Protective Efficacy of the Ingestion of Mandarin Orange Containing β-Cryptoxanthin on Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Nephritis

Combined Ingestion of Tea Catechin and Citrus β-Cryptoxanthin Improves Liver Function via Adipokines in Chronic Obesity

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of obese individuals, which has elevated the risk of related diseases. Although several studies have been performed to develop a definitive treatment for obesity, no solution has yet been achieved. Recent evidence suggests that tea catechins possess antiobesity effects; however, an impractical amount of catechin may be required to achieve antiobesity effects in humans. Moreover, studies are yet to elucidate the effects of the combined treatment of tea catechins with other substances. Here, we investigated the synergistic effects of catechins and β-cryptoxanthin in high-calorie diet-induced mice. Combined treatment with catechins and β-cryptoxanthin significantly suppressed obesity-induced weight gain and adipocyte size and area, restoring serum parameters to normal. Additionally, combined treatment with catechins and β-cryptoxanthin suppressed inflammatory responses in adipocytes, restored adiponectin levels to normal, protected the liver against obesity-induced damage, and restored normal liver function. Moreover, activin E level was restored to normal, possibly affecting the energy metabolism of brown adipocytes. Overall, these results suggest that the combined ingestion of tea catechins and β-cryptoxanthin was not only effective against obesity but may also help to prevent obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Anti-Obesity and Anti-Inflammatory Synergistic Effects of Green Tea Catechins and Citrus β-Cryptoxanthin Ingestion in Obese Mice

Chronic obesity causes various diseases, leading to an urgent need for its treatment and prevention. Using monosodium-glutamate-induced obesity mice, the present study investigated the synergistic obesity-reducing effects of tea catechins and the antioxidant β-cryptoxanthin present in mandarin oranges. The results show that the obese mice that ingested both tea catechin and β-cryptoxanthin for 4 weeks had a significantly decreased body weight, with no difference in body weight compared with control mice. Moreover, the blood biochemical test results were normal, and the body fat percentage was significantly decreased according to the histopathological analysis. Additionally, the abundance of M1 macrophages, which release pro-inflammatories, was significantly reduced in adipose tissue. Indeed, a significant decrease was detected in M1-macrophage-secreted tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. Meanwhile, M2 macrophage levels were recovered, and adiponectin, which is released from adipocytes and involved in suppressing metabolic syndrome, was increased. Collectively, these results suggest that the combination of tea catechins and antioxidant foods can alleviate chronic obesity, indicating that a combination of various ingredients in foods might contribute to reducing chronic obesity.

Relations Between Urinary Albumin Excretion and a Dietary Intake of Fruits in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Background

It was reported that microalbuminuria and a decline in renal function were associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and renal events and prognostic serious complications. Dietary factors and nutrients affecting microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes remain unclear, and accordingly we conducted a cross-sectional study on the possible relevance of dietary factors to urinary albumin excretion in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Forty-two patients with type 2 diabetes participated in this study, and these subjects were categorized into patients without microalbuminuria group with urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) of less than 30 mg/g Cr (n = 29) and a microalbuminuria group with ACR of 30 - 299 mg/g Cr (n = 13). ACR levels were measured using spot urine samples. At the time of examination, body mass index (BMI) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured and recorded. We performed sampling fasting-blood and spot urine and conducted a food frequency questionnaire based on food groups to examine dietary habits for the past 1 - 2 months.

Results

There were no significant differences in sex, age, duration, BMI, blood pressures, biochemical data, and the median of daily intakes of energy and macronutrients between patients without microalbuminuria and microalbuminuria groups. In the intake of 17 food groups per day, fruits were significantly lower in the microalbuminuria group than in patients without microalbuminuria group (the median was 38 g vs. 120 g/day, P < 0.05), but intakes of other food groups were not significantly different between the two groups. Moreover, we examined a model of partial correlation between ACR to the intake of fruits, adjusted by age, sex, glycated hemoglobin and BMI. This partial correlation was insignificantly seen but close to a significant level (partial correlation coefficient: -0.270, P = 0.102).

Conclusions

These results suggest that the intake of fruits may be inversely associated with microalbuminuria in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. It would be necessary to investigate the exact types and amounts of fruits to be consumed to address microalbuminuria.

Pandanus conoideus Lamk Oil Protects Against Inflammation Through Regulating Reactive Oxygen Species in LPS-Induced Murine Macrophages

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of Pandanus conoideus Lamk (red fruit oil [RFO]) and establish the signal pathway of the leading compounds. RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells were used with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability and the pro-inflammatory factors were investigated using MTT assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The quantification of leading compounds in RFO was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RFO did not reduce RAW 264.7 cell viability. RFO significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2, and prostaglandin E2, and both the protein level and mRNA level of inducible NO synthase in LPS-induced macrophages. RFO also regulated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-induced macrophages. RFO attenuated the translocation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit, phosphorylation of I-κB, p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner. HPLC analysis determined that 1 g of RFO had 14.05 ± 0.8 mg of β-cryptoxanthin and 7.4 ± 0.7 mg of β-carotene. In conclusion, RFO provides an anti-inflammatory effect by regulating ROS and NF-κB through mitogen-activated protein kinase due to antioxidant activity.