Eduardo Fernández-Martínez

Introduction/Objective: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) encompasses several conditions, including central adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and fatty liver. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on new non-pharmacological treatments for each of these conditions. This work analyzes the beneficial effects of the main dietary lipophilic compounds and the digestive, cellular, and molecular mechanisms they elicit, and also briefly reviews adverse effects reported in some outstanding current studies to provide an overview of their nutraceutical potential in the context of MetS. Methods: Databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were searched for English- language publications from all years that reported beneficial anti-obesogenic, hypolipidemic, antisteatogenic, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and antihypertensive effects; and their proposed mechanisms of action of common dietary lipophilic compounds. Some articles from the reference list were used to gather additional information, and a total of 135 articles were used. Results: Dietary fats, oils, and fiber are sources of high levels of lipophilic bioactive compounds, including short-chain fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, and vitamin E. Therefore, the amounts ingested of these compounds may be sufficient to confer health benefits in MetS. Lipophilic compounds may exert their therapeutic effects through various mechanisms, ranging from modifying the digestion of specific nutrients to reducing oxidative stress and inflammation to altering gene expression. Conclusion: Although current scientific evidence supports the therapeutic effects of these compounds, some studies indicate that not all bioactive lipophilic compounds are effective in treating the full spectrum of MetS, raising questions that require more analysis and discussion.

Colon Cancer (CC) continues to represent a significant global health challenge, with rising incidence and mortality rates. Although conventional therapeutic strategies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved clinical outcomes, they are frequently associated with severe adverse effects that compromise patients’ quality of life. This scenario has encouraged the exploration of complementary and preventive approaches based on natural dietary compounds. Recent in vitro and in vivo research has highlighted the role of dietary fiber, plant and animal proteins, and phenolic compounds in the prevention and adjuvant management of CC. These bioactive components exert multiple cellular and molecular effects, including the induction of autophagy and apoptosis, the disruption of cell cycle progression at the G1/S and G2/M checkpoints, and the selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. In addition, they can modulate the expression of genes associated with cell proliferation and survival, such as p53, p27, and p21. At the immunological level, these compounds influence the secretion of key mediators, including pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), produced by macrophages, dendritic cells, lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. Collectively, these mechanisms help maintain immune homeostasis and may help prevent CC or enhance the efficacy of current treatments. Understanding the molecular interplay between diet and tumor biology is essential to advance safer, more effective, and personalized therapeutic strategies.

Background/Objectives: The obesogenic environment is a key factor in the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a major global public health challenge. Mangiferin (Mgf) is a C-glycosylated xanthone, and its preventive and therapeutic potential stems from its multisystemic pharmacological profile. This review integrates findings on Mgf in the management of metabolic syndrome, aiming to identify gaps and propose prospective studies to enable the scaling up of Mgf for clinical applications. Methods: To this end, a literature search was conducted, the level of evidence was identified, and the available scientific information on Mgf in metabolic syndrome was synthesized from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2016 to 2025. Results: Mgf improves overall metabolic dysfunction by activating the AMPK pathway, reduces inflammation by activating Nrf2, suppressing NF-κB, and decreasing pro-inflammatory mediators (COX-2, IL-6, NLRP3), modulates CB1 and PPAR receptors and other markers associated with obesity (adiponectin, leptin, resistin), as well as autophagy processes. However, most of the evidence comes from in silico, in vitro, and preclinical studies, with few clinical observations. Conclusions: This underscores the need to integrate studies on the correlation between the bioavailability of Mgf and norathyriol with the regulation of the microbiota, as well as their effects on metabolomic and epigenetic mechanisms in MetS.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of metabolic diseases that coexist in the same individual. Obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia are typical manifestations of this condition. However, systemic inflammation and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) are considered common causes and consequences of this condition, respectively. Although diet is crucial in both the prevention and treatment of MetS, it is also a poorly addressed aspect among the population. The inclusion of a type of food known as "functional foods" in the diet is a promising non-pharmacological alternative for treating MetS, as functional foods are characterized by high amounts of functional components that can positively modulate physiological processes leading to the onset and progression of diseases. Fibers, probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols, and certain pigments, such as spirulina and curcumin, are typical examples of functional food components. This document aims to provide a brief description of the characteristics of some of these components and their effects on the pathophysiology of MetS from a mechanistic perspective. According to a comprehensive review of the current literature, the functional elements of food exhibit a wide range of mechanisms to counteract MetS; however, the reduction of fat absorption, the suppression of lipogenesis, the increase in oxidation of metabolic substrates, the remodeling of the intestinal microbiota, and the reduction or suppression of inflammation through multiple pathways were the main therapeutic and preventive mechanisms responsible for their desirable effects on the onset and progression of MetS.

Estrogen deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, increased lipoprotein oxidation, accumulation of lipid-rich material, and platelet activation. The absence of estrogen causes physiological, metabolic, and biochemical changes that increase the risk of cardiometabolic disease development caused by a deregulation in metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism and plasma lipoprotein levels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has cardioprotective properties related to the quality and the quantity of its components that can be modified by some nutritional factors. Guava (Psidium guajava L.), a widely cultivated fruit in Mexico, is notable for its high polyunsaturated fatty acid and dietary fiber content in its seeds, but its effect on health is understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of guava-seed supplementation on body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, HDL composition, and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity in an ovariectomized rat model (OVX). Four groups with six adult female Wistar rats each were classified as a SHAM group: rats with simulated ovariectomy; OVX group: rats with ovariectomy; OVX + GS group: ovariectomized rats supplemented with 6 g of guava seeds; OVX + DGS group: ovariectomized rats supplemented with 6 g of defatted guava seeds. Biochemical parameters, size, and lipid concentration of HDL subclasses, apolipoproteins, and PON1 activity were determined. A decrease in body weight gain, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and triglycerides in plasma was observed at the end of the experiment in the supplemented groups. The supplementation of 6 g of guava seeds for 30 days decreased biochemical parameters in ovariectomized rats; these results could be attributed to the seed composition, suggesting a protective effect against the risk of developing diseases in menopausal states.

Estrogen deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, increased lipoprotein oxidation, accumulation of lipid-rich material, and platelet activation. The absence of estrogen causes physiological, metabolic, and biochemical changes that increase the risk of cardiometabolic disease development caused by a deregulation in metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism and plasma lipoproteins levels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) has cardioprotective properties related to the quality and the quantity of its components that can be modified by some nutritional factors. Guava (Psidium guajava L.), a widely cultivated fruit in Mexico, is notable for its high polyunsaturated fatty acid and dietary fiber content in its seeds, but its effect on health is understudied. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of guava seed supplementation on body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, HDL composition, and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity in an ovariectomized rat model (OVX). Four groups with 6 adults female Wistar rats each were classified as SHAM group: rats with simulated ovariectomy; OVX group: rats with ovariectomy; OVX+DGS group: rats supplemented with 6 g of defatted guava seeds; OVX+GS group: rats supplemented with 6 g of guava seeds. Biochemical parameters, size, and lipid concentration of HDL subclasses, apolipoproteins, and PON1 activity were determined. A decrease in body weight gain, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and triglycerides in plasma was observed at the end of the experiment in the supplemented groups. The supplementation of 6 g of guava seeds for 30 days decreased biochemical parameters in ovariectomized rats; these results could be attributed to the seed composition, suggesting a protective effect against the risk of developing diseases in menopausal states.

The present study investigates the bactericidal and anticancer potential of caprylic acid (CA) against Helicobacter pylori infection, a major global risk factor for gastric cancer. Several chronic inflammatory processes, bacterial virulence factors, and carcinogenic mechanisms—capable of inducing DNA damage in gastric epithelial cells, promoting genomic instability, and contributing to the development of gastritis or peptic ulcer disease in susceptible individuals—remain incompletely understood. CA, a medium-chain fatty acid naturally found in plant and animal sources such as coconut oil and goat’s milk, possesses notable biological properties that may confer gastroprotective effects against gastric cancer induced by H. pylori. Despite advances in medical management, no universally effective strategy currently exists for the treatment or prevention of H. pylori–associated gastric cancer. Conventional therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, often entail long-term complications that may affect patients’ nutritional status. In brief, further elucidation of the mechanisms underlying medium-chain fatty acid metabolism, particularly that of CA in gastric cancer cells, may yield valuable insights for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. Consequently, the integration of CA into therapeutic dietary regimens and the formulation of nutraceuticals targeting H. pylori infection and related gastric pathologies warrant consideration. Therefore, CA could be considered a potential adjuvant in the preventive treatment of H. pylori–induced gastritis and its associated complications. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to confirm its beneficial use for this pathology.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) refers to the co-occurrence of a constellation of metabolic diseases in the same individual, such as abdominal/visceral obesity, insulin resistance or diabetes, alterations in the lipid profile (dyslipidemias), and/or hypertension, which promotes the development of other cardiometabolic and hepatic diseases. Dyslipidemia and metabolic dysfunction- associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are common MetS pathologies closely related to lipid metabolism. Alterations in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, caused by an excessive intake of nutrients and abnormal accumulation of body fat, which promotes chronic low-grade inflammation, are pivotal aspects of MetS development. To avoid damage caused by lipid overaccumulation, the transcription factors responsible for regulating lipid homeostasis and inflammation (named in this work master regulators) must modify their regular activity; however, the high adiposity established for long periods causes the appearance of insulin resistance (the MetS triggering factor most widely accepted in the literature). Fortunately, scientific evidence suggests that the abnormal activity of these regulators can be conveniently modulated by distinct species of bioactive lipids, among which unsaturated fatty acids stand out, offering new alternatives for treating MetS. Therefore, this work aims to provide a general overview of scientific evidence that supports the mechanisms of action and the effective modulation by bioactive lipids of some master lipid-metabolism-and-inflammation regulators in diverse aspects of MetS.

El estrés laboral (EL) es causa de enfermedades y accidentes laborales, por lo que es relevante detectarlo, así como al síndrome de Burnout (SB) y al cortisol, este último considerado como un biomarcador del estrés crónico, útil en investigaciones del área de salud ocupacional. En este capítulo, se presenta un trabajo de investigación original donde se detecta alta prevalencia de EL en educadoras durante pandemia por COVID-19, medido con el instrumento del IMSS. Además, el 11% presenta alto riesgo de estrés según el instrumento de Desequilibrio Esfuerzo Recompensa (DER), donde el 97 % de las educadoras consideró que la recompensa es baja, y el 20% presenta SB (test de Maslach), con el 71% mostrando baja realización personal. Se detectaron niveles altos de cortisol capilar, que tuvieron una relación negativa con la recompensa (-0.359; p= 0.034). Otros factores relacionados al EL fueron la escolaridad, síntomas de cefalea y molestias gastrointestinales. Un factor protector fue la actividad física en las educadoras estresadas, manifiesto por disminución de cortisol (76.54 vs. 60.77 pg/mg cabello, p = 0.041). A pesar de ello, los valores de cortisol fueron altos, probablemente por otros factores de riesgo presentados durante la pandemia. Finalmente, los tres instrumentos utilizados se correlacionaron positivamente (p < 0.05). Es importante el diagnóstico integral, que aporte bases para una mejor intervención. Las propuestas de intervención buscan incidir en la baja recompensa, proponer programas de actividad física, disminuir síntomas psicológicos y fisiológicos relacionados al EL con el uso de antioxidantes como los carotenoides. Todo ello, en conjunto para promover la salud mental, física y el ámbito laboral.