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An adequate pancreatic structure is necessary for optimal organ function. Structural changes are critical in the development of age-related pancreatic disorders. In this context, it has been reported that different pancreatic compartments from rats were affected according to the fat composition consumed. Since there is a close relationship between mitochondria, oxidative stress and aging, an experimental approach has been developed to gain more insight into this process in the pancreas. A low dosage of coenzyme Q was administered life-long in rats in order to try to prevent pancreatic aging-related alterations associated to some dietary fat sources. According to that, three groups of rats were fed normocaloric diets containing Coenzyme Q (CoQ) for two years, where virgin olive, sunflower, or fish oil was included as unique fat source. Pancreatic samples for microscopy and blood samples were collected at the moment of euthanasia. The main finding is that CoQ supplementation gives different results according to fat used in diet. When sunflower oil was the main fat in the diet, CoQ supplementation seems to improve endocrine pancreas structure and in particular β-cell mass resembling positive effects of virgin olive oil. Conversely, CoQ intake does not seem to improve the structural alterations of exocrine compartment previously observed in fish oil fed rats. Therefore CoQ may improve pancreatic alterations associated to the chronic intake of some dietary fat sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate pancreatic structure is necessary for optimal organ function. Structural changes are critical in the development of age-related pancreatic disorders. We aimed to study the effect of oil consumption on pancreas histology in order to find aging-related signs. To this end, three groups of rats were fed an isocaloric diet for 2 years, where virgin olive, sunflower, or fish oil was included. Pancreatic samples for microscopy and blood samples were collected at the moment of sacrifice. As a result, the sunflower oil–fed rats presented higher β-cell numbers and twice the insulin content than virgin olive oil–fed animals. In addition, rats fed with fish oil developed acinar fibrosis and macrophage infiltrates in peri-insular regions, compared with counterparts fed with virgin olive oil. Inflammation signs were less prominent in the sunflower group. The obtained data emphasize the importance of dietary fatty acids in determining pancreatic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We aimed to investigate the effects of fish oil (FO) supplementation to pregnant women on the maternal and fetal fatty acid profile in plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids (PL) and to identify the best compartment for the assessment of fatty acid status. A multi-centre, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted. Healthy pregnant women from three European centres were randomly assigned to receive from week 20 of gestation until delivery a daily dietary supplement with either FO (500 mg DHA+150 mg EPA), 400 μg 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, both or placebo. Fatty acids in plasma and erythrocyte PL were determined in maternal blood (week 20, week 30 of pregnancy and delivery) and in cord blood (delivery). FO supplementation increased DHA levels in maternal and cord plasma and erythrocyte PL. Higher percentage changes were observed in erythrocyte PL than in plasma PL. There were significant correlations between plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid levels in maternal and cord blood. Significant correlations between maternal and cord fatty acid levels at delivery in plasma and erythrocytes were also observed; however, correlation coefficients were higher for erythrocyte phophatidylethanolamine. FO supplementation increases maternal and fetal DHA status. Both plasma and erythrocytes appear to be suitable to evaluate the fatty acid status of mothers but erythrocytes seem to be a more reliable marker in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Coenzyme Q distribution, as well as respiratory chain features, in rat brain mitochondria depend on mitochondrial subpopulation, brain region and age. Heavy mitochondria (HM) usually display the lowest content of respiratory components and the lowest enzymatic activities and it has been suggested that they represent the oldest mitochondrial population. In this study, we confirmed that HM are considerably compromised in their structure. In fact, HM showed to have the highest hydroperoxide content and the most consistent modifications in their fatty acid pattern with wide loss of fatty acids (or part of them) in the phospholipid moiety. Such situation could explain the typical impairment of HM and could support the hypothesis that they represent an old mitochondrial population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an oral supplementation with a Curcuma longa ethanol and aqueous extract on the susceptibility to oxidation of cellular and subcellular membranes affected in the atherosclerotic process, such as erythrocyte membranes and liver microsomes, in rabbits fed with a high-fat diet.: MethodsTwenty-four male rabbits were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group T was treated with a turmeric hydroalcoholic extract (1.66 mg/kg of body weight) dissolved in a hydroalcoholic mixture vehicle (7:2), and group C (control): received a curcuma-free hydroalcoholic solution (7:2). All rabbits had access ad libitum to 150 g/d of an experimental diet rich in cholesterol and lard to provoke an atherosclerotic process. Erythrocyte membranes and liver microsomes were isolated, and the levels of hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances were measured after oxidation induction.: ResultsThe oxidation of erythrocyte membranes in group T was significantly lower than that in group C, mainly by 30 d (P < 0.05). Levels of hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances in liver microsomes also were significantly lower in group T than in group C (P < 0.05).: ConclusionThe results of this study indicated that oral administration of a nutritional dose of C. longa extracts reduces the susceptibility to oxidation of erythrocyte and liver microsome membranes in vitro and may contribute to the prevention of effects caused by a diet high in fat and cholesterol in blood and liver during the development of atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The association between premature pubarche (PP) and metabolic syndrome is controversial and not supported by some authors. The aim of this study was to determine insulin resistance syndrome, plasma adiponectin, and fatty acid profile in PP girls to discern potential confounder variables and markers of metabolic disturbances. We studied 22 prepubertal girls with a diagnosis of PP and 20 healthy controls who differed in body mass index (BMI) (19.33 +/- 0.71 vs 17.30 +/- 0.60). We evaluated insulin resistance syndrome components and postprandial response of adiponectin, nonesterified fatty acids, and fatty acid profile after consumption of a standardized breakfast. No lipid disturbances were detected in the PP group. High-density lipoprotein to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio tended to be lower in PP girls (P = .052), but this effect disappeared when data were adjusted for both BMI and age (P = .480). Insulin levels tended to be higher at 2 hours in PP girls, who showed significantly higher C-peptide area under the curve. In contrast, adiponectin at 3 hours after the meal and postprandial adiponectin area under the curve were significantly lower. The PP girls showed significantly higher percentages of eicosapentaenoic acid in total plasma and plasma phospholipids. No differences were found in the postprandial fatty acid clearance rate. In conclusion, PP girls and controls differed in postprandial plasma adiponectin response and in postprandial plasma C-peptide response after both BMI and age adjustment. Cholesterol plasma disturbances were mainly attributable to their higher BMI, although n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher because of the PP., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The anthracycline antibiotic adriamycin (doxorubicin) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents against a wide variety of cancers. However, its use is seriously limited by the development in the heart of acute and chronic toxic effects. Mechanisms of action and toxicity of adriamycin are briefly revised in this review. Among followed strategies to attenuate adriamycin toxicity are dosage optimisation, synthesis and use of analogues or combined therapy with antioxidants. The most promising results come from the combination of the drug delivery together with an antioxidant in order to reduce oxidative stress. Many antioxidants have been assayed with very different results. Among these molecules, metal ions chelators and low-molecular-mass agents that scavenge reactive oxygen species and that are synthesised in vivo have been widely studied. However, the present review will be exclusively focused on the antioxidants that are derived from the diet, in particular the role of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, coenzyme Q, flavonoids, antioxidant components of virgin olive oil and selenium.