A novel body weight-loss promoting oil prepared with vegetable protein

It has been reported that oil thermally processed with wheat gluten (gluten oil) exhibited safe weight-loss promoting effects in animal experiments. However, as the oil has a high color index, and its chemical properties and smell differ from those of fresh oil, it is uncertain if the oil will find market acceptance. In order to resolve the issue, frying oil was heated with soybean protein under reduced pressure (soybean protein oil), resulting in a product with an appearance, chemical properties and smell comparable to those of fresh oil. This improved oil was mixed (7 wt%) with powdered AIN93G no fat, defined standard diet and fed to 10-week-old Wistar rats ad libitum. The experimental rats grew normally, ingesting the same amount as that of the control rats; however, there was a negative correlation between body weight increases and fecal weight increases. After the 12-week feeding period, all the rats were sacrificed to obtain blood and organs. In the experimental group, liver weight, retroperitoneal fat tissue weight and serum triacylglycerol (TG) levels decreased significantly. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and histological analysis supported the safety of the improved oil. In conclusion, it was found that soybean protein oil inhibited body weight increases without any adverse effects in animal experiments. The oil holds promise as a novel dieting oil that steadily decreases body weight at an appropriate rate.

Trans-10, cis-12-conjugated linoleic acid reduces the hepatic triacylglycerol content and the leptin mRNA level in adipose tissue in obese Zucker fa/fa rats

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have been reported to reduce body weight and beneficially affect glucose metabolism in animals, but the results are inconsistent and seem to depend on animal model and type of CLA isomer. In the present study, feeding male Zucker fa/fa rats diets supplemented with 1% trans-10, cis-12-CLA for 10 d reduced the liver TAG content without improving the overall adiposity, and enhanced hepatic mitochondrial and peroxisomal beta-oxidation. The increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT)-I activity and mRNA level as well as the increased n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio in liver suggest that trans-10, cis-12-CLA increased the hepatic beta-oxidation by stimulation of PPARalpha. The reduced hepatic TAG content may be partly due to lower activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase, as the ratios of 18 : 1n-9:18 : 0 and 16 : 1n-7:16 : 0 were reduced in liver. Trans-10, cis-12-CLA increased the CPT-I mRNA in retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (WAT), and increased uncoupling protein-2 mRNA in epididymal and inguinal WAT depots. Leptin mRNA level was decreased in all examined WAT depots, implying reduced insulin sensitivity. The resistin mRNA level was increased in all WAT depots, whereas adiponectin mRNA was reduced in inguinal and retroperitoneal WAT. The present results suggest that dietary supplementation with trans-10, cis-12-CLA may increase the catabolism of lipids in liver and adipose tissue. Moreover, we provide new data suggesting that trans-10, cis-12-CLA modulates the expression of resistin and adiponectin inversely in adipose tissue. Hence, the present results suggest that trans-10, cis-12-CLA may have some beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and adiposity but possibly reduces insulin sensitivity.

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid decreases adipocyte size and favorably modifies adipokine status and insulin sensitivity in obese, insulin-resistant rats

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have been shown to alter adiposity in some species with varying effects on insulin resistance. The objective of this 8-week study was to investigate the effects of feeding a CLA mixture (1.5%, wt/wt) on adipocyte size, insulin sensitivity, adipokine status, and adipose lipid composition in fa/fa vs lean Zucker rats. The fa/fa CLA-fed rats had smaller adipocytes and improved insulin sensitivity compared with fa/fa rats fed the control diet. Conjugated linoleic acids did not affect select markers of adipose differentiation, lipid filling, lipid uptake, or oxidation. Dietary CLA, compared with the control diet, reduced circulating leptin and elevated fasting serum adiponectin concentrations in fa/fa rats. Adipose resistin messenger RNA levels were greater in fa/fa CLA-fed rats compared with fa/fa control rats. CLA did not markedly alter adipose phospholipid fatty acid composition, and the changes in the triacylglycerol fatty acid composition reflected a lower delta-9 desaturase index of CLA-fed vs control-fed rats. In conclusion, CLA reduced adipocyte size and favorably modified adipokine status and insulin sensitivity in fa/fa Zucker rats.

Thetrans-10,cis-12 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid reduces hepatic triacylglycerol content without affecting lipogenic enzymes in hamsters

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) refers to the positional and geometric dienoic isomers of linoleic acid. The dietary intake of CLA has been associated with changes in lipid metabolism. The aim of the present work was to assess the effects of the two main isomers of CLA on sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1a and SREBP-1c mRNA levels, as well as on mRNA levels and the activities of several lipogenic enzymes in liver. For this purpose hamsters were fed an atherogenic diet supplemented with 5 g linoleic acid,cis-9,trans-11 ortrans-10,cis-12 CLA/kg diet for 6 weeks. Thetrans-10,cis-12 isomer intake produced significantly greater liver weight, but also significantly decreased liver fat accumulation. No changes in mRNA levels of SREBP-1a, SREBP-1c and lipogenic enzymes, or in the activities of these enzymes, were observed. There was no effect of feedingcis-9,trans-11 CLA. These results suggest that increased fat accumulation in liver does not occur on the basis of liver enlargement produced by feeding thetrans-10,cis-12 isomer of CLA in hamsters. The reduction in hepatic triacylglycerol content induced by this isomer was not attributable to changes in lipogenesis.

The body fat-lowering effect of conjugated linoleic acid: a comparison between animal and human studies

Different reasons which justify differences between rodents and humans in body fat reduction produced by conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could be proposed. The doses used in humans are lower than those used in rodents. Human experiments have been performed with CLA isomer mixtures instead of isolated isomers. The variable dilution of t-10, c-12, the active isomer, among different preparations might explain the reduced responsiveness in humans. Diet composition may modulate CLA effects on body fat accumulation. As far as human studies are concerned, a specific dietary pattern has not been established. As a result differences among studies and also among subjects in the same study are likely. In rodents, the effects of CLA vary with genotype, suggesting that genetic predisposition to fat accumulation can play an important role in the effectiveness of CLA. Human volunteers with different body mass index have participated in the published studies and even in the same experiment. So, differences in lipid metabolism among subjects could help to explain the discrepancies observed in the literature. Age and maturity may also be crucial. Experiments using rodents have been conducted with growing animals and there is little evidence of CLA effectiveness in adult animals. By contrast, human studies have been performed with adults. Inhibition of lipogenesis in white adipose tissue is one of the mechanisms which have been proposed to explain the body-fat lowering effect of CLA, but lipogenesis in this tissue is very low in humans. Another mechanism suggested is increased fatty acid oxidation in the liver associated with peroxisome proliferation, but humans are relatively insensitive to this effect.

Effects of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers on liver and adipose tissue fatty acid profile in hamsters

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA on FA composition of TAG in epididymal adipose tissue and liver, and of hepatic phospholipids PL. Twenty-four Syrian Golden hamsters were randomly divided into three groups of eight animals each and fed semipurified atherogenic diets supplemented with either 0.5 g/100 g diet of linoleic acid or cis-9,trans-11 or trans-12,cis-9 CLA for 6 wk. Total lipids were extracted, and TAG and PL were separated by TLC. FA profile in lipid species from liver and adipose tissue, as well as in feces, was determined by GC. Trans-10,cis-12 CLA feeding significantly reduced linoleic and linolenic acids in TAG from both tissues, leading to reduced total PUFA content. Moreover, in the epididymal adipose tissue docosenoic and arachidonic acids were significantly increased. In liver PL, although no changes in individual FA were observed, total saturated FA (SFA) were decreased. No changes in TAG and PL FA profiles were induced by the cis-9,trans-11 CLA. TAG and PL incorporated cis-9,trans-11 more readily than trans-10,cis-12 CLA. This difference was not due to differential intestinal absorption, as shown by the analysis of feces. We concluded that only trans-10,cis-12 CLA induces changes in FA composition. Whereas increased PUFA content was observed in either liver or adipose tissue TAG, decreased SFA were found in liver PL. Incorporation of cis-9,trans-11 CLA in TAG is greater than that of trans-10,cis-12 CLA, but this is not due to differences in intestinal absorption.

Isomer-specific anti-obese and hypolipidemic properties of conjugated linoleic acid in obese OLETF rats

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid, has attracted considerable attention because of its potentially beneficial biologic effects both in vitro and in vivo. Our results clearly show the specific action of the 10trans,12cis-CLA isomer against hyperlipidemia and obesity in obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. After 2 weeks of feeding with 10t,12c-CLA, but not 9cis,11trans-CLA, abdominal adipose tissue weight and serum and hepatic lipid levels in OLETF rats were lower than those in linoleic acid-fed rats. These effects were attributable to suppressed fatty acid synthesis and enhanced fatty acid beta oxidation in the liver on a 10t,12c-CLA diet. Additionally, we showed that mRNA expression of fatty acid synthase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase, leptin, and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 was also regulated by 10t,12c-CLA. We suppose that 10t,12c-CLA reveals hypolipidemic and anti-obese activity through the alteration of mRNA expressions in the liver and white adipose tissue.

Conjugated linoleic acid reduces hepatic steatosis, improves liver function, and favorably modifies lipid metabolism in obese insulin-resistant rats

CLA has been shown to induce or suppress excess liver lipid accumulation in various animal models. Interestingly, the state of insulin resistance may be an important modulator of this effect. The objective of the current study was to determine how feeding a dietary CLA mixture would affect liver lipid accumulation in insulin-resistant/obese and lean rats in relation to liver function, lipidemia, liver TAG and phospholipid FA composition, and expression of hepatic markers of FA transport, oxidation, and synthesis. Six-week-old fa/fa and lean Zucker rats (n = 20/genotype) were fed either a 1.5% CLA mixture or a control diet for 8 wk. CLA supplementation reduced liver lipid concentration of fa/fa rats by 62% in concurrence with improved liver function (lower serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and favorable modification of the serum lipoprotein profile (reduced VLDL and LDL and elevated HDL) compared with controlfed fa/fa rats. The fa/fa genotype had two-thirds the amount of CLA (as % total FA) incorporated into liver TAG and phospholipids compared with the lean genotype. In both genotypes, CLA altered the hepatic FA profile (TAG greater than phospholipids) and these changes were explained by a desaturase enzyme index. Liver-FA-binding protein and acyl CoA oxidase, markers of FA transport and oxidation, respectively, were expressed at higher levels in CLA-fed fa/fa rats. In summary, these results illustrate a strong relationship between the state of insulin resistance and liver lipid metabolism and suggest that CLA acts to favorably modify lipid metabolism in fa/fa Zucker rats.

Conjugated fatty acids in food and their health benefits

Conjugated fatty acids (CFAs) are a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of polyunsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Reports indicate that CFAs have potent beneficial effects, including antitumor, antiobese, antiatherogenic and antidiabetic activities. The molecules have also been shown to prevent the onset of hypertension. Recent reports suggest that each CFA isomer has different functions, for example the 10trans,12cis isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has anticarcinogenic, antiobese and antidiabetic effects, whereas the 9cis,11trans-CLA isomer exerts an anticancer effect. Although it would be interesting to know the effects of CFAs on humans, there are only few reports concerning the anticancer and antiobese effects of CLA in humans. More detailed evaluations of the physiological bioactivities of CFA isomers on lifestyle-related diseases in humans and animals will be of great interest in future studies.

Dietary phosphatidylcholine alleviates fatty liver induced by orotic acid

OBJECTIVE

We compared the effect of dietary phosphatidylcholine (PC) with that of triacylglycerol (TG), both with the same fatty acid profiles, on fatty infiltration in orotic acid (OA)-induced fatty liver of Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODS

Rats were fed an OA-supplemented diets containing TG (TG+OA group) or PC (20% of dietary lipid, PC+OA group) for 10 d. Rats fed the TG diet without OA supplementation served as the basal group.

RESULTS

Administering OA significantly increased the weights and TG accumulation in livers of the TG+OA group compared with the basal group. These changes were attributed to significant increases in the activities of fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which are fatty acid synthetic enzymes, and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, a rate-limiting enzyme of TG synthesis. However, the PC+OA group did not show TG accumulation and OA-induced increases of these enzyme activities. Further, a significant increase in the activity of carnitine palmitoyl transferase, a rate-limiting enzyme of fatty acid beta-oxidation, was found in the PC+OA group.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary PC appears to alleviate the OA-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatomegaly, mainly through the attenuation of hepatic TG synthesis and enhancement of fatty acid beta-oxidation in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The 10trans,12cis isomer of conjugated linoleic acid suppresses the development of hypertension in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid found in beef, lamb, and dairy products. CLA has attracted considerable attention over the past several decades because of its potentially beneficial biological effects, including protective effects against several cancers, atherosclerosis, and obesity. Here we provide the first evidence that the 10trans,12cis-CLA isomer is able to suppress increases in blood pressure during the onset of obesity in OLETF rats. After 3 weeks of feeding with 10t,12c-CLA, systolic blood pressure was significantly lowered compared with rats fed linoleic acid or 9c,11t-CLA. Abdominal adipose tissue weight was also significantly lowered in rats fed 10t,12c-CLA, but not in those which were fed 9c,11t-CLA. In addition, we found that the relative mRNA expressions of angiotensinogen and leptin were suppressed by 10t,12c-CLA in adipose tissue. We speculate that the antihypertensive effect of 10t,12c-CLA can be attributed to the lowered secretion of hypertensive adipocytokines from abdominal adipose tissues.