Antioxidant Supplementation Hinders the Role of Exercise Training as a Natural Activator of SIRT1.

Exercise training (ET) is a natural activator of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), a stress-sensor able to increase the endogenous antioxidant system. SIRT1 activators include polyphenols and vitamins, the antioxidant properties of which are well-known. Antioxidant supplements are used to improve athletic performance. However, they might blunt ET-related benefits. Middle-distance runners (MDR) taking (MDR-S) or not taking antioxidant supplements (MDR-NoS) were compared with each other and with sedentary subjects (CTR) to evaluate the ET effects on SIRT1 levels and oxidative stress, and to investigate whether an exogenous source of antioxidants could interfere with such effects. Thirty-two MDR and 14 CTR were enrolled. MDR-S took 240 mg vitamin C and 15 mg vitamin E together with mineral salts. SIRT1 mRNA and activity were measured in PBMCs. Total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TEAC) were determined in plasma. MDR showed higher levels of SIRT1 mRNA (p = 0.0387) and activity (p = 0.0055) than did CTR. MDR-NoS also showed higher levels than did MDR-S without reaching statistical significance. SIRT1 activity was higher (p = 0.0012) in MDR-NoS (1909 ± 626) than in MDR-S (1276 ± 474). TOS did not differ among the groups, while MDR showed higher TEAC levels than did CTR (2866 ± 581 vs. 2082 ± 560, p = 0.0001) as did MDR-S (2784 ± 643) and MDR-NoS (2919 ± 551) (MDR-S vs. CTR, p = 0.0007 and MDR-NoS vs. CTR, p = 0.003). TEAC (ß = 0.4488356, 95% CI 0.2074645 0.6902067; p < 0.0001) and the MDR-NoS group (ß = 744.6433, 95% CI 169.9954 1319.291; p= 0.012) predicted SIRT1 activity levels. Antioxidant supplementation seems to hinder the role of ET as a natural activator of SIRT1.

Differential expression of several factors involved in placental development in normal and abnormal condition.

The placenta, a temporary organ that forms during pregnancy, is the largest fetal organ and the first to develop. It is recognized as an organ that plays a vital role as a metabolic and physical barrier in the fetoplacental unit; throughout fetal development it acts as the lungs, gut, kidneys, and liver of the fetus. When its two components, the fetal and the maternal one, successfully interact, pregnancy proceeds healthily. However, in some cases there may be pregnancy disorders, such as preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which can lead to a different outcome for the mother and the newborn. In recent years, several studies have been conducted to try to understand how the expression of factors involved in the development of the placenta varies under pathological conditions compared with normal conditions. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent discoveries in this field.