Vanadium, cobalt, zinc, and rubidium are associated with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in a Greek population with obesity

IntroductionThe prevalence of obesity is rising globally, with negative effects on the socioeconomic system. As a result of its drivers which include low-grade chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and fatty acid metabolism, this phenotype develops metabolic anomalies that exacerbate its pathogenesis. It has been discovered that metals and metalloids have substantial effects on both the immune system and metabolism and are influenced by factors connected to obesity. Although there is a known connection between metals, obesity, and related metabolic disorders, it is still under research.MethodsWe determined the plasma levels of 16 metals and metalloids in 76 individuals with obesity and investigated the relationships with inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in order to clarify the processes by which metals/metalloids exhibit their effects.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, gender, BMI, physical activity level, smoking, the existence of metabolic abnormalities, and dietary intake of the corresponding metal, regression analysis revealed the following statistically significant associations; vanadium was negatively associated with oxLDL (Beta ± SE= -0.014 ± 0.005, p=0.007), zinc was negatively associated with leptin (Beta ± SE= -12.390 ± 5.226, p=0.025), cobalt was associated negatively with adiponectin (Beta ± SE= -0.030 ± 0.012, p=0.001) and positively with MPO (Beta ± SE= 0.002 ± 0.001, p=0.023), and rubidium was negatively associated with oxLDL (Beta ± SE= -1.139 ± 0.411, p=0.008) and positively with MPO (Beta ± SE= 0.324 ± 0.102, p=0.003).DiscussionThe aforementioned associations highlight the need for further research, demonstrating the importance of inflammation and oxidative stress in the association between metals/metalloids and obesity-related metabolic abnormalities

Nutritional intervention with an innovative product of edible mushrooms in volunteers with metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders, including central obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated fasting glucose and hypertension. These metabolic disorders have been linked to an increased risk of developing Type II Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. There are several studies that show how specific foods can be used for prevention and/or treatment of these diseases. An interventional study with a cross-over design was initially designed in adult volunteers with metabolic disorders, in orfer to evaluate P.eryngii in the regulation of glucose, insulin and appetite hormones. The volunteers consumed two different breakfast meals (mushroom meal or similar macronutrient meal without mushroom) two different days and blood samples were taken for 180 minutes. Pleurotus eryngii was found to modulate postprandial glucose, insulin, appetite and postprandial ghrelin levels.Α second 3-month nutritional intervention with mushroom snack enriched with vitamin D2 was designed. Adults with a body mass index >25kg/m2 and metabolic disorders were selected and randomized into two groups (daily snack-mushroom/ free consumption). The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of a "mushroom snack" in modulating cardiometabolic risk factors. It was found that the systematic consumption of the snack daily for three months could regulate glucose levels, body weight and fat mass. In addition, 25(OH)D2 levels were significantly increased and LDL, SGOT, IL-6, LDL significantly decreased after the snack intervention compared to the control group. Finally, the quality of life of the volunteers who consumed the snack appeared to have increased at the end of the study.Το μεταβολικό σύνδρομο αποτελεί ένα σύνολο διαταραχών που περιλαμβάνει την κεντρική παχυσαρκία, τη δυσλιπιδαιμία, την αυξημένη γλυκόζη νηστείας και την υπέρταση. Οι μεταβολικές αυτές διαταραχές έχουν συνδεθεί με αυξημένο κίνδυνο ανάπτυξης Σακχαρώδους Διαβήτη τύπου ΙΙ και καρδιαγγειακών νοσημάτων. Στη βιβλιογραφία, πλήθος μελετών καταδεικνύει σειρά τροφίμων που μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν για την πρόληψη ή/και αντιμετώπιση αυτών των νοσημάτων. Στην παρούσα διατριβή, σχεδιάστηκε μία διατροφική παρέμβαση με διασταυρούμενο σχεδιασμό σε ενήλικές εθελοντές με μεταβολικές διαταραχές για την αξιολόγηση των μανιταριών Pleurotus eryngii στη ρύθμιση επιπέδων γλυκόζης, ινσουλίνης και ορμονών όρεξης μεταγευματικά. Οι εθελοντές κατανάλωσαν σε διαφορετικές ημέρες πρωινά γεύματα (γεύμα με μανιτάρια ή γεύμα παρόμοιας σύστασης σε μακροθρεπτικά συστατικά χωρίς μανιτάρια) στο τέλος των οποίων λαμβάνονταν δείγματα αίματος ανά χρονικά διαστήματα έως τα 180 λεπτά. Βρέθηκε ότι το P. eryngii στο πρωϊνό γεύμα ρύθμιζε τη μεταγευματική γλυκόζη, την ινσουλίνη, την όρεξη και τα επίπεδα γκρελίνης μεταγευματικά. Έπειτα, σχεδιάστηκε μια διατροφική παρέμβαση 3 μηνών με σνακ μανιταριών P. eryngii πλούσιου σε βιταμίνη D2. Επιλέχθηκαν ενήλικες με δείκτη μάζας σώματος >25kg/m2 και μεταβολικές διαταραχές οι οποίοι τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε δύο ομάδες (ημερήσια κατανάλωση σνακ μανιταριού / ελεύθερη κατανάλωση). Ο σκοπός της συγκεκριμένης μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση της ευεργετικής δράσης του καινοτόμου «σνακ μανιταριών» στη ρύθμιση των παραγόντων καρδιομεταβολικού κινδύνου. Βρέθηκε ότι η συστηματική κατανάλωση του σνακ καθημερινά για τρεις μήνες μπορούσε να ρυθμίζει τα επίπεδα γλυκόζης, το σωματικό βάρος, και τη λιπώδη μάζα. Επιπλέον, τα επίπεδα της 25(OH)D2 ήταν σημαντικά αυξημένα και οι δείκτες LDL, SGOT, IL-6 και ox-LDL σημαντικά μειωμένοι μετά από την παρέμβαση με το σνακ σε σχέση με την ομάδα ελέγχου. Τέλος, η ποιότητα ζωής των εθελοντών που κατανάλωναν το σνακ φάνηκε να έχει αυξηθεί στο τέλος της μελέτης

A Randomized Controlled Trial on Pleurotus eryngii Mushrooms with Antioxidant Compounds and Vitamin D2 in Managing Metabolic Disorders

This study examined the effects of a Pleurotus eryngii mushroom snack on metabolically unhealthy patients. After harvest, mushrooms were baked and subjected to UV-B irradiation to enhance vitamin D2 content. A randomized controlled trial was conducted for three months with two arms. Both groups received conventional nutritional counseling for metabolic disorders, while the intervention group had to consume the snack daily as well. We collected blood samples at the beginning and the end of the study to determine biochemical measurements and serum 25(OH)D2 and to evaluate inflammation and oxidative stress. One hundred patients consented and were randomized. Comparatively to the control group, snack consumption regulated glucose levels and reduced body weight, fat, waist and hip circumferences. In addition, 25(OH)D2 increased significantly in the intervention group. The levels of LDL and SGOT were lower only in the intervention group. Levels of IL-6 and ox-LDL decreased in the mushroom group, while the overall physical health increased. These findings suggest potential antidiabetic, antiobesity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits of the snack to metabolically unhealthy individuals