Omega-3 fatty acids and metabolic syndrome: Effects and emerging mechanisms of action

Background
Strongyloidiasis is commonly a clinically unapparent, chronic infection, but immuno suppressed subjects can develop fatal disease. We carried out a review of literature on hyperinfection syndrome (HS) and disseminated strongyloidiasis (DS), in order to describe the most challenging aspects of severe strongyloidiasis.

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Severe strongyloidiasis: a systematic review of case reports

Objective: Flaxseed is a rich source of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), fiber and lignans, making it a potentially attractive functional food for modulating cardiovascular risk. We studied the effects of flaxseed on markers of cardiovascular risk in hypercholesterolemic adults.Methods: Sixty-two men and post-menopausal women with pre-study low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between 130 and 200 mg/dl were randomized to 40g/day of ground flaxseed-containing baked products or matching wheat bran products for 10 weeks while following a low fat, low cholesterol diet. Fasting lipoproteins, measures of insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and safety were assessed at 0, 5 and 10 weeks.Results: Flaxseed was well-tolerated, and increased serum levels of ALA (p < 0.001). Compared to wheat, flaxseed significantly reduced LDL-C at 5 weeks (−13%, p < 0.005), but not at 10 weeks (−7%, p = 0.07). Flaxseed reduced lipoprotein a (Lp[a]) by a net of 14% (p = 0.02), and reduced the homeostatic model asses...

Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk factors: results from a double blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Meta-analysis of the effects of flaxseed interventions on blood lipids

Cardiovascular diseases are described as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in modern societies. Therefore, the importance of cardiovascular diseases prevention is widely reflected in the increasing number of reports on the topic among the key scientific research efforts of the recent period. The importance of essential fatty acids (EFAs) has been recognized in the fields of cardiac science and cardiac medicine, with the significant effects of various fatty acids having been confirmed by experimental studies. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered to be important versatile mediators for improving and maintaining human health over the entire lifespan, however, only the cardiac effect has been extensively documented. Recently, it has been shown that omega-3 fatty acids may play a beneficial role in several human pathologies, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2, and are also associated with a reduced incidence of stroke and atherosclerosis, and decreased incidence of cardiovascular diseases. A reasonable diet and wise supplementation of omega-3 EFAs are essential in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases prevention and treatment.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/10/1561/pdf

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Potential Therapeutic Role in Cardiovascular System Disorders—A Review

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of daily consumption of dietary flaxseed (as a source of linolenic acid, LNA) on plasma lipid concentrations in mildly hyperlipidemic patients METHODS 40 hyperlipidemic patients with plasma total cholesterol greater than 240 mg/dL were distributed in 3 groups: 10 patients who received hypo-lipidic diet (diet group), 10 patients who received hypo-lipidic diet plus statins (diet+HL group), 20 patients who received hypo-lipidic diet plus 20 g ground flax-seeds/day (diet+flax group) Body mass index (BMI), serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio were measured at the beginning and after 60 days of treatment RESULTS Flaxseed supplementation was associated with significant reductions in TC (-172%), LDL-C (-39%), TG (-363%) and TC/HDL-C ratio (-335%) There were no significant differences in absolute change in BMI nor in percentage change in TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C ratio between flaxseed and statin groups CONCLUSIONS Dietary flaxseed significantly improves lipid profile in hyperlipidemic patients and may favorably modify cardiovascular risk factors

Flaxseed supplementation in hyperlipidemic patients.

UNLABELLED: Vascular complications, such as atherosclerosis, represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation, a rich source of lignans, a-linolenic acid and soluble fiber mucilage on serum and hepatic lipid concentrations in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in hamsters. METHODS: Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were used in this experiment; diabetes was induced in half of them by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight), and both diabetic and control groups were divided in 2 subgroups, one fed standard diet, and one fed standard diet supplemented with flaxseed (15%), for 20 weeks. Serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides were measured at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Dietary flaxseed supplementation in diabetic hamsters was associated with significant reductions in serum TC (-24.9%), TC/HDL-C ratio (-60%) and increase in serum HDL-C (+91%) as compared to diabetic group without supplementation. There were no significant differences in serum TG levels between diabetes supplemented with flaxseed and diabetic groups. Also, flaxseed supplementation in diabetes induced significant reductions in hepatic cholesterol (-39.5%) and triglycerides levels (-28.8%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary flaxseed supplementation may reduce the incidence of diabetic macrovascular complications through improvement of lipid profile.

The effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation on lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters.

UNLABELLED Previous results demonstrate that experimental diabetes mellitus is accompanied by increased oxidant stress within glomeruli. Evidence are emerging that dietary flaxseed supplementation can have beneficial effects on oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in male Golden Syrian hamsters, and both diabetic and control groups were fed either standard diet, or standard diet supplemented with flaxseed (15 g/100 g diet), for 20 weeks. At the end of the study, blood samples and renal homogenates were used for determination of oxidative stress markers. RESULTS STZ-induced diabetes in hamsters substantially increased malondialdehyde levels along with corresponding decrease in the antioxidants levels. Supplementation of flaxseed resulted in the decrease in serum and renal homogenate malondialdehyde levels. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, total glutathione (tGSH) and superoxiddismutase (SOD) were also concomitantly raised to near normal levels by flaxseed supplementation diabetic hamsters. CONCLUSION Dietary flaxseed supplementation in diabetes mellitus may have beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy evolution by reducing the levels of oxidative stress and increasing the antioxidant defense systems.

Effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation on renal oxidative stress in experimental diabetes.

Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) is rarely reported in temperate countries. In addition, there are few reported cases of patients with ascites with S. stercoralis worldwide, usually in immunocompromised subjects. We present the case of a young patient with alcoholic liver disease and acute pancreatitis, who developed ascites with S. stercoralis. The patient had no evident immunosupression (HIV negative and absence of immunosupressive therapy). This is the first reported case where acute pancreatitis could have precipitated infection of ascitic fluid with S. stercoralis.

Ascites with Strongyloides stercoralis in a patient with acute alcoholic pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis.

Background: Biomarkers were correlated with mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. No prediction tools exist for noncritically ill COVID-19 patients. We aimed to compare the independent prognostic value of inflammation and cardiac biomarkers for post-acute COVID-19 patients and the 30-day mortality rate in noncritically ill COVID-19 patients, as well as the relation with the virus variant involved. Methods: This observational cohort study was conducted at an emergency clinical hospital between 1 October 2020 and 31 December 2021. We included consecutive patients with biomarkers determined within 24 h of presentation, followed up at least 30 days postdischarge. Results: Post-acute COVID-19 was diagnosed in 20.3% of the cases and the all-cause 30-day mortality rate was 35.1% among 978 patients infected with variants of concern. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (1.06 [95%CI, 1.01–1.11], p = 0.015) and NT-pro BNP were correlated with 30-daymortality, while the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (2.77 [95%CI, 1.10–6.94], p = 0.03) and NT-pro BNP (1.68 [95%CI, 1.00–2.84], p = 0.05) were correlated with post-acute COVID-19. High-sensitivity to troponin was associated with 30-day mortality (1.55 [95%CI, 1.00–2.42], p = 0.05). A Cox proportional-hazards model confirmed that NT-pro BNP was independently associated with mortality. NT-pro BNP remained independently associated with 30-day mortality during follow-up (1.29 [95%CI, 1.07–1.56], p = 0.007) after adjustment for confounders. Conclusion: Inflammation and cardiac biomarkers, determined upon admission and predischarge, in a cohort of hospitalized noncritically ill COVID-19 patients throughout successive pandemic waves, showed a predictive value for post-acute COVID-19 and 30-day mortality.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/6/1373/pdf?version=1654486791

R. Haliga

Papers

Flaxseed supplementation in hyperlipidemic patients.

The effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation on lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic hamsters.

Effects of dietary flaxseed supplementation on renal oxidative stress in experimental diabetes.

Ascites with Strongyloides stercoralis in a patient with acute alcoholic pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis.

Inflammatory and Cardiac Biomarkers in Relation with Post-Acute COVID-19 and Mortality: What We Know after Successive Pandemic Waves