Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a leading public health and clinical challenge worldwide. MetS represents a group of interrelated risk factors that predict cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Its prevalence ranges between 10 and 84%, depending on the geographic region, urban or rural environment, individual demographic characteristics of the population studied (sex, age, racial and ethnic origin), as well as the criteria used to define MetS. Persons with MetS have higher mortality rate when compared with people without MetS, primarily caused by progressive atherosclerosis, accelerated by pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulation components of MetS. Considering the high prevalence of metabolic disorders (glucose metabolism disorder, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity etc.), preventive healthcare should focus on changing lifestyle in order to reduce obesity and increase physical activity. This narrative review considers the available evidence from clinical and experimental studies dealing with MetS, and current treatment options for patients with insulin resistance and MetS.

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Aims/Hypothesis. It was suggested that polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) could improve insulin sensitivity and have an anti-inflammatory effects in overall population. This study investigates a possible effect of n-3 PUFAs supplementation on the insulin sensitivity and some inflammatory markers; hence, patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are presented with insulin resistance. Methods. This study explored the ratio between red blood cells (RBC) phospholipid long chain fatty acids (LC FAs) and components of metabolic syndrome (MeS) in 35 patients (mean age 54.50 ± 11.99 years) with CRF on MHD. Furthermore, the effects of omega-3 FA eight-week's supplementation (EPA+DHA, 2.4g/d) on the MeS features and inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, IL 6, and hsCRP were examined. Results. Supplementation increased EPA and DHA levels in RBCs (p = 0.009 for EPA and p = 0.002 for DHA). Total n-6 PUFAs: n-3 PUFAs ratio tended to be lower after supplementation (p = 0.31), but not significantly. Data revealed a significant decrease of saturated FAs (SFA) (p = 0.01) as well as total SFA: n-3 PUFAs ratio during the treatment (p = 0.04). The values of serum insulin and calculated IR index-IR HOMA were reduced after supplementation (p = 0.001 for both).There was a significant decrease in the levels of all inflammatory markers (p = 0.01 for TNF alpha, p = 0.001 for IL 6, p = 0.001 for hsCRP, and p = 0.01 for ferritin). In multivariate regression analysis, only the changes in n-6 PUFAs: n-3 PUFAs ratio independently contributed to 40% of the variance in IR HOMA. The impact of changes in PUFAs level in RBCs membrane phospholipid fatty acids on inflammation markers was also registered. The changes in n-6: n-3 PUFAs ratio independently contributed to 18% of the variance in TNF alpha. Conclusion. It was concluded that the EPA and DHA moderate dose administration in the patients with CRF on MHD had a beneficial effect on insulin resistance decrease. The anti-inflammatory effects of the supplemented PUFAs were also presented.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading global health concern and responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other type of disorder. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in the arterial wall, which underpins several types of cardiovascular disease. It has emerged that a strong relationship exists between alterations in amino acid (AA) metabolism and the development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies have reported positive correlations between levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) such as leucine, valine, and isoleucine in plasma and the occurrence of metabolic disturbances. Elevated serum levels of BCAAs indicate a high cardiometabolic risk. Thus, BCAAs may also impact atherosclerosis prevention and offer a novel therapeutic strategy for specific individuals at risk of coronary events. The metabolism of AAs, such as L-arginine, homoarginine, and L-tryptophan, is recognized as a critical regulator of vascular homeostasis. Dietary intake of homoarginine, taurine, and glycine can improve atherosclerosis by endothelium remodeling. Available data also suggest that the regulation of AA metabolism by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and arginases 1 and 2 are mediated through various immunological signals and that immunosuppressive AA metabolizing enzymes are promising therapeutic targets against atherosclerosis. Further clinical studies and basic studies that make use of animal models are required. Here we review recent data examining links between AA metabolism and the development of atherosclerosis.

An imbalance between pro-oxidative and antioxidative cellular mechanisms is oxidative stress (OxS) which may be systemic or organ-specific. Although OxS is a consequence of normal body and organ physiology, severely impaired oxidative homeostasis results in DNA hydroxylation, protein denaturation, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis, ultimately compromising cells’ function and viability. The thyroid gland is an organ that exhibits both oxidative and antioxidative processes. In terms of OxS severity, the thyroid gland’s response could be physiological (i.e. hormone production and secretion) or pathological (i.e. development of diseases, such as goitre, thyroid cancer, or thyroiditis). Protective nutritional antioxidants may benefit defensive antioxidative systems in resolving pro-oxidative dominance and redox imbalance, preventing or delaying chronic thyroid diseases. This review provides information on nutritional antioxidants and their protective roles against impaired redox homeostasis in various thyroid pathologies. We also review novel findings related to the connection between the thyroid gland and gut microbiome and analyze the effects of probiotics with antioxidant properties on thyroid diseases.

This study aimed at examining the early effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity/expression in lymphocytes of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. A group of 19 patients (mean age: 63 ± 2.1) with T1DM and with the peripheral arterial disease were included in this study. Patients were exposed to 10 sessions of HBOT in the duration of 1 h to 100% oxygen inhalation at 2.4 ATA. Blood samples were collected for the plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma free fatty acid (FFA), serum nitrite/nitrate, and serum arginase activity measurements. Expression of iNOS and phosphorylation of p65 subunit of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB-p65), extracellular-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and protein kinase B (Akt) were examined in lymphocyte lysates by Western blot. After exposure to HBOT, plasma CRP and FFA were significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Protein expression of iNOS and serum nitrite/nitrate levels were decreased (p < 0.01), while serum arginase activity was increased (p < 0.05) versus before exposure to HBOT. Increased phosphorylation of NFκB-p65 at Ser536 (p < 0.05) and decreased level of NFκB-p65 protein (p < 0.001) in lymphocytes of T1DM patients were observed after HBOT. Decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (p < 0.05) and Akt (p < 0.05) was detected after HBOT. Our results indicate that exposure to HBO decreased iNOS activity/expression via decreasing phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt followed by decreased activity of NFκB.

IntroductionCardiovascular (CV) disorders are steadily increasing, making them the world’s most prevalent health issue. New research highlights the importance of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) for maintaining CV healthMethodsWe searched PubMed and MEDLINE for English and non-English articles with English abstracts published between 1957 (when the first report on IGF-1 identification was published) and 2022. The top search terms were: IGF-1, cardiovascular disease, IGF-1 receptors, IGF-1 and microRNAs, therapeutic interventions with IGF-1, IGF-1 and diabetes, IGF-1 and cardiovascular disease. The search retrieved original peer-reviewed articles, which were further analyzed, focusing on the role of IGF-1 in pathophysiological conditions. We specifically focused on including the most recent findings published in the past five years.ResultsIGF-1, an anabolic growth factor, regulates cell division, proliferation, and survival. In addition to its well-known growth-promoting and metabolic effects, there is mounting evidence that IGF-1 plays a specialized role in the complex activities that underpin CV function. IGF-1 promotes cardiac development and improves cardiac output, stroke volume, contractility, and ejection fraction. Furthermore, IGF-1 mediates many growth hormones (GH) actions. IGF-1 stimulates contractility and tissue remodeling in humans to improve heart function after myocardial infarction. IGF-1 also improves the lipid profile, lowers insulin levels, increases insulin sensitivity, and promotes glucose metabolism. These findings point to the intriguing medicinal potential of IGF-1. Human studies associate low serum levels of free or total IGF-1 with an increased risk of CV and cerebrovascular illness. Extensive human trials are being conducted to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and outcomes of IGF-1-related therapy.DiscussionWe anticipate the development of novel IGF-1-related therapy with minimal side effects. This review discusses recent findings on the role of IGF-1 in the cardiovascular (CVD) system, including both normal and pathological conditions. We also discuss progress in therapeutic interventions aimed at targeting the IGF axis and provide insights into the epigenetic regulation of IGF-1 mediated by microRNAs.

Chronic exposure to insufficient levels of magnesium (Mg) in drinking water increases the risk of magnesium deficiency and its association with hypertension, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to assess the potential association of mineral contents in drinking water with blood pressure and other components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) (BMI as measure of obesity, triglycerides, glucose, and insulin resistance, index-HOMA IR), in a healthy population. This study was conducted in three randomly selected municipalities (Pozarevac, Grocka and Banovci), and recruited 90 healthy blood donors, aged 20-50 years. The Pozarevac area had a four times higher mean Mg level in drinking water (42 mg L À1 ) than Grocka (11 mg L À1 ). Diastolic blood pressure was lowest in subjects from Pozarevac. Serum Mg (sMg) was highest, and serum Ca 2þ /Mg (sCa/Mg) lowest in subjects from Pozarevac, and after adjustment for confounders (age, gender, BMI), only total cholesterol and sMg levels were independent predictors of diastolic blood pressure, sMg levels were independent predictors of triglycerides, and sCa/Mg predicted glucose levels. These results suggest that Mg supplementation in areas of lower magnesium levels in drinking water may be an important measure in the prevention of hypertension and MetS in general.