Effects of green tea on lipid metabolism in overweight or obese people: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Anthropometric and cardiometabolic effects of polyphenols in people with overweight and obesity: an umbrella review

CONTEXT

Polyphenols are plant-based compounds with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-obesogenic properties. However, their effects on health outcomes remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of polyphenols on anthropometric and cardiometabolic markers.

DATA SOURCES

Six electronic databases-namely, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, The Cochrane Library (reviews only), and Web of Science-were searched for relevant systematic reviews with meta-analyses (SRMAs).

DATA EXTRACTION

Three reviewers performed the data extraction via a data-extraction Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

DATA ANALYSIS

An umbrella review and meta-analysis of existing SRMAs was conducted. Eighteen SRMAs published from 2015 to 2023, representing 445 primary studies and 838 unique effect sizes, were identified. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models with general inverse variance. Polyphenol-containing foods were found to significantly improve weight (-0.36 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.62, 0.77 kg; P < 0.01, I2 = 64.9%), body mass index (-0.25 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.17 kg/m2; P < 0.001, I2 = 82.4%), waist circumference (-0.74 cm; 95% CI: -1.34, -0.15 cm; P < 0.01, I2 = 99.3%), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (-1.75 mg/dL; 95% CI: -2.56, -0.94; P < 0.001, I2 = 98.6%), total cholesterol (-1.23 mg/dL; 95% CI: -2.00, -0.46; P = 0.002, I2 = 94.6%), systolic blood pressure (-1.77 mmHg; 95% CI: -1.77, -0.93 mmHg; P < 0.001, I2 = 72.4%), diastolic blood pressure (-1.45 mmHg; 95% CI: -2.09, -0.80 mmHg; P < 0.001, I2 = 61.0%), fat percentage (-0.70%; 95% CI: -1.03, -0.36%; P < 0.001, I2 = 52.6%), fasting blood glucose (-0.18 mg/dL; 95% CI: -0.35, -0.01 mg/dL; P = 0.04, I2 = 62.0%), and C-reactive protein (CRP; including high-sensitivity-CRP [hs-CRP]) (-0.2972 mg/dL; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.08 mg/dL; P = 0.01, I2 = 87.9%). No significant changes were found for high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.12 mg/dL; 95% CI: -1.44, 0.69; P = 0.67, I2 = 89.4%) and triglycerides (-1.29 mg/dL; 95% CI: -2.74, 0.16; P = 0.08, I2 = 85.4%). Between-study heterogeneity could be explained by polyphenol subclass differences.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this umbrella review support the beneficial effects of polyphenols on anthropometric and metabolic markers, but discretion is warranted to determine the clinical significance of the magnitude of the biomarker improvements.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews no. CRD42023420206.

Dilemmas in Elderly Diabetes and Clinical Practice Involving Traditional Chinese Medicine

Diabetes is a widespread chronic disease that occurs mainly in the elderly population. Due to the difference in pathophysiology between elderly and young patients, the current clinical practice to treat elderly patients with anti-diabetes medications still faces some challenges and dilemmas, such as the urgent need for early diagnosis and prevention, and an imbalance between restricted dietary intake and the risk of undernutrition. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers various treatment regimens that are actively utilized in the field of diabetes management. Through multiple targets and multiple pathways, TCM formulas, medicinal herbs, and active natural products enhance the efficacy of diabetes prevention and diabetes control measures, simplify complex medication management, and improve common symptoms and common diabetic complications in elderly people. Historically, natural products have played a key role in material composition analysis of TCM and mechanism interpretation to enable drug discovery. However, there have been few conclusions on this topic. This review summarizes the development of TCM for the prevention and management of diabetes in elderly people, existing evidence-based clinical practices, and prospects for future development.

Dietary supplements: clinical cholesterol-lowering efficacy and potential mechanisms of action

This review aims to analyse the efficacy of dietary supplements in reducing plasma cholesterol levels. Focusing on evidence from meta-analyses of randomised controlled clinical trials, with an emphasis on potential mechanisms of action as supported by human, animal, and cell studies. Certain dietary supplements including phytosterols, berberine, viscous soluble dietary fibres, garlic supplements, soy protein, specific probiotic strains, and certain polyphenol extracts could significantly reduce plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 3-25% in hypercholesterolemic patients depending on the type of supplement. They tended to be more effective in reducing plasma LDL cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic individuals than in normocholesterolemic individuals. These supplements worked by various mechanisms, such as enhancing the excretion of bile acids, inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, increasing the expression of hepatic LDL receptors, suppressing the activity of enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis, and activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signalling pathway.

The effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) on lipid profiles and renal function in people with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most important microvascular complications of diabetes. Despite the modern treatments, herbs or medicinal plants have gained wide attention. One of these herbs is green tea (Camellia sinensis), which may have an impact on renal function, lipid profiles, and HbA1c. However, the evidence for this is unclear and limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of green tea on these parameters in type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM) with nephropathy.

Methods

Sixty-six individuals with T2DM nephropathy (aged 30-70 years) were randomly assigned to receive three cups of green tea/day (n = 22), two cups of green tea/day (n = 22), and the control group (n = 22) for 12 weeks. Lipid profiles, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and renal markers were measured before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), least significant difference (LSD) post hoc, and analysis of covariance were used to compare quantitative variables.

Results

In total, 64 participants completed the study. Consuming three cups of infusion green tea per day (7.5 gr) led to a significant reduction in serum levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.009) and HbA1c (p = 0.006) and increased in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p = 0.02) compared with the control group who did not drink green tea. However, no significant differences were observed for other variables.

Conclusion

In general, it was found that drinking three cups of green tea infusion (7.5 gr) per day produced beneficial effects on some lipid profiles and HbA1c without any adverse effects on renal function in patients with T2DM nephropathy. More studies are needed to fully elucidate these findings.

Clinical trial registration

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir) under registry number: IRCT2014020114538N2.

Effects of green tea catechin on the blood pressure and lipids in overweight and obese population-a meta-analysis

Background

Overweight and obesity as main health problems harm human beings worldwide. The number of people diagnosed with overweight and obese is gradually increasing. Green tea catechin has been reported to effectively help control body weight in overweight and obese population, and is protectively against the blood pressure and lipids in people with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Methods

We retrieved 4 English databases (PubMed, Web of science, Cochrane, Scoups) from inception to April 20, 2023. Two reviewers independently determined eligibility, assessed the reporting quality of included studies, and extracted the data. Data were extracted from eleven studies. The results were presented with the weighted mean differences (WMDs), and the confidence intervals (CIs) was 95 %. The random-effects or fixed-effects model was applied according to the heterogeneity. The subgroup analysis was used to identify the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots, Egger's test, and Begg's test.

Results

Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) inclusion studies were screened from 3072 literature articles, involving 613 overweight and obese patients. After combining all studies, it was found that in overweight and obese people green tea catechin could reduce waist circumference (WC) (pooled WMD = -1.37 cm, 95 % CI: -2.52 to -0.22 cm, p = 0.019), and triglyceride (TG) (pooled WMD = -0.18 mmol/L, 95 % CI: -0.35 to -0.02 mmol/L, p = 0.032), and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (pooled WMD = 0.07 mmol/L, 95 % CI: 0.01-0.14 mmol/L, p = 0.031).

Conclusion

Green tea catechin supplement effectively reduced WC and TG levels and improved HDL-c levels. However, it did not show the significant effect on the blood pressure in overweight and obese people. The present meta-analysis showed a moderate benefit of green tea catechin supplementation on lipid profiles in overweight and obese people.

A Prospective Non-Randomized Open-Label Comparative Study of The Effects of Matcha Tea on Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Pilot Observational Study

Matcha tea has been used as an adjunct in weight loss programs. The weight loss effects of matcha tea were evaluated in a prospective non-randomized open-label comparative study of overweight and obese individuals who followed a specified low-calorie diet (LCD) plan. A total of 40 participants were enrolled and assigned to either matcha tea or control groups. The matcha tea group followed a LCD plan and received matcha tea once daily, whereas the control group followed only the LCD diet plan. The study lasted 12 weeks. The main outcome measures included anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profile, obesity-related hormone peptides, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress biomarkers. Thirty-four participants had completed the study. The matcha tea and control groups showed significant reductions in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, water content, minerals, and fat mass at week 12. The post-treatment body composition and anthropometric measurements were not significantly different between the two groups. The matcha tea group showed a potential increase in HDL-C, a potential decrease in blood glucose, and a potential increase in HbA1c. Furthermore, the study indicated a potential decrease in insulin and leptin levels, a potential increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase, and a potential decreased activity of glutathione peroxidase. IL-10 was increased by matcha tea consumption. The data suggest that matcha tea may have some potential effect on weight loss, along with anti-inflammatory properties. The findings of this study will be used to design a multicenter randomized clinical trial to examine the potential weight loss benefits of matcha tea.

Dietary Supplements for Weight Management: A Narrative Review of Safety and Metabolic Health Benefits

Dietary supplements for weight management include myriad ingredients with thermogenic, lipotropic, satiety, and other metabolic effects. Recently, the safety of this product category has been questioned. In this review, we summarize the safety evidence as well as relevant clinical findings on weight management and metabolic effects of six representative dietary supplement ingredients: caffeine, green tea extract (GTE), green coffee bean extract (GCBE), choline, glucomannan, and capsaicinoids and capsinoids. Of these, caffeine, GTE (specifically epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG]), and choline have recommended intake limits, which appear not to be exceeded when used according to manufacturers’ instructions. Serious adverse events from supplements with these ingredients are rare and typically involve unusually high intakes. As with any dietary component, the potential for gastrointestinal intolerance, as well as possible interactions with concomitant medications/supplements exist, and the health status of the consumer should be considered when consuming these components. Most of the ingredients reviewed also improved markers of metabolic health, such as glucose, lipids, and blood pressure, although the data are limited for some. In summary, weight management supplements containing caffeine, GTE, GCBE, choline, glucomannan, and capsaicinoids and capsinoids are generally safe when taken as directed and demonstrate metabolic health benefits for overweight and obese people.

Potential therapeutic effects of green tea on obese lipid profile - a systematic review

Background: Green tea, obtained from the plant Camellis sinensis, is one of the oldest drinks in the world and contains numerous bioactive compounds. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of green tea in preventing obesity and cardiovascular diseases that may be related to the reduction of lipid levels. Aim: This study aimed to evidence, through a systematic review, the therapeutic potential of green tea on the lipid profile in preclinical studies in obese animals and clinical studies in obese individuals. Methods: This systematic review follows the recommendations of the preferred report items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The electronic databases, PubMed (Medline), Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science were consulted. Articles from January 2009 to December 2019 were selected. Results: This search resulted in twenty-nine articles were included cirtically reviewed. In experimental studies, green tea administration has been shown to reduce total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in animals exposed to obesity-inducing diet. In humans' studies green tea was not shown to be effective for obese lipid control. Because supplementation with green tea extract reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein for three months at a specific dose. Conclusion: Therefore, green tea appears to act as a protective agent for dyslipidemia in obesity-induced animals. In human studies, green tea has not been shown to be effective in controlling obese lipids.

Green Tea from the Far East to the Drug Store: Focus on the Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Evidence from observational and randomized controlled studies showing the potential benefits of green tea on lowering CVD risk has been emerging rapidly during the past few decades. These benefits include reduced risk for major cardiovascular events, lowering of blood pressure, decreased LDL cholesterol levels and weight loss. At the same time, the understanding of the physiological mechanisms behind these alterations is advancing. Consumption of green tea originated from China thousands of years ago, but since then, it expanded all over the world. Recent advances in understanding the role of tea polyphenols, mainly catechins, as mediators of tea's health benefits, have caused the emergence of various types of green tea extracts (GTE) on the market. While taking green tea is generally considered safe, there are concerns about the safety of using tea extracts. The present article reviews the current evidence of green tea consumption leading to reduced CVD risk, its potential biological mechanisms and the safety of using GTE.

Genotype-guided dietary supplementation in precision nutrition

Achieving adequate micronutrient status, while avoiding deficiencies, represents a challenge for people globally. Consequently, many individuals resort to oral nutrient supplementation (ONS) in order to correct suboptimal dietary intakes. Advances in the fields of nutrigenetics and nutritional genomics have identified differences in response to micronutrient supplementation according to genetic makeup, adding dietary supplement use to the clinician's toolkit in the precision nutrition era. This review focuses on published evidence linking genetic variants to the responses associated with some of the most popular dietary supplements. With an increasing number of health professionals becoming involved in the prescription of ONS, identifying and matching individuals to the appropriate dietary supplement according to their genotype is important for achieving optimal health benefits and micronutrient equilibrium, while reducing the adverse events and financial costs often associated with excessive ONS.

Effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate of Camellia sinensis leaves on blood pressure, lipid profile, atherogenic index of plasma and some inflammatory and antioxidant markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a clinical trial

BACKGROUND

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) the inflammatory and metabolic responses to epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the impacts of EGCG on metabolic factors and some biomarkers of stress oxidative in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 50 patients with T2DM consumed either 2 tablets (300 mg) EGCG (n=25) or wheat flour as placebo (n=25) for 2 months. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipid profile, mean arterial pressure (MAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were evaluated before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

The finding of present study exhibited a significant increase in the serum levels of TAC after the EGCG supplementation (p=0.001). Also, in compare with control group, the mean changes of TAC were significantly higher in supplement group (p=0.01). In intervention group, a significant decrease was observed in the mean levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), AIP, and MAP (p<0.05). Taking EGCG resulted in the mean changes of total cholesterol, MAP and DBP were significantly lower in compare with control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study recommended that EGCG supplementation may be improved blood pressure, lipid profile, AIP, and oxidative status in patients with T2DM.

Camellia Sinensis Mouthwashes in Oral Care: a Systematic Review

Herbal products are increasingly growing in the oral care market. Some of the related herbal compounds in this field have considerable clinical evidence for use in mouthwashes in their background. Camellia sinensis or tea plant has attracted numerous researchers of dentistry and pharmaceutical sciences, in recent years, for its biologic and medicinal properties. The effects such as anti-septic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities have made this plant a suitable candidate for preparation of mouthwashes. In this systematic review, we tried to find, evaluate, and categorize the sparse evidence in medical literature about Camellia sinensis mouthwashes. We explored three scientific databases with keywords including tea, dental care, Camellia sinensis, and mouthwashes and found 69 relevant studies including 41 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are generally proposing anti-microbial, anti-plaque, and analgesic indications for these tea formulations. Considering the main trend in clinical evidence and favorable safety profile, Camellia sinensis products are able to act as antiseptic, anti-plaque, and anti-inflammatory agents and can be used as useful mouthwashes in the future clinical studies and practice.

Comparative effect of nutraceuticals on lipid profile: a protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

According to the common definition, nutraceuticals are components found in food that can act as therapeutic substances. Recently, the International Lipid Expert Panel published two position papers covering the topic of lipid-lowering nutraceuticals and their potential use as a complementary treatment in addition to statins or as an alternative treatment in statin-intolerant patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different nutraceuticals on lipid profiles in a systematic review with pairwise and network meta-analyses.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Three databases, including PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, will be searched without time or publication language restrictions. The estimated end date for the searches will be 29 March 2020. Each stage of the review, including the study section, data extraction, and risk of bias and quality of evidence assessments, will be performed in duplicate. Randomised controlled trials meeting the following criteria will be eligible for inclusion: (1) participants aged ≥18 years, (2) intervention with a selected nutraceutical (artichoke, berberine, bergamot, soluble fibres, green tea, garlic, lupin, plant sterols and stanols, red yeast rice, soybean, spirulina or a combination of the aforementioned nutraceuticals), (3) administration of the treatment in the form of capsules, pills, powders, solutions, tablets or enriched food items, (4) comparison with another nutraceutical or placebo, (5) intervention period ≥3 weeks and (6) lipid profile (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides) as an outcome. Random-effect pairwise and network meta-analyses will be used to summarise the relative effect of each nutraceutical in comparison to the effect of every other nutraceutical. Subgroup analyses will be stratified by age, sex, ethnicity, sample size, length of trial follow-up, baseline cholesterol level and presence of other comorbidities.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This review will summarise findings from primary studies, and therefore no ethics approval is required. The results will be presented at conferences as well as published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019132877.

Effects of green tea or green tea catechin on liver enzymes in healthy individuals and people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

The therapeutic potential of green tea as a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds has been investigated by several studies. The present study aimed to systematically review and analyze randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of green tea, catechin, and other forms of green tea supplementation on levels of liver enzymes. PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched until February 2019. All RCTs investigating the effect of green tea or its catechin on liver enzymes including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin were included. A total of 15 RCTs were included. The overall effect of green tea on liver enzymes was nonsignificant (ALT [Standardized mean difference (SMD)= -0.17, CI -0.42 to 0.08, p = .19], AST [SMD = -0.07, CI -0.43 to 0.29, p = .69], and ALP [SMD = -0.17, CI -0.45 to 0.1, p = .22]). However, subgroup analyses showed that green tea reduced the levels of liver enzymes in participants with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but in healthy subjects, a small significant increase in liver enzymes was observed. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the effect of green tea on liver enzymes is dependent on the health status of individuals. While a moderate reducing effect was observed in patients with NAFLD, in healthy subjects, a small increasing effect was found.

Metformin Improves Fertility in Obese Males by Alleviating Oxidative Stress-Induced Blood-Testis Barrier Damage

Background/Aims

Obesity, which is related to increased oxidative stress in various tissues, is a risk factor for male infertility. Metformin is reported to have an antioxidant effect; however, the precise role of metformin in obesity-induced male infertility remains unknown. The current study is aimed at exploring the effects of metformin and characterizing its underlying mechanism in the fertility of obese males.

Methods

An obese male mouse model was generated by feeding mice with a high-fat diet; then, the mice were administered metformin in water for 8 weeks. Reproductive ability, metabolic parameters, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were assessed by cohabitation, enzymatic methods, and ELISA, respectively. Damage to the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB), which ensures spermatogenesis, was assessed by transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence with a biotin tracer. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were employed for the assessments of oxidative stress. BTB-related proteins were measured by immunoblotting. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was assessed by immunofluorescence.

Results

High-fat-diet-fed mice presented evident lipid metabolic disturbances, disrupted BTB integrity, and decreased reproductive function. Metformin alleviated the decrease in male fertility, decreased ectopic lipid deposition in the testis, and increased serum FSH levels. A further mechanistic analysis revealed that metformin ameliorated the high-fat-diet-induced injury to the BTB structure and permeability and restored the disordered BTB-related proteins, which might be associated with an improvement in oxidative stress and a recovery of NF-κB activity in Sertoli cells (SCs).

Conclusion

Metformin improves obese male fertility by alleviating oxidative stress-induced BTB damage. These findings provide new insights into the effect of metformin on various diseases and suggest future possibilities in the treatment of male infertility.

Plain Water Intake and Association With the Risk of Overweight in the Chinese Adult Population: China Health and Nutrition Survey 2006-2011

Background

The prevalence of overweight is increasing dramatically worldwide. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of plain water intake (PWI) with the risk of new-onset overweight risk among Chinese adults.

Methods

A total of 3,200 adults aged 18–65 who were free of overweight at baseline were enrolled from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) cohort study in 2006–2011. The risk of new-onset overweight with different amounts of PWI per day was analyzed in this 5-year cohort. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the association of PWI and the risk of new-onset overweight and adjust for potential confounders. Moreover, dose-response models were developed to estimate the linear relationship.

Results

During 5 years of follow-up, 1,018 incident cases were identified. Our analysis indicated an inverse association of more than 4 cups of PWI per day and the risk of new-onset overweight among normal weight individuals. Compared with participants who drank 2 to 3 cups PWI, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) of overweight were 0.741 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.599–0.916) in participants who drank 4 to 5 cups PWI, and 0.547 (95% CI, 0.435–0.687) in participants who drank more than 6 cups PWI. The dose-response analysis showed that every cup of PWI was associated with a 6.5% and 8.4% decrease in the risk of new-onset overweight among men and women, respectively. The interactions of PWI and covariates on the risk of overweight were not found.

Conclusion

Drinking more than 4 cups (≈1 liter) per day of plain water is associated with decrease in the risk of new-onset overweight among normal-weight individuals.

Pharmacokinetic interaction study of novel combination of palbociclib and sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma in SD rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal oncogenic disorder with few therapeutic options. Novel therapeutic strategy with combination of a selective CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib (PAL) with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib (SOR) is reported to impair tumour growth and significantly increased survival in various preclinical models of HCC. In the current work a sensitive and rapid UHPLC-QTOF-MS method was established for the concurrent quantification of PAL and SOR in rat plasma using ibrutinib as internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was carried out on an Agilent Poroshell EC C18 (50 mm × 3 mm, 2.7 μm) using gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. Flow rate of 0. 45 mL/min with a run time of 5 min was used for separation. A simple sample preparation approach of protein precipitation was used in the current study. The mass spectrometric analysis of selective ions at [M + H]⁺m/z 448.2455 for PAL, m/z 465.0936 for SOR and m/z 441.2034 for IS was monitored with extracted ion chromatography. The LC-MS method meets the regulatory bio-analytical guidelines, exhibited good sensitivity and linearity over the range of 1.0-2000.0 ng/mL for PAL and SOR. The pharmacokinetic parameters of PAL remained unchanged when SOR was co-administered with PAL. The study pointed out that the co-intake of PAL with SOR resulted in a slight increment of C_max (11.21%) and AUC (7.95%) levels of SOR when co-administered with PAL when compared to individual oral intake in SD rats. The current method provides a modern rapid and sensitive tool for pharmacokinetic studies of PAL and SOR in a pre-clinical set up.

Regulatory Efficacy of Spirulina platensis Protease Hydrolyzate on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Lipid metabolism disorder (LMD) is a public health issue. Spirulina platensis is a widely used natural weight-reducing agent and Spirulina platensis is a kind of protein source. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Spirulina platensis protease hydrolyzate (SPPH) on the lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Our study showed that SPPH decreased the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), but increased the level of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in serum and liver. Moreover, SPPH had a hypolipidemic effect as indicated by the down-regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), SREBP-1c, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and the up-regulation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα (PPARα) at the mRNA level in liver. SPPH treatment enriched the abundance of beneficial bacteria. In conclusion, our study showed that SPPH might be produce glucose metabolic benefits in rats with diet-induced LMD. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of SPPH on the metabolism remain to be further investigated. Collectively, the above-mentioned findings illustrate that Spirulina platensis peptides have the potential to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders, and our data provides evidence that SPPH might be used as an adjuvant therapy and functional food in obese and diabetic individuals.

Feasibility and acceptability of a beverage intervention for Hispanic adults: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and acceptability of a beverage intervention in Hispanic adults.

DESIGN

Eligible individuals identified as Hispanic, were 18-64 years old and had BMI 30·0-50·0 kg/m2. Participants were randomized 2:2:1 to one of three beverages: Mediterranean lemonade (ML), green tea (GT) or flavoured water control (FW). After a 2-week washout period, participants were asked to consume 32 oz (946 ml) of study beverage daily for 6 weeks and avoid other sources of tea, citrus, juice and sweetened beverages; water was permissible. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and 8 weeks to assess primary and secondary efficacy outcomes.

SETTING

Tucson, AZ, USA.ParticipantsFifty-two participants were recruited over 6 months; fifty were randomized (twenty-one ML, nineteen GT, ten FW). Study population mean (sd) age 44·6 (sd 10·2) years, BMI 35·9 (4·6) kg/m2; 78 % female.

RESULTS

Forty-four (88 %) completed the 8-week assessment. Self-reported adherence was high. No significant change (95 % CI) in total cholesterol (mg/dl) from baseline was shown -1·7 (-14·2, 10·9), -3·9 (-17·2, 9·4) and -13·2 (-30·2, 3·8) for ML, GT and FW, respectively. Mean change in HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) -2·3 (-5·3, 0·7; ML), -1·0 (-4·2, 2·2; GT), -3·9 (-8·0, 0·2; FW) and LDL-cholesterol (mg/dl) 0·2 (-11·3, 11·8; ML), 0·5 (-11·4, 12·4; GT), -9·8 (-25·0, 5·4; FW) were also non-significant. Fasting glucose (mg/dl) increased significantly by 5·2 (2·6, 7·9; ML) and 3·3 (0·58, 6·4; GT). No significant change in HbA1c was demonstrated. Due to the small sample size, potential confounders and effect modifiers were not investigated.

CONCLUSIONS

Recruitment and retention figures indicate that a larger-scale trial is feasible; however, favourable changes in cardiometabolic biomarkers were not demonstrated.

Regulatory Efficacy of the Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Microalgae Spirulina platensis on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet Rats

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with photo-diode array detector and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry was employed to analyze the major fatty acids in Spirulina platensis 95% ethanol extract (SPL95). The effects of SPL95 on hepatoprotection were evaluated, including liver tissue histopathology, liver, and serum biochemical analysis. The active principle of SPL95 revealed a hypolipidemic effect, as indicated by down-regulating the mRNA and protein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase, acetyl CoA carboxylase pathway, and upregulating adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase-α in liver. SPL95 enriched the beneficial bacteria, including Prevotella, Alloprevotella, Porphyromonadaceae, Barnesiella, and Paraprevotella. Treatment with SPL95 led to a decrease in microbes, such as Turicibacter, Romboutsia, Phascolarctobacterium, Olsenella, and Clostridium XVIII, which were positively correlated with serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but negatively correlated with the serum high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These results provide evidence that the fatty acid from SPL95 may be used as a novel adjuvant therapy and functional food to regulate gut microbiota in obese and diabetic individuals.

Chronic administration of ellagic acid improved the cognition in middle-aged overweight men

This study aimed to investigate if ellagic acid has beneficial effects on cognitive deficits in middle-aged overweight individuals and to propose a possible mechanism. A total of 150 middle-aged male participants, including 76 normal-weight and 74 overweight men, aged between 45 to 55 years, were recruited for this study. Both normal-weight and overweight participants were administered either 50 mg ellagic acid or placebo cellulose daily for 12 weeks. Blood lipids, peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and saliva cortisol were assessed on the last day of the procedure to investigate the effects induced by ellagic acid. The results revealed that ellagic acid treatment improved the levels of blood lipid metabolism with a 4.7% decline in total cholesterol, 7.3% decline in triglycerides, 26.5% increase in high-density lipoprotein, and 6.5% decline in low-density lipoprotein. Additionally, ellagic acid increased plasma BDNF by 21.2% in the overweight group and showed no effects on normal-weight participants. Moreover, the increased saliva cortisol level in overweight individuals was inhibited by 22.7% in a 12-week ellagic acid treatment. Also, compared with placebo, overweight individuals who consumed ellagic acid showed enhanced cognitive function as measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that ellagic acid prevents cognitive deficits through normalization of lipid metabolism, increase in plasma BDNF level, and reduction of saliva cortisol concentration. These results indicate that ellagic acid has a potential to restore cognitive performance related to mild age-related declines.