Search Results (389)

Background: Frailty is a common finding in elderly subjects with severe aortic stenosis (AoS) and a strong predictor of mortality and disability after aortic valve surgery. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is related to different cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, which in turn are correlated to the progression of frailty as well as of AoS. Aim: to analyze the association of AIP with different CV risk factors and frailty scores and its value as a determinant of mortality in older adults with severe AoS. Methods: The association of AIP with a multidimensional assessment of frailty by using Fried criteria and the following indices; timed up-and-go test (TUG) for gait function; Charlson Index (CI), basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) for disability; mini–mental state examination for cognitive function evaluation (MMSE); Geriatric Depression Score for mood disorder (GDS); Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for nutritional status was assessed in 102 elderly AoS patients (33 males; mean age 83 ± 6 yrs). Moreover, the relationship between AIP and demographic, lifestyle, traditional CV risk factors and CV mortality was also evaluated. Results: Significant relationships between AIP and glycemia and inflammatory parameters (CRP, ESR and fibrinogen) as well as with troponin I were found. Moreover, AIP significantly correlates with CI, BADL, IADL and MNA. However, the Kaplan–Meier analysis did not show any significant difference for survival rates according to AIP intervals of risk, whereas ejection fraction remained the only significant determinant after multivariate adjustment for mortality at the Cox proportional hazard models analysis in this patient population. Conclusions: Higher AIP is significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk and increased physical dysfunction risk and frailty in AoS pts, evidencing its potential use as a simple biomarker in this clinical setting, although it did not represent a significant determinant for mortality in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with coronary artery disease (CAD) being the most prevalent. An atherogenic diet contributes to oxidative stress by promoting lipid peroxidation in lipoproteins and cellular membranes, thereby compromising membrane integrity, which is reflected in lower phase angle (PhA) values. Dietary antioxidants play a crucial role in cellular health and in reducing atherosclerotic risk; therefore, the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) is an important measure, as dietary antioxidants may counteract oxidative damage. This study aimed to assess the association between anthropometric, PhA, and biochemical variables across groups classified according to DAI. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. A total of 107 subjects, with and without CAD, were included. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and oxidized HDL (oxHDL) were determined using the ELISA technique. PhA was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis, and DAI was calculated using the formula proposed by Wright et al. Results: DAI was positively associated with HDL concentrations in women with CAD, indicating that HDL levels increased by 5.8 mg/dL for each unit increase in DAI (R² = 0.625, p = 0.001). Furthermore, for each unit increase in DAI, the TC/HDL ratio decreased by 0.3 (R² = 0.625, p = 0.006), and the LDL/HDL ratio decreased by 0.2 (R² = 0.506, p = 0.012). Conclusions: A higher DAI is associated with a more favorable lipid profile in women with CAD, particularly with higher HDL concentrations and lower TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of including palm kernel oil in the diets of pasture-raised sheep on carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acid profiles. A completely randomized design with four treatments was used, consisting of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g/kg of palm kernel oil in the dry matter of the supplement, with eight replicates. Thirty-two uncastrated Santa Inês sheep, with an average initial body weight of 23.2 ± 2.6 kg, were used in this study. The animals were kept on Aruana grass (Panicum maximum (syn. Megathyrsus maximum) cv. Aruana) pastures under continuous stocking for 59 days (preceded by 15 days of adaptation), with each one fed supplements (1.4% of body weight) at 8 am. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were slaughtered in a commercial slaughterhouse for carcass and meat quality evaluation. The inclusion of palm kernel oil had a decreasing linear effect on hot and cold carcass weight (p = 0.0403) (p = 0.0398), but it did not affect hot or cold carcass yields or carcass morphometric measurements, commercial cut weights, pH, or loin area (p > 0.05). However, it affected the color of the L. lumborum muscle, showing an increasing linear effect on yellow intensity (b*) (p = 0.002) and on the centesimal composition, with an increasing linear effect on ether extract content (p = 0.006). Shear force, cooking loss, and water-holding capacity were not affected (p > 0.05). Fatty acid profiles, the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, and the ratio of hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (h:H) were also unaffected by the inclusion of palm kernel oil (p > 0.05). The inclusion of up to 60 g/kg of palm kernel oil in the diets of pasture-raised sheep had an effect on carcass weight but not yield. It also had an effect on the color and chemical composition of L. lumborum muscle, but these changes did not compromise the overall quality of the meat. Full article

Background: Normal-weight obesity (NWO) is a nutritional status in which individuals have a normal body mass index (BMI) with a high percentage of body fat (%BF). However, the impact of elevated %BF on cardiometabolic risk remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether NWO is associated with worse cardiometabolic risk markers and scores. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of employees from a public hospital. Participants aged ≥18 years with a BMI between 18.5–24.9 kg/m² were included in the study. %BF was categorized according to sex and age (InBody720). Normal weight and normal %BF (NWNB) and NWO were defined using cutoff points. Body composition, serum biochemical and inflammatory markers, hemodynamics, and autonomic function were considered cardiometabolic risk markers. The visceral fat area (VFA), atherogenic coefficient (AC), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), body shape index (ABSI), and Framingham Risk (FR) score were considered cardiometabolic risk scores. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Of the 228 eligible participants, 52 met the inclusion criteria (NWNB, N = 29 and NWO, N = 23). Participants with NWO presented worse values of lipid profiles, anthropometric measurements, hemodynamic parameters, and autonomic function indices. After adjustment for age and sex, NWO remained associated with selected cardiometabolic markers, particularly LDL-c, triglycerides, and autonomic indices, whereas body composition findings should be interpreted as confirmatory of the phenotype. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional secondary analysis, NWO was associated with worse cardiometabolic markers and selected risk scores compared with NWNB. These findings support an unfavorable cardiometabolic profile in individuals with NWO, but do not allow inferences about future cardiometabolic events or causal relationships. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify its prognostic significance. Full article

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation. The relative contribution of metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory burden to cardiac remodeling and subsequent clinical outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remains incompletely understood. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 152 KTRs underwent comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation at a stable post-transplant time point (12 ± 4 months after transplantation). Metabolic phenotype was assessed using metabolic syndrome and indices of insulin resistance and atherogenic dyslipidemia (TyG index, TG/HDL ratio, and atherogenic index of plasma [AIP]). Inflammatory status was evaluated using hs-CRP and complete blood count-derived indices. Echocardiographic damage composite (EDC) was defined as the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, or left atrial enlargement. Patients were followed for major adverse clinical outcome (MACO), defined as cardiovascular event, graft failure, or death, and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Results: At baseline, 78 patients (51.3%) met criteria for EDC. EDC was strongly associated with higher TyG, AIP, TG/HDL, LDL/HDL ratio, and metabolic syndrome, whereas inflammatory markers showed no association. In multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, eGFR, and proteinuria, TyG remained independently associated with EDC (OR 1.13 per 0.1 increase, 95% CI 1.05–1.21; p = 0.001), independent of hs-CRP. Similar results were observed when AIP was evaluated in place of TyG (OR 10.39, 95% CI 2.22–48.71; p = 0.003). During follow-up, 78 patients developed MACO and 49 developed MACCE. In Cox regression analysis, graft dysfunction and inflammatory markers independently predicted MACO, whereas TyG was no longer significant. In contrast, TyG remained an independent predictor of MACCE after adjustment for confounders and inflammatory markers (HR 1.10 per 0.1 increase, 95% CI 1.04–1.16; p < 0.001). Similar results were observed when AIP was tested in place of TyG (HR 10.8, 95% CI 3.06–38.11; p < 0.001). Echocardiographic damage did not independently predict outcomes after adjustment. Conclusions: In KTRs, metabolic abnormalities reflecting insulin resistance and atherogenic dyslipidemia are closely associated with cardiac remodeling one year after transplantation and remain specifically linked to subsequent cardiovascular events. In contrast, systemic inflammation and graft dysfunction are the primary determinants of overall adverse clinical outcomes. Simple metabolic indices such as TyG and AIP may provide practical tools for cardiovascular risk stratification in this population. In Cox proportional hazards models, TyG (HR 1.102, 95% CI 1.043–1.164, p = 0.001) and AIP (HR 10.8, 95% CI 3.06–38.11, p < 0.001) were independently associated with cardiovascular events during follow-up, underscoring the role of atherogenic dyslipidemia in cardiovascular risk. Full article

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent the main global burden of morbidity and mortality, with an accelerated epidemiological transition in regions such as Latin America. The university environment constitutes a period of critical vulnerability due to increased sedentary lifestyles and cardiometabolic risk factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk profile in a university community in the central Andean region of Colombia using anthropometric, haemodynamic and biochemical indicators. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study was conducted on a sample of n = 143 participants (students, teachers, and administrators) aged between 18 and 80 years. Haemodynamic parameters (SBP, DBP, MAP), anthropometric parameters (BMI, % body fat, waist-to-height ratio [WC/W]) and lipid profile were evaluated. Statistical analysis included multiple linear regression models to determine predictors of systolic blood pressure (SBP). Results: Significantly higher levels of SBP were found in the older age groups compared with the younger age groups, reaching stage 1 hypertension levels in the sixth decade. The biochemical profile revealed metabolic deterioration with an atherogenic index (TC/HDL) consistently above the clinical threshold (>4.5) in all groups. The regression model BMI was identified as the statistical predictor with the strongest association with SBP variability in the sample (β = 1.18), followed by age (β = 0.28). A marked sexual dimorphism was observed, with men presenting early haemodynamic risk, while women experienced an accelerated post-menopausal tension and metabolic crisis. Conclusions: The university community presents latent cardiometabolic vulnerability closely linked to modifiable anthropometric factors. These findings underscore the urgency of implementing institutional preventive health policies and weight control intervention programmes to mitigate the future burden of chronic diseases on campus. Full article

Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of death worldwide and imposes a major healthcare burden. Physiologically, elimination of cholesterol from the arterial wall depends on reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). RCT requires access to HDL and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) to lesional macrophages/foam cells. The endothelial glycocalyx is a dynamic and injury-sensitive layer of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (including hyaluronan). It contributes to vascular barrier properties, leukocyte adhesion, mechanotransduction, and macromolecular transport. In atherosclerosis, glycocalyx structure and function are altered; this may facilitate entry/retention of atherogenic lipoproteins and may also alter transport conditions relevant to cholesterol efflux pathways. This article presents a mechanistic hypothesis: short, transient, systemic hyaluronidase exposure could temporarily remodel glycocalyx/extracellular matrix components and thereby facilitate conditions permissive for regulated transport processes relevant to RCT. However, the proposed link between glycocalyx remodeling and improved lesional cholesterol efflux remains theoretical. Direct in vivo evidence that the endothelial glycocalyx is a dominant barrier limiting HDL- or ApoA-I-mediated cholesterol efflux from plaque macrophages is currently limited. Moreover, glycocalyx degradation is widely associated with endothelial dysfunction, increased permeability, inflammation, and thrombosis, all of which could aggravate rather than ameliorate atherosclerosis. Human pharmacokinetic data indicate a very short plasma half-life of circulating hyaluronidase activity, suggesting that any systemic enzymatic effect is brief. Nevertheless, the biological consequences of repeated degradation–regeneration cycles, especially in high-risk states such as diabetes, inflammation, oxidative stress, or chronic kidney disease, remain incompletely understood. Evidence supporting clinical benefit in atherosclerosis is currently limited to heterogeneous animal experiments, historical uncontrolled reports, and a small number of anecdotal case observations, whereas randomized trials have only been performed in other settings such as acute myocardial infarction and do not establish efficacy for plaque regression. We therefore provide a balanced evaluation of knowns, uncertainties, alternative interpretations, potential risks, dosing unknowns, and a translational research agenda including mechanistic preclinical studies, biomarker development, imaging, and carefully designed early-phase clinical investigation. Full article

This present study provides a comprehensive and novel assessment of Nannochloropsis sp. extracts as multifunctional ingredients for food applications, combining lipid profiling, nutritional quality indices, and antimicrobial activity. The extracts were obtained by ultrasound-assisted hydroethanolic extraction (90% EtOH solution; 20 kHz pulses of 30 s during 10 min). Nannochloropsis sp. biomass exhibited a high lipid content (36.6%), and GC-FID analysis of its extract revealed high concentrations of palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Nutritional quality indices—including the index of atherogenicity (AI), the index of thrombogenicity (TI), and the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH)—were favorable, and the health-promoting index (HPI) was high. Although the extract exhibited low antioxidant activity in ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC assays, it demonstrated inhibitory activity against Gram-negative (Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes) foodborne pathogens, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 6.3–12.5 mg/mL. These findings highlight the novelty of positioning Nannochloropsis sp. extracts as multifunctional ingredients that couple favorable lipid nutrition with antimicrobial functionality, rather than as single-purpose bioactives. The results support their potential for application in healthy food formulations and shelf-life extension strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Histologic remission has emerged as a key treatment target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but routine assessment requires repeated endoscopy and biopsies. Blood-based indices reflecting inflammation, nutritional status and atherogenic risk are inexpensive and widely available, yet their integrated contribution to histologic activity remains unclear. This study addresses this gap by simultaneously analyzing a broad panel of 44 variables—including nutritional status indicators, CBC-derived inflammation indices, and atherogenic lipid indices—in IBD patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, 100 patients with IBD (50 Crohn’s disease [CD], 50 ulcerative colitis [UC]) without additional comorbidities and with concomitant histologic assessment were analyzed. Histologic activity was coded as active vs. remission. At the time of biopsy, the complete blood count, biochemistry and lipid profile were used to calculate immuno-nutritional indices (CONUT score, prognostic nutritional index), inflammatory indices (neutrophil-to-platelet ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR], systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic immune-inflammation index, systemic inflammation response index [SIRI], aggregate index of systemic inflammation, C-reactive protein to albumin ratio) and atherogenic indices (atherogenic index of plasma [AIP], triglyceride-to-HDL cholesterol ratio). Variable selection was performed separately for CD and UC using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA). Independently associated predictors were then entered into multivariable logistic regression models, and their discriminative performance was evaluated using ROC analysis with bootstrap-derived 95% confidence intervals. Results: LASSO analysis identified a broadly similar systemic profile associated with histologic activity in CD and UC, dominated by the CONUT score, SIRI, AIP, LMR and red blood cell parameters, whereas demographic features and most routine biochemical markers were shrunk towards zero. Cross-validated AUCs for the LASSO models were 0.93 in CD and 0.87 in UC. sPLS-DA confirmed this pattern: CONUT, SIRI and AIP consistently showed the highest variable importance in projection scores and loadings on the first latent component. In multivariable regression, the CONUT score, SIRI and AIP remained independent predictors of histologic activity in CD, while hematocrit, CONUT score, SIRI and AIP were independently associated with histologic activity in UC. In ROC analysis, AUCs for CONUT, SIRI and AIP were 0.81, 0.89 and 0.87 in UC, and 0.72, 0.82 and 0.83 in CD, respectively. Conclusions: Histologic activity in IBD is characterized by a coupled systemic profile in which immuno-nutritional compromise (captured by CONUT) forms the core signal, supplemented by systemic inflammation (SIRI) and atherogenic dyslipidemia (AIP). These readily available blood-based indices may help to approximate histologic disease activity in clinical practice. However, considering that comorbid diseases may affect these indices, the strict exclusion criteria applied in this study may limit the generalizability of the findings among patients with IBD. Consequently, further validation in larger prospective cohorts is warranted. Full article

Kinmen peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cultivar Kinmen No. 1) is a unique crop used to produce local specialty “peanut candy”; however, the peanut skins (PSs) are treated as waste owing to the bitter taste. To support the valorization of this agro-industrial by-product, peanut skin ethanolic extract (PSE) was prepared and evaluated for its hypolipidemic potential in a cholesterol/fat-fed hamster model, together with its antioxidant capacity and chemical composition. Hamsters were fed a cholesterol/fat-enriched diet supplemented with PSE at 0.1%, 0.2%, or 0.4% (w/w) for 8 weeks. Serum lipid profiles were determined, and derived atherogenic indices were calculated. In parallel, antioxidant activity was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reducing power assays, while chemical characterization included total phenolics, crude phytosterols, and HPLC profiling of representative phenolic compounds. PSE significantly reduced serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared with the cholesterol/fat-enriched control, whereas triglycerides were not significantly altered. The LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was also reduced in PSE-treated groups, with the greatest reduction observed in the 0.1% PSE group (0.33 ± 0.04 vs. 0.56 ± 0.12 in the negative control). In addition, PSE exhibited marked antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 141.3 and 76.2 μg/mL in the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. Chemical analyses showed that PS contained 1098 ± 189 µg β-sitosterol equivalents/g PS and 199.3 ± 4.6 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g PS, and HPLC identified p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, daidzein, catechin, and resveratrol as representative phenolic constituents. Collectively, these findings support Kinmen peanut skin as a promising value-added source of bioactives for functional ingredient development targeting cholesterol dysregulation and oxidative processes. Full article

In this work, Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim, a perennial herbaceous plant from the Rosaceae family, was considered a novel source of obtaining rutin for pharmaceutical purposes. Rutin was extracted from the plant parts collected in the flowering summer period and dried at 40 ± 3 °C. The process was carried out using the ethanol extraction and fractionation of extracted compounds, and it yields the 95 wt% purity crystalline product. The phase composition of the extracted rutin was verified by the XRD analysis and NMR measurements. It was found that 2.85% of rutin could be extracted from Filipendula ulmaria, which is 1.2 times higher than the results of similar studies. The biological activity of the isolated rutin was tested on rats. It was established in vivo that the extracted rutin normalizes blood glucose levels (glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) and reduces the severity of dystrophic changes in the liver caused by high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets. The introduction of rutin corrects lipid profile indicators (triglycerides, cholesterol, cholesterol fractions in lipoproteins and atherogenic indices), cytolysis indicators of hepatocytes, and liver steatosis (ALT, AST/ALT, triglycerides). Thus, the novel source of rutin opens the possibility for a wide use of this flavonoid in the food technology and pharmaceutical industry. Full article

Grape pomace is an agri-industrial by-product rich in fatty acids with the potential to be used in diets for goats and increase the nutraceutical properties of milk. This study aimed to investigate the effect of incorporating dehydrated grape pomace (DGP) into the diets of Saanen goats on the composition, fatty acid profile, nutritional indices of fatty acids, and antioxidant capacity of their milk. Eight multiparous Saanen goats, averaging approximately four years of age and weighing 41.2 ± 15.7 kg, were used in a double Latin square (4 × 4) design. Diets were formulated with increasing levels of grape pomace (0, 90, 150, and 210 g/kg Dry Matter—DM), replacing cactus. The data underwent analysis of variance using GLM procedure and regression analysis (both linear and quadratic) using REG procedure at a significant level of 5%. The concentration of C18:2 n-6 cis and C18:3 n-3 increased (+20.1 and +15.5%, respectively) with the grape pomace inclusion. There was a reduction in the atherogenic (−24.0%) and thrombogenic (−9.9%) indices of goat milk with the increase in DGP levels. There was a reduction in de novo fatty acids (−10.5%), Δ⁻⁹ desaturase of C14 (−21.8%) and C18 (−9.5%) indexes with the highest level of DGP. There was a quadratic effect for Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and a linear effect for phenolic compounds (PC), where the highest values were observed at the estimated levels of 160 g/kg and 210 g/kg DM, respectively. Supplementing dairy goats’ diets with dehydrated grape pomace up to 210 g/kg dry matter enhances the fatty acid profile and nutritional indices of fatty acids of Saanen goat milk without altering its basic composition. As grape production is prevalent in low rainfall regions, pomace may provide an alternative feed in areas with forage production constraints. Additionally, grape residue could establish a link between the wine and dairy sectors for cheese production, expanding markets for farmers. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) significantly reduces healthy life expectancy in older adults. The specific role of adiposity indices derived from the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in predicting incident CMM has not been fully elucidated in longitudinal settings. We investigated these associations and the mediating role of the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Methods: We analyzed 304,586 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years from the prospective Guangzhou Older Longitudinal Dynamic Health (GOLD-Health) cohort (2018–2019), who were free of CMM at baseline. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the risk of incident CMM (coexistence of ≥2 cardiometabolic diseases) across quartiles of six TyG-derived indices. Mediation analysis quantified the contribution of atherogenic dyslipidemia via AIP. Results: Following a median observation time of 4.3 years, the study recorded 7816 participants who developed CMM. All six indices showed significant positive associations with CMM risk. TyG-WHtR demonstrated the strongest association (Hazard Ratio [HR] comparing highest vs. lowest quartile = 2.150; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.998–2.314), closely followed by TyG-BMI (HR = 2.146). AIP significantly mediated the associations, explaining 7.5–33.0% of the effect, with the highest proportion observed for TyG using the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI). Conclusions: TyG-derived adiposity indices, particularly TyG-WHtR and TyG-BMI, are robust independent risk markers for incident CMM in older adults. The substantial mediating role of AIP suggests that targeting atherogenic dyslipidemia may be a key strategy to interrupt the progression from insulin resistance to multimorbidity. These accessible metrics hold promise for large-scale risk stratification and early intervention in primary care settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by excessive triglyceride accumulation in the liver, the presence of one or more cardiometabolic risk factors, and an absence of harmful alcohol intake. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development and severity of this disease, contributing to an increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). Malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative biomarker resulting from lipid peroxidation, is closely associated with metabolic dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the role of MDA as a predictor of steatosis severity and CVR. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a population with MASLD with hepatic steatosis confirmed by ultrasonography and computed tomography. Subjects were classified according to severity of the hepatic steatosis as grade I or grade II-III. Nutritional, anthropometric, and serum biochemical parameters were measured. MDA levels were determined using a spectrophotometric method. The CVR was assessed using waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), triglycerides-glucose (TyG) index, lipid accumulation product (LAP), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify MDA cut-off value, followed by multivariable logistic regression to assess its association with severity of steatosis adjusted for body fat percentage. Results: A total of 50 patients were included (21 men and 29 women). An MDA cut-off value ≥ 0.13 nmol/mL was associated with higher severity (grade II–III vs. grade I) (OR = 5.0; 95% CI: 1.20–20.0; p = 0.022). Higher WHR values were found in subjects with grade I (p = 0.049), and elevated TyG index values were observed in patients with grade I-III (p = 0.042) both indicating increased CVR. Conclusions: Elevated MDA levels and higher body fat percentage were associated with higher degree of hepatic steatosis and increased CVR in the population from southeastern Mexico. Full article

Background/Objectives: To assess the impact of weight loss on the atherogenic profile of patients with obesity, we proposed the Atherogenic Central Load Index (ACLI). The aim of the study was to validate ACLI as a novel lipid biomarker reflecting the balance between atherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins, the overall atherogenic burden, and its association with inflammatory markers. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from January 2024 to July 2024. A total of 73 adults with overweight or obesity completed a six-month dietary-based weight loss intervention. A 15% caloric deficit target was set, excluding the potential influence of pharmacotherapy, and limiting physical activity to daily walking. Statistical analysis focused on anthropometric measures, lipid panel parameters and derived atherosclerosis indices. Results: The intervention returned a median weight loss of 11.8 (IQR: 8–19) kg. Before–after analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in anthropometric indices and most lipid profile components. To assess the effect of weight loss on the atherogenic profile of patients, we proposed an atherogenic load index (Atherogenic Central Load Index (ACLI)). ACLI decreased significantly following the hypocaloric diet and showed a significant correlation with the inflammatory markers hs-CRP and IL-6. ACLI showed a strong, inversely significant correlation (p < 0.05) with AIP, hs-CRP and IL-6, at the time of intervention initiation and after 6 months. The evaluation of the obtained AUC values allowed to clearly highlight the superior discrimination performance of ACLI regarding the inflammatory markers hs-CRP and IL-6 in patients with overweight and obesity involved in dietary interventions for weight loss. Conclusions. The proposed index (ACLI) showed strong and significant associations with key inflammatory markers, including hs-CRP and IL-6. Moreover, ACLI demonstrated superior discriminatory performance for elevated inflammatory status in overweight and individuals with obesity undergoing dietary weight-loss interventions, outperforming traditional atherogenic indices related to atherosclerosis progression (AIP, CRI–1, and CRI–2). These findings support the potential clinical utility of ACLI as an integrative marker of atherogenic burden and cardiometabolic risk. Full article