Obesity: A template to trigger metabolic syndromes and carcinoma. Metformin: A drug target

Background: Obesity is a well-known partner of metabolic syndrome-X. While insulin resistance owns type-2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia associated atherosclerosis ----- two burgeoning events of metabolic syndrome commonly catching up obese subjects over a period of time; carcinoma is also known as a rare associate in some cases of obesity. Review literature: Human obesity maintains hyper-leptinemia. Hyper-leptinemia induces hyperglycemia, which in turn templates hypercholesterolemia. Persisting hypercholesterolemia over a period of time may en route carcinoma. Thus obesity may be considered as a template for originating hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and tumorigenesis or in other words obesity can precipitate diabetes, atherosclerosis and carcinoma. Metformin may be a drug of choice to combat obesity induced metabolic syndrome and carcinogenesis. Conclusion: Primarily, co-morbidities of human obesity start with insulin resistance and then multiplies with metabolic irregularities. The drug metformin has bi-functional potential. It can increase insulin sensitivity in one hand, and can prevent tumorigenic incursion on other hand.

Optimum timing in creatine supplementation for improved sporting performance

Creatine is a sports supplement with high scientific evidence on its effects on performance and with emerging health’s results, including for vegetarian athletes and older adults. The creatine type and effective doses have been well studied, presenting consistent results. However, not many studies have evaluated the ingestion timing in terms of its interaction with the creatine effects. The aim of this review is to analyze the different existing scientific literature on creatine supplementation protocols and their interaction with the timing of ingestion, in order to assess whether there is a greater effect of the ergogenic dose of creatine considered effective when It is ingested before, post workout or at another time of the day. The results of this work presented different types of protocols and doses in creatine supplementation, despite being diverse the protocols shown in the literature, the most effective consisted of a consumption of 0.3 g/kg/d for five days, followed by a consumption of 0.03 g/kg/d, thus achieving a greater reserve of PCr in skeletal muscle. Studies showed greater benefits when creatine intake was carried out in the moments close to workout due to greater blood flow, the studies pointing to significant improvements in post-workout consumption, since creatine can increase the rate of glycogen uptake in muscle and increase insulin sensitivity

Estrogen as a Contributing Factor to the Development of Lipedema

Lipedema is an underdiagnosed painful adipose tissue disorder that occurs almost exclusively in women, with onset manifesting at puberty or at times of hormonal change. Unlike many fat disorders, diet and exercise have little to no impact on the prevention or progression of this disease. Estrogens control the distribution of body fat and food intake, regulate leptin expression, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammation through signaling pathways mediated by its receptors, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and ERβ. This review will focus on understanding the role of estrogen in the pathogenesis of the disease and envisage potential hormonal therapy for lipedema patients.

Molecules Isolated from Mexican Hypoglycemic Plants: A Review

Like in many developing countries, in Mexico, the use of medicinal plants is a common practice. Based on our own field experience, there are at least 800 plants used for treating diabetes nowadays. Thus, their investigation is essential. In this context, this work aims to provide a comprehensive and critical review of the molecules isolated from Mexican hypoglycemic plants, including their source and target tested. In the last few years, some researchers have focused on the study of Mexican hypoglycemic plants. Most works describe the hypoglycemic effect or the mechanism of action of the whole extract, as well as the phytochemical profile of the tested extract. Herein, we analyzed 85 studies encompassing 40 hypoglycemic plants and 86 active compounds belonging to different classes of natural products: 28 flavonoids, 25 aromatic compounds, other than flavonoids, four steroids, 23 terpenoids, 4 oligosaccharides, and 1 polyalcohol. These compounds have shown to inhibit α-glucosidases, increase insulin secretion levels, increase insulin sensitivity, and block hepatic glucose output. Almost half of these molecules are not common metabolites, with a narrow taxonomic distribution, which makes them more interesting as lead molecules. Altogether, this analysis provides a necessary inventory useful for future testing of these active molecules against different hypoglycemic targets, to get a better insight into the already described mechanisms, and overall, to contribute to the knowledge of Mexican medicinal plants.

The Effect of Heat Stress on Respiratory Alkalosis and Insulin Sensitivity in Cinnamon Supplemented Pigs

With increases in the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves forecast plus expansion of tropical agriculture, heat stress (HS) is both a current and an emerging problem. As cinnamon has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, which is part of the adaptive response to HS, the aim of this experiment was to determine if cinnamon could improve insulin sensitivity and ameliorate HS in grower pigs. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 36 female Large White × Landrace pigs were fed control (0%) vs. cinnamon (1.5%) diets and housed for 7 day under thermoneutral (20 °C, TN) vs. HS conditions (8 h 35 °C/16 h 28 °C, 35% relative humidity). At the completion of the challenge, insulin sensitivity was assessed by an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Heat stress increased parameters such as respiration rate and rectal temperature. Furthermore, biochemical changes in blood and urine indicated the pigs were experiencing respiratory alkalosis. Minimal modelling of parameters of insulin sensitivity showed that HS pigs had a lower insulin response to the IVGTT and improved insulin sensitivity. Cinnamon had additive effects with heat stress, reflected in lowering the insulin area under curve (AUC) and elevated insulin sensitivity compared to TN. However, this apparent improvement in insulin sensitivity did not ameliorate any of the other physiological symptoms of HS.

The Effect of Various Fatty Acids on Activity of G6pase-A and Pdk4 in Hepg2 CellA

Aims: The current study aimed to determine the effects of various fatty acids on the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase-α (G6Pase-α) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4). Methods: HepG2 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate with Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Media, high glucose and bovine serum albumin with 25 µmoll of each fatty acid individually (butyric, politic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids) for 24 hours at 37°C with and without 10 minute incubation of 100 nmol insulin. qPCR was performed using G6Pase-α and PDK4 primers; fold-changes in gene activity were determined. Results: Butyric (-2.0) and linoleic (-65.8) acids caused down regulations of G6Pase-α in the presence of insulin while linoleic (-96.6) acid caused a down regulation of PDK4 in the presence of insulin; all caused upregulations of both these genes in the absence of insulin. Conclusions: This study suggests that linolenic acid, which is present in soybeans, walnuts, and kiwi seeds, is beneficial to processing glucose and could increase insulin sensitivity through molecular influence in patients with metabolic syndrome or serve as prevention. Other fatty acids tested, with exception of butyric acid, did not show beneficial effects in the direction of decreasing glucose

Modern Ways of Treatment of Metabolic Disorders in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Article represents complex approach to PCOS problem from the position of prophylaxis and therapy of metabolic disorders, which include overweight and obesity, insulin resistance, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism deviations. Lifestyle modification specifically including healthy diet was provided as an example. Also, were described medications, which increase insulin sensitivity and method of treatment in case of 3rd class obesity.

Profiles of Circulating miRNAs Following Metformin Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Summary Background: Metformin, a widely used biguanide class of anti-diabetic drug, has potential to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D). It has been reported that metformin has an activity on regulation of miRNAs by targeting several downstream genes in metabolic pathways. However, molecular mechanism underlying the process is still not fully known. In this study, it was aimed to identify differential expression profiles of plasma derived miRNAs following 3 months metformin treatment in patients with T2D. Methods: The plasma samples of 47 patients with T2D (received no anti-diabetic treatments) and plasma samples of same 47 patients received 3 months metformin treatment was recruited to the study. Total RNAs were isolated from plasma and reverse transcribed into cDNA. Profiles of differential expressions of miRNAs in plasma were assessed by using of micro-fluidic based multiplex quantitative real time -PCR (BioMarkTM 96.96 Dynamic Array). Results: Our results showed that expression profiles of 13 candidate miRNAs; hsa-let-7e-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR- 21-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-26b-5p, hsa-miR-126-5p, hsa-miR-129-5p, hsa-miR-130b-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsamiR- 148a-3p, hsa-miR-152-3p, hsa-miR-194-5p, hsa-miR- 99a-5p were found significantly downregulated following metformin treatments in patients with T2D (p<0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, our finding could provide development of better and more effective miRNAs based therapeutic strategies against T2D.