Elevated Lipoprotein(a) prevalence and association with family history of premature cardiovascular disease in general population with moderate cardiovascular risk and increased LDL cholesterol

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. Medjool) Seed Flour, a Potential Ingredient for the Food Industry: Effect of Particle Size on Its Chemical, Technological, and Functional Properties

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of particle size on the chemical composition, fatty acid and polyphenol profile, physicochemical and techno-functional properties, and antioxidant capacity of flour obtained from date seeds. The date seed flours obtained had a high content of total dietary fiber (67.89-76.67 g/100 g), and the reduction in particle size decreased the moisture and protein contents, while the fat, mineral (Ca, Fe, Zn, and Mg), and fatty acid contents were significantly increased, with oleic acid being the highest. Water activity increased with decreasing particle size, and the finest flour (<210 mm) tended to be yellowish and reddish. The water- and oil-holding capacities decreased in the flours with the smallest particle size compared to the largest sizes. The main polyphenolic compounds in all the samples were catechin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate. The antioxidant activity significantly improved with reductions in the particle size of the date seed flour, with the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP values ranging between 8.99 and 20.68, 0.66 and 2.35, and 1.94 and 4.91 mg Trolox equivalent/g of date seed flour. The results of the present study suggest that the flour obtained from date seeds cv. Medjool can be a valuable co-product for the food industry due to its fiber content, essential fatty acids, and bioactive compounds that can help reduce the amount of waste generated, promoting the circular economy in the food chain.

A cross-sectional study to assess proteinuria and lipoprotein (a) levels in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a reduced glomerular filtration rate and/or increased urinary albumin excretion. The worldwide prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) ranges from 8 to 16 %, and the prevalence of CKD is rising. The aim: To study the association between CKD stages, proteinuria, and lipoprotein (a) levels among the study participants. Materials and methods: This study was an institution-based observational case-control study involving CKD patients as study group and healthy volunteers as control one. Blood samples were tested for urea, serum creatinine, uric acid levels, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and serum lipoprotein. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 20.0. Result: In our study, the most common age group affected among cases was 41 to 50 years (5th decade), and there was a male preponderance in CKD. CKD patients had a higher mean protein creatinine ratio than controls, and this difference was statistically significant. In addition, CKD patients had significantly higher total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and lower HDL cholesterol levels than controls. Also, they had significantly elevated serum lipoprotein (a) levels than controls. Conclusion: Based on our study findings, we can conclude that because of the potential role of lipoprotein (a) in the development of cardiovascular disease, it is imperative to include an estimation of lipoprotein (a) levels in all CKD patients, especially in later stages to give a targeted therapy for dyslipidemia among CKD patients