Objectives The assessment of systemic microvascular reactivity is currently considered to be critical in the stratification of cardiovascular risk. In the present study, we compared skin microvascular function in individuals with early-onset (premature) coronary artery disease (EOCAD, n=30) with that of age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals (n=30). Materials and methods Using laser speckle contrast imaging, cutaneous blood flow was assessed in the forearm at rest and during reactivity tests, including postocclusive reactive hyperemia and the iontophoresis of acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside with increasing currents of 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 μA for 10-s intervals spaced 1 min apart. Carotid intima–media thickness was evaluated using an ultrasound system and a 7.5 MHz ultrasound transducer. Results The endothelium-dependent skin microvascular vasodilator responses that were induced by both acetylcholine and postocclusive reactive hyperemia were significantly reduced in patients with EOCAD compared with healthy individuals. The vasodilator responses that were induced by sodium nitroprusside were also significantly reduced in individuals with EOCAD. These systemic microvascular alterations were concurrent with increased carotid intima–media thickness in these patients. Conclusion Laser speckle contrast imaging identifies endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent microvascular dysfunction in individuals presenting with EOCAD, and thus could be valuable as an early peripheral marker of atherothrombotic disease.

To investigate the effect of partially defatted Granulated Brazil nut (GBN) on biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status of hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients on nutrition and drug approaches. Ninety one hypertensive and dyslipidemic subjects of both genders (51.6 % men), mean age 62.1 ± 9.3 years, performed a randomized crossover trial, double-blind, placebo controlled. Subjects received a diet and partially defatted GBN 13 g per day (≈227.5 μg/day of selenium) or placebo for twelve weeks with four-week washout interval. Anthropometric, laboratory and clinic characteristics were investigated at baseline. Plasma selenium (Se), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx3) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 8-epi PGF2α and oxidized LDL were evaluated at the beginning and in the end of each intervention. GBN intake significantly increased plasma Se from 87.0 ± 16.8 to 180.6 ± 67.1 μg/L, increased GPx3 activity in 24,8 % (from 112.66 ± 40.09 to 128.32 ± 38.31 nmol/min/mL, p < 0,05), and reduced 3.25 % of oxidized-LDL levels (from 66.31 ± 23.59 to 60.68 ± 20.88 U/L, p < 0.05). An inverse association between GPx3 and oxidized LDL levels was observed after supplementation with GBN by simple model (β -0.232, p = 0.032) and after adjustment for gender, age, diabetes and BMI (β -0.298, p = 0.008). There wasn’t association between GPx3 and 8-epi PGF2α (β -0.209, p = 0.052) by simple model. The partially defatted GBN intake has a potential benefit to increase plasma selenium, increase enzymatic antioxidant activity of GPx3 and to reduction oxidation in LDL in hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01990391 ; November 20, 2013.

Thyroid hormones can lower levels of atherogenic lipoproteins, and selenium is important in thyroid hormone homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the effects of a healthy diet associated with the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) in dyslipidemic and hypertensive patients. This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Seventy-seven dyslipidemic and hypertensive patients already receiving lipid-lowering drugs received either a dietary treatment associated with partially defatted Brazil nut flour (13 g/day providing 227,5 μg of selenium/day),or with dyed cassava flour as a placebo. All patients received a personalized dietary guideline with nutritional recommendations for dyslipidemia and hypertension and were followed for 90 days. The Brazil nut group showed reductions in total cholesterol (−20.5 ± 61.2 mg/dL, P = 0.02), non HDL-cholesterol (−19.5 ± 61.2 mg/dL, P = 0.02) and Apo A-1 (−10.2 ± 26.7 mg/dL, P = 0.03) without significant alterations in the Apo B/Apo A-1 ratio. The placebo group showed a reduction in FT3 levels (−0.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.03) and increased Lp(a) levels (5.9 ± 18.0 mg/dL, P = 0.02). There were no statistical differences in blood pressure and serum lipids between Brazil nut and placebo group. Supplementation with Brazil nuts seems to favor the maintenance of FT3 levels and contributes to lipemia reduction in hypercholesterolemic and euthyroid patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01990391

The purpose of the present study was to identify the association of the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR-γ2 gene with diabetes, insulinaemia and insulin resistance. A meta-analysis study was carried out based on studies conducted in the last 10 years, using the databases PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, High Wire Press and Scielo, and the reference lists of the obtained articles. We included original studies that showed the relationship between the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR-γ2 gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), insulinaemia and insulin resistance. Statistical analyses were conducted using the program RevMAn 5.0. The Mantel–Haenszel test was used to estimate the OR and the 95 % CI of the dichotomous variable, while the standardised effect size was used to estimate the average standardised mean difference and 95 % CI of continuous variables. The studies were subgrouped by ethnicity and overweight status. Forty-one studies were analysed, including a global sample of 30 612 subjects. We found a significant association of the Ala allele with the lowest risk of T2DM in Caucasians (OR 0·80; 95 % CI 0·65, 0·98), lower serum insulin (standardised effect size: − 0·05; 95 % CI − 0·09, − 0·00; P = 0·04), and greater sensitivity to insulin in overweight individuals (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance standardised effect size: − 0·07; 95 % CI − 0·13, − 0·01; P = 0·02). Considering that the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR-γ2 gene is one of the factors related to insulin sensitivity, the present study demonstrated a significant effect of the Ala allele on lower development of T2DM in Caucasians and greater sensitivity to insulin in overweight subjects.