Loukia Pliouta

Dr. Loukia Pliouta

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 January 2025 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
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HMHelen Michalopoulou
Helen Michalopoulou
John ThymisJohn Thymis
John Thymis
Stamatios LampsasStamatios Lampsas
Stamatios Lampsas
George PavlidisGeorge Pavlidis
George Pavlidis
Konstantinos KatogiannisKonstantinos Katogiannis
Konstantinos Katogiannis
Ignatios IkonomidisIgnatios Ikonomidis
Ignatios Ikonomidis
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an emerging global health concern, and it is not only the keystone precursor of eventual liver-related morbidity, but it also places patients at considerably higher cardiovascular risk, which is still a leading cause of death in these patients. The most important common underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in these diseases are primarily related to insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. The presence of MASLD with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) elevates the risk for poor outcomes, thus this review highlights a method to the therapeutic approaches. Given the intertwined nature of MASLD, T2DM, and CVD, there is an urgent need for therapeutic strategies that address all three conditions. Although lifestyle changes are important as treatment, medication plays a crucial role in managing hyperglycemia, enhancing liver function and lowering cardiovascular risk. The onset and progression of MASLD should be addressed through a multifaceted therapeutic approach, targeting inflammatory, immune, metabolic, oxidative stress, hormonal and gutaxis pathways, alongside the treatment strategies for T2DM. In this review, we discuss the effects of antidiabetic drugs with an impact on both liver outcomes and cardiovascular risk in patients affected by MASLD, T2DM and CDV.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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VLVaia Lambadiari
Vaia Lambadiari
PKPelagia Katsimbri
Pelagia Katsimbri
AKAikaterini Kountouri
Aikaterini Kountouri
EMMANOUIL KORAKASEMMANOUIL KORAKAS
EMMANOUIL KORAKAS
APArgyro Papathanasi
Argyro Papathanasi
EPEvangelia Papadavid
Evangelia Papadavid
The effect of different diet patterns on psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic arthritis (PSA) is unknown. Τhe aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Mediterranean diet (MD) and Ketogenic diet (KD), in patients with PSO and PSA. Twenty-six patients were randomly assigned to start either with MD or KD for a period of 8 weeks. After a 6-week washout interval, the two groups were crossed over to the other type of diet for 8 weeks. At the end of this study, MD and KD resulted in significant reduction in weight (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively), in BMI (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, respectively), in waist circumference (WC) (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), in total fat mass (p = 0.007, p < 0.001, respectively), and in visceral fat (p = 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively), in comparison with baseline. After KD, patients displayed a significant reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (p = 0.04), Disease Activity Index of Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) (p = 0.004), interleukin (IL)-6 (p = 0.047), IL-17 (p = 0.042), and IL-23 (p = 0.037), whereas no significant differences were observed in these markers after MD (p > 0.05), compared to baseline. The 22-week MD–KD diet program in patients with PSO and PSA led to beneficial results in markers of inflammation and disease activity, which were mainly attributed to KD.

10 October 2024 in Medicina
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SPSOTIRIOS PILILIS
SOTIRIOS PILILIS
Stamatios LampsasStamatios Lampsas
Stamatios Lampsas
AKAIKATERINI KOUNTOURI
AIKATERINI KOUNTOURI
LPLoukia Pliouta
Loukia Pliouta
EMMANOUIL KORAKASEMMANOUIL KORAKAS
EMMANOUIL KORAKAS
VLVaia Lambadiari
Vaia Lambadiari
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, with significant variations in presentation characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Beyond reproductive health, it may also pose crucial long-term cardiometabolic risks, especially for women with specific types of PCOS, contributing to early subclinical cardiovascular atherosclerotic alterations such as endothelial dysfunction, increased arterial stiffness, and coronary artery calcium levels, respectively. Moreover, the precise relationship between clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and PCOS remains debated, with studies demonstrating an elevated risk while others report no significant association. This review investigates the pathophysiology of PCOS, focusing on insulin resistance and its link to subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease. Diagnostic challenges and novel management strategies, including lifestyle interventions, medications like metformin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), hormonal contraceptives, and bariatric surgery, are further discussed. Recognizing the cardiometabolic risks associated with PCOS, a comprehensive approach and early intervention should address both the reproductive and cardiometabolic dimensions of the syndrome.

13 May 2025 in Nutrients
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EVEMMANOUIL VRENTZOS
EMMANOUIL VRENTZOS
George PavlidisGeorge Pavlidis
George Pavlidis
EMMANOUIL KORAKASEMMANOUIL KORAKAS
EMMANOUIL KORAKAS
AKAIKATERINI KOUNTOURI
AIKATERINI KOUNTOURI
LPLoukia Pliouta
Loukia Pliouta
VLVaia Lambadiari
Vaia Lambadiari
MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) is a growing global concern. Nutraceuticals offer an appealing approach by targeting key mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and insulin resistance. This narrative review examines the role of various nutraceuticals in MASLD treatment, including silymarin, vitamin E, omega-3, curcumin, berberine, and coenzyme Q10. Some of them show promising biochemical and metabolic changes, while others produce conflicting results due to relevant studies’ design and endpoints. To bridge the gap between research and reality, we summarize the data, create an interpretation heatmap, and develop a practical supplement guide. Regardless of their potential, nutraceuticals should be viewed as add-ons to lifestyle interventions rather than standalone treatments. Future research should focus on well-designed, long-term studies to prove efficacy, dosing, and combination strategies for personalized MASLD management.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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LPLoukia Pliouta
Loukia Pliouta
Stamatios LampsasStamatios Lampsas
Stamatios Lampsas
AKAIKATERINI KOUNTOURI
AIKATERINI KOUNTOURI
EMMANOUIL KORAKASEMMANOUIL KORAKAS
EMMANOUIL KORAKAS
John ThymisJohn Thymis
John Thymis
VLVaia Lambadiari
Vaia Lambadiari
Mitochondria play a central role in energy metabolism and continuously adapt through dynamic processes such as fusion and fission. When the balance between these processes is disrupted, it can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress, contributing to the development and progression of various cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). Their role is crucial in diabetes mellitus (DM), since their dysfunction drives β-cell apoptosis, immune activation, and chronic inflammation through excessive ROS production, worsening endogenous insulin secretion. Moreover, sympathetic nervous system activation and altered dynamics, contribute to hypertension through oxidative stress, impaired mitophagy, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Furthermore, the role of mitochondria is catalytic in endothelial dysfunction through excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, disrupting the vascular tone, permeability, and apoptosis, while impairing antioxidant defense and promoting inflammatory processes. Mitochondrial oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between ROS/Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) imbalance, promotes atherosclerotic alterations and oxidative modification of oxidizing low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), situated in close proximity to the inner mitochondrial membrane where ROS are generated, is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. ROS activate redox-sensitive inflammatory signaling pathways, notably the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, leading to the transcriptional upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. This proinflammatory milieu promotes endothelial activation and monocyte recruitment, thereby perpetuating local inflammation and enhancing atherogenesis. Additionally, mitochondrial disruptions in heart failure promote further ischemic injury and excessive oxidative stress release and impair ATP production and Ca2⁺ dysregulation, contributing to cell death, fibrosis, and decreased cardiac performance. This narrative review aims to investigate the intricate relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and CMDs.

Verified
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Open access
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Ignatios IkonomidisIgnatios Ikonomidis
Ignatios Ikonomidis
George PavlidisGeorge Pavlidis
George Pavlidis
MTMaria Tsoumani
Maria Tsoumani
FKFoteini Kousathana
Foteini Kousathana
Konstantinos KatogiannisKonstantinos Katogiannis
Konstantinos Katogiannis
VLVaia Lambadiari
Vaia Lambadiari
Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. We investigated oxidative stress and nitrite/nitrate concentrations at baseline and during postprandial hyperglycaemia in 40 first-degree relatives (FDRs) of diabetic patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, 40 subjects with abnormal OGTT results (dysglycaemic) and 20 subjects with normal OGTT results (normoglycaemic). Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PCs), nitrite/nitrate plasma levels, the perfused boundary region (PBR—Glycocheck) of the sublingual microvessels, a marker of glycocalyx integrity, coronary flow reserve (CFR) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) were assessed at 0 and 120 min of the OGTT. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated using Matsuda and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI). In all subjects, there were no significant changes in MDA or PC after the OGTT (p > 0.05). Compared with normoglycaemic subjects, FDRs and dysglycaemic subjects had significantly decreased nitrite/nitrate levels (−3% vs. −24% vs. −30%, respectively), an increased PBR and reduced CFR and GLS at 120 min (p < 0.05). The percent reduction in nitrite/nitrate was associated with abnormal Matsuda and ISI results, reversely related with the percent increase in PBR (r = −0.60) and positively related with the percent decrease in CFR (r = 0.39) and GLS (r = 0.48) (p < 0.05). Insulin resistance is associated with reduced nitric oxide bioavailability and coronary and myocardial dysfunction in FDRs and dysglycaemic subjects.