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The increase of lipidic peroxidation and decrease in nitric oxide (NO) levels has been associated to polyneuropathy and to macro and micro vascular complications observed in diabetes mellitus. Objective: to determine seric levels of lipidic peroxidation and nitrates concentration in type 2 diabetic patients. Methodology: 23 diabetic and 23 non diabetics patients were studied. Glucose tolerance test was performed in order diagnose carbohydrates intolerance or absence of diabetes mellitus. Patients signed the informed consent for this research. Glucose, lipidic to peroxidation and nitrates concentration were assayed in diabetics and non diabetics; glycosilated hemoglobin was also assayed in diabetic patients. Results: concerning lipidic peroxidation control subjects showed 1.03 ± 0,15 M t-bars which represent a significant difference (p < 0.0287) with the diabetic patients who had a lower 0.63 ± 0,13 M concentration. Plasma nitrates concentration in diabetic patients showed a mean of 7.65 ± 1 M and the non diabetic subjects a mean of 5.46 ± 0.71 M (p < 0,01). When correlating the results of glycosilated hemoglobin and glucose concentration against lipidic peroxidation and nitrates level, we found no significant differences between both groups. Conclusion: Our results suggest a deficit in nitric oxide production that could induce endothelial damage in diabetic patients. Alternatively, the presence of nitric oxide with altered function or availability could be also a possibility, considering the results of lipidic peroxidation that can be related to antidiabetic drugs treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil is rich in carotenoids, tocopherols and tocotrienols. This oil is refined for its human consumption bringing as a consequence an alteration of their properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the partially refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil (RBD red) on the lipid profile and levels of vitamin A (retinol) and E (alpha tocopherol) in 4 groups of rats: B (commercial food Protinal for laboratory animals: ST + 5% egg yolk powder); C (ST + 5% egg yolk powder + 14 RBD red) both groups with induced hyperlipidemia; and D (ST + 14% RBD red), as compared with a control A (ST) during 35 days. The results were: the RBD red induced significative decreases of TC (total cholesterol) in groups C and D (81 +/- 11 mg/dL and 77 + 7 mg/dL), respectively, when compared with the control group (99 +/- 11 mg/dL) for 35 days experimentation. Additionally, an increment of the HDL-C (53 +/- 4 mg/dL) in the C group and in the D group (53 +/- 5 mg/dL) were observed when compared with group B (44 +/- 3 mg/dL), resulting in a lower ratio of TC/HDL-C (1.5 +/- 0.1). In the groups C and D, there were significant increases (p < 0.05) in the serum concentrations of retinol (26 +/- 5 microg/dL and 58 +/- 18 microg/dL) and a tocopherol (165 +/- 58 microg/dL) and 445 +/- 65 microg/dL). These results allow to conclude that the supplementation with RBD red diminishes the TC, improving the ratio TC/HDL-C. The presence of a monosaturated fatty acid (oleic acid) and the high concentrations of micronutrients (a tocopherol and retinol) in RBD red palm oil, influence favorably the lipid profile of rats with induced hyperlipidemia.

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health problem affecting the adult population. Because atherosclerosis may begin in childhood, the aim of the present study was to identify biochemical markers for cardiovascular risk at an early stage of life. We studied 79 adolescents (48 girls and 31 boys) whose ages ranged from 13 to 17 years. A medical history (including pubertal stage by Tanner) was obtained from each subject. Anthropometric assessment was established by height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, skinfolds, centrality index and obesity index. After a 12-h fast, basal blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and HDL-C were determined by enzymatic methods, mean basal insulin levels by radio immunoassays and apo A1, B, CIII by turbidimetric immunoassays. According to the BMI and taking 25 Kg/m2 as the cutoff value, 35% of the girls and 16% of the boys were obese. Eighty-five percent of the girls and 58% of the boys were hyperinsulinemic (basal insulin > 12 uU/ml). Circumferences, skinfolds, centrality and obesity index were higher (p < 0.05) in boys than in girls. In both, boys and girls, basal insulin levels were higher than the cutoff insulin value for our lab (>12 microU/ml), with the girls having higher insulin levels than the boys. Apo A1 was negatively associated with the obesity index and positively with HDL-C. Apo B was related to total cholesterol and LDL-C. Apo CIII was associated with basal insulin levels, triglycerides and VLDL-C. Our results suggest that apo CIII might be a good marker for higher insulin levels, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk in adolescents.

The aim of the present study was to determine in adolescents the relationship between insulin levels and body mass index (BMI), body fat distribution, diet, life style and lipid profile. We studied 167 adolescents (68 boys and 99 girls) whose ages ranged from 14 to 17 years. A detailed medical (including pubertal stage) and nutritional record was obtained from each subject. Biochemical measurements included fasting serum insulin, glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (Tg), HDL-C, LDL-C and VLDL-C. HOMA insulin resistance (IR) and HOMA beta-cell function (beta-cell) were calculated. Insulin levels were over 84 pmol/L (cut off normal value in our lab) in 56% of the boys and 43% of the girls. Thirty-seven percent of lean adolescents whose BMI was 21.5 +/- 1.9 kg/m2 presented higher fasting insulin levels. HOMA IR, Tg, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values when compared to a lean normoinsulinemic group. Insulin levels were correlated (p < 0.01) with body mass index. Both boys and girls in the highest BMI quartile (BMI > 24 kg/m2) had significantly higher serum insulin, HOMA beta-cell, and Tg levels, and the lowest HDL-C levels. A high-energy intake rich in saturated fat and low physical activity were found in this lean but metabolically altered adolescents. We conclude that even with a BMI as low as 21 kg/m2 an inappropriate diet and low physical activity might be responsible for the high insulin levels and dislipidemias in adolescents.