Effects of endocrine disorders on lipids and lipoproteins

Validity of galactin-3 in acromegaly: comparison with traditional markers

BACKGROUND

Acromegaly occurs due to overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has recently emerged as a novel biomarker, related to IGF-1. This study aimed to assess Gal-3 in patients with acromegaly and compare its effectiveness with traditional biomarker tests.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A randomized case control study conducted in a single center included 50 acromegaly patients and 40 apparently healthy subjects (HS) serve as control group matched both age and BMI. Laboratory test was measured by routine assay used in center. Gal-3, GH, and IGF-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULT

There were 50 patients with an average age of 50.40 ± 12.229 (50% of males). Compared with HS, patients' serum GAL-3 levels have increased significantly. The serum GAL-3 exceeds 14.363 ng/ml, with a sensitivity of 100.0 and a specificity of 100.0. Furthermore, serum Gal-3 levels in combination with traditional tests (GH and IGF-1) by DeLoongs test had a significant difference in discriminating acromegaly more accurately than traditional tests.

CONCLUSION

In a summary, this study recommended clinicians measure serum Gal-3 as biomarkers for patients with acromegaly. In addition, the result above shed light on role of Gal-3 on acromegaly pathogenesis and might provide a therapeutic target of acromegaly patients.

The role of the thyroid in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disease in women of childbearing age and can cause metabolic disorder, infertility, and increased anxiety and depression; as a result, it can seriously affect the physical and mental health of fertile women. PCOS is a highly clinically heterogeneous disease with unclear etiology and pathogenesis, which increases the difficulty of treatment. The thyroid gland has complex regulatory effects on metabolism, reproduction, and emotion, and produces hormones that act on almost all cells of the human body. The clinical manifestations of PCOS are similar to some thyroid diseases. Furthermore, some thyroid diseases, such as subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), not only increase the incidence rate of PCOS, but also exacerbate its associated metabolic abnormalities and reproductive disorders. Interestingly, PCOS also increases the incidence of some thyroid diseases. However, the role of the thyroid in PCOS remains unclear. This review is intended to thoroughly explore the critical role of the thyroid in PCOS by summarizing the comorbidity of PCOS and thyroid diseases and their combined role in metabolic disorders, related metabolic diseases, and reproductive disorders; and by analyzing the potential mechanism through which the thyroid influences the development and progression of PCOS and its symptoms. We hope this review will provide a valuable reference for the role of the thyroid in PCOS.

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit blend mitigates hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and oxidative complications in type-2 diabetes models

Tiger nut and date fruit are chewy with sweet taste and are popularly consumed as food either alone, mixed or paired with other fruits, seeds and vegetables. They are locally used to treat diabetes and were separately reported to attenuate hyperglycemia in various animal models of diabetes. However, effect of tiger nut and date fruit mixture on key diabetes related parameters has not yet been reported. Therefore, we investigated the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of the tiger nut and date blend (TDB) using in vitro and in vivo models. The TDB was prepared in equal ratio (1:1). For the in vivo study, mixture was included in the diet at 5% and 10% and feed the type 2 diabetic rats for 4 weeks. The diabetic untreated rats showed significant (p < .05) hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and oxidative stress. Consumption of the TDB blend, significantly (p < .05) reduced fasting blood glucose by 71% and 52% in the groups treated with high and low doses respectively. In addition, intake of TBD blend demonstrated significant (p < .05) antihyperlipidemic, ameliorated insulin resistance and oxidative stress in the treated groups. The effects were more prominent in group supplemented with the 10% of the TDB and attributed to some promising ingredients detected. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of TDB exhibited antidiabetic action and could be due to the phytochemicals assessed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Inclusion of functional foods such as tiger nut and date fruit in daily diet is proved to be highly beneficial in controlling type-2 diabetes and its associated complications. Our results show that tiger nut and date fruit blend can effectively reduce hyperglycemia and oxidative damage, improve insulin sensitivity in type-2 diabetes rat model. Hence, the data shows the potential of tiger nut and date fruit blend to promote scientific basis of the dietary application of tiger nut and date fruit blend as a functional food for the remedy of diabetes and its associated complications.

The Beneficial Effects of Geniposide on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism: A Review

Geniposide is a naturally sourced active ingredient that has diverse pharmacological effects and great potential in improving or treating different kinds of diseases. In recent years, more and more studies have confirmed that geniposide can improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorder, which is an increasingly prevalent health problem causing various metabolic diseases globally. Our review aims to summarize basic information on the pharmacological effects of geniposide on glucolipid metabolism. Geniposide increases glucose utilization and insulin production, protects pancreatic islet β cells, inhibits insulin resistance and hepatic glucose production, and suppresses gluconeogenesis. While in the aspect of lipid metabolism, geniposide can promote lipolysis, inhibit lipogenesis, and regulate lipid transport. Geniposide ameliorates lipid and glucose metabolic disorders, improving the entire glycolipid metabolism network in a three-dimensional manner at the level of molecular mechanism. Growing evidence revealed that geniposide may serve as an effective drug to combat metabolic diseases for the time to come.