Fatty acids composition and in vivo biochemical effects of Aleurites moluccana seed (Candlenut) in obese wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Candlenut (CN) has been used indiscriminately for weight loss. In vivo effects of CN in different doses are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of CN ingestion in obese rats. DESIGN: Thirty animals (obese and non-obese) received one of three different types of treatments: placebo, CN ingestion in a popular therapeutic regimen (8 days with oral administration of 0.2 mg/kg followed by 20 days with doses of 0.4 mg/kg), and ingestion of a doubled popular dose-called 2CN. Treatment was maintained for 28 days. RESULTS: The fatty acid profile of CN indicated mainly linolelaidic and palmitoleic acids. Rats receiving CN and 2CN showed reduced plasmatic levels of glucose and lipoproteins (p < 0.05). A dose-dependent carcass fat reduction was observed (p < 0.05). Blood levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) reduced with CN and increased with 2CN doses (p < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the atherogenic index remained similar among all treatments (p > 0.05). Hepatic vacuolation decreased with CN, but the 2CN dose produced mononuclear leucocyte infiltrate. CONCLUSIONS: Although CN presented beneficial effects on the metabolism of rats, it also caused increased risk of liver damage.

Dose-response effect of prebiotic ingestion (ß-glucans isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in diabetic rats with periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease is one of the most frequent comorbidities in diabetic patients and can contribute to poor blood glucose control. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ingesting different doses of beta-glucans (BG) isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on alveolar bone loss (ABL) and inflammatory/metabolic parameters in normal and diabetic rats with ligature-induced periodontal disease (PD). DESIGN: Sixty male rats were assigned into two groups: non-diabetic or diabetic (i.p. 70 mg/kg streptozotocin) with PD. Then, groups were subdivided into five subgroups according BG doses: 0 mg/Kg; 10 mg/Kg; 20 mg/Kg; 40 mg/Kg or 80 mg/Kg. Animals received BG for 28 days and ligatures were placed on lower first molars during the last 14 days. RESULTS: ABL of diabetic and non-diabetic animals receiving BG 40 mg/kg (1.33 ± 0.03 mm and 0.77 ± 0.07 mm, respectively) and 80 mg/kg (1.26 ± 0.07 mm and 0.78 ± 0.05 mm, respectively) doses was lower (p < 0.05) in comparison to respective controls (1.59 ± 0.11 mm and 0.90 mm ±0.08). COX-2 (Control: 1.66 ± 0.12; 40 mg/kg: 1.13 ± 0.07; 80 mg/kg: 0.92 ± 0.18) and RANKL expressions (Control: 1.74 ± 0.34; 40 mg/kg: 1.03 ± 0.29 ;80 mg/kg: 0.75 ± 0.21), together with the RANKL/OPG ratio (Control: 1.17 ± 0.08; 40 mg/kg: 0.67 ± 0.09; 80 mg/kg: 0.63 ± 0.28) were attenuated above the same dose (p < 0.05). BG did not influence (p > 0.05) metabolic parameters in non-diabetic rats. In diabetic animals, doses above 40 mg/kg reduced IL-1ß (Control: 387 ± 66; 40 mg/kg: 309 ± 27; 80 mg/kg: 300 ± 14) and TNF-α (Control: 229 ± 19; 40 mg/kg: 128 ± 53; 80 mg/kg: 71 ± 25), blood glucose levels (Control: 402 ± 49; 40 mg/kg: 334 ± 32; 80 mg/kg: 287 ± 56), total cholesterol (Control: 124 ± 8; 40 mg/kg: 120 ± 10; 80 mg/kg: 108 ± 9), LDL-c + VLDL-c (Control: 106 ± 8; 40 mg/kg: 103 ± 10; 80 mg/kg: 87 ± 10) and triacylglycerols (Control: 508 ± 90; 40 mg/kg: 301 ± 40; 80 mg/kg: 208 ± 61), whereas increased HDL-c (Control: 18 ± 0.5; 40 mg/kg: 19 ± 1; 80 mg/kg: 21 ± 1) (p < 0.05). Optimal dose needed to reduce ABL was higher in diabetic animals with PD. CONCLUSIONS: BG ingestion reduced ABL and improved inflammatory profile in a dose-dependent manner. Best effects were achieved with doses above 40 mg/kg.

Mechanisms Involved in Glycemic Control Promoted by Exercise in Diabetics.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by high glycemic levels for long periods. This disease has a high prevalence in the world population, being currently observed an increase in its incidence. This fact is mainly due to the sedentary lifestyle and hypercaloric diets. Non-pharmacological interventions for glycemic control include exercise, which promotes changes in skeletal muscle and adipocytes. Thus, increased glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and decreased insulin resistance through modulating adipocytes are the main factors that improve glycemic control against diabetes. CONCLUSION: It was sought to elucidate mechanisms involved in the improvement of glycemic control in diabetics in front of the exercise.

METABOLIC EFFECTS OF Β-GLUCANS (SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISAE) PER OS ADMINISTRATION IN RATS WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES.

INTRODUCTION: beta-glucans (BG) derived from plant tissues are reported to show metabolic effects. In contrast, those fibers isolated from yeast seem to be more related to immune response modulation. Since diabetic individuals are more susceptible to exacerbation of inflammatory signs, the ingestion of fibers that could conjugate both metabolic and immune effects would be of great importance. OBJECTIVE: we investigated the effect of BG - Saccharomyses cerevisae - ingestion on glycemic and lipoprotein profile of diabetic rats. DESIGN: twenty-four adult Wistar rats were used, distributed into 4 groups in a design of entirely casualized delineation with a 2 x 2 factorial model (with and without diabetes; with and without BG). Diabetes Mellitus was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 80mg/kg of strepzotocin. Thus, animals with fasting glycemia of over 250 mg/dl were considered diabetic. Forty-eight hours after induction, the rats received daily doses of 30 mg/kg of BG or saline solution by gavage during 28 days. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: the Groups with DM presented a higher glycemic index and lower C peptide levels than the control groups, in addition to lower weight gain and higher ration consumption, water ingestion and urinary volume. Total cholesterol levels (CT), LDL-C + VLDL-C, plasma triacylglycerides (TAG) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also higher in the diabetic animals (p < 0.05), and there were no alterations in the HDL-C levels. The ingestion of BG reduced blood glucose concentrations (30%), TAG (32%) and ALT (41%) (p < 0.05). No histopathological hepatic alterations were observed in any of the groups. Furthermore, the diabetic animals present increase in villous:crypt ratio (V:C) in the duodenum, without interference of BG. No alterations in the carcass were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: it was concluded that the use of BG significantly reduced the glycemic, TAG and ALT levels, showing its therapeutic potential.

Introdución: los beta-glucanos (BG) derivados de tejidos vegetales se ha informado que muestran efectos metabólicos. Por el contrario, esas fibras aisladas de levadura parecen estar más relacionadas con la modulación de la respuesta inmune. Dado que los individuos con diabetes son más susceptibles a la exacerbación de los signos inflamatorios, la ingestión de fibras sí podría conjugar ambos efectos metabólicos e inmunológicos, lo cual sería de gran importancia. Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos de la ingestión de los BG ­Saccharomyses cerevisiae­ en el perfil glucémico y la lipoproteína de ratas diabéticas. Metodos: en el diseño de delineación, totalmente precario, fueron utilizadas 24 ratas Wistar macho adultas distribuidas en cuatro grupos, con un modelo factorial 2 x 2 (con y sin diabetes, con y sin BG). La diabetes mellitus fue inducida por la inyección intraperitoneal de un 80 mg/kg de estrepzotocina. Por lo tanto, los animales con glucemia en ayunas de más de 250 mg/dl fueron considerados diabéticos. Cuarenta y ocho horas después de la inducción, las ratas recibieron dosis diarias de 30 mg/kg de BG o solución salina mediante alimentación forzada durante 28 días. Resultados y discusión: los grupos con DM presentó el mayor índice glucémico y menores niveles de péptido C que los grupos de control, además de reducir el aumento de peso y un mayor consumo de la ración, la ingestión de agua y el volumen urinario. Los niveles de colesterol total (CT), LDL-C + VLDL-C, triacilglicéridos plasmáticos (TAG) y alanina aminotransferasa (ALT) también fueron más altos en los animales diabéticos (p < 0,05), y había alteraciones en los niveles de HDL-C. La ingestión de BG redujo las concentraciones de glucosa en sangre (30%), TAG (32%) y ALT (41%) (p < 0.05). No se observaron alteraciones hepáticas en ninguno de los grupos. Además, los animales diabéticos presentaron un aumento de la relación cripta:vellosidades (V:C) en el duodeno, sin interferencia de BG. No se observaron alteraciones en la carcasa entre los grupos. Conclusión: se concluyó que el uso de BG redujo significativamente la glucemia, los niveles de TAG Y ALT, mostrando su potencial terapéutico.

Adaptation to physical training in rats orally supplemented with glycerol.

We evaluated training adaptation and physical performance parameters in rats orally supplemented with glycerol, glucose, or saline, and submitted to moderate aerobic exercise. Thirty male rats were trained for 6 weeks and administered the supplements during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized factorial 2 × 3 design (with or without exercise and 3 substrates). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were compared using the Student-Newmann-Keuls test at 5%. Among the trained animals, none of the substances caused differences in the percentages of protein, fat, or water content in the carcass. Compared with the sedentary animals, the trained animals supplemented with saline and glucose showed a higher protein percentage in the carcass. The relative mass of the heart and adrenal glands was higher in the trained animals. Glycerol improved the protein content in non-trained animals and increased the relative adrenal mass in both groups. Glycerol reduced the variation in levels of lactate and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) during the last exercise session. There was no difference between groups regarding the relative mass of the thymus and gastrocnemius or with the diameter of muscle fibers or the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. Supplementation with glycerol was efficient at attenuating variation in AST and lactate levels during exercise.