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Scope Very few studies have evaluated serum hepcidin in patients with type 2 diabetes and they have reported conflicting results. In addition, the effect of antidiabetic drugs on circulating hepcidin has not been explored so far. The aims of the study were to evaluate hepcidin concentrations and hepcidin/ferritin ratio in type 2 diabetes subjects and healthy non-diabetic controls and to evaluate the effect of metformin on hepcidin concentrations. Methods and results Study 1: Cross-sectional multivariate study of 239 non-diabetic individuals and 65 people with type 2 diabetes. The multivariate analysis included covariates of chronic inflammation, BMI, pharmacological treatment, menopausal status and insulin resistance. Study 2: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 4-month trial metformin compared to placebo among 36 type 2 diabetic patients. In both groups diet was controlled by maintaining a hypocaloric intake across the trial. Hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetic individuals either in crude or adjusted regression models (P

Objective To evaluate the relationship between nutrients intake in the first trimester of pregnancy and blood levels of lead and cadmium during the first and third trimesters of gestation. Methods A total of 381 pregnant women were enrolled. Blood lead and cadmium were measured using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, and dietary intake was assessed using 24-h recall questionnaire. Results Lead levels in the first trimester were negatively correlated with cadmium levels in the two trimesters, and levels of both metals correlated positively in the third trimester. Zinc and calcium intakes were negatively associated with blood lead during third trimester. Thiamine and folic acid intakes were negatively and positively associated (respectively) with blood lead at third trimester with marginal significance. Fat, niacin, and vitamin B12 intakes were significantly and positively associated with blood cadmium at first trimester. Folic acid and zinc intakes showed positive and marginally significant associations with blood cadmium without adjustments. At third trimester, blood cadmium was negatively associated to ascorbic acid intake, and positively associated with iron intake with a marginal significance. Conclusions Possible acute and late effects of nutrients intake in blood lead and cadmium levels could be related with associations exclusively observed in the first and third trimester. This study represents the first exploration of relationships among a wide range of nutrients intake in the first trimester of pregnancy with blood lead and cadmium in first and third trimester of gestation. Further studies are required to confirm the findings mentioned herein. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:344–350, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objetivo: evaluar el efecto del ejercicio aerobico regular sobre la funcion endotelial y la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria en mujeres embarazadas . Metodo: Este fue un ensayo clinico aleatorizado, doble ciego, controlado de 64 mujeres primigestas sanas entre las 16 y las 20 semanas de gestacion. El grupo experimental participo en ejercicio aerobico a una intensidad del 50-65% de su frecuencia cardiaca maxima durante 60 minutos, tres veces por semana durante 16 semanas. El grupo de control realizo su actividad fisica habitual. Los resultados fueron la funcion endotelial evaluada mediante dilatacion mediada por flujo y aptitud cardiorrespiratoria evaluada mediante el consumo maximo indirecto de oxigeno (VO 2 max. ) En una prueba de caminata de 6 minutos. Resultados: Inicialmente, no se encontraron diferencias entre los grupos en ninguna de las variables. Al final de la intervencion, los participantes que realizaron ejercicio mostraron una mayor aptitud cardiorrespiratoria, medida por la distancia caminada en la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos ( P ?= 0.014) y por el VO 2 max. ( P ?= 0.014). Ademas, el grupo de ejercicio mostro una frecuencia cardiaca mas baja en reposo y una dilatacion mediada por el flujo mas alta que el grupo control ( P ?= 0.02). Conclusiones: el ejercicio aerobico regular mejora la vasodilatacion dependiente del endotelio en el embarazo. Esta intervencion puede ser una alternativa temprana y efectiva para fortalecer la prevencion de los trastornos asociados a la disfuncion endotelial.

Objectives Evidence about the relationship between familial history (FH) of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Latin American populations is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of FH of CMD and of dyslipidemia and obesity with MetS in healthy men. Methods One-hundred-twenty one individuals were recruited. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured by a trained researcher using standard techniques. Glycemia and lipid profile were determined by colorimetric assays. A survey to record personal data and family antecedents in siblings, aunts/uncles, parents, and grandparents was conducted by trained interviewers. Results Individuals having three or more familial antecedents were associated with high triglycerides level even after adjusting by age, sedentarism, fat and carbohydrates intake, and alcohol consumption. After adjusting for the same variables, FH of dyslipidemia and hypertension was also associated with high triglycerides levels and elevated waist circumference, respectively. The FH of stroke was associated with high blood pressure after adjusting for the rest of familial antecedents, and with MetS in all adjustment models. Discussion the findings of association of this study together with the previous reports are evidence of the importance of hereditary component as independent predictor of cardiovascular risk factors and its clustering, as well as of possible specific association patterns between FH of CMD and MetS depending on evaluated population in terms of ethnic groups and geographic region. Further studies are required in other populations, as well as exploration of genetic markers of CMD regarding to MetS. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:228–230, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.