Antihyperlipemic and antihypertensive effects of Spirulina maxima in an open sample of mexican population: a preliminary report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Spirulina maxima </it>is a filamentous cyanobacterium used as food supplement because of its high nutrient contents. It has been experimentally proven, <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>that posses several pharmacological properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of <it>Spirulina maxima </it>orally supplied (4.5 g/day, for 6 weeks) to a sample of 36 subjects (16 men and 20 women, with ages between 18–65 years) on serum lipids, glucose, aminotransferases and on blood pressure. The volunteers did not modify their dietary habits or lifestyle during the whole experimental period. From each subject, a sample of blood was drawn in fasting state of 12 hours to determi the plasma concentrations of glucose, triacylglycerols (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), cholesterol associated to high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Anthropometric measurements including systolic (SYST-P) and diastolic (DIAST-P) blood pressure, height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were also recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparing initial and final data, the results showed that there were no significant changes in the values of glucose and AST, but significant differences in TAG, TC, and HDL-C, were observed: TAG 233.7 ± 177.8 vs. 167.7 ± 100.7 mg/dL (p < 0.001), TC 181.7 ± 37.5 vs. 163.5 ± 34.4 mg/dL (p < 0.001), C-HDL 43.5 ± 14.4 vs. 50 ± 18.8 mg/dL (p < 0.01). The univariated analysis showed that the changes in the HDL-C and TC concentrations were dependent on TAG concentration (p = 0.247 and p = 0.108, respectively); nevertheless the calculated values for cholesterol associated to low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) were significantly reduced by the <it>Spirulina maxima </it>treatment but independently of the TAG changes. In addition, significant differences were found comparing initial and final SYST-P and DIAST-P blood pressure in both male and female: SYST-P male 121 ± 9 vs. 111 ± 8 mm Hg (p < 0.01), DIAST-P male 85 ± 6.5 vs. 77 ± 9 mm Hg (p < 0.01); SYST-P female 120 ± 9.5 vs. 109 ± 11 mm Hg (p < 0.002), DIAST-P female 85 ± 11 vs. 79 ± 7.5 mm Hg (p < 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The <it>Spirulina maxima </it>showed a hypolipemic effect, especially on the TAG and the LDL-C concentrations but indirectly on TC and HDL-C values. It also reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure.</p

Hepatoprotective effects of Spirulina maxima in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases range from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The "two hits" hypothesis is widely accepted for its pathogenesis: the first hit is an increased fat flux to the liver, which predisposes our patient to a second hit where increasing free fatty acid oxidation into the mitochondria leads to oxidative stress, lipoperoxidation and a chain reaction with increased ROS. Clinical indications include abdominal cramps, meteorism and fatigue. Most patients, however, are asymptomatic, and diagnosis is based on aminotransferase elevation and ultrasonography (or "brilliant liver"). Spirulina maxima has been experimentally proven to possess <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>hepatoprotective properties by maintaining the liver lipid profile. This case report evaluates the hepatoprotective effects of orally supplied Spirulina maxima.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Three Hispanic Mexican patients (a 43-year-old man, a 77-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman) underwent ultrasonography and were treated with 4.5 g/day of Spirulina maxima for three months. Their blood samples before and after the treatment determined triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The results were assessed using ultrasound.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment had therapeutic effects as evidenced by ultrasonography and the aminotransferase data. Hypolipidemic effects were also shown. We conclude that Spirulina maxima may be considered an alternative treatment for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases and dyslipidemic disorder.</p

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat-0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat"</p><p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/6/1/31</p><p>Lipids in Health and Disease 2007;6():31-31.</p><p>Published online 16 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2203969.</p><p></p>ith 24 and 48 h by ANOVA

Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat-1

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat"</p><p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/6/1/31</p><p>Lipids in Health and Disease 2007;6():31-31.</p><p>Published online 16 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2203969.</p><p></p

Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat-5

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat"</p><p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/6/1/31</p><p>Lipids in Health and Disease 2007;6():31-31.</p><p>Published online 16 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2203969.</p><p></p

Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat-4

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat"</p><p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/6/1/31</p><p>Lipids in Health and Disease 2007;6():31-31.</p><p>Published online 16 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2203969.</p><p></p>ith 24 and 48 h by ANOVA

Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat-3

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat"</p><p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/6/1/31</p><p>Lipids in Health and Disease 2007;6():31-31.</p><p>Published online 16 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2203969.</p><p></p

Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat-2

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Effects of whole body exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on serum and liver lipid levels, in the rat"</p><p>http://www.lipidworld.com/content/6/1/31</p><p>Lipids in Health and Disease 2007;6():31-31.</p><p>Published online 16 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2203969.</p><p></p