Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disorder, affecting around 25% of the population worldwide. It is a complex disease spectrum, closely linked with other conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, which may increase liver-related mortality. In light of this, numerous efforts have been carried out in recent years in order to clarify its pathogenesis and create new prevention strategies. Currently, the essential role of environmental pollutants in NAFLD development is recognized. Particularly, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have a notable influence. EDCs can be classified as natural (phytoestrogens, genistein, and coumestrol) or synthetic, and the latter ones can be further subdivided into industrial (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and alkylphenols), agricultural (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), residential (phthalates, polybrominated biphenyls, and bisphenol A), and pharmaceutical (parabens). Several experimental models have proposed a mechanism involving this group of substances with the disruption of hepatic metabolism, which promotes NAFLD. These include an imbalance between lipid influx/efflux in the liver, mitochondrial dysfunction, liver inflammation, and epigenetic reprogramming. It can be concluded that exposure to EDCs might play a crucial role in NAFLD initiation and evolution. However, further investigations supporting these effects in humans are required

New Insights into Alleviating Diabetes Mellitus: Role of Gut Microbiota and a Nutrigenomic Approach

The scientific literature has shown that diet is able to modify the gut microbiota and contribute to obesity and diabetes development. This process—characterized by inflammation and gut barrier disruption—can affect the immune system and alter the adipogenesis and insulin resistance. This chapter describes the advances in nutrigenomics and Human Intestinal Microbiota (HIM) modification, and its relation with diabetes mellitus type two (DM2). In context where health and feeding are the main concerns of the human being, food innovation takes a special interest to people that look for a healthy diet or demand a functional aliments, such as nutraceutical. Some products derived from diet and interaction with HIM module the expression of many genes on the host, the so-called epigenome, with favorable effects. Novel functional fiber like low-glycemic oligosaccharides and sweeteners shows a potential prebiotic activity giving a new focus of nutritional guidelines for control and prevention of DM2. The use of prebiotics derived from functional fiber sources, such as fructo-oligosaccharides and beta-glucans as well as lignin and keffir, can contribute to the development of a healthy HIM by promoting the growth of specific bacteria, some of them associated with the prevention of obesity and diabetes

The Microbiome and the Epigenetics of Diabetes Mellitus

Gut microbiota (GM) in the epigenetic mechanisms of diabetes mellitus and the reprogramming of the cells is a novel and emerging concept. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the modification of the GM and its relation with DM2. The increased risk of this disease is associated with changes in the amount of Bacteroides/Clostridium in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio of people having DM. A dysbiosis state associated generates low-grade inflammation with similar characteristics that occur under metabolic syndrome, whose pattern is recognized by Toll-like receptor that recognizes important patterns of immunity. The synthesis of butyrate generated by intestinal microorganisms inhibits the metabolic pathway of histone deacetylase, promoting cellular differentiation, proliferation, and insulin resistance. On the other hand, the direct relationship between the neuroendocrine system and the GM has been demonstrated through the production of serotonin by enterochromaffin cells, whose action could influence the etiopathogenic factors of DM2

Noncaloric Sweeteners in Children: A Controversial Theme

Noncaloric sweeteners (NCS) are food additives used to provide sweetness without adding calories. Their consumption has become more widespread around the world in all age groups, including children. The aim of this study is to show the state of the art about the intake of noncaloric sweeteners in children, as well as their benefits and consumption risk. Scientific searchers were used (PUBMED, Scopus, and Scielo) to analyze articles that included keywords (noncaloric sweeteners/saccharin/cyclamate/acesulfame potassium/aspartame/sucralose/stevia/children) in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Authors conclude that it is imperative that health professionals judiciously and individually evaluate the overall benefits and risks of NCS use in consumers before recommending their use. Different subgroups of the population incorporate products containing NCS in their diet with different objectives, which should be considered when recommending a diet plan for the consumer. In childhood, in earlier age groups, this type of additives should be used as a dietary alternative when other forms of prevention in obesity are not sufficient

Índice glicémico, carga glicémica e insulina posprandial a dos fórmulas isoglucídicas con distintos edulcorantes y fibra en adultos sanos y diabéticos tipo 2.

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of two formulas with the same glucose content with different sweeteners and dietary fiber for diabetics in healthy adults and in patients with type-2 diabetes (DM2). Methodology: In this randomized, double-blind crossover research, eleven healthy people and six with DM2 consumed two enteral formulas, Glucerna SR®, Laboratorios Abbott C.A. (GF) and Enterex Diabetic®, Victus C.A. (EF), sweetened with fructose y sucralose, with 1.2 and 1.3 g/100 ml of fiber source respectively (four times). Additionally, they consumed glucose solution once, obtaining blood samples at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min for controls; in the diabetics, minutes 150 and 180 were added for measuring blood glucose, basal and postprandial insulin after two and three hours. Results: The incremental area under the curve (IAUC) was lower for the formulas rather than for SG. In the healthy controls was 12,857 ± 422 for EF and 11,601 ± 272 for GF (

Comparación del efecto de la fibra sobre el índice glicémico y carga glicémica en distintos tipos de pan

Existen diversos alimentos que contienen como nutrienteprincipal hidratos de carbono, destacando entre ellos el panpor su masivo consumo a nivel mundial. Numerosos estudiosse han llevado a cabo con el fin de reducir su índice glicémico,sin embargo, aún existe controversia sobre la acción dela fibra dietética en la disminución del IG en este alimento.Este estudio determinó el efecto de la fibra dietética sobre elíndice glicémico y carga glicémica en dos tipos de panes comercialesen 23 individuos sanos quienes consumieron aleatoriamente3 diferentes productos, de 50 g de carbohidratoscada uno, durante 6 días: pan blanco (PH), pan integral (PF),y solución glucosada como producto de referencia (SG). Semidió glicemia en ayunas y post-prandial a los tiempos 15,30, 45, 60, 90 y 120 min. La insulina fue medida en el minuto0 y 120 min. El área bajo la curva de glicemia resultómás baja para ambos tipos de pan PH 13589 ±1557, PF12005 ±1254 que para el producto de referencia SG 14089±1245. Los valores del índice glicémico PH 68,55 ±1,2 y PF62,10 ±1,3 y carga glicémica PH 16,45 ±1,4 resultaron másbajos para el pan con mayor aporte de fibra 9,93 ± 1,1, sindiferencias en la concentración de insulina, sugiriendo quela cantidad de carbohidratos y tipo de fibra contenidos en elpan integral, pueden considerarse factores intrínsecos en sucomposición nutricional, capaces de afectar la respuesta glicémica post- ingesta de estos productos en individuos sano

Efecto del β-glucano de avena sobre el índice glicémico y carga glicémica de un suplemento nutricional edulcorado con sucralosa en adultos sanos: Un ensayo clínico aleatorizado

Las propiedades hipoglicemiantes del β-glucano de avenason de interés para la industria alimentaria y el área clínica,por sus potenciales beneficios sobre la salud al disminuir larespuesta glicémica, el nivel sérico de lipoproteínas de bajadensidad y el índice glicémico de los alimentos. Existen suplementosnutricionales específicos para diabéticos edulcoradoscon sucralosa cuyo índice glicémico y carga glicémicaaún no han sido establecidos. El efecto del β-glucano deavena sobre el índice glicémico y carga glicémica de un suplementonutricional edulcorado con sucralosa, fue determinadoen 13 adultos sanos (6 hombres y 7 mujeres), quienesconsumieron aleatoriamente 4 alimentos en días distintos, de50 g de carbohidratos cada uno: suplemento nutricional paradiabéticos (FN), suplemento nutricional con β-glucano (FN-β), y como productos de referencia: solución glucosada (SG)y pan blanco (PB). Se midió glicemia en ayunas y post- prandiala los tiempos 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 y 120 min. El área bajola curva de glicemia resultó más baja para ambas fórmulas(FN) 12697±993, (FN-β) 11584 ±1171, que para los productosde referencia:(SG) 13900±1245, y (PB) 13267 ± 1557.Los valores de índice glicémico (FN) 67,02 ± 5,69, así comola carga glicémica resultaron intermedios y más bajos para elsuplemento con β-glucano incorporado (FN –β) 59,8 ± 6,2;sin diferencias en la concentración de insulina, sugiriendoque la adición del β-glucano derivado de la avena reduce lavelocidad de absorción intestinal de la glucosa, efecto quepodría estudiarse en diabéticos

Gene FTO: Aspectos históricos y su relación con enfermedades crónicas no comunicables

Alteraciones en el desarrollo de la atención y la organización conductual pueden configurar cuadros clínicos como el trastorno déficit de atención (TDA) que puede estar acompañado o no de hiperactividad (TDAH), este último parece tener una relación directa con otros diagnósticos de tipo endocrino como la obesidad. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la relación que existe entre el TDAH y la obesidad. Es por ello que se realiza una revisión sistemática de estudios científicos revelando relaciones y diferencias entre ambos trastornos desde una mirada fisiológica, cognoscitiva y comportamental. Se concluye que la relación entre el TDAH y la obesidad se da por factores genéticos, por variaciones dopaminérgicas, cambios en patrones de sueño, desajustes emocionales y por alteraciones en la regulación de la conducta; igualmente influyen factores sociales relacionados con el cuidado en el embarazo y la alimentación de las mujeres antes y durante la gestación.Alterations in the development of attention and behavioral organization can configure clinical diagnoses such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) that may not be accompanied by hyperactivity (ADHD), the latter seems to have a direct relationship with other endocrine diagnoses such as the obesity. The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between ADHD and obesity. That is why a systematic review of scientific studies is carried out revealing relationships between both disorders from a physiological, cognitive and behavioral perspective. It is concluded that the relationship between ADHD and obesity is given by genetic factors, by dopaminergic variations, changes in sleep patterns, emotional imbalances and by alterations in the regulation of behavior; likewise, social factors related to pregnancy care and the feeding of women before and during pregnancy influence it