Evaluation of metabolic endotoxemia in type 2 diabetic patients supplemented with açaí juice

• Grant number: 19/21844-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Elisa Mieko Suemitsu Higa
• Grantee: Lucas Ferres
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a worldwide public health problem, with a projection of 629 million diabetics in 2045. Type 2 diabetes (DM2) is defined as a polygenic chronic disease with great influence of external factors such as physical inactivity and eating habits. It is still characterized by hyperglycemia, resulting from inadequate insulin production and lower response to the action of this hormone. In patients with T2DM it is known that there is a greater expression of toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4); these are recognized by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), initiating an immune response and giving rise to metabolic endotoxemia. Alternative antioxidant therapies have been used to reduce oxidative stress and regulate cytokine levels. The consumption of açai juice (Euterpe oleracea) has already shown to be a potential modulator of inflammation in vitro, but its effect on endotoxemia in diabetic patients has not yet been analyzed. Objective: To evaluate metabolic endotoxemia in type 2 diabetic patients supplemented with açai juice. Methodology: Patients with T2DM will be recruited from UNIFESP outpatient clinics. Nutritional data will be collected, such as 72-hour food record and blood samples for blood glucose, LPS, cytokines (IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-±) and nitric oxide (NO) analysis; isolated urine sample will also be collected for the evaluation of NO and microalbuminuria before and after intervention with açai juice supplemented for 4 consecutive weeks. For statistical significance will be considered p <0.05. (AU)