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Background/Objectives: Lipid metabolism plays an important role in maternal health and fetal development. There is a gap in the knowledge of how lipid metabolism changes during pregnancy for Black women who are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes. We hypothesized that the comprehensive lipidome profiles would show variation across pregnancy indicative of requirements during gestation and fetal development. Methods: Black women were recruited at prenatal clinics. Plasma samples were collected at 8–18 weeks (T1), 22–29 weeks (T2), and 30–36 weeks (T3) of pregnancy. Samples from 64 women who had term births (≥37 weeks gestation) were subjected to "shotgun" Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Mixed-effects models were used to quantify systematic changes and dimensionality reduction models were used to visualize patterns and identify reliable lipid signatures. Results: Total lipids and major lipid classes showed significant increases with the progression of pregnancy. Phospholipids and glycerolipids exhibited a gradual increase from T1 to T2 to T3, while sphingolipids and total sterol lipids displayed a more pronounced increase from T2 to T3. Acylcarnitines, hydroxy acylcarnitines, and Lyso phospholipid levels significantly decreased from T1 to T3. A deviation was that non-esterified fatty acids decreased from T1 to T2 and increased again from T2 to T3, suggestive of a potential role for these lipids during the later stages of pregnancy. The fatty acids showing this trend included key fatty acids—non-esterified Linoleic acid, Arachidonic acid, Alpha-linolenic acid, Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosapentaenoic acid, and Docosahexaenoic acid. Conclusions: Mapping lipid patterns and identifying lipid signatures would help develop intervention strategies to reduce perinatal health disparities among pregnant Black women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by high blood glucose levels and lipid alterations. Besides pharmacological treatment, lifestyle modifications and nutraceuticals can be used to manage glucose and lipid profiles, which is crucial for preventing, or avoiding, serious consequences associated with the condition. This randomized controlled clinical trial on 75 patients with T2DM evaluated the effects of a combination of myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol (40:1), α-lactalbumin, Gymnema sylvestre, and zinc on glucose and lipid profile. The intention-to-treat analysis displayed no significant differences in glucose parameters between the groups; however, the study group displayed reduced levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.01) and LDL (p = 0.03) after 3 months of supplementation. A subgroup analysis involving patients who did not modify their antidiabetic therapy, after 6 months displayed improved levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.03) and LDL (p = 0.04) in the study group versus placebo, along with a greater body weight reduction (p = 0.03) after 3 months. Furthermore, within the study group, levels of HDL (p = 0.03) and triglycerides (p = 0.04) improved after 3 months. These findings support supplementation with myo-inositol and d-chiro-inositol (40:1), α-lactalbumin, Gymnema sylvestre, and zinc as an adjuvant and safe strategy to manage the lipid profiles of patients with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lipid profile is affected following menstrual cessation (MC). We aimed to evaluate the effects of goserelin-induced MC and subsequent menstrual restoration (MR) on lipid metabolism. Premenopausal women with histologically verified endometriosis (n = 15) received goserelin monthly for 6 months (6mο), resulting in MC, and were followed-up for another 6 months after MR (12mο). Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), lipoprotein a ([Lp(a)] and lipidomics were measured at baseline, 6mo and 12mo. Shotgun quantitative deep lipidomics were determined at the level of lipid class category, subclass, species, and fatty acyl chain lengths and degree of saturation. TC (p = 0.006), LDL-C (p = 0.028), HDL-C (p = 0.002), and apoA1 (p = 0.013) increased during goserelin-induced MC and remained practically unchanged during MR. TG, apoB, and Lp(a) did not change. From the deep lipidomics analysis, multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated profound alterations in lipid species with MC, whereas no statistically valid models could be fitted for the restoration period. In conclusion, GnRH-analog-induced MC alters lipid profiles at various levels, from standard blood lipid and lipoprotein profiles to several lipid species as detected by lipidomics analysis. Changes largely persist for at least 6 m after MR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hyperglycemia induces pathophysiologic pathways with negative effects on the metabolism of most substrates as well as lipids and lipoproteins, and thereby induces dyslipidemia. Thus, the diabetic milieu is commonly accompanied by different levels of atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is per se a major risk factor for subsequent complications such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and nephropathy. Therefore, readjusting lipid metabolism in the diabetic milieu is a major goal for preventing dyslipidemia-induced complications. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of relatively newly introduced antidiabetes drugs (including empagliflozin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, etc.) with potent hypoglycemic effects and can reduce blood glucose by inducing glycosuria. However, recent evidence suggests that they could also provide extra-glycemic benefits in lipid metabolism. It seems that they can increase fat burning and lipolysis, normalizing the lipid metabolism and preventing or improving dyslipidemia. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms involved in this process are not well-understood. In this review, we tried to explain how these drugs could regulate lipid homeostasis and we presented the possible involved cellular pathways supported by clinical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The brain is rich in lipid content, so a physiopathological pathway in Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be related to lipid metabolism impairment. The study of lipid profiles in plasma samples could help in the identification of early AD changes and new potential biomarkers. Methods: An untargeted lipidomic analysis was carried out in plasma samples from preclinical AD (n = 11), mild cognitive impairment-AD (MCI-AD) (n = 31), and healthy (n = 20) participants. Variables were identified by means of two complementary methods, and lipid families' profiles were studied. Then, a targeted analysis was carried out for some identified lipids. Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained for the diglycerol (DG), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), monoglyceride (MG), and sphingomyelin (SM) families as well as for monounsaturated (MUFAs) lipids, among the participant groups. In addition, statistically significant differences in the levels of lipid families (ceramides (Cer), LPE, LPC, MG, and SM) were observed between the preclinical AD and healthy groups, while statistically significant differences in the levels of DG, MG, and PE were observed between the MCI-AD and healthy groups. In addition, 18:1 LPE showed statistically significant differences in the targeted analysis between early AD (preclinical and MCI) and healthy participants. Conclusion: The different plasma lipid profiles could be useful in the early and minimally invasive detection of AD. Among the lipid families, relevant results were obtained from DGs, LPEs, LPCs, MGs, and SMs. Specifically, MGs could be potentially useful in AD detection; while LPEs, LPCs, and SM seem to be more related to the preclinical stage, while DGs are more related to the MCI stage. Specifically, 18:1 LPE showed a potential utility as an AD biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is positively associated with cardiovascular diseases, but the involvement of lipids in this association remains unclear. The present study reviewed the changes in circulating lipid levels following H. pylori eradication. Methods: A PubMed database was searched until December 2020 to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs investigating the effect of H. pylori eradication on the lipid levels in inverse variance-weighted, random-effects meta-analyses. Results: A total of 24 studies (four RCTs and 20 non-RCTs) with 5270 participants were identified. The post-eradication levels were increased for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; mean difference (MD) 2.28 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.90 to 2.66) and triglyceride (TG; MD 3.22 mg/dL, 95% CI 1.13 to 5.31) compared with the pre-eradication levels. H. pylori eradication resulted in little to no difference in the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (MD −2.33 mg/dL, 95% CI −4.92 to 0.26). In the analyses of RCTs only, the findings for elevated HDL-C levels, but not TG, were robust. Conclusions:H. pylori eradication increases the HDL-C levels. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of lipid changes following H. pylori eradication on cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV and antiretroviral therapy affect lipid metabolism. Lipidomics quantifies several individual species that are overlooked using conventional biochemical analyses, outperforming traditional risk equations. We aimed to compare the plasma lipidomic profile of HIV patients taking efavirenz (EFV) or rilpivirine (RPV). Patients ≥ 18 years old on EFV co-formulated with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) with HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL for ≥6 months were randomized to continue EFV/FTC/TDF (n = 14) or switch to RPV/FTC/TDF (n =15). Lipidomic analyses conducted by mass spectrometry (MS) were performed at baseline and after 12 and 24 weeks. OWLiver® Care and OWLiver® tests were performed to estimate the presence of fatty liver disease (NAFLD). No significant differences (83% male, median age 44 years, 6 years receiving EFV/FTC/TDF, CD4+ count 740 cells/mm3, TC 207 [57 HDL-C/133 LDL-C] mg/dL, TG 117 mg/dL) were observed between the groups at baseline. Significant reductions in plasma lipids and lipoproteins but increased circulating bilirubin concentrations were observed in patients who switched to RPV/FTC/TDF. Patients on RPV/FTC/TDF showed a decrease in the global amount of storage lipids (-0.137 log2 [fold-change] EFV vs. 0.059 log2 [fold-change] RPV) but an increase in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and total steroids. Compared with EFV, RPV increased metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties and reduced the repository of specific lipotoxic lipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) exerts an important role in inflammatory processes, lipids homeostasis, and cardiometabolic disorders that are closely associated with psoriasis. The aim of the study was to analyze the clinical and diagnostic value of serum PCSK9 concentrations and their connections with disease severity, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and impact of systemic therapies in psoriatic patients. The study enrolled thirty-five patients with active plaque-type psoriasis and eighteen healthy volunteers served as controls. Blood samples were obtained before and after 12 weeks of treatment with methotrexate or acitretin. Serum PCSK9 concentrations were measured by the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) commercial kits. Morphological and biochemical parameters were assayed using routine laboratory techniques. Psoriatic patients showed significantly elevated levels of PCSK9 compared to controls (p < 0.01), mostly in patients with a mild and moderate course of psoriasis. PCSK9 concentrations correlated positively with BMI and triglyceride levels (p < 0.05). Interestingly, PCSK9 had a strong negative correlation with low-density lipoprotein levels and total cholesterol (p < 0.05). Three months of monotherapy with methotrexate significantly reduced PCSK9 level (p < 0.05), on the contrary, the acitretin group showed a further increase of PCSK9 levels (p < 0.05). PCSK9 seems to be a novel marker of psoriasis and a putative explanation of lipid disturbances, which are common in patients with psoriasis and are vital for the further developing of metabolic syndrome. Methotrexate should be considered as a treatment of choice in patients with an elevated PCSK9 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing evidence shows that grape polyphenols can improve cardiovascular risk factors. Although there are clear data supporting a beneficial effect of grape supplementation on blood pressure and glucose metabolism, the effects of grape polyphenols on lipid metabolism are still controversial. Objective: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of grape products on lipid profile. Design: A systematic search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE databases without any language or publication year restriction. The reference lists of all retrieved articles were manually reviewed. RCTs evaluating the impact of grape products/juice/extracts on lipid profile were included. Difference in total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (oxLDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo) A, apo B before and after administration of grape products or placebo were expressed as mean differences (MD) with pertinent 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The impact of clinical and demographic features on effect size was assessed by meta-regression. Results: The administration of grape products is associated with a significant improvement of lipid profile, as evidenced by changes in TC (MD: −7.6 mg/dL (−0.2 mmol/L); 95% CI: −10.8, −4.4; p < 0.001), HDL-C (MD: 1.4 mg/dL (0.04 mmol/L); 95% CI: 0.8, 1.9; p < 0.001, I2 = 74.7%, p < 0.001), LDL-C (−6.3 mg/dL (−0.16 mmol/L); 95% CI: −9.5, −3.0; p < 0.001), oxLDL-C (MD: −4.5 U/L; 95% CI: −7.5, −1.5; p = 0.003, I2 = 90.6%, p < 0.001), apo B (MD: −2.4 mg/dL (−0.05 µmol/L); 95% CI: −4.5, −0.3; p = 0.026), and TG (MD: −14.5 mg/dL (−0.16 mmol/L); 95% CI: −17.7, −11.2; p < 0.001) levels in subjects receiving grape products compared to placebo. With regard to the extent of the lipid-lowering effect, compared to baseline values, the highest reduction was reported for LDL-C (MD: −5.6 mg/dL (−0.14 mmol/L); 95% CI: −9.5, −1.7; p = 0.005) and for oxLDL-C (MD: −5.0 U/L; 95% CI: −8.8, −1.2; p = 0.010, I2 = 0%, p = 0.470). Conclusions: Grape polyphenols exert a favorable effect on lipid profile in humans by significantly reducing plasma levels of LDL-C and oxLDL-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]