Beetroot juice improves in overweight and slightly obese men postprandial endothelial function after consumption of a mixed meal

Background

Through effects on nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, endothelial function is improved after the intake of beetroot juice–which is rich in inorganic nitrate-, but decreased after the intake of a meal.

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine if beetroot juice could counteract the impairment of endothelial function associated with the ingestion of a mixed meal.

Methods

Twenty healthy overweight and slightly obese men with a BMI between 28 and 35 kg/m² received in random order a mixed meal providing 56.6 g of fat with beetroot juice or a control drink. The beetroot juice (140 mL) provided approximately 500 mg dietary nitrate. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured before and 2 h after meal consumption. Blood was sampled at regular intervals.

Results

Postprandial changes in serum triacylglycerol (TAG) (P = 0.69), plasma glucose (P = 0.84) and insulin (P = 0.67) concentrations were comparable between the meals. After consumption of beetroot juice, the postprandial impairment in FMD following a standardized mixed meal was improved (P = 0.030) compared with the control drink (−0.37 ± 2.92% versus −1.56 ± 2.90%). Following beetroot juice consumption, plasma concentrations of the circulating NO pool were higher at T60, T120, and T240 (P < 0.001 at all time points).

Conclusion

In healthy overweight and slightly obese men a single dose of beetroot juice attenuates the postprandial impairment of FMD following a mixed meal, possibly through increases in plasma NO concentrations.     

血脂灵降脂及抗氧化作用的研究

本研究观察血脂异常者125例,采用随机方法进行分组。资料齐全者92例,其中治疗组(血脂灵组)51例,对照组(脉安定组)41例。全部患者连续用药12周,用药后第4、8、12周复查血脂。发现用药后第4周血脂灵即有降低血总胆固醇(TC)、动脉硬化指数[(TC-HDL)/HDL]及升高高密度脂蛋白(HDL)的作用(P均<0.05)。但第4、8、12周间均无差别,用药后TC平均下降18.7%,(TC-HDL)/HDL平均下降27.6%,HDL平均上升17.4%;用药后第8周甘油三酯(TG)显著下降,但第8、12周间无差别,用药后TG平均下降19.5%。而对照组用药前与用药后第4、8、12周间各观察指标均无差别。同时我们还观察了用药前、后血过氧化脂质(LPO)的变化,发现治疗组用药后LPO显著下降,而对照组无变化。本研究提示血脂灵有良好的调整血脂异常作用及抗氧化作用。     

Propofol lipemia mimicking chyle leak during neck dissection

BACKGROUND: Propofol is an intravenous agent used in anesthesia. Lipemia is an uncommon adverse effect of propofol infusion. METHODS: A patient undergoing neck dissection for recurrent chordoma had intraoperative lipemia develop after prolonged propofol infusion. RESULTS: Lipemia gave blood in the surgical field a milky appearance resembling chyle, but no chyle leak was present. Lipemia was confirmed by drawing a sample of blood and leaving it to stand. Layering of the blood with a milky white upper layer was observed. Analysis of a second sample of blood revealed a high lipemic index. CONCLUSIONS: Lipemia is an uncommon adverse effect of propofol infusion, which may give blood a milky appearance and be confused for a chyle leak in a dissected neck. Identification of lipemia is also important because there is a risk of acute pancreatitis, and it may represent the early stage of propofol infusion syndrome.     

Post-prandial triglyceride profile in a population-based sample of Type 2 diabetic patients

Aims/hypothesis Postprandial lipaemia is considered an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease also in the Type 2 diabetic population. However, little information exists on the daily triglyceride profile of these patients, especially during everyday life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the daily triglyceride profile of Type 2 diabetic patients during their everyday life.Methods 145 Type 2 diabetic patients (66 men/79 women, age range 45–65 years) at a health district near Naples, Italy, participating in a screening survey for the evaluation of diabetic complications, and 30 non-diabetic subjects of the same area underwent four daily capillary triglyceride profiles by Accutrend (Roche)—a previously validated method.Results Triglyceride values (mmol/l; Means ± SE) were 2.22±0.08 at fasting, decreased before lunch (2.03±0.07), reached a peak 3 h after lunch (2.73±0.09) and remained substantially high before dinner (2.47±0.09) (all p<0.001 vs fasting). The triglyceride profile of non-diabetic subjects was significantly lower at each point (average difference of 0.73 mmol/l). The percentage of patients with values above 2.25 mmol/l was 61% 3 h after lunch and 49% before dinner. Moreover, in 30% of patients with optimal fasting values (<1.69 mmol/l) triglyceride concentrations 3 h after lunch ranged between 1.69 and 2.25 mmol/l, and in 31% they were above 2.25 mmol/l.Conclusion/interpretation Most Type 2 diabetic patients have postprandial triglycerides above optimal concentrations for several hours after meals. Moreover, optimal fasting concentrations are not always a good predictor of postprandial triglycerides.Abbreviations GCT Glucose-cholesterol triglycerides     

Effects of hypomagnesemia on reactivity of bovine and ovine platelets: possible relevance to infantile apnea and sudden infant death syndrome.

Blood platelet function and possible involvement in death of hypomagnesemic ruminants was investigated with 26 Angus cows, 15 mature Hampshire wethers, eight Finnish-Hampshire ewes, and 36 growing Dorset lambs. Hypomagnesemia was induced by feeding vegetative spring tall fescue to 13 cows and semipurified diets low in Mg to nine wethers, four ewes, and 18 lambs. In comparison with controls, dietary treatments reduced plasma Mg concentrations 55% in cows, 36% in wethers, 66% in ewes, and 78% in lambs. Hypomagnesemia reduced in vitro reactivity of cow and lamb platelets to thrombin, ADP, and platelet active collagen, but in vitro tests may not accurately reflect in vivo platelet reactivity. Microscopic examination of platelet-rich plasma revealed a threefold increase in clumped platelets from four hypomagnesemic ewes compared to four normomagnesemic ewes. This suggests that in vivo activation and exhaustion of platelets may have contributed to reduced in vitro platelet reactivity. Six of 18 hypomagnesemic lambs died spontaneously in tetany after 2-12 months on low-Mg diets. Heart and lung lesions were markedly similar to pathological changes induced in other lambs by intravascular activation of platelets with 500 micrograms of vascular collagen fibrils per kg body weight injected intravenously. These results suggest the possibility of abnormal blood platelet activation as a significant mortality risk factor in severe hypomagnesemia.     

Acute differential effects of dietary protein quality on postprandial lipemia in obese non-diabetic subjects

Non-fasting triglyceridemia is much closer associated to cardiovascular risk compared to fasting triglyceridemia. We hypothesized that there would be acute differential effects of four common dietary proteins (cod protein, whey isolate, gluten, and casein) on postprandial lipemia in obese non-diabetic subjects. To test the hypothesis we conducted a randomized, acute clinical intervention study with crossover design. We supplemented a fat rich mixed meal with one of four dietary proteins i.e. cod protein, whey protein, gluten or casein. Eleven obese non-diabetic subjects (age: 40-68, body mass index: 30.3-42.0 kg/m²) participated and blood samples were drawn in the 8-h postprandial period. Supplementation of a fat rich mixed meal with whey protein caused lower postprandial lipemia (P = .048) compared to supplementation with cod protein and gluten. This was primarily due to lower triglyceride concentration in the chylomicron rich fraction (P = .0293). Thus, we have demonstrated acute differential effects on postprandial metabolism of four dietary proteins supplemented to a fat rich mixed meal in obese non-diabetic subjects. Supplementation with whey protein caused lower postprandial lipemia compared to supplementation with cod and gluten. As postprandial lipemia is closely correlated to cardiovascular disease, long-term dietary supplementation with whey protein may prove beneficial in preventing cardiovascular disease in obese non-diabetic subjects.     

The accumulation of exercise and postprandial endothelial function in boys

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of accumulating 60 min of exercise on endothelial function and triacylglycerol concentrations following the ingestion of a high‐fat breakfast and lunch in 14 adolescent boys (aged 12 to 14 years). Two, 2‐day main trials (control and exercise) were completed in a counter‐balanced, cross‐over design. Participants were inactive on day 1 of the control trial but on day 1 of the exercise trial completed 6 × 10 min runs at 70% of peak oxygen uptake, spread over the day. On day 2, triacylglycerol concentrations and flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) were measured prior to, and following, ingestion of the high‐fat meals. In the control trial, FMD was reduced by 30% and 33% (P < 0.001) following the high‐fat breakfast and lunch; following exercise these reductions were negated (main effect trial, P = 0.002, interaction effect trial × time, P < 0.001). The total and incremental areas under the triacylglycerol concentration vs time curve were reduced by 11% and 16% in the exercise trial; however, these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). These results support the concept of accumulating physical activity for health in adolescents as the accumulated exercise attenuated the decline in FMD seen following the consumption of high‐fat meals.     

标本因素对荧光定量PCR检测HBV DNA的影响

目的: 探讨标本溶血、黄疸、脂血对荧光定量PCR检测乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)DNA的影响。方法: 荧光定量PCR检测无溶血、无黄疸、非脂血血清和溶血、黄疸、高脂血清标本的HBV DNA。结果: 溶血、黄疸、高脂血血清与无溶血、无黄疸、非脂血血清HBV DNA定量检测结果差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论: 标本溶血、黄疸、脂血对荧光定量PCR检测HBV DNA无干扰。