Dietary chickpeas reverse visceral adiposity, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance in rats induced by a chronic high-fat diet

Processing to improve the sustainability of chickpea as a functional food ingredient

Chickpea is a field crop that is playing an emerging role in the provision of healthy and sustainable plant-based value-added ingredients for the food and nutraceutical industries. This article reviews the characteristics of chickpea (composition, health properties, and techno-functionality) and chickpea grain that influence their use as whole foods or ingredients in formulated food. It covers the exploitation of traditional and emerging processes for the conversion of chickpea into value-added differentiated food ingredients. The influence of processing on the composition, health-promoting properties, and techno-functionality of chickpea is discussed. Opportunities to tailor chickpea ingredients to facilitate their incorporation in traditional food applications and in the expanding plant-based meat alternative and dairy alternative markets are highlighted. The review includes an assessment of the possible uses of by-products of chickpea processing. Recommendations are provided for future research to build a sustainable industry using chickpea as a value-added ingredient. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Prospective Nutraceutical Effects of Cinnamon Derivatives Against Insulin Resistance in Type II Diabetes Mellitus-Evidence From the Literature

Apart from advances in pharmaceutical antidiabetic agents, efforts are being made toward hypoglycemic agents derived from natural sources. Cinnamon has been reported to have significant benefits for human health, particularly as an anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anti-hypertriglyceridemic agent. The phytochemicals in cinnamon can be extracted from different parts of plant by distillation and solvent extraction. These chemicals help in decreasing insulin resistance and can act against hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, inflammation and oxidative stress, obesity, overweight, and abnormal glycation of proteins. Cinnamon has shown to improve all of these conditions in in vitro, animal, and/or human studies. However, the mechanism of action of active ingredients found in cinnamon remains unclear. The current review presents the outstanding ability of cinnamon derivatives to control diabetes by various pathways modulating insulin release and insulin receptor signaling. It was also found that the type and dosage of cinnamon as well as subject characteristics including drug interactions are likely to affect the response to cinnamon. Future research directions based on this review include the synergistic usage of various cinnamon derivatives in managing and/or preventing diabetes and possible other relevant chronic diseases.

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Properties of Selected Pulses to Promote Gluten-Free Food Products

The market for gluten-free products is increasing with an estimated 7.6% annual growth rate from 2020 to 2027. It has been reported that most gluten-free products, such as bread, cookies, and pasta, contain great amounts of simple carbohydrates and are low in fiber and protein, affecting people's health. Pulses such as common beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas have been studied as an alternative for developing gluten-free products because of their high protein and fiber content. In addition, they contain bioactive compounds with nutraceutical properties, such as phenolics, saponins, dietary fiber, and resistant starch, among others. Most studies carried out with pulses in vitro and in vivo have displayed health benefits, proving that pulse-based food products are better than their counterparts, even those containing wheat, with proper sensory acceptance. This work reviews pulse's nutritional and nutraceutical properties to promote the development and consumption of gluten-free products and improve their formulations to promote people's health.

Prebiotic mechanisms of resistant starches from dietary beans and pulses on gut microbiome and metabolic health in a humanized murine model of aging

Dietary pulses, being a rich source of fiber and proteins, offer an ideal and inexpensive food choice for older adults to promote gut and metabolic health. However, the prebiotic effects of dietary pulses-derived resistant starches (RS), compared to RS from cereals and tubers, remain relatively underexplored, particularly in context to their gut modulatory potential in old age. We herein investigate the prebiotic effects of pulses-derived RS on the gut microbiome and intestinal health in aged (60-week old) mice colonized with human microbiota. C57B6/J mice were fed for 20 weeks with either a western-style high-fat diet (control; CTL) or CTL diet supplemented (5% w/w) with RS from pinto beans (PTB), black-eyed-peas (BEP), lentils (LEN), chickpeas (CKP), or inulin (INU; reference control). We find that the RS supplementation modulates gut microbiome in a sex-dependent manner. For instance, CKP enriched α-diversity only in females, while β-diversity deviated for both sexes. Further, different RS groups exhibited distinct microbiome differences at bacterial phyla and genera levels. Notably, LEN fostered Firmicutes and depleted Proteobacteria abundance, whereas Bacteroidota was promoted by CKP and INU. Genus Dubosiella increased dominantly in males for all groups except PTB, whilst Faecalibaculum decreased in females by CKP and INU groups. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) and correlational analyzes reveal RS-mediated upregulation of key bacterial genera associated with short-chain fatty acids (butyrate) production and suppression of specific pathobionts. Subsequent machine-learning analysis validate decreased abundance of notorious genera, namely, Enterococcus, Odoribacter, Desulfovibrio, Alistipes and Erysipelatoclostridium among RS groups. CKP and LEN groups partly protected males against post-prandial glycemia. Importantly, RS ameliorated high-fat diet-induced gut hyperpermeability and enhanced expression of tight-junction proteins (claudin-1 and claudin-4), which were more pronounced for LEN. In addition, IL10 upregulation was more prominent for LEN, while TNF-α was downregulated by LEN, CKP, and INU. Together, these findings demonstrate that RS supplementation beneficially modulates the gut microbiome with a reduction in gut leakiness and inflammation, indicating their prebiotic potential for functional food and nutritional applications.

Feasibility of commercial breadmaking using chickpea as an ingredient: Functional properties and potential health benefits

The use of pulses, such as chickpea, has become more relevant in baking as they exhibit potential health benefits such as reduction of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and prevention of colon cancer. It is also a good source of highly bioavailable protein at a low cost. This allows companies to develop new innovative products that meet the demand for nutritional value-added baked goods. Further understanding of the baking properties and rheology of chickpea flours will allow the baking industry to overcome processing and quality challenges related to the effects caused by the addition of non-gluten-forming ingredients. Therefore, the objective of this review was to summarize the rheological properties of baking formulations using chickpea as an ingredient in order to produce quality products while preserving the nutritional aspects of this legume. It also covers health benefits linked to chickpea-specific compounds.

Chickpea Extract Ameliorates Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms via Restoring Intestinal Ecology and Metabolic Profile in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

SCOPE

Chickpeas have been recognized as a natural Uyghur medicine in Xinjiang (China) for 2500 years. Although the phenotypic effect on obesity or diabetes was authenticated, the mechanism was unclear. This work aims to study the effect of chickpea extract (CE) on metabolic syndrome induced by type 2 diabetes and to reveal its related mechanisms, focusing on intestinal flora and metabolomics.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Diabetic rats are induced by a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. CE supplementation (3 g kg^-1 ) for 4 weeks improved the hyperglycemia, inflammatory state, and organ functions of diabetic rats. The metabolic profile trajectories of urine and faeces obtained by NMR have good separations among all groups, and CE significantly increases the contents of SCFAs in the cecum. Moreover, CE relieves intestinal dysbiosis by increasing the abundance of SCFAs-producing bacteria (e.g., Enterococcaceae) but reduces conditional pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Corynebacterium). PICRUSt predicts the functions of gut microbiome from the 16S rRNA gene sequences and metagenome, and finds that CE restored amino acids degradation, bile acids metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism.

CONCLUSION

This study elucidates the role of CE from the perspective of metabolomics and the microbiota, which provides evidence for chickpea as a prebiotic to prevent diabetes.

Lupin protein isolate improves insulin sensitivity and steatohepatitis in vivo and modulates the expression of the Fasn, Gys2, and Gsk3b genes

Although studies on lupin protein isolate (LPI) have indicated the presence of a preventive effect on insulin resistance (IR) and lipid disturbances, their influence on established pathological traits has received little attention. Here, we evaluated the in vivo effects of LPI on IR and steatohepatitis as well as its influence on genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. We first induced IR and steatohepatitis in rats by maintaining them on a high-fat diet for 5 weeks. Thereafter, we administered LPI to the rats daily for 3 weeks. LPI improved insulin sensitivity (AUC: 6,777 ± 232 vs. 4,971 ± 379, p < .05, pre- vs. post-treatment values) and reduced glucose and triglyceride levels by one-third. In addition, LPI-treated rats exhibited attenuated steatohepatitis. At the molecular level, LPI treatment reduced liver Fasn gene expression substantially but increased Gys2 and Gsk3b levels. We concluded that the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities of LPI may be caused by reduced liver lipogenesis and modulation of insulin sensitization mechanisms.

The Effect of Chickpea Dietary Fiber on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia in Rats

Hyperlipidemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by high lipid levels, which may lead to cardiovascular diseases. Evidence suggests that improving the gut microbiota homeostasis is of great importance in lipid metabolism. Dietary fiber may positively regulate blood lipid and intestinal microbiota, therefore, we have investigated the effect of chickpea dietary fiber (CDF) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia and gut bacterial dysbiosis. Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats purchased for this study were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 rats each. The control group was fed with normal diet (ND), while the other four groups were all fed with HFD for inducing hyperlipidemia. Then one of the four HFD groups continued to be fed with only HFD, and the other three groups were fed with CDF in different doses: high CDF (30 g CDF/kg of HFD), medium CDF (15 g CDF/kg of HFD), and low CDF (5 g CDF/kg of HFD). After CDF treatment, the lipid level in serum was determined through biochemical methods, and microbial content of the fecal sample was determined by 16S rDNA sequencing. We found that CDF could decrease the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increase the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly. The diversity of gut microbiota in the ND group and CDF-treated groups were higher than HFD group. The β-diversity analysis showed that there were significant differences in gut microbiota among HFD-, ND-, and CDF-treated groups. Rats in CDF groups tended to be similar and interactive. CDF can effectively increase the abundance of Bacteroides and Lactobacillus in rats and increase the level of propionic acid. These results indicated that CDF might affect serum lipid and gut bacterial ecosystem positively.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis on Cicer arietinium L.-Induced Amelioration in T2D rats by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cicer arietinium L., which belongs to Cicer genus, was not only a kind of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) recorded in Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (version 2015), but also a kind of Uighur antidiabetic medicines. It has been used as an adjuvant drug or functional food for thousand years in Xinjiang province, China. However, the mechanisms of C. arietinium treatment in T2D have not been fully understood especially on the perspective of metabolomics.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To clarify the potential mechanisms of C. arietinium treatment in T2D from the perspective of metabolomics since T2D is indeed a kind of metabolic syndromes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T2D rat model was built by HFD for 4 weeks, combining with STZ administration. T2D rats were administrated C. arietinium extraction or metformin (positive control) for 4 weeks. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was applied to screen and identify differential metabolites among groups.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of treatments, IR and inflammation were greatly ameliorated in C. arietinium group. And the therapeutic efficiency of C. arietinium treatment was comparable to metformin treatment. Differential metabolites related to C. arietinium treatment, including acylcarnitines, amino acid related metabolites and organic acids, were further used to indicate relevant pathways in T2D rats, including glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, vitamin B6 metabolism and energy metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, C. arietinium treatment could effectively alleviate diabetic symptoms and regulate metabolic disorders in T2D rats.

Biological Activities of Chickpea in Human Health (Cicer arietinum L.). A Review

Chickpea is one of the most consumed legumes worldwide. Among their benefits are the high protein concentration that reflects not only at the nutritional level but also on the supply of active peptides; besides, it presents different metabolites with pharmacological activities. Some biological activities identified in the different compounds of chickpea are antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, and anticancer. Although most reports are based on the effects of the proteins and their hydrolysates, alcoholic extracts have also been proven that contain phenolic compounds, saponins, phytates, among others; therefore, their consumption has been dubbed as an alternative for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases. In the present review, we summarize the nutritional composition of the chickpea and describe the main biological activities reported for this legume, revealing some of its beneficial effects on health, of which there is still much to be elucidated.

In Vitro and In Vivo Nutraceutical Characterization of Two Chickpea Accessions: Differential Effects on Hepatic Lipid Over-Accumulation

Dietary habits are crucially important to prevent the development of lifestyle-associated diseases. Diets supplemented with chickpeas have numerous benefits and are known to improve body fat composition. The present study was undertaken to characterize two genetically and phenotypically distinct accessions, MG_13 and PI358934, selected from a global chickpea collection. Rat hepatoma FaO cells treated with a mixture of free fatty acids (FFAs) (O/P) were used as an in vitro model of hepatic steatosis. In parallel, a high-fat diet (HFD) animal model was also established. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that both chickpea accessions showed a significant antioxidant ability. However, only MG_13 reduced the lipid over-accumulation in steatotic FaO cells and in the liver of HFD fed mice. Moreover, mice fed with HFD + MG_13 displayed a lower level of glycemia and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than HFD mice. Interestingly, exposure to MG_13 prevented the phosphorylation of the inflammatory nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) which is upregulated during HFD and known to be linked to obesity. To conclude, the comparison of the two distinct chickpea accessions revealed a beneficial effect only for the MG_13. These findings highlight the importance of studies addressing the functional characterization of chickpea biodiversity and nutraceutical properties.

Hypoglycemic Potential of Supplementation with a Vegetable and Legume Juice Formula in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes affects a large number of people all over the world; hence, it is worthy to supplement those patients with a food formula containing biologically active ingredients that can help to control the disease and its complications. The present study was designed to prepare a plant formula in the form of a juice taken during treatment to synergies and reduce the drug dose used and minimize disease complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The formula is formed of spinach, broccoli, celery, green beans and chickpea. The total fat, fatty acids, polyphenol content and the antioxidant power of the formula were determined. The blood sugar tolerance curves of the volunteers were followed after breakfast alone, breakfast and treatment dose, also when this formula was given before breakfast.

RESULTS

The vegetable and legume juice could reduce postprandial glucose level when given before the breakfast and the effect was more or less similar to the effect of the treatment drug. The juice proved to contain some polyphenols and possess an antioxidant character. Analysis proved that it is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended to use this juice for diabetic patients to reduce hyperglycemia and synergize the effect of the used drug. It can thus avoid health problems that occur to those patients when using drugs for long time and in massive amounts.

Is Chickpea a Potential Substitute for Soybean? Phenolic Bioactives and Potential Health Benefits

Legume seeds are rich sources of protein, fiber, and minerals. In addition, their phenolic compounds as secondary metabolites render health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Lowering apolipoprotein B secretion from HepG2 cells and decreasing the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol oxidation are mechanisms related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Likewise, low-level chronic inflammation and related disorders of the immune system are clinical predictors of cardiovascular pathology. Furthermore, DNA-damage signaling and repair are crucial pathways to the etiology of human cancers. Along CVD and cancer, the prevalence of obesity and diabetes is constantly increasing. Screening the ability of polyphenols in inactivating digestive enzymes is a good option in pre-clinical studies. In addition, in vivo studies support the role of polyphenols in the prevention and/or management of diabetes and obesity. Soybean, a well-recognized source of phenolic isoflavones, exerts health benefits by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation related to the above-mentioned chronic ailments. Similar to soybeans, chickpeas are good sources of nutrients and phenolic compounds, especially isoflavones. This review summarizes the potential of chickpea as a substitute for soybean in terms of health beneficial outcomes. Therefore, this contribution may guide the industry in manufacturing functional foods and/or ingredients by using an undervalued feedstock.

Rebelling against the (Insulin) Resistance: A Review of the Proposed Insulin-Sensitizing Actions of Soybeans, Chickpeas, and Their Bioactive Compounds

Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Current methods for management of insulin resistance include pharmacological therapies and lifestyle modifications. Several clinical studies have shown that leguminous plants such as soybeans and pulses (dried beans, dried peas, chickpeas, lentils) are able to reduce insulin resistance and related type 2 diabetes parameters. However, to date, no one has summarized the evidence supporting a mechanism of action for soybeans and pulses that explains their ability to lower insulin resistance. While it is commonly assumed that the biological activities of soybeans and pulses are due to their antioxidant activities, these bioactive compounds may operate independent of their antioxidant properties and, thus, their ability to potentially improve insulin sensitivity via alternative mechanisms needs to be acknowledged. Based on published studies using in vivo and in vitro models representing insulin resistant states, the proposed mechanisms of action for insulin-sensitizing actions of soybeans, chickpeas, and their bioactive compounds include increasing glucose transporter-4 levels, inhibiting adipogenesis by down-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, reducing adiposity, positively affecting adipokines, and increasing short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria in the gut. Therefore, this review will discuss the current evidence surrounding the proposed mechanisms of action for soybeans and certain pulses, and their bioactive compounds, to effectively reduce insulin resistance.

Potential Lipid-Lowering Mechanisms of Biochanin A

Extensive studies have demonstrated that biochanin A (BCA) has a significant hypolipidemic effect. However, its mechanism of action is not clear. In this context, the effect of BCA on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia in mice was determined. The results showed that treatment with a medium dose of biochanin A (BM) significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 85% (from 1.196 ± 0.183 to 0.181 ± 0.0778 mM) and total cholesterol (TC) 39% (from 5.983 ± 0.128 to 3.649 ± 0.374 mM) levels, increased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) 96% (from 1.421 ± 0.0982 to 2.784 ± 0.177 U/mg protein) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) 78% (from 1.614 ± 0.0848 to 2.870 ± 0.0977 U/mg protein) activities, significantly improved fecal lipid levels, and lowered the epididymal fat index in hyperlipidemic mice compared with the HFD control mice (p < 0.05). In vitro, the high antioxidant capacity of BCA was determined by the FRAP assay, ABTS^•+ scavenging method, and an ROS assay. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, a dose of 10 μM BCA significantly increased the cholesterol efflux by 18.7% compared with the control cells. Moreover, molecular docking of BCA on cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) (Asn24 and Thr27 at the N-terminal; Ala274 and Phe270 at the C-terminal) gave new insights into the role of BCA in preventing cholesterol ester transport.

Traditional Persian Medicine and management of metabolic dysfunction in polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Its cause is unknown and it remains the most enigmatic of reproductive disorders. The extant written documents of Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) - with holistic approaches towards human health - contain remedies used for centuries. Before further experimental research on any of these treatments, it is appropriate to study current related scientific evidence on their possible pharmacological actions. This work aims to study PCOS and its treatments in TPM. To collect data from medieval medicinal texts, six of the most famous manuscripts of Persian medicine were studied. Medicinal treatments for a problem similar to PCOS were searched for in these books. The plants were listed and their authentications were confirmed in accordance with botanical books. PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched for related mechanisms of action or pharmacological activities of the medicinal plants reported. From numerous articles, the current work tried to cite the latest publications with regard to each reported plant and PCOS-related mechanisms of action. We studied herbal treatments recommended by ancient Persians to treat a condition called Habs-e-tams, which had the same symptoms of PCOS. It could be concluded that ancient physicians not only wanted to treat the irregular menstrual cycle-which is the most obvious symptom of PCOS-but also their treatment options were aimed at ameliorating the related underlying metabolic dysfunctions. The recommended herbs, which have the most scientific proof for their related actions, can be studied further in experimental analyses.

Health Risks and Benefits of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Consumption

Chickpeas (CPs) are one of the most commonly consumed legumes, especially in the Mediterranean area as well as in the Western world. Being one of the most nutritional elements of the human diet, CP toxicity and allergy have raised health concerns. CPs may contain various antinutritional compounds, including protease inhibitors, phytic acid, lectins, oligosaccharides, and some phenolic compounds that may impair the utilization of the nutrients by people. Also, high consumption rates of CPs have enhanced the allergic problems in sensitive individuals as they contain many allergens. On the other hand, beneficial health aspects of CP consumption have received attention from researchers recently. Phytic acid, lectins, sterols, saponins, dietary fibers, resistant starch, oligosaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, amylase inhibitors, and certain bioactive compounds such as carotenoids and isoflavones have shown the capability of lowering the clinical complications associated with various human diseases. The aim of this paper is to unravel the health risks as well as health-promoting aspects of CP consumption and to try to fill the gaps that currently exist. The present review also focuses on various prevention strategies to avoid health risks of CP consumption using simple but promising ways.

The Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Chickpeas and Hummus

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advocate for increasing vegetable intake and replacing energy-dense foods with those that are nutrient-dense. Most Americans do not eat enough vegetables, and particularly legumes, each day, despite their well-established benefits for health. Traditional hummus is a nutrient-dense dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Consumers of chickpeas and/or hummus have been shown to have higher nutrient intakes of dietary fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, and iron as compared to non-consumers. Hummus consumers have also been shown to have higher Healthy Eating Index 2005 (HEI-2005) scores. This may be, in part, due to hummus' higher Naturally Nutrient Rich (NNR) score as compared to other dips and spreads. Emerging research suggests that chickpeas and hummus may play a beneficial role in weight management and glucose and insulin regulation, as well as have a positive impact on some markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Raw or cooked chickpeas and hummus also contain dietary bioactives such as phytic acid, sterols, tannins, carotenoids, and other polyphenols such as isoflavones, whose benefits may extend beyond basic nutrition requirements of humans. With chickpeas as its primary ingredient, hummus-and especially when paired with vegetables and/or whole grains-is a nutritious way for Americans to obtain their recommended servings of legumes. This manuscript reviews the nutritional value and health benefits of chickpeas and hummus and explores how these foods may help improve the nutrient profiles of meals.

Ethanol extracts of chickpeas alter the total lipid content and expression levels of genes related to fatty acid metabolism in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Desi-type chickpeas, which have long been used as a natural treatment for diabetes, have been reported to lower visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance induced by a chronic high-fat diet in rats. In this study, in order to examine the effects of chickpeas of this type in an in vitro system, we used the 3T3-L1 mouse cell line, a subclone of Swiss 3T3 cells, which can differentiate into cells with an adipocyte-like phenotype, and we used ethanol extracts of chickpeas (ECP) instead of chickpeas. Treatment of the 3T3-L1 cells with ECP led to a decrease in the lipid content in the cells. The desaturation index, defined as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)/saturated fatty acids (SFAs), was also decreased by ECP due to an increase in the cellular content of SFAs and a decrease in the content of MUFAs. The decrease in this index may reflect a decreased reaction from SFA to MUFA, which is essential for fat storage. To confirm this hypothesis, we conducted a western blot analysis, which revealed a reduction in the amount of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), a key enzyme catalyzing the reaction from SFA to MUFA. We observed simultaneous inactivations of enzymes participating in lipogenesis, i.e., liver kinase B1 (LKB1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and AMPK, by phosphorylation, which may lead to the suppression of reactions from acetyl-CoA to SFA via malonyl-CoA in lipogenesis. We also investigated whether lipolysis is affected by ECP. The amount of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), an enzyme important for the oxidation of fatty acids, was increased by ECP treatment. ECP also led to an increase in uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), reported as a key protein for the oxidation of fatty acids. All of these results obtained regarding lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism in our in vitro system are consistent with the results previously shown in rats. We also examined the effects on SCD1 and lipid contents of ethanol extracts of Kabuli-type chickpeas, which are used worldwide. The effects were similar, but of much lesser magnitude compared to those of ECP described above. Thus, Desi-type chickpeas may prove to be effective for the treatment of diabetes, as they can alter the lipid content, thus reducing fat storage.

Ameliorative potential of gingerol: Promising modulation of inflammatory factors and lipid marker enzymes expressions in HFD induced obesity in rats

Obesity, generally linked to hyperlipidemia, has been occurring of late with distressing alarm and has now become a global phenomenon casting a huge economic burden on the health care system of countries around the world. The present study investigated the effects of gingerol over 30 days on the changes in HFD-induced obese rats in marker enzymes of lipid metabolism such as fatty-acid synthase (FAS), Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACC), Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase-1(CPT-1), HMG co-A Reductase (HMGR), Lecithin Choline Acyl Transferase (LCAT) and Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL) and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-6). The rats were treated orally with gingerol (75 mg kg(-1)) once daily for 30 days with a lorcaserin-treated group (10 mg kg(-1)) included for comparison. Changes in body weight, glucose, insulin resistance and expressions of lipid marker enzymes and inflammatory markers in tissues were observed in experimental rats. The administration of gingerol resulted in a significant reduction in body weight gain, glucose and insulin levels, and insulin resistance, which altered the activity, expressions of lipid marker enzymes and inflammatory markers. It showed that gingerol had significantly altered these parameters when compared with HFD control rats. This study confirms that gingerol prevents HFD-induced hyperlipidemia by modulating the expression of enzymes important to cholesterol metabolism.

Ginkgo biloba extract improves insulin signaling and attenuates inflammation in retroperitoneal adipose tissue depot of obese rats

Due to the high incidence and severity of obesity and its related disorders, it is highly desirable to develop new strategies to treat or even to prevent its development. We have previously described that Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) improved insulin resistance and reduced body weight gain of obese rats. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the effect of GbE on both inflammatory cascade and insulin signaling in retroperitoneal fat depot of diet-induced obese rats. Rats were fed with high fat diet for 2 months and thereafter treated for 14 days with 500 mg/kg of GbE. Rats were then euthanized and samples from retroperitoneal fat depot were used for western blotting, RT-PCR, and ELISA experiments. The GbE treatment promoted a significant reduction on both food/energy intake and body weight gain in comparison to the nontreated obese rats. In addition, a significant increase of both Adipo R1 and IL-10 gene expressions and IR and Akt phosphorylation was also observed, while NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and TNF-α levels were significantly reduced. Our data suggest that GbE might have potential as a therapy to treat obesity-related metabolic diseases, with special interest to treat obese subjects resistant to adhere to a nutritional education program.

High consumption of pulses is associated with lower risk of abnormal glucose metabolism in women in Mauritius

AIMS

To investigate if consumption of pulses was associated with a reduced risk of developing abnormal glucose metabolism, increases in body weight and increases in waist circumference in a multi-ethnic cohort in Mauritius.

METHODS

Population-based surveys were performed in Mauritius in 1992 and in 1998. Pulse consumption was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire in 1992 and outcomes were measured in 1998. At both time points, anthropometry was undertaken and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed.

RESULTS

Mauritian women with the highest consumption of pulses (highest tertile) had a reduced risk of developing abnormal glucose metabolism [odds ratio 0.52; 95% CI 0.27, 0.99) compared with those with the lowest consumption, and also after multivariable adjustments. In women, a high consumption of pulses was associated with a smaller increase in BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

High consumption of pulses was associated with a reduced risk of abnormal glucose metabolism and a smaller increase in BMI in Mauritian women. Promotion of pulse consumption could be an important dietary intervention for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes and obesity in Mauritius and should be examined in other populations and in clinical trials.

Ferreira E, A. Neves V, Demonte A. Legumin from chickpea: hypolipidemic effect in the liver of hypercholesterolemic rats

Purpose

– This paper aims to determine the effects of 11S globulin isolated from Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) on lipid metabolism in animals subjected to a hypercholesterolemic and hyperlipidemic diet and compared to the drug simvastatin.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thirty-six male Wistar rats, kept in individual cages and under appropriate conditions, were separated into groups that were fed a normal diet (STD) containing casein as protein source and according to AIN-93G; a high-cholesterol diet (HC), normal diet plus 1 per cent cholesterol and 0.5 per cent cholic acid and 20 per cent coconut oil; HC diet plus the isolated 11S globulin (300 mg/kg/day); and HC diet plus the simvastatin (50 mg/kg/day), both dissolved in saline and administered by gavage for 28 days. After this time, the animals were killed.

Findings

– The results indicated that the addition of 1 per cent cholesterol and 0.5 per cent cholic acid induced hypercholesterolemia in the animals without interfering with their weight gain. Analyses of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) in the plasma, and TC and TG in the liver were made. The results show that the protein isolated from chickpea, and given as a single daily dose, did not affect the levels of plasma TC and its fractions, although decreasing the TG levels. Unlike the simvastatin, the chickpea protein significantly reduced TC and TG in the liver relative to HC group.

Originality/value

– A single daily dose of 11S globulin from chickpea contributed as only as additional 2.8 per cent of dietary protein intake. These findings demonstrate that 11S chickpea protein acts as a functional agent in the lipid metabolism in addition to its nutritional properties.

Inverse association of legume consumption and dyslipidemia: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

BACKGROUND

Dietary intervention for improving serum lipids emphasizes on dietary fiber, plant protein, and flavonoids. This study was performed to examine whether regular legume consumption could alter serum lipids level and prevalence of dyslipidemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed among 9660 randomly selected Iranian adults in 3 districts in the central part of Iran, using data collected in the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program in 2007. Dietary behavior including frequency of legume consumption was assessed by 48-item food frequency questionnaire. Fasting serum lipids were measured by standard enzymatic methods. We applied analysis covariance test to compare adjusted mean of serum lipids across legume consumption quartile and logistic regression test was used to determine odds ratio 95% confidence interval of dyslipidemia based on legume consumption in unadjusted and 4-adjusted models.

RESULTS

Adjusted mean triglyceride significantly reduced and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) enhanced by increasing legume consumption (P = .04). The frequency of legume consumption associated with occurrence of all kinds of dyslipidemia except for hypercholesterolemia, especially for those who had consumed legume more than 1 time per day in adjusted models (hypertriglyceridemia: 0.82 [0.68-0.98]; high low-density lipoprotein [LDL-C]: 0.76 [0.60-0.97], and low HDL-C: 0.81 [0.71-0.92]).

CONCLUSION

We found an inverse dose-response association between the frequency of legume consumption and the risk of hypertriglyceridemia, high LDL-C, and low HDL-C. Therefore it is suggested that increasing legume intake may be an important part of a dietary approach for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Stress-induced endocrine response and anxiety: the effects of comfort food in rats

The long-term effects of comfort food in an anxiogenic model of stress have yet to be analyzed. Here, we evaluated behavioral, endocrine and metabolic parameters in rats submitted or not to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), with access to commercial chow alone or to commercial chow and comfort food. Stress did not alter the preference for comfort food but decreased food intake. In the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, stressed rats were less likely to enter/remain in the open arms, as well as being more likely to enter/remain in the closed arms, than were control rats, both conditions being more pronounced in the rats given access to comfort food. In the open field test, stress decreased the time spent in the centre, independent of diet; neither stress nor diet affected the number of crossing, rearing or grooming episodes. The stress-induced increase in serum corticosterone was attenuated in rats given access to comfort food. Serum concentration of triglycerides were unaffected by stress or diet, although access to comfort food increased total cholesterol and glucose. It is concluded that CUMS has an anorexigenic effect. Chronic stress and comfort food ingestion induced an anxiogenic profile although comfort food attenuated the endocrine stress response. The present data indicate that the combination of stress and access to comfort food, common aspects of modern life, may constitute a link among stress, feeding behavior and anxiety.

An experimental approach for selecting appropriate rodent diets for research studies on metabolic disorders

Diverse high energy diets have been utilized to precipitate obesity and related metabolic disorders in rodent models, though the dietary intervention has not absolutely been standardized. The present study established usage of a customized semipurified normal control diet (NCD) and high fat diet (HFD), for research studies on diet-induced metabolic disorders in albino rats. Male Wistar rats were fed with normal pellet diet (NPD) or customized NCDs I, II, III or HFDs I, II, III for 12 weeks and parameters, namely, body weight, visceral adiposity, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and glucose were evaluated to select an appropriate NCD and HFD. The selected HFD was further evaluated for induction of fatty liver, whilst type 2 diabetes (T2D) induction was confirmed in HFD and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes model in Wistar rats. Amongst different diets tested, NCD-I and HFD-I were selected, since NCD-I exhibited close resemblance to NPD, whereas HFD-I induced metabolic alterations, particularly obesity and dyslipidemia consistently. Moreover, HFD-I elevated terminal hepatic lipids, while HFD-I/STZ treatment augmented insulin resistance index and serum glucose levels significantly indicating effective induction of fatty liver and T2D, respectively. Therefore, customized semipurified NCD-I and HFD-I can be recommended for research studies on diet-induced metabolic disorders in albino Wistar rats.

Isocaloric intake of a high-fat diet promotes insulin resistance and inflammation in Wistar rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of isocaloric intake from a high-fat diet (HFD) on insulin resistance and inflammation in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed on an HFD (n = 12) or control diet (n = 12) for 12 weeks. Subsequently, all animals were euthanized, and blood glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, C-reactive protein, lipid profile, cytokines and hepatic-enzyme activity were determined. Carcass chemical composition was also analyzed. During the first and the twelfth weeks of the experimental protocol, the oral glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were performed and demonstrated insulin resistance (P < 0.05) in the HFD group. Although food intake (g) was lower (P < 0.05) in the HFD group compared with the control group, the concentration of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein and liver weight were all significantly higher. The kinase inhibitor of κB, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and protein kinase B expressions were determined in the liver and skeletal muscle. After an insulin stimulus, the HFD group demonstrated decreased (P = 0.05) hepatic protein kinase B expression, whereas the kinase inhibitor of κB phospho/total ratio was elevated in the HFD muscle (P = 0.02). In conclusion, the isocaloric intake from the HFD induced insulin resistance, associated with impaired insulin signalling in the liver and an inflammatory response in the muscle.

Pulse grain consumption and obesity: effects on energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, body composition, fat deposition and satiety

Pulses have been identified as important components of a healthy diet. Assessment of pulse grains' nutritional composition alongside data from available preclinical and clinical trials suggests that pulses can modulate biological processes that lead to obesity. Components of pulse grains, including pulse-derived fibre and resistant starch, have been shown to alter energy expenditure, substrate trafficking and fat oxidation as well as visceral adipose deposition. Although mechanistic studies are scarce, studies have indicated that fibres found in pulses can have an impact on the expression of genes that modulate metabolism. Arginine and glutamine may produce thermogenic effects as major components of pulse grain proteins. Finally, evidence suggests that pulse-derived fibres, trypsin inhibitors and lectins may reduce food intake by inducing satiety via facilitating and prolonging cholecystokinin secretion. Nonetheless, the aforementioned data remain controversial and associations between dietary pulse grains and energy intake require further study. Given the available evidence, it can be concluded that pulses could be useful as functional foods and food ingredients that combat obesity.

Nutritional quality and health benefits of chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.): a review

Chickpea (Cicer arietinumL.) is an important pulse crop grown and consumed all over the world, especially in the Afro-Asian countries. It is a good source of carbohydrates and protein, and protein quality is considered to be better than other pulses. Chickpea has significant amounts of all the essential amino acids except sulphur-containing amino acids, which can be complemented by adding cereals to the daily diet. Starch is the major storage carbohydrate followed by dietary fibre, oligosaccharides and simple sugars such as glucose and sucrose. Although lipids are present in low amounts, chickpea is rich in nutritionally important unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic acids. β-Sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol are important sterols present in chickpea oil. Ca, Mg, P and, especially, K are also present in chickpea seeds. Chickpea is a good source of important vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, folate and the vitamin A precursor β-carotene. As with other pulses, chickpea seeds also contain anti-nutritional factors which can be reduced or eliminated by different cooking techniques. Chickpea has several potential health benefits, and, in combination with other pulses and cereals, it could have beneficial effects on some of the important human diseases such as CVD, type 2 diabetes, digestive diseases and some cancers. Overall, chickpea is an important pulse crop with a diverse array of potential nutritional and health benefits.

Whole and fractionated yellow pea flours modulate insulin, glucose, oxygen consumption, and the caecal microbiome in Golden Syrian hamsters

The objective was to evaluate the effects of whole and fractionated yellow peas on circulating lipids, glucose and insulin levels, energy expenditure, and body composition, as well as to assess their prebiotic actions in Golden Syrian hamsters. Forty-five hamsters consumed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 28 days, then were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: control (CON), whole pea flour (WPF), and fractionated pea flour (hulls only) (FPF). WPF and FPF were incorporated into the diets, replacing 10% of the cornstarch. WPF and FPF feeding produced negligible effects on circulating cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, both WPF (56.76 ± 9.22 pmol·L⁻¹, p = 0.002) and FPF (89.27 ± 19.82 pmol·L⁻¹, p = 0.032) reduced circulating insulin levels compared with the CON group (131.70 ± 17.70 pmol·L⁻¹). Moreover, FPF decreased (p = 0.03) circulating glucose levels (6.26 ± 0.51 mmol·L⁻¹) compared with CON (8.27 ± 0.81 mmol·L⁻¹). Energy expenditure analysis revealed that hamsters consuming WPF demonstrated a higher (p = 0.036) oxygen consumption (2.00 ± 0.31 mL O₂·g⁻¹ lean body mass) vs. the CON group (1.56 ± 0.089 mL O₂·g⁻¹ lean body mass). Analysis of caecal digesta showed that WPF produced shifts in the abundance of microbial taxa with the most predominant changes occurring within the phylum Firmicutes. Yellow peas and their constituents should be investigated as future functional food ingredients that help prevent and manage lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Whole and fractionated yellow pea flours reduce fasting insulin and insulin resistance in hypercholesterolaemic and overweight human subjects

The objective of the present study was to compare whole pea flour (WPF) to fractionated pea flour (FPF; hulls only) for their ability to reduce risk factors associated with CVD and diabetes in overweight hypercholesterolaemic individuals. Using a cross-over design, twenty-three hypercholesterolaemic overweight men and women received two-treatment muffins/d containing WPF, FPF or white wheat flour (WF) for 28 d, followed by 28 d washout periods. Daily doses of WPF and FPF complied with the United States Department of Agriculture's recommended level of intake of half a cup of pulses/d (approximately 50 g/d). Dietary energy requirements were calculated for each study subject, and volunteers were only permitted to eat food supplied by the study personnel. Fasting insulin, body composition, urinary enterolactone levels, postprandial glucose response, as well as fasting lipid and glucose concentrations, were assessed at the beginning and at the end of each treatment. Insulin concentrations for WPF (37·8 (SEM 3·4) pmol/ml, P = 0·021) and FPF (40·5 (SEM 3·4) pmol/ml, P = 0·037) were lower compared with WF (50·7 (SEM 3·4) pmol/ml). Insulin homeostasis modelling assessment showed that consumption of WPF and FPF decreased (P < 0·05) estimates of insulin resistance (IR) compared with WF. Android:gynoid fat ratios in women participants were lower (P = 0·027) in the WPF (1·01 (sem 0·01) group compared with the WF group (1·06 (SEM 0·01). Urinary enterolactone levels tended to be higher (P = 0·087) in WPF compared with WF. Neither treatment altered circulating fasting lipids or glucose concentrations. In conclusion, under a controlled diet paradigm, a daily consumption of whole and fractionated yellow pea flours at doses equivalent to half a cup of yellow peas/d reduced IR, while WPF reduced android adiposity in women.

Effects of Korean white ginseng extracts on obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

The present study examined the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of action of Korean white ginseng extracts (KGE) using high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Mice were fed a low-fat diet (LFD), HFD or HFD containing 0.8 and 1.6% (w/w) KGE diet (HFD + 0.8KGE and HFD + 1.6KGE) for 8 weeks. We also examined the effects of KGE on plasma triglyceride (TG) elevation in mice administrated with oral lipid emulsion. Body weight gain and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight were significantly decreased in the HFD + 1.6KGE group, compared with the HFD group. The plasma TG levels were also significantly reduced in both HFD + 0.8KGE and HFD + 1.6KGE groups, while leptin levels were significantly decreased in only the HFD + 1.6KGE group, compared with the HFD group. The HFD + 1.6KGE group showed significantly lower mRNA levels of lipogenesis-related genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ2 (PPARγ2), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), compared with the HFD group. In addition, a dose of 1000 mg/kg KGE inhibited the elevation of plasma TG levels compared with mice given the lipid emulsion alone. These results suggest that the anti-obesity effects of KGE may be elicited by regulating expression of lipogenesis-related genes in WAT and by delaying intestinal fat absorption.

Effects of four Bifidobacteria on obesity in high-fat diet induced rats

AIM: To compare the effects of four Bifidobacteria strains (Bifidobacteria L66-5, L75-4, M13-4 and FS31-12, originated from normal human intestines) on weight gain, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism in an obese murine model induced by high-fat diet.

METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Control group received standard chow, model group received high-fat diet, and intervention groups received high-fat diet added with different Bifidobacteria strains isolated from healthy volunteers’ fresh feces. All rats were executed at the 6th weekend. Body weight (BW), obese indexes, oral glucose tolerance test, serum and liver lipid and serum insulin (INS) were tested. Liver lipid deposition was classified pathologically.

RESULTS: Compared with the model group, B. M13-4 improved BW gains (264.27 ± 26.91 vs 212.55 ± 18.54, P = 0.001) while B. L66-5 induced a decrease in BW (188.47 ± 11.96 vs 212.55 ± 18.54, P = 0.043). The rest two strains had no significant change in BW. All the four strains can reduce serum and liver triglyceride and significantly alleviate the lipid deposition in liver. All strains showed a trend of lowing serum and liver total cholesterol while B. L66-5 and B. FS31-12 did so more significantly. In addition, all the four strains showed no significant differences in serum INS and glucose level.

CONCLUSION: The response of energy metabolism to administration of Bifidobacteria is strain dependent. Different strains of Bifidobacteria might drive different directions of fat distribution.

Cinnamon: potential role in the prevention of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes

Metabolic syndrome is associated with insulin resistance, elevated glucose and lipids, inflammation, decreased antioxidant activity, increased weight gain, and increased glycation of proteins. Cinnamon has been shown to improve all of these variables in in vitro, animal, and/or human studies. In addition, cinnamon has been shown to alleviate factors associated with Alzheimer's disease by blocking and reversing tau formation in vitro and in ischemic stroke by blocking cell swelling. In vitro studies also show that components of cinnamon control angiogenesis associated with the proliferation of cancer cells. Human studies involving control subjects and subjects with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and polycystic ovary syndrome all show beneficial effects of whole cinnamon and/or aqueous extracts of cinnamon on glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity, lipids, antioxidant status, blood pressure, lean body mass, and gastric emptying. However, not all studies have shown positive effects of cinnamon, and type and amount of cinnamon, as well as the type of subjects and drugs subjects are taking, are likely to affect the response to cinnamon. In summary, components of cinnamon may be important in the alleviation and prevention of the signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular and related diseases.

Purified chickpea or lentil proteins impair VLDL metabolism and lipoprotein lipase activity in epididymal fat, but not in muscle, compared to casein, in growing rats

BACKGROUND

It is well known that the legume proteins have a lowering effect on plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerols (TG) concentrations compared to animal proteins. The protein itself, as well as non-protein constituents, naturally present in legumes may be implicated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The effects of various dietary purified legumes proteins compared to casein, were determined on plasma TG level, VLDL concentration and composition. Moreover, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in epididymal fat, gastrocnemius and heart was investigated to evaluate in these tissues their capacity to release free fatty acids from their TG substrate and the liver capacity to stock the TG.

METHODS

Weaning male Wistar rats were fed ad libitum one of the following diets: 200 g/kg diet of purified proteins of lentil (L), or chickpea (CP) or casein (CAS). At day 28, VLDL were isolated from plasma sample by a single ultracentrifugation flotation. Hepatic lipase and LPL activity in epididymal fat, gastrocnemius and heart were measured by using glycerol tri [9-10(n)-(3)H] oleate emulsion as substrate.

RESULTS

Compared with CAS diet, the CP and L protein diets exhibited similar cholesterolemia, but lower triglyceridemia (1.9-fold and 2.5-fold) and VLDL particle number, as measured by their reduced contents of TG and apolipoproteins. CP and L protein diets reduced liver TG and cholesterol by 31 and 45%, respectively compared to CAS diet. Furthermore, LPL activity in adipose tissue of rats fed CP or L was 1.6-fold lower than that of rats fed CAS. There was no significant difference in heart and gastrocnemius LPL activities with the three proteins. In contrast, hepatic lipase activity was higher in rats fed CP and L diets.

CONCLUSION

The low food efficiency ratio of purified CP and L proteins related to CAS is associated with decreased plasma VLDL and adipose tissue LPL activity. The low liver TG concomitant with reduced TG and apolipoproteins contents of VLDL confirm that hypotriglyceridemia is essentially due to impaired synthesis, exportation and transport of TG by VLDL which prevent lipid storage in adipose tissue.