. This health problem is a multisystem disease with a complex pathogenesis that involves liver, adipose tissue, gut, and muscle. Although several pharmacological agents have been investigated to prevent or treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, currently there is no effective treatment for the management of this chronic liver disease. Nonetheless, the use of natural products has emerged as a alternative therapeutic for the treatment of hepatic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, insulin-sensitizing, antiobesity, hypolipidemic, and hepatoprotective properties. In the present review, we have discussed the evidence from experimental and clinical studies regarding the potential beneficial effects of plant-derived natural products (quercetin, resveratrol, berberine, pomegranate, curcumin, cinnamon, green tea, coffee, garlic, ginger, ginseng, and gingko biloba) for the treatment or prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on the transcription of TRPM6, TRPM7, and SLC41A1 in individuals newly diagnosed of pre-hypertension. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

A stringent regulation of influx and efflux of magnesium by cation transporters seems to play an important role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP). With this regard, we evaluate the effect of oral magnesium supplementation on the transcription of TRPM6, TRPM7, and SLC41A1, in individuals with incident pre-hypertension (preHTN). For such purpose, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that compared 18 individuals who received oral magnesium lactate (360 mg elemental magnesium) versus 18 individuals who received placebo, during 4 months. Diagnosis of hypertension or normal BP, diabetes, alcohol intake, chronic diarrhea, use of diuretics, intake of magnesium supplementation, and reduced renal function were exclusion criteria. Regarding the transcription analysis of TRPM6, TRPM7, and SLC41A1 using RT-qPCR, leukocyte-rich plasma was obtained and total RNA was isolated with the kit Direct-zol™ RNA MiniPrep (Zymo). The leukocyte TRPM6 mRNA relative expression showed a significant increase (2.1 ± 1.37 and 0.8 ± 0.4, P<0.05), whereas the mRNA relative expression of both leukocyte TRPM7 (0.8 ± 1.1 and 0.9 ± 0.6, pNS) and SLC41A1 (0.9 ± 1.0 and 0.7 ± 0.6, pNS) showed no significant differences, between the magnesium and placebo groups, respectively. Oral magnesium supplementation increases the leukocyte TRPM6 mRNA relative expression, in subjects with new diagnosis of preHTN.

Prevalence of Prehypertension in Mexico and Its Association With Hypomagnesemia.

BACKGROUND: Prehypertension (preHTN) increases the risk of developing hypertension. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of preHTN in the Mexican adult population and evaluate the association between hypomagnesemia and preHTN. METHODS: This study was a 2-phase, population-based study. In the first phase, 4,272 Mexican adults (aged 20-65 years) were enrolled to determine the prevalence of preHTN. In the second phase, a cross-sectional analysis was performed to evaluate the association between hypomagnesemia and preHTN. The exclusion criteria were chronic diarrhea, malignancy, hepatic and renal diseases, chronic inflammatory disease, and the intake of magnesium supplements. PreHTN was defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) of 120-139 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP of 80-89 mm Hg, and hypomagnesemia was defined as a serum magnesium concentration <1.8 mg/dl. RESULTS: The prevalence of preHTN was 37.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 36.0-39.0): 46.7% were men (95% CI: 44.1-49.4) and 33.2% (95% CI: 31.5-5.0) were women. The serum magnesium data were available for 921 participants. Hypomagnesemia was identified in 276 (30.0%; 95% CI: 27.1-33.0) subjects; of them, 176 (63.8%; 95% CI: 58.3-69.6) had preHTN. Individuals with preHTN exhibited lower magnesium levels than individuals without preHTN (1.78±0.36 vs. 1.95±0.37, P < 0.0005). A multiple logistic regression analysis (adjusted for age, sex, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels) indicated a significant association between hypomagnesemia and preHTN (odds ratio = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.5-4.0, P < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of preHTN in the Mexican population is 37.5%, and hypomagnesemia is strongly associated with preHTN.