Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and the main cause of disability. In the last decade, homocysteine has been found to be a risk factor or a marker for cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF). There are indications that vitamin B6 plays a significant role in the process of transsulfuration in homocysteine metabolism, specifically, in a part of the reaction in which homocysteine transfers a sulfhydryl group to serine to form α-ketobutyrate and cysteine. Therefore, an elevated homocysteine concentration (hyperhomocysteinemia) could be a consequence of vitamin B6 and/or folate deficiency. Hyperhomocysteinemia in turn could damage the endothelium and the blood vessel wall and induce worsening of atherosclerotic process, having a negative impact on the mechanisms underlying MI and HF, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered function of gasotransmitters. Given the importance of the vitamin B6 in homocysteine metabolism, in this paper, we review its role in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, influencing the functions of gasotransmitters, and improving vasodilatation and coronary flow in animal models of MI and HF.

This study primarily aimed to quantify and compare iron status in professional female athletes and nonathletes. Furthermore, this study also aimed to identify differences in iron status according to sporting discipline and explore the relationship between ferritin concentration and weekly training volume in professional athletes. A total of 152 participants were included in this study, including 85 athletes who were members of senior teams (handball, n = 24; volleyball, n = 36; soccer, n = 19; and judo, n = 6) involved at the highest level of competition and 67 nonathletes. A significantly greater proportion (p = .05) of athletes (27%) demonstrated iron-deficient erythropoiesis (IDE) compared with nonathletes (13%). There were nonsignificant differences (p > .05) in the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID; 49% vs. 46%) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA; 2% vs. 4%) between athletes and nonathletes. Similarly, the prevalence of ID, IDE, and IDA was not significantly different between sports (p > .05). Furthermore, training volume was negatively correlated with ferritin concentration in athletes (r: −.464, moderate, p < .001). Professional female athletes are at a heightened risk of IDE compared with nonathletes; therefore, they should be periodically screened for ID to reduce the deleterious effects on training and performance. The similar prevalence of ID, IDE, and IDA found across athletes competing in different sports suggests that overlaps exist between handball, volleyball, soccer, and judo athletes regarding risk of disturbance in iron metabolism.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially myocardial injury. Due to their hypoglycemic effects, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are efficiently used for T2DM management. GLP-1RAs also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, and can improve cardiac function. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of liraglutide, a GLP-1RA, on isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats. The study included 4 groups of animals. They were pretreated with saline for 10 days + saline on days 9 and 10 (control), saline for 10 days + isoprenaline on days 9 and 10 (isoprenaline group), liraglutide for 10 days + saline on days 9 and 10 (liraglutide group), and liraglutide for 10 days and on days 9 and 10 they were administered isoprenaline. This study evaluated ECG, myocardial injury markers, oxidative stress markers, and pathohistological changes. The results showed that liraglutide mitigated the isoprenaline-induced cardiac dysfunction recorded by ECG. Liraglutide reduced serum markers of myocardial injury such as high-sensitive troponin I, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, reduced TBARS, increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activity and increased reduced glutathione, and improved lipid profile. Liraglutide induced antioxidative protection and alleviated isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury.

Background/Aim: Due to the numerous beneficial effects of pomegranate that can be explained through its antioxidative effects, the aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant potential of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) prepared from pomegranate that was harvested in the southeast region of Herze-govina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), through in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: In PoPEx total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols, flavan-3-ols and antho-cyanins content was determined, as well as several antioxidative assays, including 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH), 2,2'-azino bis(3-ethylbenzothi-azoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay (ABTS), iron (III)-2,4,6-tripyridyl-S-triazine complex assay (FRAP), reduction of copper(II) ions (CUPRAC) assay, Briggs-Rauscher oscillatory reactions, neutralisation of OH radicals and lipid peroxidation assay. In vivo studies were performed by administrating 100 mg/ kg of body weight of PoPEx to the rats by gavage for 7 days, after which the rats were euthanised and prooxidative parameters (thiobabrituric acid reactive substances-TBARS as an index of lipid peroxidation, nitrites-NO 2 , hydrogen peroxide-H 2 O 2 and superoxide anion radical O 2-) were determined in plasma, as well as antioxidative parameters (superoxide dismutase-SOD, reduced gluta-thione-GSH and catalase-CAT) in erythrocyte lysates. Results: High content of phenolic compounds was found in PoPEx, which resulted in high antioxidative potential in all in vitro tests performed. In vivo study showed that PoPEx administration caused a significant decrease in TBARS, NO 2-, as well as an increase in reduced glutathione (p < 0.05) in comparison to the control group, while H 2 O 2 and O 2 * showed a lowering trend and SOD and CAT showed an increasing trend in PoPEx group, but without statistical significance. Conclusion: PoPEx demonstrated high antioxidative capacity measured in vitro and in vivo and can be potentially used as a supplement treatment in the prevention of various inflammatory conditions.

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