Nutrition
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Oxidative stress, in addition to the absence of the dystrophin protein, has been considered an important regulator of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Vitamin E presents an important role as a potent antioxidant and in preserving the integrity of the cell membrane. In this study, we evaluated the effects of vitamin E therapy on some physiological pathways that can contribute to muscle injury in the diaphragm muscle of mdx mice (the experimental model of DMD) such as CK levels, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and the enzymatic antioxidant system. ⋯ Vitamin E improves skeletal muscle injury in mdx mice, promoting membrane repair and exhibiting antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. These vitamin E effects suggest that this antioxidant therapy may be a relevant approach for dystrophinopathies.
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Oxidative stress has been implicated as a crucial pathogenic factor in the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Milk-derived antioxidative peptides are gaining much attention toward the development of prodrugs for alleviating several human diseases, including osteoporosis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether antioxidant peptides are good candidates for alleviating postmenopausal osteoporosis. ⋯ We demonstrated that PEP exhibits antiosteopenic effects via enhancement of antioxidant activity and reduction of bone-resorbing cytokines expression.
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Despite increasing evidence that pharmacologic concentrations of biotin modify glucose metabolism, to our knowledge there have not been any studies addressing the effects of biotin supplementation on glucagon production and secretion, considering glucagon is one of the major hormones in maintaining glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary biotin supplementation on glucagon expression, secretion, and action. ⋯ These results demonstrated that dietary biotin supplementation increased glucagon expression and secretion without affecting fasting blood glucose concentrations or glucagon tolerance and provided new insights into the effect of biotin supplementation on glucagon production and action.
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Dietary agents play an important role in cancer prevention and therapy because of their low toxicity and the perception that they are not a medicine. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer effect of the administration of garlic and lemon aqueous extracts against breast cancer implanted in mice. ⋯ The combination of garlic and lemon aqueous extracts represents a promising option to develop an anticancer food for augmenting conventional anticancer therapies. However, further testing is essential to understand the exact molecular mechanisms of this combination and to test its therapeutic effect against other cancer models.