Obesity - a perspective based on the biochemical interrelationship of lipids and carbohydrates

Enrichment of resistant starch in starch-protein hydrolysate binary matrix by modulating pH during thermal processing

Controlling the digestion features of starch-based food matrices following thermal processing plays vital roles in reducing risks of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes. To date, it remains largely unclear how regulating the pH during thermal processing alters the microstructure and digestion features of starch-based matrix including protein hydrolysates. Considering this, corn starch (CS) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) (or its hydrolysates (SPIH)) were used to prepare thermally-processed CS-SPI and CS-SPIH binary matrices under different pH values (3 to 9), followed by inspection of changes in the structures and digestibility using combined methods. It was found that including SPI (especially SPIH) caused structural changes of those binary systems, such as reduced network sizes, increased V-crystals and reduced nanoscale structures, which could allow more resistant starch (RS). This phenomenon was especially true when including SPIH with regulated pH value. For instance, SPIH inclusion at pH 5 caused the highest RS content (about 20.30%), presumably linked to the reduced molecule size of SPIH with strengthened aggregation at pH 5. In contrast, the acidic (pH 3) and alkaline (pH 9) conditions allowed reduced short-range orders and tailored porous networks and thus less RS (ca. 17.46% at pH 3 and 16.74% at pH 9).

The Minimum Methionine Requirement for Adults Aged ≥60 Years Is the Same in Males and Females

The minimum methionine requirement in the presence of excess dietary cysteine has not been determined in older adults. This study aimed to determine the minimum methionine requirement in healthy older adults using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method. Fifteen healthy adults ≥ 60 years of age received seven methionine intakes (0 to 20 mg/kg/d) plus excess dietary cysteine (40 mg/kg/d). Oxidation of the indicator, L-[1-13C]phenylalanine (F13CO2), was used to estimate the mean minimum methionine requirement using a change-point mixed-effect model. There was no statistical difference between male and female requirement estimates, so the data were pooled to generate a mean of 5.1 mg/kg/d (Rm2 = 0.46, Rc2 = 0.77; p < 0.01; 95% CI: 3.67, 6.53 mg/kg/d). This is the first study to estimate the minimum methionine requirement in healthy older adults, which is the same between the sexes and as our lab's previous estimate in young adults. The findings are relevant considering current recommendations for increased consumption of plant foods, which will help to establish the appropriate balance of methionine and cysteine intake required to satisfy the sulphur amino acid requirements of older adults.

Beneficial effects of dietary supplementation with olive oil, oleic acid, or hydroxytyrosol in metabolic syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Olive oil and components might have a beneficial effect on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). The aim of this review and meta-analysis was to assess whether those effects are related to hydroxytyrosol or oleic acid contents, or the combination of them as olive oil, and how powerful is this effect.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE via Pubmed, Web of Science (WOS) core collection, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) via LILACS and IBECS (Spain). MeSH terms used were "obesity", "body weight", "body mass index", "adipose tissue", "lipid metabolism", "LDL", "HDL", "VLDL", "insulin resistance", "glucose", "insulin", "hypertension", "arterial pressure", "olive oil", "oleic acid", and other (non-MeSH) terms: "total antioxidant capacity", "total antioxidant status", "hydroxytyrosol" (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021247614). Results of the included studies were meta-analyzed with the RevMan 5.3 program, assuming a random effects model.

RESULTS

76 articles (67 different trials) were identified. Hydroxytyrosol had no effect on MetS [combined standardized mean differences (SMD) = 0.01 (CI 95%: [-0.23, 0.25], I² = 83%; p = 0.920)]. Oleic acid had no significant beneficial effect on MetS [SMD = 0.03 (CI 95%: [-0.01, 0.07], I² = 0%); p = 0.150], but it improved lipid profile [SMD = 0.06 (CI 95%: [-0.00, 0.12], I² = 0%); p = 0. 050]. Olive oil had no effect on MetS [SMD = -0.01 (CI 95%: [-0.05, 0.03]), I² = 55%; p = 0.550)]. The supplementation with hydroxytyrosol, oleic acid or olive oil showed a beneficial effect on antioxidant capacity related to components of MetS [SMD = 0.31 (CI 95%: [-0.34, 0.95], I² = 81%)]; p = 0.35).

CONCLUSION

Most articles compared olive oil and oleic acid with other strategies specially designed for MetS management. Our findings suggest that olive oil or oleic acid consumption are as good as the other strategies to manage MetS.

Accumulating evidence to support the safe and efficacious use of a proprietary blend of capsaicinoids in mediating risk factors for obesity

Obesity is a significant public health concern, and finding safe and effective means for combating this condition is needed. This study investigates the safety and efficacy of supplementation of a blend of capsaicinoids on weight gain, fat mass, and blood chemistry in a high-fat diet (HFD) model of obesity in mice and on adipocyte differentiation and gene expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were treated with a proprietary capsaicinoid concentrate (Capsimax®; OmniActive Health Technologies Ltd., India) and compared to orlistat (ORL) and normal chow-fed mice (NC). Mice fed a high-fat diet showed significantly lower weight gain upon Capsimax® (CAP) administration than their HFD counterparts and similar to that observed with ORL animals. In addition, CAP decreased the high-fat diet-induced increases in adipose tissue and epididymal fat pad mass and hypertrophy after 52 days of treatment. Both the CAP and ORL groups had increased plasma concentrations of leptin. CAP extracts decreased triacylglycerol content in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and decreased markers of adipogenesis including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-ɣ) and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4). Expression of genes involved in lipogenesis such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and fatty acid synthase (FSN) was decreased by CAP in a dose-dependent manner. Thermogenic genes and markers of brown adipose tissue including uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and PR domain-containing 16 (Prdm16) were induced by CAP in the preadipocyte cells. These in vivo and in vitro data support that this proprietary capsaicinoid concentrate reduces weight gain and adiposity at least in part through decreasing lipogenesis and increasing thermogenesis.

Chronic High Fat Diet Intake Impairs Hepatic Metabolic Parameters in Ovariectomized Sirt3 KO Mice

High fat diet (HFD) is an important factor in the development of metabolic diseases, with liver as metabolic center being highly exposed to its influence. However, the effect of HFD-induced metabolic stress with respect to ovary hormone depletion and sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) is not clear. Here we investigated the effect of Sirt3 in liver of ovariectomized and sham female mice upon 10 weeks of feeding with standard-fat diet (SFD) or HFD. Liver was examined by Folch, gas chromatography and lipid hydroperoxide analysis, histology and oil red staining, RT-PCR, Western blot, antioxidative enzyme and oxygen consumption analyses. In SFD-fed WT mice, ovariectomy increased Sirt3 and fatty acids synthesis, maintained mitochondrial function, and decreased levels of lipid hydroperoxides. Combination of ovariectomy and Sirt3 depletion reduced pparα, Scd-1 ratio, MUFA proportions, CII-driven respiration, and increased lipid damage. HFD compromised CII-driven respiration and activated peroxisomal ROS scavenging enzyme catalase in sham mice, whereas in combination with ovariectomy and Sirt3 depletion, increased body weight gain, expression of NAFLD- and oxidative stress-inducing genes, and impaired response of antioxidative system. Overall, this study provides evidence that protection against harmful effects of HFD in female mice is attributed to the combined effect of female sex hormones and Sirt3, thus contributing to preclinical research on possible sex-related therapeutic agents for metabolic syndrome and associated diseases.

Oestrogen replacement fails to fully revert ovariectomy-induced changes in adipose tissue monoglycerides, diglycerides and cholesteryl esters of rats fed a lard-enriched diet

Menopause may be accompanied by abdominal obesity and inflammation, conditions accentuated by high-fat intake, especially of saturated fat (SFA)-rich diets. We investigated the consequences of high-SFA intake on the fatty acid (FA) profile of monoglycerides, diglycerides and cholesteryl esters from retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RET) of rats with ovariectomy-induced menopause, and the effect of oestradiol replacement. Wistar rats were either ovariectomized (Ovx) or sham operated (Sham) and fed either standard chow (C) or lard-enriched diet (L) for 12 weeks. Half of the Ovx rats received 17β-oestradiol replacement (Ovx + E2). Body weight and food intake were measured weekly. RET neutral lipids were chromatographically separated and FAs analysed by gas chromatography. Ovariectomy alone increased body weight, feed efficiency, RET mass, leptin and insulin levels, leptin/adiponectin ratio, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β indexes. OvxC + E2 showed attenuation in nearly all blood markers. HOMA-β index was restored in OvxL + E2. OvxC showed significantly disturbed SFA and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) profile in RET cholesteryl esters (CE). OvxC also showed increased monounsaturated FA (MUFA) in the monoglyceride diglyceride (Mono-Di) fraction. Similar changes were not observed in OvxL, although increased SFA and decreased PUFA was observed in Mono-Di. Overall, HRT was only partially able to revert changes induced by ovariectomy. There appears to be increased mobilization of essential FA in Ovx via CE, which is a dynamic lipid species. The same results were not found in Mono-Di, which are more inert. HRT may be helpful to preserve FA profile in visceral fat, but possibly not wholly sufficient in reverting the metabolic effects induced by menopause.

Dietary inflammatory index and metabolic syndrome in Iranian population (Fasa Persian Cohort Study)

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the risk factors for all causes of mortality. Inflammation is an important risk factor for MetS. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between MetS and pro-inflammatory diet by using the food inflammation index (DII). This study consists of 10,017 participants with an age range of 35 to 70 years. The Fasa Cohort Study (FACS) population (Fars Province, Iran) was used to collect data. The DII was estimated according to Shivappa et al. method using a validated 125-item FFQ. To determine the association between MetS components and DII Logistic regression was used (P > 0.05). The overall mean of DII was - 0.89 ± 1.74. However, adjusted multinomial logistic regression indicates each unit increase in waist circumference (WC) (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99) and HDL-C (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99) was associated with significantly decreased odds of being in the 4th DII quartile in men and all participations respectively, there is no statistically significant relationship between MetS and DII. Overall, although people in the highest quartile of inflammatory food consumption had more likely to develop MetS, this relationship was not statistically significant among males and females.

Dietary corn-resistant starch suppresses broiler abdominal fat deposition associated with the reduced cecal Firmicutes

This study investigated the effects of dietary corn-resistant starch on lipid metabolism of broilers and its potential relationship with cecal microbiota modulation. A total of three hundred twenty 1-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned into 5 dietary treatments: 1 normal corn–soybean (NC) diet, 1 corn–soybean–based diet supplementation with 20% corn starch (CS), and 3 corn–soybean–based diets supplementation with 4, 8, and 12% corn resistant starch (RS) (identified as 4%RS, 8%RS, and 12%RS, respectively). Each group had 8 replicates with 8 broilers per replicate. The experiment lasted 21 d. The results showed that the abdominal fat percentage were lower in birds from 8%RS and 12%RS groups (0.75 and 0.58%, respectively) than those from NC and CS groups (1.20 and 1.28%, respectively; P < 0.05). The birds from 8%RS and 12%RS groups exhibited lower concentrations of blood triglyceride and nonestesterified fatty acid than those in the NC and CS groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, birds fed diets supplementation with 12% RS decreased the relative mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, ATP citrate-lyase, fatty acid synthase, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in liver, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase in abdominal adipose tissue (P < 0.05). Microbiota analysis revealed that birds fed diets supplementation with 8 and 12% RS decreased the abundance of cecal Firmicutes by 23.08 and 20.47% and increased the proportion of Bacteroidetes by 24.33 and 21.92%, respectively, compared with the NC group (P < 0.05). In addition, correlation analysis revealed that many Firmicutes members had highly positive relationship with blood lipid levels and fat storage capacity, which might contribute to the lower abdominal fat phenotype. Overall, broilers receiving diets containing a higher concentration of RS harbor less Firmicutes, which decreased liver fatty acid synthesis and suppress abdominal fat deposition of birds during the starter phase. These findings provide a profound understanding about the relationship between gut microbial composition and lipid metabolism in broilers.

Serum metabolome and targeted bile acid profiling reveals potential novel biomarkers for drug-induced liver injury

This study aims to determine the non-invasive, reliable and sensitive biochemical parameters for the diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI).Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and selected reaction monitoring (SRM) were used to profile the serum metabolome and quantify 15 targeted bile acid metabolites, respectively, in samples obtained from 38 DILI patients and 30 healthy controls.A comparison of the resulting serum metabolome profiles of the study participants revealed significant differences between DILI patients and healthy controls. Specifically, serum palmitic acid, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid (GCA), and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) levels were significantly higher, and serum lysophosphatidylethanolamine levels were significantly lower in DILI patients vs healthy controls (P < .001). Furthermore, the SRM assay of bile acids revealed that the increase in GCA, taurocholic acid (TCA), TUDCA, glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), glycochenodeoxycholic sulfate (GCDCS), and taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) corresponded to a higher degree of liver damage. These results also indicate that serum concentrations of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA) were significantly lower in patients with severe DILI, when compared to healthy controls, and that this decrease was closely correlated to the severity of liver damage.Taken together, these results demonstrate that bile acids could serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and severity of DILI.

Association between the dietary inflammatory index, waist-to-hip ratio and metabolic syndrome

Inflammation due to poor diet may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was created to characterize diet on a scale from anti- to pro-inflammatory. Our hypothesis was that higher (i.e., more pro-inflammatory) DII scores are associated with an increased prevalence of MetSyn compared to those with lower (i.e., more anti-inflammatory) DII scores. Data from the Polish-Norwegian (PONS) Study were analyzed using logistic and linear regression procedures in SAS (version 9.4). Comparisons of interest were between the first and fourth DII quartiles; analyses were stratified by sex. Mean waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and diastolic blood pressure were greater among those in DII quartile 4 compared to 1. No statistically significantly increased MetSyn risks were observed for DII quartile 4 among men or women. Men in DII quartile 4 had elevated odds of fulfilling the waist component of MetSyn (odds ratio=1.65, 95% confidence interval=1.01-2.69). Although this study benefited from the DII and large sample sizes for both men and women, its cross-sectional nature and use of self-reported data may limit interpretation of results. Further work must be done in longitudinal studies to understand whether pro-inflammatory diets are associated with an increased risk of MetSyn, its components or other metabolic-related conditions. Additionally, further examination of the DII in relation to body habitus will be needed to understand the role of pro-inflammatory diets on anthropometrics, as observed in this study.

Promising link between selenium and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma in the treatment protocols of obesity as well as depression

Considerable interest has been given to the significance of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) in macronutrient metabolism, however, there is not sufficient data concerning the interactions between PPARs and micronutrients. Investigations performed on PPARγ and one of the essential micronutrients selenium (Se) have shown that both parameters may lead to alterations in obesity-related or mood disorders. Therefore, it is plausible to consider PPARγ and Se together as a powerful combination during the treatment of two associated diseases; obesity and depression. PPARγ has been shown to be involved in the antidepressant-like activity. It is also an important parameter to be considered in obesity as the master regulator of adipogenesis. The mechanism of action of PPARγ is initiated by ligand binding which induces a conformational change in the receptor. Se is capable of alleviating inflammatory signaling pathways. Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Depression is also defined as an inflammatory disorder. Inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) participate in the progression of depression. They are also obesity-associated parameters. Due to TNFα induced depressive-like behaviors and the positive association between this proinflammatory cytokine and obesity, TNFα-activated signaling pathways and those inhibiting them have recently gained importance as potential targets and therapeutic tools, respectively. More studies are necessary to develop compounds with therapeutic nature against depressive disorders and obesity. PPARγ is an important signaling pathway that occurs at the crossroads of depression and obesity. Se, aside from its anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antioxidative nature, affects also the way of PPARγ action. Se supplementation or fortification as well as the development of the partial agonists of PPARγ in which lipophilic Se compounds are used as ligand followed by experimental trials and human studies using the newly developed compounds will be promising approaches for future hope during the treatment of these diseases.

Anti-inflammatory Dietary Inflammatory Index scores are associated with healthier scores on other dietary indices

Dietary components are important determinants of systemic inflammation, a risk factor for most chronic diseases. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was developed to assess dietary inflammatory potential. It was hypothesized that anti-inflammatory DII scores would be associated with "healthier" scores on other dietary indices. The Energy Balance Study is an observational study focusing on energy intake and expenditure in young adults; only baseline data were used for this analysis (n=430). The DII, as well as the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Index (DASH) were calculated based on one to three 24-hour dietary recalls. General linear models were used to estimate least square means of the AHEI, HEI-2010, and DASH according to DII quartiles. Those with higher (ie, more proinflammatory) DII scores were more likely to be males, have less than a completed college education, and be younger. In addition, those with higher scores for cognitive restraint for eating or drive for thinness had lower (ie, anti-inflammatory) DII scores. Linear regression analyses indicated that as the DII increased, the AHEI, HEI-2010, and DASH dietary indices decreased (ie, became more unhealthy, all P<.01). The DII is a novel tool that characterizes the inflammatory potential of diet and is grounded in the peer-reviewed literature on diet and inflammation. Findings from the Energy Balance Study indicate that the DII is associated with other dietary indices, but has the added advantage of specifically measuring dietary inflammatory potential, a risk factor for chronic disease.

A serum metabolomic analysis for diagnosis and biomarker discovery of primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Because of the diversity of the clinical and laboratory manifestations, the diagnosis of autoimmune liver disease (AILD) remains a challenge in clinical practice. The value of metabolomics has been studied in the diagnosis of many diseases. The present study aimed to determine whether the metabolic profiles, based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), differed between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), to identify specific metabolomic markers, and to establish a model for the diagnosis of AIH and PBC.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 20 patients with PBC, 19 patients with AIH, and 25 healthy individuals. UPLC-MS data of the samples were analyzed using principal component analysis, partial least squares discrimination analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis.

RESULTS

The partial least squares discrimination analysis model (R2Y=0.991, Q2=0.943) was established between the AIH and PBC groups and exhibited both sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Five groups of biomarkers were identified, including bile acids, free fatty acids, phosphatidylcholines, lysolecithins and sphingomyelin. Bile acids significantly increased in the AIH and PBC groups compared with the healthy control group. The other biomarkers decreased in the AIH and PBC groups compared with those in the healthy control group. In addition, the biomarkers were downregulated in the AIH group compared with the PBC group.

CONCLUSIONS

The biomarkers identified revealed the pathophysiological changes in AILD and helped to discriminate between AIH and PBC. The predictability of this method suggests its potential application in the diagnosis of AILD.

Two different pathways of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, the Kennedy Pathway and the Lands Cycle, differentially regulate cellular triacylglycerol storage

Background

Lipids are stored within cells in lipid droplets (LDs). They consist of a core of neutral lipids surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids, predominantly phosphatidylcholine (PC). LDs are very dynamic and can rapidly change in size upon lipid uptake or release. These dynamics require a fast adaptation of LD surface. We have recently shown that two Lands cycle PC synthesizing enyzmes, LPCAT1 and LPCAT2 can localize to the LD surface.

Results

Here, we show that knock-down of both enzymes leads to an increase in LD size without changes in the total amount of neutral lipids, while interference with the de-novo Kennedy pathway PC biosynthesis is associated with changes in triacylglyceride synthesis. We show that function of LPCAT1 and 2 is conserved in Drosophila melanogaster by the ortholog CG32699. Furthermore we demonstrate that modulation of the LD pool by LPCAT1 influences the release of lipoprotein from liver cells.

Conclusion

Activity of the Kennedy pathway regulates the balance between phospholipids and neutral lipids, while the Lands cycle regulates lipid droplet size by regulating surface availability and influencing surface to volume ratio. Differences in lipid droplet size may account for differences in lipid dynamics and be relevant to understand lipid overload diseases.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12860-014-0043-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

C-reactive protein levels in African Americans: a diet and lifestyle randomized community trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation is linked to poor lifestyle behaviors and a variety of chronic diseases that are prevalent among African Americans, especially in the southeastern U.S.

PURPOSE

The goal of the study was to test the effect of a community-based diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention conducted in 2009-2012 on reducing serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in overweight and obese African-American adults.

METHODS

An RCT intervention was designed jointly by members of African-American churches and academic researchers. In late 2012, regression (i.e., mixed) models were fit that included both intention-to-treat and post hoc analyses conducted to identify important predictors of intervention success. Outcomes were assessed at 3 months and 1 year.

RESULTS

At baseline, the 159 individuals who were recruited in 13 churches and had evaluable outcome data were, on average, obese (BMI=33.1 [±7.1]) and had a mean CRP level of 3.7 (±3.9) mg/L. Reductions were observed in waist-to-hip ratio at 3 months (2%, p=0.03) and 1 year (5%, p<0.01). In female participants attending ≥60% of intervention classes, there was a significant decrease in CRP at 3 months of 0.8 mg/L (p=0.05), but no change after 1 year. No differences were noted in BMI or interleukin-6.

CONCLUSIONS

In overweight/obese, but otherwise "healthy," African-American church members with very high baseline CRP levels, this intervention produced significant reductions in CRP at 3 and 12 months, and in waist-to-hip ratio, which is an important anthropometric predictor of overall risk of inflammation and downstream health effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01760902.

A very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet prevents the progression of hepatic steatosis caused by hyperglycemia in a juvenile obese mouse model

Objective:

To investigate whether the improvement in hyperglycemia by dietary control influences hyperglycemia-induced pathologies in tissues of juvenile obese (ob/ob) mice.

Design:

Five-week-old ob/ob mice were fed a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD) for 7 weeks. The blood glucose levels and body weight were monitored during this period. Biochemical parameters in the serum and tissue pathologies of the mice were analyzed at the end of the 7-week period.

Results:

The hyperglycemic phenotype of the ob/ob mice was improved by KD feeding for 7 weeks. Surprisingly, we found that KD feeding also drastically reduced the hepatic steatosis phenotype in ob/ob mice, while their obesity phenotype was unaltered. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that several proteins found in the liver of ob/ob mice fed a regular chow diet were undetectable after being fed KD. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) MASCOT search and western blot analysis revealed that the proteins absent from the mice fed KD included fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), which are key enzymes for lipogenesis in the liver. Fatty acid analysis supported the results because the ratio of C18:1, which is a major product of lipogenesis, was reduced by KD feeding. However, C18:2, which cannot be synthesized in mammalian cells but is present in the KD, was found to be a major component in the liver of KD-fed ob/ob mice.

Conclusion:

Hyperglycemia promotes hepatic steatosis via the lipogenic pathway in the liver of juvenile ob/ob mice. However, the development of steatosis is prevented by feeding KD owing to an improvement in hyperglycemia. We found that the progression of steatosis is reflected by the composition of fatty acids in the total lipids of the liver and serum.

The effect of weight monitoring and recording on control of obesity and overweight

BACKGROUND

Obesity is one of the dilemmas of the recent century and imposes huge costs related to its complications and diseases on people and societies. This study aims to investigate whether recording and monitoring weight and its changes can modify eating habits and therefore weight control.

METHODS

This is a quasi-experimental interventional study. Seventy nine of the staff of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation (USWR) were randomly placed in two intervention (N=40) and control (39) groups. A standard weight scale and height meter was used to measure weight, height and body mass index (BMI). For the intervention group, weight was measured, recorded and announced to the participants twice a week for 3 months. For the control group, weight measurement and recording was done once in the beginning of the study and once at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver.11.5 and compared between groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the average age between the groups. Mean pre-intervention weight was 87.08±10.9 Kg and 85.83±16.44 Kg in the intervention and control groups, respectively and was not significantly different. Mean post-intervention weight was 83.5 Kg in the intervention group, which was significantly different from pre-intervention weight. Mean post-intervention weight was 86.31 Kg in the control group that was not significantly different from pre-intervention weight.

CONCLUSION

Recording and monitoring weight and its changes in overweight people can affect weight control since knowledge and insight about weight may motivate people to modify their eating habits. We therefore recommend this strategy as an adjuvant to weight control programs.

Fraxinus excelsior seed extract FraxiPure™ limits weight gains and hyperglycemia in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine whether a Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract, FraxiPure™ (0.5% in the diet), limits weight gain and hyperglycemia in mice. In a previous report, we identified several secoiridoids in FraxiPure™, some of which activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in vitro and inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. In a separate study, FraxiPure™ reduced glycemia in healthy volunteers, following an oral glucose tolerance test. These findings suggest that FraxiPure™ has antiobesity and antihyperglycemia effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FraxiPure™ was tested in mice that were fed a high-fat diet over 16 weeks and compared with low-fat and high-fat diet controls. Weight gain, omental and retroperitoneal fat, fasting blood glucose, and fasting blood insulin were measured.

RESULTS

FraxiPure™ reduced gains in body weight by 32.30% (p < 0.05), omental fat by 17.92%, and retroperitoneal fat by 17.78%. FraxiPure™ also lowered fasting blood glucose levels by 76.52% (p < 0.001) and plasma insulin levels by 53.43% (p < 0.05) after 16 weeks. Moreover, FraxiPure™ lowered liver weight gains by 63.62% (p < 0.05) and the incidence of fatty livers by 66.67%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our novel results demonstrate the antiobesity effects of chronic administration of an F. excelsior seed extract and confirm its ability to regulate glycemia and insulinemia. In addition, this extract, which is rich in secoiridoid glucosides, protects against obesity-related liver steatosis.

Analyses of porcine public SNPs in coding-gene regions by re-sequencing and phenotypic association studies

The Porcine SNP database has a huge number of SNPs, but these SNPs are mostly found by computer data-mining procedures and have not been well characterized. We re-sequenced 1,439 porcine public SNPs from four commercial pig breeds and one Korean domestic breed (Korean Native pig, KNP) by using two DNA pools from eight unrelated animals in each breed. These SNPs were from 419 protein-coding genes covering the 18 autosomes, and the re-sequencing in breeds confirmed 690 public SNPs (47.9%) and 226 novel mutations (173 SNPs and 53 insertions/deletions). Thus, totally, 916 variations were found from our study. Of the 916 variations, 148 SNPs (16.2%) were found across all the five breeds, and 199 SNPs (21.7%) were breed specific polymorphisms. According to the SNP locations in the gene sequences, these 916 variations were categorized into 802 non-coding SNPs (785 in intron, 17 in 3'-UTR) and 114 coding SNPs (86 synonymous SNPs, 28 non-synonymous SNPs). The nucleotide substitution analyses for these SNPs revealed that 70.2% were from transitions, 20.0% from transversions, and the remaining 5.79% were deletions or insertions. Subsequently, we genotyped 261 SNPs from 180 genes in an experimental KNP × Landrace F2 cross by the Sequenom MassARRAY system. A total of 33 traits including growth, carcass composition and meat quality were analyzed for the phenotypic association tests using the 132 SNPs in 108 genes with minor allele frequency (MAF)>0.2. The association results showed that five marker-trait combinations were significant at the 5% experiment-wise level (ADCK4 for rear leg, MYH3 for rear leg, Hunter B, Loin weight and Shearforce) and four at the 10% experiment-wise level (DHX38 for average daily gain at live weight, LGALS9 for crude lipid, NGEF for front leg and LIFR for pH at 24 h). In addition, 49 SNPs in 44 genes showing significant association with the traits were detected at the 1% comparison-wise level. A large number of genes that function as enzymes, transcription factors or signalling molecules were considered as genetic markers for pig growth (RNF103, TSPAN31, DHX38, ABCF1, ABCC10, SCD5, KIAA0999 and FKBP10), muscling (HSPA5, PTPRM, NUP88, ADCK4, PLOD1, DLX1 and GRM8), fatness (PTGIS, IDH3B, RYR2 and NOL4) and meat quality traits (DUSP4, LIFR, NGEF, EWSR1, ACTN2, PLXND1, DLX3, LGALS9, ENO3, EPRS, TRIM29, EHMT2, RBM42, SESN2 and RAB4B). The SNPs or genes reported here may be beneficial to future marker assisted selection breeding in pigs.

Western diet changes cardiac acyl-CoA composition in obese rats: a potential role for hepatic lipogenesis

The "lipotoxic footprint" of cardiac maladaptation in diet-induced obesity is poorly defined. We investigated how manipulation of dietary lipid and carbohydrate influenced potential lipotoxic species in the failing heart. In Wistar rats, contractile dysfunction develops at 48 weeks on a high-fat/high-carbohydrate "Western" diet, but not on low-fat/high-carbohydrate or high-fat diets. Cardiac content of the lipotoxic candidates--diacylglycerol, ceramide, lipid peroxide, and long-chain acyl-CoA species--was measured at different time points by high-performance liquid chromatography and biochemical assays, as was lipogenic capacity in the heart and liver by qRT-PCR and radiometric assays. Changes in membranes fluidity were also monitored using fluorescence polarization. We report that Western feeding induced a 40% decrease in myocardial palmitoleoyl-CoA content and a similar decrease in the unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio. These changes were associated with impaired cardiac mitochondrial membrane fluidity. At the same time, hepatic lipogenic capacity was increased in animals fed Western diet (+270% fatty acid elongase activity compared with high-fat diet), while fatty acid desaturase activity decreased over time. Our findings suggest that dysregulation of lipogenesis is a significant component of heart failure in diet-induced obesity.

The genetics of neutral lipid biosynthesis: an evolutionary perspective

The storage of fatty acids and fatty alcohols in the form of neutral lipids such as triacylglycerol (TAG), cholesteryl ester (CE), and wax ester (WE) serves to provide reservoirs for membrane formation and maintenance, lipoprotein trafficking, lipid detoxification, evaporation barriers, and fuel in times of stress or nutrient deprivation. This ancient process likely originated in actinomycetes and has persisted in eukaryotes, albeit by different molecular mechanisms. A surfeit of neutral lipids is strongly, perhaps causally, related to several human diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, understanding the metabolic pathways of neutral lipid synthesis and the roles of the enzymes involved may facilitate the development of new therapeutic interventions for these syndromes.

Stimulation of Apolipoprotein A-IV expression in Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes and reduction of triglyceride formation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by potential anti-obesity Chinese herbal medicines

BACKGROUND

Chinese medicine has been proposed as a novel strategy for the prevention of metabolic disorders such as obesity. The present study tested 17 Chinese medicinal herbs were tested for their potential anti-obesity effects.

METHODS

The herbs were evaluated in terms of their abilities to stimulate the transcription of Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) in cultured Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes. The herbs that showed stimulating effects on ApoA-IV transcription were further evaluated in terms of their abilities to reduce the formation of triglyceride in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

RESULTS

ApoA-IV transcription was stimulated by Rhizoma Alismatis and Radix Angelica Sinensis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in cultured Caco-2/TC7 cells. Moreover, these two herbs reduced the amount of triglyceride in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that Rhizoma Alistmatis and Radix Angelica Sinensis may have potential anti-obesity effects as they stimulate ApoA-IV transcription and reduce triglyceride formation.

Ancient and modern duplication events and the evolution of stearoyl-CoA desaturases in teleost fishes

Stearoyl-CoA desaturases (SCDs) are key enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis whose regulation underpins responses to dietary, thermal, and hormonal treatment. Although two isoforms are known to exist in the common carp and human and four in mouse, there is no coherent view on how this gene family evolved to generate functionally diverse members. Here we identify numerous new SCD homologs in teleost fishes, using sequence data from expressed sequence tag (EST) and cDNA collections and genomic model species. Phylogenetic analyses of the deduced coding sequences produced only partially resolved molecular trees. The multiple SCD isoforms were, however, consistent with having arisen by an ancient gene duplication event in teleost fishes together with a more recent duplication in the tetraploid carp and possibly also salmonid lineages. Critical support for this interpretation comes from comparison across all vertebrate groups of the gene order in the genomic environments of the SCD isoforms. Using syntenically aligned chromosomal fragments from large-insert clones of common carp and grass carp together with those from genomically sequenced model species, we show that the ancient and modern SCD duplication events in the carp lineage were each associated with large chromosomal segment duplications, both possibly linked to whole genome duplications. By contrast, the four mouse isoforms likely arose by tandem duplications. Each duplication in the carp lineage gave rise to differentially expressed SCD isoforms, either induced by cold or diet as previously shown for the recent duplicated carp isoforms or tissue specific as demonstrated here for the ancient duplicate zebrafish isoforms.

Effects of protein versus simple sugar intake on weight loss in polycystic ovary syndrome (according to the National Institutes of Health criteria)

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of protein vs. simple sugars on weight loss, body composition, and metabolic and endocrine parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

A 2-month, free-living, randomized, single-blinded study.

SETTING

University PCOS clinic.

PATIENT(S)

Thirty-three patients with PCOS.

INTERVENTION(S)

To achieve a final energy reduction of 450 kcal/day, first the daily energy intake was reduced by 700 kcal; then a 240-kcal supplement containing either whey protein or simple sugars was added.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Changes in weight, fat mass, fasting glucose and insulin, plasma lipoproteins, and sex steroids.

RESULT(S)

Twenty-four subjects (13 in the simple sugars group and 11 in the protein group) completed the study. The protein group lost more weight (-3.3 +/- 0.8 kg vs. -1.1 +/- 0.6 kg) and more fat mass (-3.1 +/- 0.9 kg vs. -0.5 +/- 0.6 kg) and had larger decreases in serum cholesterol (-33.0 +/- 8.4 mg/dL vs. -2.3 +/- 6.8 mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-4.5 +/- 1.3 mg/dL vs. -0.4 +/- 1.3 mg/dL), and apoprotein B (-20 +/- 5 mg/dL vs. 3 +/- 5 mg/dL).

CONCLUSION(S)

In patients with PCOS, a hypocaloric diet supplemented with protein reduced body weight, fat mass, serum cholesterol, and apoprotein B more than the diet supplemented with simple sugars.