Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Distinct and Mutual Effects of Diet and Inflammation in Shaping Systemic Metabolism in Ldlr-/- Mice

Monascus red pigments alleviate high-fat and high-sugar diet-induced NAFLD in mice by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites

Monascus red pigments (MRP) may have benefits against NAFLD with an unclear mechanism. This study aimed to explore the protective effect of MRP supplementation against NAFLD through regulation of gut microbiota and metabolites. The C57BL/6 mice animals were randomly allocated into the normal diet (NC), HFHS diet-induced NAFLD model, and MRP intervention group fed with HFHS diet. Serum lipid profiles and liver function parameters were measured. Liver and colon histopathology analysis was conducted to determine the injury in the liver and colon. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to analyze gut microbial composition from fecal samples. Untargeted metabonomics was performed to analyze changes in metabolites in serum and fecal samples. MRP supplementation significantly improved the HFHS-induced alterations in body weight, lipid profiles, and liver function (p < .01). MRP supplementation decreased the abundance of Akkermansia, Candidatus saccharimonas, Dubosiella, and Oscillibacter, while increasing Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, and Rikenella in mice fed the HFHS diet. Furthermore, MRP supplementation improved the serum and fecal metabolic profiles induced by the HFHS diet, primarily involving the arachidonic acid metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and adipocyte lipolysis pathways. Liver function and lipid profiles were closely associated with the abundance of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Oscillibacter, Akkemansia, and Desulfovibrio (p < .01). These findings revealed that MRP supplementation may help restore gut microbiota composition and balance its metabolites, thereby improving NAFLD. This study presents a novel outlook on the potential benefits of MRP supplementation in ameliorating NAFLD and supports the application of MRP as a new functional food.

Metabolite Signature of Life's Essential 8 and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Low-Income Black and White Americans

BACKGROUND

Life's essential 8 (LE8) is a comprehensive construct of cardiovascular health. Yet, little is known about the LE8 score, its metabolic correlates, and their predictive implications among Black Americans and low-income individuals.

METHODS

In a nested case-control study of coronary heart disease (CHD) among 299 pairs of Black and 298 pairs of White low-income Americans from the Southern Community Cohort Study, we estimated LE8 score and applied untargeted plasma metabolomics and elastic net with leave-one-out cross-validation to identify metabolite signature (MetaSig) of LE8. Associations of LE8 score and MetaSig with incident CHD were examined using conditional logistic regression. The mediation effect of MetaSig on the LE8-CHD association was also examined. The external validity of MetaSig was evaluated in another nested CHD case-control study among 299 pairs of Chinese adults.

RESULTS

Higher LE8 score was associated with lower CHD risk (standardized odds ratio, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.53-0.69]). The MetaSig, consisting of 133 metabolites, showed significant correlation with LE8 score (r=0.61) and inverse association with CHD (odds ratio, 0.57 [0.49-0.65]), robust to adjustment for LE8 score and across participants with different sociodemographic and health status ([odds ratios, 0.42-0.69]; all P<0.05). MetaSig mediated a large portion of the LE8-CHD association: 53% (32%-80%). Significant associations of MetaSig with LE8 score and CHD risk were found in validation cohort (r=0.49; odds ratio, 0.57 [0.46-0.69]).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher LE8 score and its MetaSig were associated with lower CHD risk among low-income Black and White Americans. Metabolomics may offer an objective measure of LE8 and its metabolic phenotype relevant to CHD prevention among diverse populations.

Metabolite Signature of Life's Essential 8 and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease among Low-Income Black and White Americans

Background and Aims

Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is a comprehensive construct of cardiovascular health. Yet, little is known about LE8 score, its metabolic correlates, and their predictive implications among Black Americans and low-income individuals.

Methods

In a nested case-control study of coronary heart disease (CHD) among 598 Black and 596 White low-income Americans, we estimated LE8 score, conducted untargeted plasma metabolites profiling, and used elastic net with leave-one-out cross-validation to identify metabolite signature (MetaSig) of LE8. Associations of LE8 score and MetaSig with incident CHD were examined using conditional logistic regression. Mediation effect of MetaSig on the LE8-CHD association was also examined. The external validity of MetaSig was evaluated in another nested CHD case-control study among 598 Chinese adults.

Results

Higher LE8 score was associated with lower CHD risk [standardized OR (95% CI)=0.61 (0.53-0.69)]. The identified MetaSig, consisting of 133 metabolites, showed strong correlation with LE8 score ( r =0.61) and inverse association with CHD risk [OR (95% CI)=0.57 (0.49-0.65)], robust to adjustment for LE8 score and across participants with different sociodemographic and health status (ORs: 0.42-0.69; all P <0.05). MetaSig mediated a large portion of the LE8-CHD association: 53% (32%-80%) ( P <0.001). Significant associations of MetaSig with LE8 score and CHD risk were found in validation cohort [ r =0.49; OR (95% CI)=0.57 (0.46-0.69)].

Conclusions

Higher LE8 score and its MetaSig were associated with lower CHD risk among low-income Black and White Americans. Metabolomics may offer an objective and comprehensive measure of LE8 score and its metabolic phenotype relevant to CHD prevention among diverse populations.

Kynurenic Acid Acts as a Signaling Molecule Regulating Energy Expenditure and Is Closely Associated With Metabolic Diseases

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an important bio-active product of tryptophan metabolism. In addition to its well-known neuroprotective effects on mental health disorders, it has been proposed as a bio-marker for such metabolic diseases as atherosclerosis and diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that KYNA acts as a signaling molecule controlling the networks involved in the balance of energy store and expenditure through GPR35 and AMPK signaling pathway. KYNA plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of several endocrine and metabolic diseases. Exercise training promotes KYNA production in skeletal muscles and increases thermogenesis in the long term and limits weight gain, insulin resistance and inflammation. Additionally, KYNA is also present in breast milk and may act as an anti-obesity agent in infants. Although we are far from fully understanding the role of KYNA in our body, administration of KYNA, enzyme inhibitors or metabolites may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating metabolic diseases. The present review provides a perspective on the current knowledge regarding the biological effects of KYNA in metabolic diseases and perinatal nutrition.

N-acetylcysteine alleviates high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury via regulating intestinal microecology in mice

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-accepted antioxidant, has been shown to protect against high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of the beneficial...