Caffeic acid (CA) is a hydroxycinnamic acid, a group of natural organic phenolic compounds used in folk medicine and in foods for the prevention and treatment of obesity. CA is present in a variety of plants, as it is an intermediate in secondary metabolism. It is found in coffee, wine and olive oil. The aim of this work was to study the influence of caffeic acid (CA) on the reduction of intracellular lipid accumulation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and in mitochondrial transmembrane potential alterations in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. The pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3-L1 was differentiated using a differentiation cocktail. Cells were treated with CA, and the MTT assay was performed to assess the effect of CA on pre-adipocytes. The quantification of lipids accumulated within the mature cells was performed using Oil Red O dye. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the production of ROS through 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) oxidation and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential by Rhodamine 123 dye (Rho123). CA did not exhibit significant toxicity on the 3T3-L1 cell line at the studied concentrations. Caffeic acid causes significant reduction of lipid content in the cells submitted to the post-and co-treatment, being more effective in cotreatment. Caffeic acid results in an absolute decrease in the formation of intracytoplasmic reactive oxygen species. The treatment with caffeic acid protects against oxidative stress caused in the mitochondria by the adipocyte differentiation process. Thus, CA acts on adipogenesis, reducing intracellular lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. It reduces intracellular ROS formation and mitochondrial transmembrane potential alterations in differentiated cells.

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Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with several metabolic diseases. The triglycerides (TG) disrupt the cholesterol reverse transport and contribute to increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) acts in cholesterol reverse transport as an antiinflammatory and antioxidant. This study aims to investigate the role of hypertriglyceridemia in the functionality of HDL. Individuals were divided into 4 groups based on high or low HDL-c and triglycerides levels. Biochemical and anthropometric analysis were performed. This study demonstrated that triglycerides promote dysfunctions on HDL, increasing the cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure was higher in subjects with low HDL. Women presented higher levels of HDL-c and low percentage of fat mass. The highest levels of triglycerides were observed in older age. In addition, high levels of triglycerides were associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL-c levels, non-HDL-c, non-esterified fatty acids, and blood glucose, increasing in the ratio of non-HDL-c/HDL-c and ApoB/ApoA-I. The increase of triglycerides levels progressively impairs the antioxidant capacity of HDL, probably due to a higher occurrence of fatty acid peroxidation in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia. Patients with high HDL and low TG levels increased the Lag Time. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between TG versus HDL particle size, variables that depend on age and anthropometric parameters.

Background and objectives: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) are promising atherosclerosis indicators. The APOAI gene polymorphism variant rs670 shows that G (Guanine) allele is the most frequent and the A (Adenine) allele is the rarest, with both being associated with HDL-c variations in different ethnicities. In the APOB variant rs693, the C (Cytosine) allele is the most frequent, while the T (Timine) allele is the rarest and associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk. This study aims to evaluate biochemical and genetic risk factors for CVD development in young Brazilians and Africans.Methods: Anthropometric parameters were used for measurement. Blood Samples were collected to evaluate Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Apolipoproteins A-I and B, ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) quantification. The antioxidant capacity of HDL was evaluated by the LagTime assay and the serum enzyme Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity. Genetic Analysis was made through DNA extraction from whole blood leukocytes and genotyping of the rs670 and rs693 polymorphisms using the real-time PCR (q-PCR) technique. Results: G allele and homozygous GG genotype of rs670 were the most frequent in both ethnicities. Among Brazilians, the A allele and GA genotype were associated with higher cardiovascular risk. Regarding the rs693 polymorphism, the C allele was the most frequent in both ethnicities, and the T allele was more frequent between Africans. Also, the CC genotype was the most frequent among Brazilians, and the CT genotype the most frequent among Africans, which presented higher TT frequency. T allele and TT genotype were associated with higher cardiovascular risk factors in both populations. Conclusion: Brazilians are doubly affected by these variables, while Africans are more susceptible to risks due to changes in the rs693 polymorphism.

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