Assessment of taurine concentration in elderly women with and without obesity and with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

• Grant number: 23/15008-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Adelino Sanchez Ramos da Silva
• Grantee: Caroline Fogagnolo
• Host Institution: Escola de Educação Física e Esporte de Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aging is a multifactorial process marked by several epigenetic and molecular changes: telomere shortening, DNA exposure to damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Such changes lead to the degeneration of cells and molecules, which affects tissues, organs and systems over time, reducing the human body's ability to resist damage and favoring the development of chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2). Taurine, a semi-essential amino acid, appears to be related to oxidative homeostasis, glucose control and inflammation. Knowing the plasma concentrations of this amino acid in different populations is necessary for a greater understanding of the role of taurine in the pathophysiology of obesity and DM2 in the elderly population, in addition to generating hypotheses regarding interventions capable of attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, important milestones of aging. The objective will be to investigate whether the health condition (elderly women with obesity, DM2 and without comorbidities) promotes changes in plasma taurine concentration and correlate this concentration with biochemical markers (glycemia, total cholesterol, insulin, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol), performance physical (through the results of physical tests) and Physical Activity Level (PAL). Methods: 40 elderly women will participate in the cross-sectional study and will be allocated into four distinct groups, and will be classified: elderly women with obesity and DM2, elderly women with obesity and without DM2; eutrophic elderly women with DM2; eutrophic elderly women. The following will be carried out: assessment of body composition (total and regional body scan, iDXA), anthropometry, tests to assess physical performance, blood collection and PAL using the Modified Baecke Questionnaire for the Elderly. Statistical analysis: One-way Anova to check differences and compare the four groups.