The influence of so called „energy drinks” on the blood pressure and the pulse rate in young, healthy adults

Wstęp W ostatnich latach stale zwiększa się liczbaosób spożywających tak zwane napoje energetyzujące(NE). Napoje te zawierają dużą dawkę kofeiny,tauryny i inozytolu, które mogą wywierać niekorzystny wpływ na układ krążenia. Celem pracy jest ocenawpływu jednorazowego wypicia NE na ciśnienie tętnicze krwi i częstość tętna u młodych, zdrowych osób dorosłych.Materiał i metody W badaniu uczestniczyło 18 zdrowych ochotników w wieku 20–35 lat. Badanie przeprowadzono metodą podwójnie ślepej próby, z dwiema różnymi dawkami NE oraz z placebo (napój przypominający kolorem i smakiem NE, ale niezawierający czynnych substancji pobudzających). W trakcie trzech oddzielnych wizyt osobom uczestniczącym w badaniu podano następujące roztwory: placebo, NE z zawartością 120 mg lub 360 mg kofeiny. Pomiar ciśnienia tętniczego i tętna rozpoczęto w 30. minucie przed podaniem każdego z roztworów do 90. minuty po wypiciu.Wyniki Analizie poddano wyniki uzyskane u 12 ochotników, którzy ukończyli badanie. Jednorazowe spożycie NE ze 120 mg kofeiny nie spowodowało znamiennych zmian ciśnienia tętniczego i częstości tętna. Jednorazowe wypicie NE z 360 mg kofeiny prowadziło do znamiennego wzrostu ciśnienia tętniczego krwi (wzrost rozkurczowego ciśnienia tętniczego po 15 minutach o 9,4 ± 5,1 mm Hg, p =0,028) i tętna (wzrost po 90 minutach o 5 ± 2 uderzenia/min, p = 0,042). Po trzech godzinach u wszystkich badanych osób wystąpiły takie objawy kliniczne, jak kołatanie serca, niepokój lub bezsenność.Wnioski 1. Większe dawki NE wykazują niekorzystny wpływ na układ sercowo-naczyniowy i nerwowy u młodych, zdrowych osób dorosłych. 2. Należy przypuszczać,że wypicie większych dawek NE może być szkodliwe, zwłaszcza dla osób ze współistniejącymi chorobami układu krążenia.Background The growing consumption of so called „energydrinks” (ED) is observed among young adults. These drinks contain caffeine, taurine and inositol which mayhave adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. The aimof the study was to determine the influence of ED on blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate in healthy young adults.Material and methods Eighteen healthy volunteers aged20–35 years were enrolled into the study. Study was performed using a double blind method, with two concentrationsof ED and a placebo. During the separate visits three solutions were administered: placebo, an ED with120 mg and 360 mg of caffeine. Measurements of blood pressure and pulse rate were carried out from 30 minutes before to 90 minutes after drinking the solutions.Results Results were analyzed in 12 volunteers who completed the study. The intake of an ED with 120 mg of caffeine didn’t influence significantly blood pressure and pulse rate. Consumption of single portion of ED containing 360 mg of caffeine leads to significant increase of blood pressure (diastolic BP9.4 ± 5,1 mm Hg, p = 0.028) and a pulse rate (5 ± 2 beats/min, p = 0.042). Three hours after ingestion of ED with 360 mg of caffeine all participants revealed tachycardia, anxiety and insomnia.Conclusions 1. Larger doses of ED influenced negatively on cardiovascular system of young healthy adults. 2. Ingestion of large ED dose may be particularly dangerousin patients with arterial hypertension or other cardiovascular diseases

The levels of adipokines in relation to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle in young, normal-weight women

Context: The aim of this study was to assess the plasma leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin/NAMPT, omentin-1, vaspin, apelin, TNF-α, IL-6 and RBP4 levels in relation to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle in young, healthy, normal-weight women. Methods: The study involved 52 young, healthy, normal-weight women. Anthropometric parameters, body composition and levels of plasma leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin/NAMPT, omentin-1, vaspin, apelin, TNF-α, IL-6 and RBP4 in addition to serum FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, 17-OH progesterone, androgens, SHBG and insulin concentrations were measured during a morning in fasting state three times: between days 2–4, days 12–14 and days 24–26 of the menstrual cycle. Results: Plasma adiponectin, omentin-1, resistin and visfatin/NAMPT, apelin, TNF-α, IL-6 and RBP4 concentrations were stable during the menstrual cycle, while leptin and vaspin levels were significantly higher in both the midcycle and the luteal phases than those in the follicular phase. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that changes in leptin and vaspin levels between the follicular and the luteal phase are strongly related to changes in total testosterone levels. Conclusions: Our results revealed stable levels of adipokines during the phases of the physiological menstrual cycle, except for leptin and vaspin, which showed increased levels in both the midcycle and the luteal phases. This effect was significantly associated with changes in the secretion of testosterone, 17-OH progesterone and insulin in the luteal phase

Calcification of coronary arteries and abdominal aorta in relation to traditional and novel risk factors of atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background Process of accelerated atherosclerosis specific for uremia increases cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may be influenced by the different structure of arteries. The study assesses the influence of traditional and novel risk factors on calcification of coronary arteries (CAC) and abdominal aorta (AAC) in hemodialysis patients (HD). Methods CAC and AAC were assessed by CT in 104 prevalent adult HD and 14 apparently healthy subjects with normal kidney function (control group). Mineral metabolism parameters, plasma levels of FGF-23, MGP, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin, fetuin-A, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured. Results CAC and AAC (calcification score ≥ 1) were found in 76 (73.1%) and 83 (79.8%) HD respectively, more frequent than in the control group. In 7 HD with AAC no CAC were detected. The frequency and severity of calcifications increased with age. Both CAC and AAC were more frequently detected in diabetics (OR = 17.37 and 13.00, respectively). CAC score was significantly greater in males. CAC and AAC scores were correlated significantly with pack-years of smoking and plasma osteoprotegrin levels. However the independent contribution of plasma osteoprotegerin levels was not confirmed in multiple regression analysis. Age (OR = 1.13) and hemodialysis vintage (OR = 1.14) were the independent risk factor favoring the occurrence of CAC; while age (OR = 1.20) was the only predictor of AAC occurrence in HD. Conclusions 1. AAC precedes the occurrence of CAC in HD patients. 2. The exposition to uremic milieu and systemic chronic microinflammation has more deteriorative effect on the CAC than the AAC.</p

Pentraxin 3 Levels in Young Women with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in relation to the Nutritional Status and Systemic Inflammation

Objective. The aim of the study was to assess PTX3 levels in PCOS and non-PCOS women in relation to nutritional status and circulating markers of inflammation. Methods. The study enrolled 99 stable body mass PCOS women (17 normal weight, 21 overweight, and 61 obese) and 61 non-PCOS women (24 normal weight, 19 overweight, and 18 obese). Body composition was assessed by bioimpedance, and plasma levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) were measured. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was made. Results. Plasma PTX3, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and HOMA-IR were higher in PCOS than in non-PCOS group p<0.001. There were positive correlations between log10 (PTX3) and log10 (BMI), waist circumference and fat percentage, as well as log10 (HOMA-IR) and free androgen index but negative between log10 (estradiol) levels in PCOS. While in the non-PCOS group, the correlations between log10 (PTX3) and log10 (BMI), waist circumference and fat percentage, as well as log10 (HOMA-IR) were negative. The positive correlations between PTX3 and MPC-1 and log10 (IL-6) were shown in the PCOS group only. In multivariate regression analyses, variability in PTX3 levels in the PCOS group was proportional to log10 (BMI), waist circumference, and fat percentage, but inversely proportional to log10 (estradiol) levels. While in the non-PCOS group, PTX3 levels were inversely proportional to all anthropometric parameters. Conclusions. Our results show that the decrease in PTX3 levels observed in obese is distorted in PCOS by microinflammation, and possibly, dysfunction of stroma adipose tissue and liver steatosis is reflected by enhanced insulin resistance

N-Terminal Prohormone of Brain Natriuretic Peptide but not C-Terminal Pre-Pro Vasopressin (Copeptin) Level is Associated with the Response to Antihypertensive Therapy in Haemodialysis Patients

Background/Aims: Volume overload, frequently clinically asymptomatic is considered as a causative factor limiting the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess plasma levels of N-terminal fragment of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and a C-terminal portion of the precursor of vasopressin (CT-proAVP, copeptin), surrogate markers of volume overload in HD patients in relation to the number of antihypertensive drugs used in the hypertension treatment. Methods: One hundred and fifty adult HD patients (92 males) were enrolled into this study. Clinical data concerning blood pressure (BP) measurements prior haemodialysis session and pharmacotherapy were collected from all patients. In addition to routine laboratory parameters, plasma levels of NT-proBNP and CT-proAVP were measured, and daily sodium and water consumption were estimated with a portion-size food frequency questionnaire. Results: Among 145 (96.7%) hypertensive HD patients, 131 were receiving antihypertensive medication. Despite antihypertensive therapy, 31.0% had inadequate BP control. Plasma concentration of NT-proBNP was associated with systolic (R=0.19; p=0.02) but not diastolic BP values and with the number of received antihypertensive drugs (R=0.21; p=0.01). The highest NT-proBNP values were observed in patients receiving 3 or more antihypertensive drugs. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between plasma CT-proAVP concentrations and BP values as well as and the number of antihypertensive drugs. Receiver operator curve analysis showed that NT-proBNP values over 13,184 pg/mL predicted the use of at least 3 antihypertensive drugs in maximal doses in the therapy of hypertension, similar analyses performed for CT-proAVP showed much less specificity. Conclusions: 1. Increased levels of NT-proBNP seems to be a better biomarker of multidrug antihypertensive therapy requirement than CT-proAVP. 2. Whether estimation of NT-proBNP in these patients will be also better biomarker than copeptin in the prediction of cardiovascular complications related to hypertension needs further investigations