Intra-abdominal adiposity, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk: New insight in the global cardiometabolic risk

Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on obesity indices and adipokines in adults: A grade-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

In the present study, we explored the effect of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on anthropometric indices of obesity, leptin, and adiponectin. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar up to August 2022. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the impact of curcumin/turmeric on obesity indices and adipokines were included. We applied the Cochrane quality assessment tool to evaluate the risk of bias. The registration number is CRD42022350946. Sixty eligible RCTs, with a total sample size of 3691 individuals were included for quantitative analysis. We found that supplementation with curcumin/turmeric significantly reduced body weight (WMD: -0.82 kg, 95% CI: -1.30, -0.35; p = 0.001), body mass index (WMD: -0.30 kg/m² , 95% CI: -0.53, -0.06, p = 0.013), waist circumference (WMD: -1.31 cm, 95% CI: -1.94, -0.69, p < 0.001), body fat percentage (WMD: -0.88%, 95% CI: -1.51, -0.25, p = 0.007), leptin (WMD = -4.46 ng/mL; 95% CI: -6.70, -2.21, p < 0.001), and increased adiponectin (WMD = 2.48 μg/mL; 95% CI: 1.34, 3.62, p < 0.001). Overall, our study shows that supplementation with curcumin/turmeric significantly improves anthropometric indices of obesity and adiposity-related adipokines (leptin and adiponectin). However, due to high between-studies heterogeneity, we should interpret the results with caution.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis versus quantitative computer tomography and anthropometry for the assessment of body composition parameters in China

Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is correlated to increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is urgent to search a simply method to predict visceral fat area (VFA). Herein, we evaluated the correlation of waist circumference (WC) measured by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and VFA estimated by BIA or measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in China. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.09 ± 3.31 kg/m² and the mean age was 49.16 ± 9.19 years in 2754 subjects. VFA-BIA were significantly smaller than VFA-QCT in both BMI and age subgroups between male and female (p < 0.001). High correlation was observed for WC between BIA and manually (r = 0.874 for all, r = 0.865 for male and r = 0.806 for female) and for VFA between BIA and QCT (r = 0.512 for all). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed the perfect agreement between BIA and manually to measure WC (ICC = 0.832 for all, 0.845 for male and 0.697 for female) and implied a good reliability for VFA between BIA and QCT with women among subgroups (ICC = 0.623 for all, ICC = 0.634 for age < 50 years and ICC = 0.432 for BMI > 24 kg/m²), whereas the good reliability was lost in men (ICC = 0.174). The kappa analysis showed a moderate consistency for VFA measured by BIA and QCT (Kappa = 0.522 with age < 50 years, 0.565 with age ≥ 50 years in male; Kappa = 0.472 with age < 50 years, 0.486 with age ≥ 50 years in female). In addition, BIA to estimate VFA (r = 0.758 in male, r = 0.727 in female, P < 0.001) has a stronger correlation with VFA measured by QCT than BMI and WC according to gender categories. Furthermore, ROC analysis showed the cut-off point of VFA measured by BIA for predicting visceral obesity was: 101.90 cm², 119.96 cm² and 118.83 cm² and the Youden’s index was 0.577, 0.577 and 0.651, respectively and the Kappa value was 0.532, 0.536 and 0.611 in unadjusted model, model 1 and model 2. In conclusion, being non-invasive and free of radiation, BIA can be used as a safe and convenient tool to estimate VFA in female; especially for monitoring the VFA of the same person, the BIA has superiority to a certain extent. However, the consistency is not most ideal between BIA and QCT. When using BIA to assess whether a person is visceral obesity, we must take into consideration age, BMI and WC. Therefore, we established a regression formula to reflect VFA-QCT by VFA-BIA, age, BMI, and WC. In addition, a more accurate formula is needed to match the CT data in China.

Risk of dementia associated with cardiometabolic abnormalities and depressive symptoms: a longitudinal cohort study using the English longitudinal study of ageing

OBJECTIVES

Depression and cardiometabolic abnormalities are independently associated with a high risk of dementia. This study aimed to examine the association of comorbid depressive symptoms and cardiometabolic abnormalities with risk of dementia.

METHODS

The sample comprised 4859 participants aged 50 or older without baseline dementia who took part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (waves 2-7). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression tool. Cardiometabolic abnormalities were defined as three or more cardiometabolic risk factors (inflammation, central obesity, raised triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, hypertension, and hyperglycaemia or diabetes). Participants were classified into four groups based on presence of depressive symptoms and cardiometabolic abnormalities. Results were analysed using the Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 216 cases of incident dementia were reported over 10 years of follow-up. The group with high depressive symptoms only had an increased hazard of developing incident dementia during follow-up (HR = 2.68; 95%CI, 1.70-4.23), which was attenuated after adjustment for baseline cognition. No evidence was found for an association of overall cardiometabolic abnormalities with incident dementia; though hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity with depressive symptoms had an unadjusted association with incident dementia. Only low-HDL cholesterol with depressive symptoms had an adjusted association with incident dementia (HR = 0.18; 95%CI, 0.04-0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

This work confirms depressive symptoms as a risk factor for incident dementia. However, low HDL-cholesterol with depressive symptoms may be protective against dementia, though more work is required to confirm this association.

Effect of a polysaccharide-rich hydrolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (LipiGo®) in body weight loss: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in overweight and obese adults

BACKGROUND

In the present study we evaluated the weight loss effect of a polysaccharide-rich food supplement, LipiGo®, comprising a specific β-glucan-chitin-chitosan fraction (BGCC) obtained from the chemical hydrolysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting as a by-product of the brewing process.

RESULTS

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed enrolling 56 overweight and obese subjects (body mass index, BMI, 25-35 kg m^-2 ) who were not following any specific diet, and were given placebo or BGCC (3 g d^-1 ) for 12 weeks. Results were analysed by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) methods. Body weight increased in the placebo group compared to baseline (ITT: 1.0 kg, P < 0.001; PP: 1.5 kg, P = 0.003), while it was slightly lowered in the BGCC group (ITT: -0.8 kg, P = 0.210; PP: -1.1 kg, P = 0.182). BGCC, but not the consumption of placebo, also resulted in a reduction of waist circumference and body fat compared to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that daily supplementation of BGCC may be useful for improving body weight and waist circumference in overweight and obese subjects, without relevant adverse effects. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.