Bauhinia variegata L. leaf extract ameliorates oxidative stress, renal apoptotic damage and dietary-induced obesity in Wistar albino male rats

478-485Association between obesity and chronic kidney disease has received great attention in the recent years. This study aimed to characterize the efficiency of the Camel's foot tree, Bauhinia variegata L. ethanolic leaves extract (BEX) against kidney damage in high fat diet (HFD) fed male rats, as a model of obesity. Rats were randomly divided into five groups, the first three served as control, vehicle and BEX (40 mg/100 g body wt.), while the other two groups were fed HFD with and without BEX at the same mentioned dose, daily for 12 weeks. Results showed significantly increased weight gain, absolute and relative kidney weights, serum and kidney lipids, accompanied by elevated levels of urea and creatinine in serum of HFD-fed rats. Results also revealed marked reduction of kidney nitric oxide, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase, with elevation in their activities in serum of the obese rats. An increase in the oxidative stress markers; malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, paralleled by reduction of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase and the antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were also detected. This goes with decline of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and elevation in the pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3, followed by increased apoptosis% and cell cycle arrest with decline in cells at S and G2/GM phases. Meanwhile, a significant reduction in RBCs count, Hb content and related indices was demonstrated. In contrast, administration of BEX to HFD-fed rats significantly ameliorated increased weight gain, oxidative stress, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and hematological changes, thereby restored kidney functional parameters near the normal values, suggesting BEX as a promising natural therapy for managing obesity and associated kidney disease

Racial Disparities in Selected Complications and Comorbidities among People with Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing public health concern, disproportionately impacting racial and ethnic minorities. Assessing disparities is the first step towards achieving the translation goal to reduce disparities in diabetes outcomes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Division of Diabetes. We analyzed the data of patients (18+ years) diagnosed with T2D between 1 January 2012 and 31 March 2017, using the electronic health records of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. We compared the crude rate and age-standardized rate (using direct method) of selected micro- and macrovascular complication rates, associated obesity, and insulin dependence among racial and ethnic groups. Our sample included 20,680 patients who made 394,106 visits (9922 non-Hispanic White patients, 4698 non-Hispanic Black patients, and 6060 Hispanic patients). Our results suggest a higher risk of acquiring macrovascular (hypertension, ischemic disease, and stroke) and microvascular (renal, ophthalmic, and neurological) complications in Black patients compared to non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients. The rates of stage I or II obesity were higher in Black patients compared with White and Hispanic patients. The rates of insulin use rather than oral hypoglycemics were also higher in Black patients than White and Hispanic patients. The disparities in terms of the higher susceptibility to complications among Black patients are possibly linked to the socioeconomic disadvantages of this population, leading to poorer management. Prevention strategies are warranted to reduce the incidence of T2D complications in racial minorities

High-protein vs. standard-protein diets in overweight and obese patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus: findings of the Pro-HEART trial.

AimsThe intermediate-term effects of dietary protein on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus are unknown. We compared the effect of two calorie-restricted diets on cardiometabolic risk factors in this population.Methods and resultsIn this randomized controlled study, 76 overweight and obese (mean weight, 107.8 ± 20.8 kg) patients aged 57.7 ± 9.7 years, 72.4% male, were randomized to a high-protein (30% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 30% fat) or standard-protein diet (15% protein, 55% carbohydrates, and 30% fat) for 3 months. Reductions in weight and cardiometabolic risks were evaluated at 3 months. Both diets were equally effective in reducing weight (3.6 vs. 2.9 kg) and waist circumference (1.9 vs. 1.3 cm), but the high-protein diet decreased to a greater extent glycosylated haemoglobin levels (0.7% vs. 0.1%, P = 0.002), cholesterol (16.8 vs. 0.9 mg/dL, P = 0.031), and triglyceride (25.7 vs. 5.7 mg/dL, P = 0.032), when compared with the standard-protein diet. The high-protein diet also significantly improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressure than the standard-protein diet (P < 0.001 and P = 0.040, respectively).ConclusionsBoth energy-restricted diets reduced weight and visceral fat. However, the high-protein diet resulted in greater reductions in cardiometabolic risks relative to a standard-protein diet. These results suggest that a high-protein diet may be more effective in reducing cardiometabolic risk in this population, but further trials of longer duration are needed

High-protein vs. standard-protein diets in overweight and obese patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus: findings of the Pro-HEART trial.

AimsThe intermediate-term effects of dietary protein on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus are unknown. We compared the effect of two calorie-restricted diets on cardiometabolic risk factors in this population.Methods and resultsIn this randomized controlled study, 76 overweight and obese (mean weight, 107.8 ± 20.8 kg) patients aged 57.7 ± 9.7 years, 72.4% male, were randomized to a high-protein (30% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 30% fat) or standard-protein diet (15% protein, 55% carbohydrates, and 30% fat) for 3 months. Reductions in weight and cardiometabolic risks were evaluated at 3 months. Both diets were equally effective in reducing weight (3.6 vs. 2.9 kg) and waist circumference (1.9 vs. 1.3 cm), but the high-protein diet decreased to a greater extent glycosylated haemoglobin levels (0.7% vs. 0.1%, P = 0.002), cholesterol (16.8 vs. 0.9 mg/dL, P = 0.031), and triglyceride (25.7 vs. 5.7 mg/dL, P = 0.032), when compared with the standard-protein diet. The high-protein diet also significantly improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressure than the standard-protein diet (P < 0.001 and P = 0.040, respectively).ConclusionsBoth energy-restricted diets reduced weight and visceral fat. However, the high-protein diet resulted in greater reductions in cardiometabolic risks relative to a standard-protein diet. These results suggest that a high-protein diet may be more effective in reducing cardiometabolic risk in this population, but further trials of longer duration are needed