Lipid peroxidation and ethanol: role of vitamin-E and glutathione

Free radical generation is a important step in the pathogenesis of ethanol associated liver injury. Administration of ethanol induces an increase in lipid peroxidation either by enhancing the production of oxygen reactive species and by decreasing levels of endogenous antioxidants. This review focuses the generation of free radical, specially at the microssomal levels and the role of two nutritional antioxidants: vitamin E and glutathione.A geração de radicais livres é um passo importante na patogênese da injúria hepática, associada à ingestão de etanol. A ingestão do etanol induz a um aumento na peroxidação lipídica por dois mecanismos, por uma maior produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e/ou pela diminuição dos níveis dos antioxidantes endógenos. Esta revisão enfoca a geração de radicais livres, especialmente a nível microssomal, e o papel de dois antioxidantes nutricionais, a vitamina E e a glutationa

Effects of vitamin C supplementation on acute phase Chagas disease in experimentally infected mice with Trypanosoma cruzi QM1 strain

The tissue changes that occur in Chagas disease are related to the degree of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity of affected tissue. Studies with vitamin C supplementation did not develop oxidative damage caused by Chagas disease in the host, but other studies cite the use of peroxiredoxins ascorbate - dependent on T. cruzi to offer protection against immune reaction. Based on these propositions, thirty "Swiss" mice were infected with T. cruzi QM1 strain and treated with two different vitamin C doses in order to study the parasitemia evolution, histopathological changes and lipid peroxidation biomarkers during the acute phase of Chagas disease. The results showed that the parasite clearance was greater in animals fed with vitamin C overdose. There were no significant differences regarding the biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and inflammatory process or the increase of myocardium in animals treated with the recommended dosage. The largest amount of parasite growth towards the end of the acute phase suggests the benefit of high doses of vitamin C for trypomastigotes. The supplementation doesn't influence the production of free radicals or the number of amastigote nests in the acute phase of Chagas disease.As alterações teciduais que ocorrem na doença de Chagas estão relacionadas ao grau de estresse oxidativo e à capacidade antioxidante do tecido afetado. Estudos realizados com suplementação de vitamina C revelaram redução no dano oxidativo causado no hospedeiro pela doença de Chagas, porém outros estudos citam o uso de peroxiredoxinas dependentes de ascorbato pelo T. cruzi para se proteger da ação imune. Com base nessas proposições, trinta camundongos "Swiss" foram infectados com a cepa QM1 de T. cruzi e tratados com duas diferentes doses de vitamina C para estudar a evolução da parasitemia, alterações histopatológicas e dosagem de biomarcadores de peroxidação lipídica durante a fase aguda da doença de Chagas. Os resultados mostraram que a parasitemia foi maior nos animais que receberam uma superdosagem de vitamina C. Não houve diferenças significativas quanto aos biomarcadores de peroxidação lipídica e houve maior processo inflamatório no miocárdio dos animais tratados com dosagem recomendada. O maior crescimento parasitário ao fim da fase aguda sugere benefício de altas doses de vitamina C aos tripomastigotas. A suplementação não exerceu influência sobre a produção de radicais livres e o número de ninhos de amastigotas na fase aguda da doença de Chagas

Mechanisms of action and effects of the administration of Coenzyme Q10 on metabolic syndrome

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain responsible for different functions, among them its action as an antioxidant compound. Low CoQ10 levels are related to inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, factors implicated in atherosclerosis, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), as well as metabolic syndrome (MS). MS is a disease characterized by cardiovascular risk factors linked to obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. NAFLD is recognized as a hepatic manifestation of MS and, together with the latter, has a high incidence in the world population. Recent investigations have underscored the positive effects of CoQ10 supplementation on the treatment of obesity, oxidative stress, MS, and NAFLD. The objective of the present study was to analyze the evidence of the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on MS and NAFLD and to provide a general view of the mechanisms of action of CoQ10 in both diseases. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Coenzyme Q10, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Oxidative stress, Inflammatio

Mechanisms of action and effects of the administration of Coenzyme Q10 on metabolic syndrome

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain responsible for different functions, among them its action as an antioxidant compound. Low CoQ10 levels are related to inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, factors implicated in atherosclerosis, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD), as well as metabolic syndrome (MS). MS is a disease characterized by cardiovascular risk factors linked to obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. NAFLD is recognized as a hepatic manifestation of MS and, together with the latter, has a high incidence in the world population. Recent investigations have underscored the positive effects of CoQ10 supplementation on the treatment of obesity, oxidative stress, MS, and NAFLD. The objective of the present study was to analyze the evidence of the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on MS and NAFLD and to provide a general view of the mechanisms of action of CoQ10 in both diseases. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Coenzyme Q10, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Oxidative stress, Inflammatio

Influência da resposta inflamatória de fase aguda nos níveis séricos de retinol e da proteína de ligação do retinol em pacientes com AIDS Influence of acute-phase inflammatory response on serum levels of retinol and retinol binding protein in HIV/AIDS patients

INTRODUÇÃO: a hiporretinolemia constitui fator prognóstico independente em pacientes com AIDS, e a atividade inflamatória causa redução dos níveis séricos deste nutriente na população em geral. Entretanto, faltam estudos que avaliem o impacto da atividade inflamatória sobre o nível sérico do retinol em pacientes com AIDS. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados transversalmente 41 pacientes internados por complicações da AIDS, que tiveram quantificados alguns marcadores de inflamação (proteína C reativa e fator de necrose tumoral alfa) e concentrações séricas de retinol e da proteína de ligação do retinol. RESULTADOS: apesar da baixa (14,6%) prevalência de hiporretinolemia evidenciou-se correlação negativa dos marcadores de inflamação com os níveis séricos de retinol e de sua proteína de ligação nos pacientes com AIDS. CONCLUSÕES: a atividade inflamatória de fase aguda está associada a baixos níveis séricos de retinol em indivíduos com AIDS.<br>INTRODUCTION: Hyporetinolemia is an independent prognostic factor in AIDS patients. Inflammatory activity causes a reduction in the serum levels of this nutrient in the general population. However, there are no studies assessing the impact of inflammatory activity on the serum retinol level in AIDS patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional assessment was conducted on 41 patients hospitalized due to AIDS complications. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and serum retinol and retinol binding protein concentrations were quantified. RESULTS: Despite the low (14.6%) prevalence of hyporetinolemia, a significant negative correlation was observed between the inflammatory markers and the serum retinol and retinol binding protein levels in AIDS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Acute-phase inflammatory activity is associated with low serum retinol levels in individuals with AIDS