Metabolic syndrome and selenium during gestation and lactation.

Purpose: Selenium (Se) has a dual role in metabolic syndrome (MS) development as it has an antioxidant action against both "good" and "bad" reactive oxygen species. This study evaluates Se body profile in dams which present MS during gestation and lactation, in order to elucidate a normal dietary Se's implication in this pathology.

Method: Rats were randomized into control (C) and fructose (F) groups.

Beneficial role of dietary folic acid on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism in ethanol-fed rats.

Objective: Cholesterol metabolism is altered by chronic ethanol consumption. In previous articles, we demonstrated the anti-oxidant capacity of folic acid, which may be useful in the prevention of damage provoked by ethanol. We want to determine the effects of ethanol on cholesterol and bile metabolism and whether a folic acid-supplemented diet could change alterations provoked by a chronic ethanol intake in rats.