The Impact of Opuntia ficus-indica and Other Vegetables on Serum Cholesterol and Triglycerides: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: Cholesterol is primarily synthesized in the liver. Treatment with statins and diet regulation are commonly prescribed for people with hypercholesterolemia. Previous claims suggest that the consumption of nopal and other vegetables may have a significant effect on diabetes but scarce is known about its relationship with cholesterol and triglycerides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of nopal and other vegetables on serum cholesterol and triglyceride level in population not related with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: We analyzed a dataset comprising of students from UMAN and their relatives totaling 198 participants. Participants completed an informed consent, filled out questionnaires, anthropometric and serum lipid measurements. A semi-quantitative food questionnaire assessed the frequency and amount of consumption for 56-specific foods. We did a factor analysis with varimax rotation using 7 specific foods we were interested. We conducted linear regression analyses with total cholesterol, LDL-c, and triglycerides as dependent variables. Age, sex, BMI, body fat percentage, and consumption factors (fruits, vegetables, and grains) were included as predictors. Collinearity was assessed using VIF calculations. Results: Approximately 48% of participants consumed nopal on a weekly basis, with most considering their intake to be of median to large amounts, while only 11% reported never consuming nopal. Participants with diabetes showed higher nopal consumption [3.1 (s.e.m. 0.24) vs non-diabetic 2.7 (0.22) vs unknown 1.7 (0.28), p\u3c0.04]. A slight correlation was observed between high self-efficacy in diet and nopal ingestion (rho 0.15, p=0.02), but no significant correlations were found for fruits or grains. Regression analysis revealed that LDL-c was associated with obesity (b=-20, p=0.04) and marginally with body fat percentage (adjusted b=0.83, p=0.069), but not with any of the consumption factors. Total cholesterol was explained by age (adjusted b=0.5, p=0.002) and body fat percentage (b=1.05, p=0.024). HDL-c was marginally associated with sex (Male b=-8.3, p=0.08), while triglycerides were associated with age and obesity (overweight and Class-I, b=0.04, p=0.001 and b=0.04, p=0.04, respectively). No collinearity was found in the analyzed regressions (VIF between 0.1 and 3.4). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cholesterol and other lipid traits are primarily influenced by genetic factors, with diet playing a minor role. Nopal, vegetables, and fruit showed no significant effects on serum lipid levels in our study. A limitation of our study is its cross-sectional design, and future research could benefit from longitudinal studies with controlled amounts of nopal and other foods

Impact of Fiber-Rich Foods on Glucose Levels in Relation to Liver Fat Infiltration: Preliminary results.

Introduction: Previous studies have indicated the consumption of fiber-rich food rich can decrease glucose levels. Additionally, fat infiltration is a common finding in people with type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2D) and may contribute to metabolic imbalances. However, there needs to be more research investigating the combined effects of fiber intake and liver fat infiltration on glucose levels. In this study, we aimed to analyze the impact of fiber-rich foods on glucose levels, considering the scores of liver fat infiltration. Methods: After obtaining written consent was approved by the UAT IRB, the participants (relatives of students) were invited at 7 am for anthropometry, blood was drawn for biochemistry measurements, complete fill questionnaires of food preferences and perform elastography (Fibroscan®, ELF). Factor analysis for five groups of food preferences questionnaire was computed with a Varimax rotation. Two factors were obtained: F1 vegetables, F2 pulsars, integral bread, and F3 fruits. A non-parametric kernel regression was performed to analyze the glucose levels (dependent variable) by food rich in fiber adjusted by stages of liver fat infiltration. The 95%CI of the coefficients was calculated with 100 bootstrap repetitions. Results: We included 234 participants (females 68%) with lipid panel and ELF. The CAP score 0 was 65% (152/234), score 1 was 9% (n=22), score 2 was 12% (n=28), and score 3 was 14% (n=32). The kernel regression supported the presence of score class associated to an increase in levels of glucose: For the levels of fat infiltration, the coefficients were S0= 100.9 (95%CI 94.8, 109.4), S1= 105.2 (96.9, 112.9), S2= 113.4 (101.8, 124.8), and S3= 116.6 (107.6, 128.3) mg/dL. When we added the F2, had observed better glucose control for people with diabetes despite the CAP score. The final model suggested the high ingestion of fiver beneficially affects glucose levels despite the CAP score. The model explained about 15% of the variance of glucose concentration. Conclusions: These preliminary findings provide valuable insights into the effects of fatty liver and metabolic conditions. The amount of fiber in food (factor 2) interacts with the degree of fatty liver infiltration, affecting glucose excursions. As liver fat increases, glucose levels also rise, but there is a significant decrease in glucose levels in the presence of high fiber intake. This study represents a crossover design, and future research incorporating controlled diets and longitudinal follow-ups will further elucidate these relationships