Browsing by Author "Correia, Beatriz"
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- SGLT2 Inhibitors: Novel approach to modulate appetite hormones and cardiomyocyte functionPublication . Correia, Beatriz; Rodrigues, Alexandre; Alves, Inês; Moraña-Fernández, Sandra; Mendes, Claúdia; Morais, Juliana; Gonçalves, Alexandre; Falcão-Pires, InêsEmerging as a class of oral antidiabetic drugs, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), used in patients with type 2 diabetes, offer promising results in weight loss, decreasing cardiometabolic biomarkers, thus improving overall cardiac function. The aim of this study is to assess whether SGLT2i can impact food and water consumption, hormone regulating appetite mechanisms, and morphologic parameters. Thirty-nine male ZSF1 rats were divided into two lean (Ln) and two obese (Ob) groups, fed with normal diet (ND) or treated with SGLT2i in food (30 mg/Kg/day). Body weight (BW), food, water, adiponectin and leptin were measured during nine weeks of treatment. Histochemistry analysis was performed with hematoxylin and eosin to determine the cross-section area in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and cardiomyocytes. SGLT2i treatment promoted an increased food and water intake in lean rats (Ln_ SGLT2i). However, the BW in this group was markedly reduced compared with non-treated lean (Ln_ND). Furthermore, the treatment promoted higher water intake despite no differences in BW in obese rats (Ob_ SGLT2i) compared to control (Ob_ND). Exploring the hormone-regulating appetite mechanisms, SGLT2i treatment showed significant increased in adiponectin levels in both Ln and Ob, however leptin levels only validated the hyperleptinemia in Ob. The ratio adiponectin/leptin was markedly significant increase in Ln_ SGLT2i rats. At the endpoint, the treatment decreased perigonadal fat weight (PFW) in both groups. Aligned with these, cross-section areas of VAT, SAT and cardiomyocytes were markedly increased in Ob, and the treatment decreased these areas in Ob_ SGLT2i. SGLT2i treatment increased food and water intake as also the adiponectin/leptin ratio in Ln. Additionally, the treatment promoted PFW loss and increased the adiponectin levels in both groups and decreased the cross-section area of VAT, SAT, cardiomyocytes in Ob.
- The cardiometabolic impact of rebaudioside a exposure during the reproductive stagePublication . Bracchi, Isabella; Morais, Juliana; Coelho, João Almeida; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Alves, Inês; Mendes, Cláudia; Correia, Beatriz; Gonçalves, Alexandre; Guimarães, João Tiago; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Keating, Elisa; Negrão, RitaSince foods rich in refined sugars promote obesity, the use of non-caloric sweeteners has gained popularity, and their consumption by pregnant women has increased. Stevia (a non-caloric sweetener) consumption was considered safe for humans by the European Food Safety Authority in a dose of up to 4 mg/kg body weight/day. However, the World Health Organization recommended in 2023 the restraint of these sweeteners at any life stage, highlighting the need for research on pregnant women and early stages of development. So, we aimed to study the effects of chronic consumption of the main sweetener compound of stevia (Rebaudioside A) during the reproductive stage. Female rats were treated with Rebaudioside A (4 mg steviol equivalents/kg body weight/day) in the drinking water from 4 weeks before mating until weaning. Food and water consumption, blood glucose and lipids, as well as heart structure, function and mitochondrial function, were assessed. Rebaudioside A decreased heart size, cardiomyocyte area and fibrosis without repercussions on cardiac or mitochondrial function. Both fasting blood glucose and cholesterol decreased. This work suggests that stevia consumption at this dose may be safe for females during the reproductive stage. However, more studies are mandatory to explore the effects of stevia consumption on offspring’s health.