Opinions on the role of chromium (III) in the prevention and control of diabetes

W niniejszej pracy dokonano przeglądu dostępnej literatury dotyczącej poglądów na temat roli chromu (III) w zapobieganiu i leczeniu cukrzycy typu 2. W badaniach wykazano, że chrom (III) jest niezbędny w regulacji gospodarki węglowodanowej i lipidowej, a jego działanie polega między innymi na zwiększeniu liczby receptorów dla insuliny oraz aktywacji receptora insulinowego przez jego fosforylację. Niektórzy badacze uważają, że niedobór chromu (III) w organizmie może prowadzić do nietolerancji glukozy i wystąpienia objawów cukrzycy typu 2. Ponadto u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 stężenie chromu w tkankach może być obniżone, w związku z tym niektórzy autorzy zalecają suplementację tym pierwiastkiem. W pracy przytoczono wyniki badań na zwierzętach, rezultaty prób klinicznych oraz omówiono czynniki, które mogą wpływać na efekt suplementacji chromem. Jednak ze względu na ograniczenia metodologiczne wielu badań klinicznych stanowisko głównych towarzystw diabetologicznych w sprawie wskazań do suplementacji chromem u chorych na cukrzycę oraz u osób z otyłością pozostaje nadal negatywne.In this work the review of the literature about the role of chromium (III) in prevention and control of diabetes was presented. Studies indicate that Cr (III) is necessary for regulatation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism mainly due to increasing the number of insulin receptors and its activation by phosphorylation. Some authors believe that chromium (III) deficiency can lead to glucose intolerance and symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, in type 2 diabetic patients tissular chromium levels may be decreased, therefore some authors recommend chromium supplementation. The animal and human studies in that subject as well as factors affecting chromium supplementation were discussed. However, due to methodological limitations of many clinical studies, the statements of major diabetes associations concerning recommendation from chromium supplementation in individuals with diabetes and obesity still remains negative

Analysis of selected biochemical parameters in blood of hypertensive patients in aspect of dietary intake

WSTĘP. Nieprawidłowy sposób żywienia oraz zaburzenia poziomów wskaźników biochemicznych (m.in. cholesterolu i triglicerydów) w surowicy krwi mają związek z występowaniem nadciśnienia tętniczego. Celem pracy była ocena wskaźników gospodarki lipidowej, stężenia glukozy oraz stężenia sodu i potasu we krwi chorych na pierwotne nadciśnienie tętnicze w aspekcie ich sposobu żywienia. MATERIAŁ I METODY. W badaniu wzięło udział 33 pacjentów z pierwotnym nadciśnieniem tętniczym w wieku 18-60 lat. W surowicy krwi osób badanych oznaczono wskaźniki gospodarki lipidowej, stężenie glukozy oraz stężenie sodu i potasu. Ocenę żywienia przeprowadzono za pomocą wywiadu 24-godzinnego. WYNIKI. U pacjentów stwierdzono podwyższone stężenie cholesterolu całkowitego, triglicerydów i glukozy w surowicy krwi. Ponadto zaobserwowano istotnie niższe stężenie cholesterolu frakcji HDL w surowicy krwi u mężczyzn, w porównaniu z kobietami. W zakresie sposobu żywienia stwierdzono zbyt niską podaż energii, niskie spożycie błonnika pokarmowego i potasu oraz nadmierne spożycie sodu. WNIOSKI. U wysokiego odsetka pacjentów z pierwotnym nadciśnieniem tętniczym obserwuje się niekorzystny profil lipidowy oraz wysokie stężenie glukozy we krwi współwystępujące z nieprawidłowym sposobem żywienia. Nie wykazano istotnych korelacji między występującymi zaburzeniami gospodarki lipidowej i stężenia glukozy we krwi badanej grupy osób a podażą analizowanych składników odżywczych w diecie.INTRODUCTION. The incorrect dietary intake and disorders of concentrations of biochemical parameters in serum (eg. cholesterol and triglycerides) are connected with development of hypertension. The aim of the study was analysis of lipid status, concentration of glucose, sodium and potassium in blood of hypertensive people in aspect of dietary intake. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study included 33 patients with primary hypertension, aged 18–60 years. It was analysed lipid status, concentration of glucose and sodium and potassium in serum of patients. The 24-h recall was taken to evaluate the dietary intake. RESULTS. It was shown the high concentration of total cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides in patients. Moreover, in serum of men was observed markedly lower concentration of HDL cholesterol than in women. Daily food rations oversupplied sodium with concomitant insufficient supply of energy, fiber and potassium. CONCLUSIONS. The disorders of lipid status and increase concentration of glucose in blood of hypertensive patients coexist with incorrect dietary intake. It was not found significant correlation between disorders of lipid status and glucose concentration in blood of patients and supply of nutritious components

Folic Acid and Protein Content in Maternal Diet and Postnatal High-Fat Feeding Affect the Tissue Levels of Iron, Zinc, and Copper in the Rat

Although maternal, fetal, and placental mechanisms compensate for disturbances in the fetal environment, any nutritional inadequacies present during pregnancy may affect fetal metabolism, and their consequences may appear in later life. The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of maternal diet during gestation on Fe, Zn, and Cu levels in the livers and kidneys of adult rats. The study was carried out on the offspring (n = 48) of mothers fed either a protein-balanced or a protein-restricted diet (18% vs. 9% casein) during pregnancy, with or without folic acid supplementation (0.005- vs. 0.002-g folic acid/kg diet). At 10 weeks of age, the offspring of each maternal group were randomly assigned to groups fed either the AIN-93G diet or a high-fat diet for 6 weeks, until the end of the experiment. The levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the livers and kidneys were determined by the F-AAS method. It was found that postnatal exposure to the high-fat diet was associated with increased hepatic Fe levels (p < 0.001), and with decreased liver Zn and Cu contents (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), as well as with decreased renal Cu contents (p < 0.001). Moreover, the offspring’s tissue mineral levels were also affected by protein and folic acid content in the maternal diet. Both prenatal protein restriction and folic acid supplementation increased the liver Zn content (p < 0.05) and the kidney Zn content (p < 0.001; p < 0.05, respectively), while folic acid supplementation resulted in a reduction in renal Cu level (p < 0.05). Summarizing, the results of this study show that maternal dietary folic acid and protein intake during pregnancy, as well as the type of postweaning diet, affect Fe, Zn, and Cu levels in the offspring of the rat. However, the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are unclear, and warrant further investigation

Evaluation of the Acute Oral Toxicity Class of Trinuclear Chromium(III) Glycinate Complex in Rat

Chromium(III) is considered as an essential element playing a role in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and various chemical forms of this element are widely used in dietary supplements. A new trinuclear chromium(III) glycinate complex [Cr3O(NH2CH2CO2)6(H2O)3]+NO3− (CrGly), an analogue of Cr3 (trinuclear Cr(III) propionate complex) has been synthesized as a potential source of supplementary Cr. In this study, we evaluated the acute toxicity class of CrGly in Wistar rats applying the OECD 423 procedure. Male and female Wistar rats (n = 12, 6 ♀ and 6 ♂) were given by gavage either a single dose of CrGly 2,000 mg/kg body mass (equals to 300 mg Cr(III)/kg body mass; in aqueous solution) or equivalent volumes of distilled water and fed ad libitum commercial Labofeed B diet, and observed carefully for 14 days, then sacrificed to collect blood and internal organs for biochemical and histologic examination. No death cases were detected. No abnormalities in animal behavior, body mass gains, gross organ histology, or blood morphology and biochemistry were observed. The results demonstrate that LD50 of CrGly is greater than 2,000 mg/kg when administrated orally to rat; thus, this compound appears to belong to the fifth category in the GHS system or the fourth class (“unclassified”) in the EU classification system

Steviol Glycosides Supplementation Affects Lipid Metabolism in High-Fat Fed STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

A number of health-promoting properties of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and its glycosides, including the antihyperglycemic activity, have been found. The mechanisms of the antidiabetic action of stevia have not been fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementary steviol glycosides on high-fat fed streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with particular attention to lipid metabolism. The experiment was conducted on 70 male Wistar rats, of which 60 were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks followed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, to induce type 2 diabetes. Afterwards, rats were divided into six groups and fed a high-fat diet supplemented with pure stevioside or rebaudioside A, at two levels (500 or 2500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) for 5 weeks. Three additional groups: diabetic untreated, diabetic treated with metformin, and healthy, served as respective controls. Blood and dissected internal organs were collected for hematological, biochemical, and histopathological tests. It was found that dietary supplementation with steviol glycosides did not affect blood glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance indices, antioxidant biomarkers, but normalized hyperlipidemia and affected the appetite, as well as attenuated blood liver and kidney function indices, and reduced tissular damage in diabetic rats. Steviol glycosides normalize lipid metabolism and attenuate internal organs damage in diabetes