Obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance

White adipose tissue (WAT) is considered an endocrine organ. When present in excess, WAT can influence metabolism via biologically active molecules. Following unregulated production of such molecules, adipose tissue dysfunction results, contributing to complications associated with obesity. Previous studies have implicated pro- and anti-inflammatory substances in the regulation of inflammatory response and in the development of insulin resistance. In obese individuals, pro-inflammatory molecules produced by adipose tissue contribute to the development of insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, the molecules with anti-inflammatory action, that have been associated with the improvement of insulin sensitivity, have your decreased production. Imbalance of these substances contributes significantly to metabolic disorders found in obese individuals. The current review aims to provide updated information regarding the activity of biomolecules produced by WAT

Nutritional status of zinc and activity superoxide dismutase in chronic renal patients undergoing hemodialysis Estado nutricional del zinc y actividad de la enzima superóxido dismutasa en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease promotes changes in the zinc nutritional status and in the antioxidant defense system. This study assessed the relationship between the parameters of the zinc nutritional status and the activity of superoxide dismutase in patients with chronic renal failure who are receiving hemodialysis. Methods: 134 individuals, aged between 18 and 85 years, were divided into two groups: case group (hemodialyzed patients, n = 63) and control group (n = 71). Zinc concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. The activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme was determined according to Ransod kit. Results: The mean values of plasma zinc were 62.02 &plusmn; 13.59 &mu;g/dL and 65.58 &plusmn; 8.88 &mu;g/dL, and for erythrocytary zinc the values were 54.52 &plusmn; 22.82 &mu;gZn/gHb and 48.01 &plusmn; 15.08 &mu;gZn/gHb for the chronic renal patients and the control group, respectively. The activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly lower in patients when compared with the control group (p Introducción: La enfermedad renal crónica produce cambios en el estado nutricional del zinc y en el sistema de defensa antioxidante. Por lo tanto, este estudio investigó la relación entre parámetros del estado nutricional del zinc y la actividad de la enzima superóxido dismutase en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis. Métodos: Se incluyeron 134 personas, de 20 a 59 años de edad que fueron divididos en dos grupos: grupo caso (pacientes en hemodiálisis, n = 63) y grupo control (n = 71). El zinc plasmático y eritrocitario fueron analizados según el método de espectrofotometría de absorción atómica. La actividad de la enzima superóxido dismutasa fue analizada de acuerdo con Kit Ransod. Resultados: Los valores medios de zinc plasmatico fueron 62,02 &plusmn; 13,59 &mu;g/dL y 65,58 &plusmn; 8,88 &mu;g/dL y los valores de zinc eritrocitario fueron 54,52 &plusmn; 22,82 &mu;gZn/gHb y 48,01 &plusmn; 15,08 &mu;gZn/gHb, en los pacientes en hemodialisis y en el grupo control, respectivamente. La actividad de la superoxido dismutasa fue significantemente inferior en los pacientes que en controles (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: La actividad de la superóxido dismutasa en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis, que es influenciada por la concentración del zinc, fue significantemente inferior. Hubo una respuesta inadecuada por la enzima al estrés oxidativo en pacientes en hemodiálisis

Analysis of plasma and erythrocyte zinc levels in premenopausal women with breast cancer

Introduction: Zinc deficiency has been associated with damage and oxidative changes in DNA that may increase an individual`s risk of cancer. Furthermore, zinc metabolism may be affected in cancer patients, leading to alterations in its distribution that would favor carcinogenesis. Plasma and erythrocyte zinc levels in women with breast cancer were evaluated in this cross-sectional, controlled study. Material and methods: Fifty-five premenopausal women of 25 to 49 years of age with and without breast cancer were divided into two groups: Group A, composed of women without breast cancer (controls, n = 26) and Group B, composed of women with breast cancer (cases, n = 29). Plasma and erythrocyte zinc levels were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry at gamma = 213.9 nm. Diet was assessed using the 3-day diet recall method and analyzed using the NutWin software program, version 1.5. Student`s t-test was used to compare means and significance was established at p <0.05. Results: Mean plasma zinc levels were 69.69 +/- 9.00 g/dt, in the breast cancer patients and 65.93 +/- 12.44 g/dt. in the controls (p = 0.201). Mean erythrocyte zinc level was 41.86 +/- 8.28 mu gZn/gHb in the cases and 47.93 +/- 7.00 mu gZn/gHb in the controls (p < 0.05). In both groups, dietary zinc levels were above the estimated average requirement. Conclusions: The present results suggest that zinc levels are lower in the erythrocyte compartment of premenopausal women with breast cancer

Biomarkers of metabolic syndrome and its relationship with the zinc nutritional status in obese women

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease that induces risk factors for metabolic syndrome and, is associated with disturbances in the metabolism of the zinc. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the existence of relationship between the biomarkers of metabolic syndrome and the zinc nutricional status in obese women. Method: Seventy-three premenopausal women, aged between 20 and 50 years, were divided into two groups: case group, composed of obese (n = 37) and control group, composed of no obese (n = 36). The assessment of the body mass index and waist circumference were carried out using anthropometric measurements. The plasmatic and erythrocytary zinc were analyzed by method atomic absorption spectrophotometry (lambda=213.9 nm). Results: In the study, body mass index and waist circumference were higher in obese women than control group (p < 0.05). The mean plasmatic zinc was 72.2 +/- 9.0 mu g/dl in obese women and 73.4 +/- 8.5 mu g/dl in control group (p > 0.05). The mean erythrocytary zinc was 36.4 +/- 15.0 mu g/gHb and 45.4 +/- 14.3 mu g/gHb in the obese and controls, respectively (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that the body mass index (t=-2.85) and waist circumference (t=-2.37) have a negative relationship only with the erythrocytary zinc (R(2)=0.32, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study shows that there are alterations in biochemical parameters of zinc in obese women, with low zinc concentrations in erythrocytes. Regression analysis demonstrates that the erythrocytary zinc is influenced by biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome, presenting an inverse relationship with the waist circumference and body mass index