Bertha Irene Juárez-Flores

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is common in overweight or obese individuals. Dysregulation of trace elements such as cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) has been associated with obesity and IR markers in individuals with diabetes. However, their role in non-diabetic states is less understood. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between serum Co and Mn levels and IR in overweight and obese women without diabetes. Methods: A total of 112 overweight or obese women were evaluated for their anthropometric, metabolic, and biochemical characteristics. To estimate IR, the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), triglyceride–glucose index (TyG), and triglyceride–glucose–body mass index (TyG-BMI) were calculated. Serum Co and Mn concentrations were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: Our results show that 77% of participants exhibited central fat accumulation and a high prevalence of IR. Fasting insulin (FINS), HOMA-IR, and TyG-BMI were significantly higher in obese women, while adiponectin (Adpn) was lower. Moreover, Co was inversely associated with FINS (p = 0.003) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.011), and positively associated with QUICKI (p = 0.011) in obese women. In contrast, serum Mn levels showed negative correlations with fasting glucose (FG) (p = 0.021) and the TyG index (p = 0.048) in overweight women. Conclusions: Co serum levels were positively associated with FG and QUICKI and negatively associated with FINS and HOMA-IR in the obese group. Mn showed negative associations with FG and the TyG index, suggesting that these trace elements may play a role in the IR in people with obesity.

Se evaluó el efecto del jugo de 10 variantes de tuna sobre la glucemia y parámetros metabólicos relacionados en ratas Wistar glucostáticas (GS) e hiperglucémicas (HG). La elección de las variantes se basó en su abundancia y en el potencial económico de su fruto en el estado de San Luis Potosí, el grado de humanización y los colores de la tuna. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente al azar con arreglo factorial (11 x 2) de tratamientos, donde el factor A correspondió al jugo de la variante de tuna (10 variantes y agua como control), el factor B al estado de salud de las ratas (GS e HG). En la mayoría de los tratamientos hubo aumento de peso corporal, excepto en los animales GS que recibieron jugo de la variante Tapón rojo. Las ratas HG que recibieron agua presentaron niveles plasmáticos de glucosa más elevados (p<0.05) que las que recibieron jugo de la variante Sangre de toro y que todas las ratas GS. Los jugos de tuna modificaron significativamente la concentración de glucosa en la sangre de ratas Wistar HG y GS.

Background/Objectives: In the genus Allium, it has been shown that some organosulfate compounds of common garlic and onion have an antiplatelet effect. Still, little is known about the anticoagulant activity of the species, Allium ampeloprasum L., specifically Snow mountain garlic; due to its growth site at 6000 m above sea level at temperatures of −10 °C, it could contain different organosulfate compounds. Methods: This study evaluated the anticoagulant effect of a lyophilized aqueous extract of S. mountain garlic in vivo, toxicity in male Wistar rats for 90 days, and the organosulfate compounds present. Results: There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the area under the curve for bleeding time at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/d of lyophilized aqueous extract of Snow mountain garlic and 100 mg/kg/d of acetylsalicylic acid. The ED₅₀ was 366 ± 2.43 mg/kg. For chronic toxicity in vivo, no histopathological alterations were found at doses below 500 mg/kg. On the other hand, organosulfate compounds were found in the lyophilized aqueous extract of S. mountain garlic that had not been documented to have an anticoagulant effect. Conclusions: We conclude that S. mountain garlic contains anticoagulant compounds which may be candidates for the treatment of thrombosis.

In Mexico, few studies have analyzed the associations between toxic elements and metabolic diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the associations between serum arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) levels and body mass index (BMI) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in a Mexican adult population. Anthropometric data corresponding to 86 Mexican healthy adults (59 females and 27 men) were analyzed. FPG was analyzed by an enzymatic colorimetric method, and serum As, Cd, and Hg levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The data show that the median serum As, Cd, and Hg levels were relatively higher in females (As = 1.78 ng mL⁻¹, Cd = 1.00 ng mL⁻¹, Hg = 0.96 ng mL⁻¹) than those in males (As = 1.22 ng mL⁻¹, Cd = 0.91 ng mL⁻¹, Hg = 0.95 ng mL⁻¹). However, these differences were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.097). We also found that the median level of As significantly increased with an increase in the body weight categories (normal weight = 1.08; overweight = 1.50; obesity = 2.75; p < 0.001). In addition, a positive association between serum As levels and FPG before and after adjustment for BMI was demonstrated (Rho_Unadjusted = 0.012; (RhoA_djusted = 0.243, p = 0.032). Serum As levels are positively associated with BMI and FPG in the adult population of Mexico. Nevertheless, these results need to be replicated and confirmed with a larger sample size.

Antecedentes: La fisiología de la materia prima en los procesos de extracción de fructanos es imprescindible para establecer criterios que garanticen homogeneidad en la calidad del producto, así, la madurez fisiológica plena (MFP) para la extracción de fructanos en las especies de Agave puede reducir la variabilidad de su calidad. Preguntas: ¿La MFP de los agaves y el uso exclusivo de su tallo influye sobre el perfil de carbohidratos y el GP promedio de sus fructanos? Especies de estudio: Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck (ASE) y A. tequilana F.A.C. Weber (ATE) Sitio de estudio y periodo de investigación: El estudio fue realizado con cabezas de maguey mezcalero potosino recolectadas en agostaderos ejidales del municipio de Charcas, San Luis Potosí y cabezas de maguey tequilero que se cosecharon en Arandas, Jalisco; durante la primavera de (2019). Métodos: Por medio de HPTLC, HPLC y HP-SEC se caracterizó y estimó la distribución del perfil de carbohidratos y el promedio del GP de los fructanos de tallos de ASE y ATE con MFP y el mismo proceso orgánico de extracción, y de fructanos comerciales de A. tequilana (ATC) y de achicoria (IC). Resultados: Se encontró un GP de 14.46, 16.20, 18.25 y 21.11 para IC, ASE, ATC y ATE, respectivamente. Conclusión: La MFP en las plantas de Agave y el uso exclusivo de sus tallos se confirmó que el GP para ASE es 16 y se presenta por primera vez un GP de 21 para A. tequilana F.A.C. Weber bajo el proceso descrito de extracción.

Healthy Wistar rats were supplemented during 20 weeks with commercial inulin (I) and Agave tequilana fructans (CAT), experimental fructans from A. tequilana (EAT) and A. salmiana (AS) mature stems, rice starch 10% (RS), and standard feed for rodents (C). Feed intake was kept steady, but with I, body weight and abdominal adipose tissue (6.01 g) decreased at the end. Glucose (mg/dL) (C, 120.52; I, 110.69; CAT, 105.75; EAT, 115.48; AS, 101.63; and RS, 121.82), total cholesterol (C, 89.89; I, 64.48; CAT, 68.04; EAT, 68.74; AS, 68.04; and RS, 82), and triglycerides (C, 84.03; I, 59.52; CAT, 68.56; EAT, 59.08; AS, 75.27; and RS, 81.8) kept being normal and without differences between fructans. At the end, there was a significant increase in lactic acid bacteria when the I and AS groups were compared to the C group (C, 9.18; I, 10.64; CAT, 10.34; EAT, 10.36; AS, 10.49; and RS, 9.62 log 10 CFU/g of feces). In addition, with fructans, there was an accelerated process in feces emptiness, Lieberkühn crypts kept their morphology, and there was an increment of goblet cells.

Fructans are the reserve carbohydrates in Agave spp. plants. In mezcal factories, fructans undergoes thermal hydrolysis to release fructose and glucose, which are the basis to produce this spirit. Carbohydrate content determines the yield of the final product, which depends on plant organ, ripeness stage, and thermal hydrolysis. Thus, a qualitative and quantitative characterization of nonstructural carbohydrates was conducted in raw and hydrolyzed juices extracted from Agave salmiana stems and leaves under three ripeness stages. By high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fructose, glucose, sucrose, xylose, and maltose were identified in agave juice. Only the plant fraction with hydrolysis interaction was found to be significant in the glucose concentration plant. Interactions of the fraction with hydrolysis and ripeness with hydrolysis were statistically significant in fructose concentration. Fructose concentration rose considerably with hydrolysis, but only in juice extracted from ripe agave stems (early mature and castrated). This increase was statistically significant only with acid hydrolysis.