Glutathione-Related Antioxidant Defense System in Elderly Patients Treated for Hypertension

The purpose of this study was to analyze glutathione antioxidant defense system in elderly patients treated for hypertension. Studies were carried out in the blood collected from 18 hypertensive and 15 age- and sex-matched controls, all subjects age over 60. Hypertensives were on their usual antihypertensive treatment at the time of blood collection. The concentration of glutathione (GSH) in whole blood and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1), glutathione transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) in erythrocytes were measured. The data from patients and controls were compared using independent-samples t test. P value of 0.05 and less was considered statistically significant. We observed increased glutathione-related antioxidant defense in treated hypertensive elderly patients (HT) when compared with healthy controls (C). Mean GSH concentration was significantly higher in HT when compared with C: 3.1 ± 0.29 and 2.6 ± 0.25 mmol/L, respectively, P < 0.001. Mean activity of GR was significantly higher in HT group if compared with C: 83.4 ± 15.25 U/g Hb versus 64.2 ± 8.26 U/g Hb, respectively, P < 0.001. Mean activity of GST was significantly higher in HT group compared with C: 3.0 ± 0.60 mmol CDNB-GSH/mgHb/min and 2.6 ± 0.36 mmol CDNB-GSH/mgHb/min, respectively, P < 0.05. No difference in GPx activity was observed between two groups. These results show that glutathione-related antioxidant defense system was enhanced in elderly hypertensive patients treated for their conditions. This suggests important role of glutathione system in blood pressure regulation. Alterations in concentration and activity of antioxidants observed during antihypertensive medication are likely to be related to the effect of the treatment on NO bioavailability

Nutrition and alcoholic liver disease

Summary Mounting interest in the potential value of nutritional therapy in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has arisen as a result of the growing body of evidence implicating nutritional intervention as a key player in ameliorating ALD. This review will focus on the involvement of nutrition in the pathogenesis of ALD, with extended focus on the role of micronutrients in the intervention or prevention of ALD. Oxidative damage is a major pathway in the initiation of ALD, and as such, many micronutrients have protective roles owing to their antioxidant properties. This can be either a direct action by scavenging free radicals or an indirect one elicited by increasing the synthesis or recycling of glutathione, the main intracellular antioxidant molecule. Micronutrients should be consumed as part of an energy-sufficient (at least 1400 kcal/day), macronutrient-based diet, as ALD progresses more quickly in people who have substituted a normal diet with alcohol, as opposed to those who drink alcohol in addition to their daily diet. Discontinuing alcohol consumption will enhance recovery, although this is not always possible with alcohol-addicted patients. In conclusion, an energy-sufficient diet high in vitamins and minerals will help protect against the formation and progression of ALD. However, alcohol abstinence is the recommended course of action to aid any recovery

Associations of Toenail Selenium Levels With Inflammatory Biomarkers of Fibrinogen, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Interleukin-6: The CARDIA Trace Element Study

The authors examined the associations of toenail selenium levels with blood concentrations of fibrinogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in an 18-year follow-up study comprising 4,032 Americans aged 20–32 years at baseline (1987) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Trace Element Study. Toenail samples were collected in 1987, and selenium concentrations were measured by means of instrumental neutron-activation analysis. Fibrinogen level was analyzed in 1990, 1992, and 2005; hs-CRP was assessed in 1992, 2000, and 2005; and IL-6 was measured in 2005. After adjustment for potential confounders, no statistically significant associations between toenail selenium levels and any of the 3 inflammatory biomarkers were documented. Comparing the highest quintile of toenail selenium level with the lowest, odds ratios for elevated levels of fibrinogen (>460 mg/mL), hs-CRP (>3 μg/mL), and IL-6 (>3.395 pg/mL, 80th percentile) were 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77, 1.38; P for trend = 0.76), 1.02 (95% CI: 0.83, 1.27; P for trend = 0.92), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.71, 1.36; P for trend = 0.82), respectively. Gender, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and selenium supplementation did not appreciably modify these results. This study found no associations between toenail selenium and inflammation as measured by fibrinogen, hs-CRP, and IL-6