ascorbic-acid and Hypertriglyceridemia

Werner syndrome (WS) is a premature aging disorder caused by mutations in a RecQ-like DNA helicase. Mice lacking the helicase domain of the WRN homologue exhibit many phenotypic features of WS. Importantly, mutant Wrn(Deltahel/Deltahel) mice show abnormal increases in visceral fat deposition and fasting blood triglyceride levels followed by insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels. These mice also exhibit increased heart and liver tissue reactive oxygen species concomitantly with oxidative DNA damage, indicating a pro-oxidant status. We treated mice with either ascorbate or catechin hydrate for 9 months. Vitamin C supplementation reduced oxidative stress in liver and heart tissues and reversed hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance and reduced fat weight in mutant Wrn(Deltahel/Deltahel) mice. Although the free scavenger catechin hydrate also reduced oxidative DNA damage in heart and liver tissues, it did not reverse any of the metabolic phenotype aspects in treated mutant mice. Finally, vitamin C and catechin hydrate did not affect the metabolic status of wild-type mice. These results indicate that vitamin C supplementation could be beneficial for WS patients.

Topics: Aging, Premature; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Catechin; DNA Damage; DNA Helicases; Free Radical Scavengers; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Insulin Resistance; Mice; Mutation; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; RecQ Helicases; Werner Syndrome; Werner Syndrome Helicase

Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables may be associated with decreased CVD risk. In the present study, we investigated the effects of blackcurrant (BC) juice, rich in polyphenols and ascorbic acid, on oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in cultured macrophages in vitro and in human subjects with an atherosclerosis-prone phenotype (after consumption of a high-energy meal). In cultured macrophages (RAW264.7), BC treatment significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation as indicated by lower mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and lower nuclear p65 levels indicating decreased NF-κB activity. iNOS protein levels were lower and haem oxygenase 1 levels higher in BC-treated cells when compared with untreated controls. Subjects given a high-energy meal had elevated serum glucose and insulin levels with no significant difference between the BC-based juice and placebo treatment groups. TAG following meal ingestion tended to be attenuated after the BC treatment. Plasma ascorbic acid and radical-scavenging capacity were decreased following placebo meal consumption; however, BC significantly elevated both parameters compared with baseline and placebo ingestion. Plasma oxidised LDL, α-tocopherol and paraoxonase activity were unchanged in both treatment groups. Furthermore, production of TNF-α and IL-1β was not significantly changed by BC meal consumption. The present results suggest potential antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of BC in vitro in cultured macrophages. Although the observations were not directly transferable to a postprandial in vivo situation, the present results show that BC juice consumption may improve postprandial antioxidant status as indicated by higher ascorbic acid levels and free radical-scavenging capacity in plasma.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Atherosclerosis; Beverages; Cell Line, Transformed; Cross-Over Studies; Diet, Atherogenic; Down-Regulation; Fruit; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Inflammation Mediators; Macrophages; Male; Mice; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Oxidative Stress; Postprandial Period; Ribes; Single-Blind Method

Antioxidant vitamins have been reported to be associated with an improvement in blood lipid profiles, but results are not consistent. The present study was designed to determine whether long-term vitamin C supplementation could alter serum lipid concentrations in subjects who completed a 5-year population-based double-blind intervention trial. A total of 439 Japanese subjects with atrophic gastritis initially participated in the trial using vitamin C and beta-carotene to prevent gastric cancer. Before and upon early termination of beta-carotene supplementation, 134 subjects dropped out of the trial; finally, 161 subjects assigned to the high-dose group (500 mg vitamin C/d) and 144 subjects assigned to the low-dose group (50 mg vitamin C/d) were studied. No favourable effect of vitamin C supplementation on serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol was observed, although high-dose vitamin C supplementation increased serum vitamin C concentrations substantially. Among women, the mean change in serum triacylglycerol decreased (-0.12 mmol/l, 95 % CI -0.32, 0.09) in the high-dose group, but increased (+0.12 mmol/l, 95 % CI 0.03, 0.22) in the low-dose group. In addition, the mean change in serum triacylglycerol among women with hypertriacylglycerolaemia was statistically significant (-1.21, 95 % CI -2.38, -0.05) after high-dose vitamin C supplementation. The 5-year vitamin C supplementation had no markedly favourable effects on the serum lipid and lipoprotein profile. However, our present results do not preclude the possibility that vitamin C supplementation may decrease triacylglycerol concentrations among women with hypertriacylglycerolaemia.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, LDL; Chronic Disease; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gastritis, Atrophic; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Sex Factors; Smoking; Time Factors; Triglycerides

Aimed to demonstrate the association of VC and metabolism in the obesity or overweight and determine VC changes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).. A total of 253 overweight or people with obesity were recruited, including 61 with LSG. They were divided into group A (VC < 34 ug/ml) and group B (VC ≥ 34 ug/ml). Glucose-lipid metabolic parameters were compared, and VC status before and 6 and 12 months after LSG were measured.. (1) Body weight, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio, heart rate (HR), diastolic systolic pressure (DBP), 2-hour postprandial glucose (2h-BG), fasting insulin (FINS), 2-hour postprandial insulin (2h-INS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HBG), homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TCH), triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) were higher while high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) was lower in group A than group B (p < 0.05). (2) VC was negatively correlated with body weight, BMI, NC, WC and HC, HR, SBP, DBP, and 2h-BG, FINS, 2h-INS, HGB, HOMA-IR, TG and FFA, while positively with HDL-C (p < 0.05). (3) Patients with obesity or hypertriglyceridemia or low HDL-C had lower VC than corresponding group. (p < 0.05). (4) Logistic regression analysis showed that VC was the independent risk factor of hypertriglyceridemia, obesity and low HDL-C 5) VC concentrations were slightly increased in 6 months after LSG, and unchanged in 12 months after LSG.. VC was closely associated with glucose-lipid metabolism, and may play a protective role in metabolic disorders. LSG would not worsen the VC status or deficiency.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Blood Glucose; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Gastrectomy; Glucose; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Laparoscopy; Lipid Metabolism; Lipoproteins, HDL; Obesity; Overweight; Triglycerides

The beneficial hypolipidemic and antioxidant influences of the dietary spice compounds curcumin and capsaicin were evaluated. Curcumin, capsaicin, or their combination were included in the diet of high-(30%)-fat-fed rats for 8 weeks. Dietary high-fat-induced hypertriglyceridemia was countered by dietary curcumin, capsaicin, or their combination by 12%-20%. Curcumin, capsaicin, and their combination also produced a slight decrease in serum total cholesterol in these animals. Serum alpha-tocopherol content was increased by dietary curcumin, capsaicin, and their combination in high-fat-fed rats. Serum total thiol content in high-fat-fed animals and serum ascorbic acid in normal animals was elevated by the combination of curcumin and capsaicin. Hepatic glutathione was increased by curcumin, capsaicin, or their combination in normal animals. Hepatic glutathione and alpha-tocopherol were increased, whereas lipid peroxide level was reduced by dietary curcumin and combination of curcumin and capsaicin in high-fat-fed animals. Serum glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase in high-fat-fed rats were generally higher as a result of dietary curcumin, capsaicin, and the combination of curcumin and capsaicin. Hepatic glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly elevated by dietary spice principles in high-fat-fed animals. The additive effect of the 2 bioactive compounds was generally not evident with respect to hypolipidemic or antioxidant potential. However, the effectiveness of the combination was higher in a few instances.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Capsaicin; Cholesterol, LDL; Cholesterol, VLDL; Curcumin; Diet; Dietary Fats; Enzyme Activation; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Transferase; Hypertriglyceridemia; Hypolipidemic Agents; Lipid Peroxides; Liver; Male; Phospholipids; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triglycerides

To investigate the aetiology of chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP), 50 consecutive patients were compared with 50 control subjects from the same region. There were 22 patients with painful neuropathy and 28 without pain, 26 with sensory neuropathy and 24 with sensory and motor neuropathy. The typical picture was a gradually progressive sensory or sensory and motor neuropathy. It caused mild or sometimes moderate disability, and reduced the quality of life. There was no evidence that alcohol, venous insufficiency, arterial disease or antibodies to peripheral nerve antigens played a significant part. There was a possible history of peripheral neuropathy in the first or second-degree relatives of six patients and no controls (P = 0.01), and claw toes were present in 12 patients and four controls (P = 0.03). Thirty-two per cent of the patients and 14% of the controls had impaired glucose tolerance or fasting hyperglycaemia but, after adjusting for age and sex, the difference was not significant (P = 0.45), even in the painful neuropathy subgroup. The mean (SD) fasting insulin concentrations were significantly (P = 0.01) higher in the patients [75.9 (44.4) mmol/l] than the controls [47.3 (37.9) mmol/l], and the mean was higher still in the painful neuropathy subgroup [92.2 (37.1) mmol/l] (P < 0.0001). However, insulin resistance as assessed using the homeostasis model assessment formula was not significantly greater in the patients, even in those with pain, than the controls. After adjustment for body mass index as well as age and sex, there was no significant difference in the serum cholesterol concentrations, but there were significantly higher triglyceride concentrations in the patients [mean 1.90 (1.41) mmol/l] than the controls [mean 1.25 (0.79] mmol/l) (P = 0.02). In the patients with painful peripheral neuropathy, the mean triglyceride concentration was 2.37 (1.72), which was even more significantly greater compared with the controls (P = 0.003). In conclusion, CIAP is a heterogeneous condition. A logistic regression analysis identified environmental toxin exposure and hypertriglyceridaemia, but not glucose intolerance or alcohol overuse as significant risk factors that deserve further investigation as possible causes of CIAP.

Topics: Aged; Anthropometry; Ascorbic Acid; Autoantibodies; Case-Control Studies; Disability Evaluation; Female; Glucose Intolerance; Hazardous Substances; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Insulin Resistance; Male; Middle Aged; Pain; Polyneuropathies; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Vitamin E

It is well known that eating fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The question of what is/are the active ingredient(s) is still unresolved. The initial hypothesis was that the antioxidant vitamins were responsible. However, recently the polyphenols have been investigated since they have been found to have beneficial properties such as being strong antioxidants. We measured the polyphenol content of citrus juices by an oxidation-reduction colorimetric method (Folin) using catechin as the standard. The order was tangerine juice > grapefruit juice > orange juice. The antioxidant contribution of ascorbic acid was measured by the difference in Folin reactive content following removal by ascorbate oxidase. Ascorbate contributed 56 to 77% of the antioxidant content of orange juice, 46% of the single tangerine juice measured, and 66 to 77% of grapefruit juices. Polyphenol quality in the juices was analyzed by using the inhibition of lower density lipoprotein oxidation promoted by cupric ion, an in vitro model of heart disease. Quality decreased in the following order: orange juice > grapefruit juice > tangerinejuice. In orange juice polyphenols accounted for 84-85% of antioxidant quality. The pure polyphenol hesperidin, which is common in juices, ascorbic acid, and the citrus juices, were not able to bind with LDL+VLDL and protect it from oxidation. In a hamster model of atherosclerosis, the juices were able to significantly inhibit atherosclerosis and lowered cholesterol and triglycerides. Ascorbic acid alone in the dose provided by the juices was found to have the same effect on atherosclerosis. However, the polyphenols in the citrus

Topics: Adult; Animals; Antioxidants; Arteriosclerosis; Ascorbic Acid; Beverages; Citrus; Cricetinae; Diet, Atherogenic; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Evaluation; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Flavonoids; Heart Diseases; Hesperidin; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Lipids; Male; Mesocricetus; Middle Aged; Oxidation-Reduction; Phenols; Plant Extracts; Polymers; Species Specificity

Highly elevated triglyceride levels being reported in HIV-infected people are a concern because they can contribute to heart disease, stroke, and pancreatitis. The elevated levels may be the result of medication on the liver, dietary habits, or malabsorption of key nutrients. Preliminary studies have shown that dietary and vitamin supplements may help lower the levels to a more normal and safe range. Strategies to reduce triglyceride levels are described.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Carnitine; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Male; Triglycerides; Vitamin E