Inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic diseases are intricately linked in a complex, self-reinforcing relationship. Inflammation can induce oxidative stress, while oxidative stress can trigger inflammatory responses, creating a cycle that contributes to the development and progression of metabolic disorders; in addition, these effects can be observed at systemic and local scales. Both processes lead to cellular damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insulin resistance, particularly affecting adipose tissue, the liver, muscles, and the gastrointestinal tract. This results in impaired metabolic function and energy production, contributing to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Legumes are a good source of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins that exert an antioxidant effect—they directly neutralize reactive oxygen species and free radicals, reducing oxidative stress. In vivo, in vitro, and clinical trial studies demonstrate that these compounds can modulate key cellular signaling pathways involved in inflammation and metabolism, improving insulin sensitivity and regulating lipid and glucose metabolism. They also exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting proinflammatory enzymes and cytokines. Additionally, anthocyanins and phenolics may positively influence the gut microbiome, indirectly affecting metabolism and inflammation.

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are characterized by chronic hyperglycemia as a consequence of decreased insulin sensitivity, which contributes to bone demineralization and could also be related to changes in serum levels of osteocalcin and insulin, particularly when coupled with a deficiency in the daily consumption of vitamins D3 and K2. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 supplements alone or in combination on osteocalcin levels and metabolic parameters in patients with T2DM. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was carried out in 40 patients aged between 30 and 70 years old for 3 months. Clinical and laboratory assessment was carried out at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. The patients were divided into three groups: (a) 1000 IU vitamin D3 + a calcinated magnesium placebo (n = 16), (b) 100 µg of Vitamin K2 + a calcinated magnesium placebo (n = 12), and (c) 1000 IU vitamin D3 + 100 µg vitamin K2 (n = 12). Results: After treatment in the total studied population, a significant decrease in glycemia (p = 0.001), HOMA-IR (Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance) (p = 0.040), percentage of pancreatic beta cells (p < 0.001), uOC/cOC index and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.030) were observed; in vitamin D3 group, differences in serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (p = 0.026), undercarboxylated to carboxylated osteocalcin index (uOC/cOC) (p = 0.039) glucose (p < 0.001) and % of functional pancreatic beta cells (p < 0.001) were demonstrated. In vitamin K2 group a significant decrease in glycemia (p = 0.002), HOMA-IR (p = 0.041), percentage of pancreatic beta cells (p = 0.002), and in cOC (p = 0.041) were observed, conversely cOC concentration was found high. Finally, in the vitamins D3 + K2 a significant decrease in glycemia (p = 0.002), percentage of pancreatic beta cells (p = 0.004), and in the uOC/cOC index (p = 0.023) were observed. Conclusion: Individual or combined supplementation with vitamins D3 and K2 significantly decreases the glucose levels and % of functional pancreatic beta cells, while D3 and D3 + K2 treatments also induced a reduction in the uOC/cOC index. Only in the group with vitamin D3 supplementation, it was observed a reduction in undercarboxylated osteocalcin while vitamin K2 increased the carboxylated osteocalcin levels. Trial registration NCT04041492

Snack alternatives based on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) have been developed to promote pulse consumption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, sensory acceptance and the effect of common bean baked snack (CBBS) consumption on blood lipid levels in participants with overweight and altered blood lipid levels. A sensory evaluation by 80 untrained judges was carried out using a hedonic scale. A randomized crossover 2 × 2 trial was performed, where 20 participants with overweight and one blood lipid alteration consumed 32 g of CBBS or did not consume it (control) for four weeks. Blood samples were taken to quantify the triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, ApoB-100, glucose and insulin. Furthermore, anthropometric, dietary and physical activity parameters were recorded. The overall acceptance of CBBS was similar compared to popcorn (p > 0.05). The consumption of CBBS reduced the apolipoprotein B-100 levels (p = 0.008). This reduction could be associated with the additional dietary fiber consumption during the CBBS period (p = 0.04). Although it did not improve any other blood lipid or glucose parameters (p > 0.05), it did not affect them either, which means that the CBBS could be consumed without compromising cardiovascular health.

Studies report that increased body fat can lead to health risks for individuals. However, some methods used for analyzing adiposity did not identify its distribution in the human body because they are typically measured using bioimpedance scales. This study aims to associate the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors in sedentary and active adult populations through anthropometric methods based on skinfold thickness measurements. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 946 adults aged between 18 and 79 years with prior informed consent. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters, as well as some cardiometabolic risk factors, were evaluated. Almost half of the population (45.1%; n = 427) is sedentary. A significant association was found between the sum of the skinfolds (bicipital, tricipital, subscapular, and suprailiac) and the cardiometabolic risk factors evaluated, highlighting the cardiovascular risk associated with abdominal obesity, risk of insulin resistance, as well as the development of hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. The bicipital fold was thicker (19.67 mm) in the population with a sedentary lifestyle than in the physically active population (18.30 mm). Furthermore, the skinfolds that predict higher metabolic risks were suprailiac and subscapular in sedentary and active populations. Thus, these skinfold measurements could be considered in assessing the adult population for early cardiometabolic risk detection, even in healthy and physically active people.

Bone-derived proteins, including carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC), are thought to play a role in cardiovascular and metabolic health. cOC is recognized for its strong affinity for calcium hydroxyapatite and its possible involvement in vascular calcification and lipid metabolism. Although the undercarboxylated form of osteocalcin (ucOC) has been widely researched, the connections between cOC and cardiovascular risk markers, such as mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and the atherogenic index, are still not well understood. This cross-sectional study comprised 81 adults from Western Mexico; selection was based on rigorous inclusion criteria. Participants underwent various measurements, including anthropometric, biochemical, and cardiovascular assessments, such as the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, serum glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, creatinine, blood pressure parameters, and the atherogenic index. Serum cOC levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study examined the relationships between cOC and cardiovascular/metabolic markers using inferential statistics and correlation coefficients. Multivariate linear analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with the serum levels of cOC. Multivariate analysis revealed that MAP (B coefficient: 0.138, 95% CI: 0.028–0.247, p = 0.015) and the atherogenic index (B coefficient: 0.599, 95% CI: −0.039–1.161, p = 0.037) are independent predictors of cOC levels. A positive correlation was observed between cOC, PP, the atherogenic index, and HbA1, as well as an inverse correlation between cOC and HDL-c among the participants. Additionally, PP was positively correlated with HOMA-IR. Participants with elevated cOC levels showed higher MAP and atherogenic index values, indicating a potential connection between cOC and cardiovascular risk. cOC is independently associated with MAP and the atherogenic index, suggesting it may play a role in vascular remodeling and lipid metabolism. These results emphasize the importance of the bone–vascular axis in cardiovascular health and indicate that cOC might be a useful biomarker for assessing cardiovascular risk. Additional research is necessary to confirm these findings in larger, long-term studies and to investigate the mechanisms that connect cOC with cardiovascular outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Obesity in young adults is a major public health concern and a key contributor to cardiometabolic risk. Vitamin K2 (VK2) has been proposed as a potential adjuvant therapy; however, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains limited. This study evaluated the effect of VK2 supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: In this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT05995522), men and women aged 18–35 years with overweight or obesity (BMI 25–40 kg/m²) were assigned to receive VK2 (menaquinone-4, 100 µg/day) or placebo. Both groups received standardized nutritional counseling. Body composition, blood pressure, glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, and vitamin K-dependent proteins were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Between-group differences were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values. Results: Forty-six participants completed the study (placebo n = 24; VK2 n = 22). VK2 supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (−10.64 mg/dL, p = 0.038) and LDL cholesterol (−6.12 mg/dL, p = 0.005) compared with placebo. A reduction in systolic blood pressure showed a trend toward significance (−5.56 mm Hg, p = 0.067). No significant effects were observed on body composition, glucose metabolism, or vitamin K-dependent proteins. Conclusions: VK2 supplementation resulted in improvements in total and LDL cholesterol levels, with no significant changes in vitamin K-dependent proteins, and may represent a safe and potentially beneficial adjunct to nutritional strategies aimed at early cardiometabolic risk modulation.