Research Outputs
Effect of various dietary fructose concentrations on the gallstone formation process in mice
Background: little information is availaible on the effect of fructose on bile lipids. The first stage in the formation of gallstones corresponds to biliary cholesterol crystallization, derived from the vesicular transporters. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of consuming diets with different fructose concentrations on serum lipids and their implications on gallstones formation. Methods: BALB/c mice divided into a control group as well as groups were treated with different fructose concentrations (10 %, 30 %, 50 % or 70 %) for different periods (1, 2 or 5 months). Blood, liver and bile samples were obtained. In bile samples, cholesterol and phospholipids levels were analyzed, and cholesterol transporters (vesicles and micelles) were separated by gel filtration chromatography. Results: treated animals showed: 1) increases in body weight similar to the control group; 2) a significant increase in plasma triglycerides only at very high fructose concentrations; 3) a significant increase in total serum cholesterol in the treatment for 1 month; 4) no variations in HDL-cholesterol; 5) a significant increase in serum glucose only at very high fructose concentrations in the second month of treatment; 6) no differences in the plasma alanine-aminotransferase activity; 7) a significant increase in liver triglyceride levels only at very high fructose concentrations; 8) no change in biliary lipid concentrations or in micellar and vesicular phospholipids. Conclusion: changes in plasma, liver and bile lipids were only observed at very high fructose concentrations diets. We conclude that fructose apparently does not alter the gallstone formation process in our experimental model.
Association between a lifestyle score and all-cause mortality: A prospective analysis of the Chilean National Health Survey 2009–2010
Objective: To investigate the association between a lifestyle score and all-cause mortality in the Chilean population. Design: Prospective study. Settings: The score was based on seven modifiable behaviours: salt intake, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, smoking, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. 1-point was assigned for each healthy recommendation. Points were summed to create an unweighted score from 0 (less healthy) to 7 (healthiest). According to their score, participants were then classified into: less healthy (0–2 points), moderately healthy (3–4 points) and the healthiest (5–7 points). Associations between the categories of lifestyle score and all-cause mortality were investigated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for confounders. Nonlinear associations were also investigated. Participants: 2706 participants from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009–2010. Results: After a median follow-up of 10·9 years, 286 (10·6 %) participants died. In the maximally adjusted model, and compared with the healthiest participants, those less healthy had 2·55 (95 % CI 1·75, 3·71) times higher mortality risk due to any cause. Similar trends were identified for the moderately healthy group. Moreover, there was a significant trend towards increasing the mortality risk when increasing unhealthy behaviours (hazard ratio model 3: 1·61 (95 % CI 1·34, 1·94)). There was no evidence of nonlinearity between the lifestyle score and all-cause mortality. Conclusion: Individuals in the less healthy lifestyle category had higher mortality risk than the healthiest group. Therefore, public health strategies should be implemented to promote adherence to a healthy lifestyle across the Chilean population.
Hábitos alimentarios en estudiantes universitarios de la Región de Bío-Bío, Chile, 2017
Antecedentes: las conductas poco saludables, como baja actividad física, ayuno prolongado, consumo de alimentos de alta densidad energética y baja ingesta de frutas y verduras repercuten en la salud. Objetivo: conocer los hábitos alimentarios de estudiantes del Campus San Andrés de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Región del Bío-Bío, Chile. Materiales y métodos: se aplicó la encuesta dicotómica “¿Es tu alimentación saludable?” en 350 estudiantes. Resultados: el 75 % de los encuestados tenía una alimentación no saludable o poco saludable, con mayor prevalencia en el rango etario entre 17-20 años (78 %). Se destaca el bajo consumo de frutas (<20 %), verduras (42 %) y agua (46 %), junto con una baja prevalencia de conductas saludables/responsables, como evitar alimentos azucarados (36 %) o embutidos (38 %) y revisar los etiquetados nutricionales (37 %). Los hombres presentaron mayor consumo de pan, carnes blancas y agua (p<0,05), mientras que las mujeres declararon en mayor porcentaje evitar embutidos, revisar los etiquetados nutricionales (p<0,01), preferir alimentos azucarados y comer de forma adecuada (p<0,05). Conclusiones: los estudiantes universitarios encuestados presentan hábitos alimentarios poco saludables, asociados principalmente a bajo consumo de frutas y verduras.
Supercharging metabolic health with Lycium barbarum L.: A review of the therapeutic potential of this functional food for managing metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common disorder involving a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and atherogenic profile. MetS is characterized by an increase in oxidative stress and a chronic proinflammatory state, which are directly related to the development and progression of this pathology. It has been seen how a healthy lifestyle and good dietary practices are key to improving the different metabolic parameters and, therefore, play a fundamental role in reducing the risk of developing diabetes. The present review focuses on the research evidence related to the therapeutic properties of Lycium barbarum L. in MetS gathered in the last years. Several preclinical studies suggest that L. barbarum extracts are a good dietary supplement for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in people with MetS. This compound has been used for years in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of atrophic gastritis, problems related to the lungs, kidneys, and liver, and as a supplement for eye health. In addition, different in vitro and in vivo studies have been carried out that support the properties attributed to metabolites derived from L. barbarum, such as polysaccharides that have been shown diverse biological activities. In conclusion, L. barbarum extracts have multiple benefits to increase general well‐being and immune function. However, there are a limited number of studies related to effect of L. barbarum in MetS, but they demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2, and prevention of diabetes mellitus type 2 complication.
An updated overview of anticancer effects of alternariol and its derivatives: Underlying molecular mechanisms
Alternariol is a toxic metabolite of Alternaria fungi and studies have shown multiple potential pharmacological effects. To outline the anticancer effects and mechanisms of alternariol and its derivatives based on database reports, an updated search of PubMed/MedLine, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was performed with relevant keywords for published articles. The studies found to suggest that this mycotoxin and/or its derivatives have potential anticancer effects in many pharmacological preclinical test systems. Scientific reports indicate that alternariol and/or its derivatives exhibit anticancer through several pathways, including cytotoxic, reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction-linked cytotoxic effect, anti- inflammatory, cell cycle arrest, apoptotic cell death, genotoxic and mutagenic, anti-proliferative, autophagy, and estrogenic and clastogenic mechanisms. In light of these results, alternariol may be one of the hopeful chemotherapeutic agents.
Suplementos ergogénicos: la evidencia más allá de una moda
A pesar de que son muchos los suplementos deportivos que se etiquetan como ergogénicos, pocos son los que realmente demuestran su efectividad. Si bien estos suplementos están destinados principalmente para deportistas de élite, su uso se ha masificado en la población general, esto debido a la falta de regulación en uso y venta, así como por los potenciales beneficios que podrían otorgar. Frente a estas limitantes ¿cuál es la efectividad de estos productos más allá de la moda? En esta comunicación breve se revisa la evidencia respecto al efecto y la efectividad de 11 suplementos y plantas utilizados como ayuda ergogénica. A pesar de los múltiples beneficios en los suplementos ergogénicos identificados, es necesario tener precaución al momento de generalizar los resultados obtenidos por algunos ergogénicos, ya que su efecto podría ser secundario y/o estar condicionado por otros factores. Es necesario mayores estudios clínicos que permitan asociar una relación causa-efecto en el rendimiento deportivo y la población general.
Prevalencia de prediabesidad y diabesidad en Chile: Resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2016-2017
Introducción: La diabesidad se define como la coexistencia de obesidad y diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2). En Chile su prevalencia aún no ha sido definida. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de prediabesidad y diabesidad en adultos chilenos. Material y Método: Estudio transversal que incluyó 4.985 adultos mayores de 18 años de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2016-2017. El estado nutricional fue determinado por índice de masa corporal y DMT2 por una glicemia en ayuno ≥126 mg/dL o auto-reporte médico. Utilizando la combinación de estas dos variables, se definieron 6 fenotipos: normal sin diabetes, normo-diabetes, sobrepeso sin diabetes, prediabesidad, obesidad sin diabetes y diabesidad. La prevalencia de estos fenotipos se estudió según características sociodemográficas y estilos de vida. Resultados: La prevalencia de diabesidad, prediabesidad y normo-diabetes fue de 5,7%, 3,6% y 2,5%, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, la prevalencia de diabesidad fue mayor en mujeres, en personas con menos de 8 años de escolaridad y en aquellos con una edad de diagnóstico entre 45 y 46 años. Conclusión: El 9,3% de la población presentó prediabesidad o diabesidad, con una mayor proporción de los casos de diabesidad en mujeres y personas con bajo nivel de escolaridad. Considerando las proyecciones de aumento de obesidad y DMT2 en Chile, resulta urgente generar acciones y estrategias en esta materia, ya que una gran proporción de los casos de estas patologías pueden ser prevenibles.
ABSI obesity index and its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chilean adults: a cross-sectional study of the ENS 2016-2017
Introducción: El nuevo índice de obesidad basado en el volumen corporal (ABSI), ha sido asociado con enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y mortalidad, independiente de los valores del índice de masa corporal (IMC); sin embargo, se desconoce su asociación con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2) en población chilena. Objetivo: determinar la asociación entre ABSI con glicemia, hemoglobina glicosilada (HbAc1) y DMT2 en población adulta chilena. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal, incluyó a 4.874 participantes (edad media 43,3 años, 50,9% mujeres) de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2016-2017. ABSI fue calculado según la fórmula propuesta (basado en circunferencia de cintura, IMC y estatura. La Regresión de Poisson fue utilizada para investigar la asociación entre ABSI con DMT2 y regresión lineal para glicemia y HbAc1. Los análisis se ajustaron según factores sociodemográficos, de estilos de vida e IMC. Resultados: ABSI fue positivamente asociado con glicemia (p<0,001), HbA1c (p<0,001) y DMT2 (p<0,001). En el modelo más ajustado, por cada 0.025 unidad de aumento de ABSI, la glicemia aumentó en 1,78 mg/dL (95% IC: 1,21; 2,35) y la HbAc1en un 0,92% (95% IC: 0,49; 1,35). En cuanto a DMT2, la razón de prevalencia fue de 1,14 (95% IC: 1,09; 1,20), independiente de factores sociodemográficos, estilos de vida e IMC. Conclusiones: ABSI se asoció de forma lineal con una mayor probabilidad de padecer DMT2, mayores niveles de glicemia y HbA1c en adultos chilenos. En este contexto, ABSI podría ser un índice complementario, independiente del IMC, para evaluar el riesgo de alteraciones metabólicas asociadas a obesidad.
Phytochemicals as Potential Epidrugs in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) prevalence has significantly increased worldwide in recent years due to population age, obesity, and modern sedentary lifestyles. The projections estimate that 439 million people will be diabetic in 2030. T2DM is characterized by an impaired β-pancreatic cell function and insulin secretion, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, and recently the epigenetic regulation of β-pancreatic cells differentiation has been underlined as being involved. It is currently known that several bioactive molecules, widely abundant in plants used as food or infusions, have a key role in histone modification and DNA methylation, and constituted potential epidrugs candidates against T2DM. In this sense, in this review the epigenetic mechanisms involved in T2DM and protein targets are reviewed, with special focus in studies addressing the potential use of phytochemicals as epidrugs that prevent and/or control T2DM in vivo and in vitro. As main findings, and although some controversial results have been found, bioactive molecules with epigenetic regulatory function, appear to be a potential replacement/complementary therapy of pharmacological hypoglycemic drugs, with minimal side effects. Indeed, natural epidrugs have shown to prevent or delay the T2DM development and the morbidity associated to dysfunction of blood vessels, eyes and kidneys due to sustained hyperglycemia in T2DM patients.