An exploratory investigation of endotoxin levels in novice long distance triathletes, and the effects of a multi-strain probiotic/prebiotic, antioxidant intervention.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) ischemia during exercise is associated with luminal permeability and increased systemic lipopolysaccharides (LPS). This study aimed to assess the impact of a multistrain pro/prebiotic/ antioxidant intervention on endotoxin unit levels and GI permeability in recreational athletes. Thirty healthy participants (25 males, 5 females) were randomly assigned either a multistrain pro/prebiotic/ antioxidant (LAB4ANTI; 30 billion CFU.d-1 containing 10 billion CFU.d-1 Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL-60 [NCIMB 30157], 10 billion CFU.d-1 Lactobacillus acidophillus CUL-21 [NCIMB 30156], 9.5 billion CFU.d-1 Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL-20 [NCIMB 30172] and 0.5 billion CFU.d-1 Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis CUL-34 [NCIMB 30153]/ 55.8 mg.d-1 fructooligosaccharides/ 400 mg.d-1 α-lipoic acid, 600 mg.d-1 N-acetyl-carnitine); matched pro/prebiotic (LAB4) or placebo (PL) for 12 weeks preceding a long-distance triathlon. Plasma endotoxin units (via Limulus amebocyte lysate chromogenic quantification) and GI permeability (via 5 hour urinary lactulose (L): mannitol (M) recovery) were assessed at baseline, pre-race and 6 days post-race. Endotoxin unit levels were not significantly different between groups at baseline (LAB4ANTI: 8.20±1.60 pg.ml-1; LAB4: 8.92±1.20 pg.ml-1; PL: 9.72± 2.42 pg.ml-1). The use of a 12 week LAB4ANTI intervention significantly reduced endotoxin units both pre-race (4.37± 0.51 pg.ml-1) and 6 days post-race (5.18±0.57 pg.ml-1; p=0.03, ηp2 = 0.35), but only 6 days post-race with LAB4 (5.01± 0.28 pg.ml-1; p=0.01, ηp2 = 0.43). In contrast, endotoxin units remained unchanged with PL. L:M significantly increased from 0.01±0.01 at baseline to 0.06± 0.01 with PL only (p=0.004, ηp2 = 0.51). Mean race times (hr:min:sec) were not statistically different between groups despite faster times with both pro/prebiotoic groups (LAB4ANTI:13:17:07±34:48; LAB4: 12:47:13±25:06; PL: 14:12:51±29:54; p>0.05). Combined multistrain pro/prebiotic use may reduce endotoxin unit levels, with LAB4ANTI potentially conferring an additive effect via combined GI modulation and antioxidant protection

Enhanced Antioxidant Capacity and Anti-Ageing Biomarkers after Diet Micronutrient Supplementation

A growing number of studies confirm an important effect of diet, lifestyle and physical activity on health status, the ageing process and many metabolic disorders. This study focuses on the influence of a diet supplement, NucleVital®Q10 Complex, on parameters related to redox homeostasis and ageing. An experimental group of 66 healthy volunteer women aged 35–55 supplemented their diet for 12 weeks with the complex, which contained omega-3 acids (1350 mg/day), ubiquinone (300 mg/day), astaxanthin (15 mg/day), lycopene (45 mg/day), lutein palmitate (30 mg/day), zeaxanthine palmitate (6 mg/day), L-selenomethionine (330 mg/day), cholecalciferol (30 µg/day) and α-tocopherol (45 mg/day). We found that NucleVital®Q10 Complex supplementation significantly increased total antioxidant capacity of plasma and activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, with slight effects on oxidative stress biomarkers in erythrocytes; MDA and 4-hydroxyalkene levels. Apart from the observed antioxidative effects, the tested supplement also showed anti-ageing activity. Analysis of expression of SIRT1 and 2 in PBMCs showed significant changes for both genes on a mRNA level. The level of telomerase was also increased by more than 25%, although the length of lymphocyte telomeres, determined by RT-PCR, remained unchanged. Our results demonstrate beneficial effects concerning the antioxidant potential of plasma as well as biomarkers related to ageing even after short term supplementation of diet with NucleVital®Q10 Complex.The study was financed form grant project Marinex Science Grant 507-16-034

Could radiotherapy effectiveness be enhanced by electromagnetic field treatment?

One of the main goals in radiobiology research is to enhance radiotherapy effectiveness without provoking any increase in toxicity. In this context, it has been proposed that electromagnetic fields (EMFs), known to be modulators of proliferation rate, enhancers of apoptosis and inductors of genotoxicity, might control tumor recruitment and, thus, provide therapeutic benefits. Scientific evidence shows that the effects of ionizing radiation on cellular compartments and functions are strengthened by EMF. Although little is known about the potential role of EMFs in radiotherapy (RT), the radiosensitizing effect of EMFs described in the literature could support their use to improve radiation effectiveness. Thus, we hypothesized that EMF exposure might enhance the ionizing radiation effect on tumor cells, improving the effects of RT. The aim of this paper is to review reports of the effects of EMFs in biological systems and their potential therapeutic benefits in radiotherapy.This study was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (PI08/0728, Fondos FEDER) to M.I. Núñez. F. Artacho-Cordón is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (AP2012-2524). A grant from the Fundación Benéfica San Francisco Javier y Santa Cándida, University of Granada, to S. Ríos-Arrabal greatly aided this work. This research was also funded by the San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada

The Protective Effect of Lipoic Acid on Selected Cardiovascular Diseases Caused by Age-Related Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is considered to be the primary cause of many cardiovascular diseases, including endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure. Oxidative stress increases during the aging process, resulting in either increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production or decreased antioxidant defense. The increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease is directly related to age. Aging is also associated with oxidative stress, which in turn leads to accelerated cellular senescence and organ dysfunction. Antioxidants may help lower the incidence of some pathologies of cardiovascular diseases and have antiaging properties. Lipoic acid (LA) is a natural antioxidant which is believed to have a beneficial effect on oxidative stress parameters in relation to diseases of the cardiovascular system

Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Rat Ventricles and Atria under LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress

Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) is a disulfide compound and one of the most effective antioxidants. Many studies have indicated positive effects of α-LA in the prevention of pathologic conditions mediated by oxidative stress, such as cardiovascular diseases. However, the therapeutic potential of α-LA for the heart has not been explored with regards to the ventricles and atria. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of α-LA on oxidative stress parameters and inflammation in the ventricles and atria of the heart in rats under LPS-induced oxidative stress. Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: I—control (received 2 doses of 0.2 mL of 0.9% NaCl i.v., 0.5 h apart); II—α-LA (received 0.2 mL of 0.9% NaCl and 0.5 h later received α-LA 60 mg/kg b.w. i.v.); III—lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (received 0.2 mL of 0.9% NaCl and 0.5 h later received LPS 30 mg/kg b.w. i.v.); and IV—LPS + LA (received LPS 30 mg/kg b.w. i.v. and 0.5 h later received α-LA 60 mg/kg b.w. i.v.). Five hours later, the rats were euthanized. The hearts were surgically removed and weighed to estimate heart edema. The ventricular and atrium tissue was isolated to measure levels of TNF-α, IL-6, superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total sulfhydryl groups (-SH), total glutathione (tGSH), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and the GSH/GSSG ratio. LPS significantly increased TNF-α, IL-6, TBARS, and H2O2 levels and decreased SOD, -SH groups, tGSH, the GSH/GSSG ratio, and GSH levels in rat ventricles and atria while α-LA administered after the injection of LPS significantly decreased TNF-α, IL-6, TBARS, and H2O2 levels. α-LA also increased SOD and -SH group levels and ameliorated the glutathione redox status when compared to the LPS group. Our data suggest that α-LA administration 30 min after LPS infusion may effectively prevent inflammation and oxidative stress in the ventricles and atria