Intragastric Safflower Yellow Alleviates HFD Induced Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Mice through Regulating Gut Microbiota and Liver Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

The gut microbiota was reported to play a significant role in the progression of the metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Our recent study suggested that gastrointestinal tract and liver were important targets mediating the anti-obesity effects of intragastric safflower yellow (SY). Therefore, our present study aims to investigate the effect of intragastric SY on MAFLD and possible mechanism. DIO mice were treated with 125 mg/kg/d SY for 12 weeks by gavage. We found intragastric SY significantly slowed weight gain of body, reduced the food intake and liver weight, improved hepatic steatosis, liver function and glucose metabolism in DIO mice. The comparison between OGTT and IPGTT illustrated OGTT produced a better improvement of glucose tolerance after SY treatment. We also found intragastric SY significantly increased the energy expenditure and locomotor activity of DIO mice. SY obviously decreased the expression of lipogenesis-associated and ERS-related genes in liver of DIO mice and PA-induced MAFLD hepatocyte model. Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated intragastric SY apparently changed the diversity and composition of gut microbiota of DIO mice. Further function prediction analysis indicated that gut microbiotas in SY-treated mice was positively related with energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and endocrine system. Intragastric SY has a significant therapeutic effect on MAFLD, which is mediated partly by modulating gut microbiota and improving liver ERS.

25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are inversely related to metabolic syndrome risk profile in northern Chinese subjects without vitamin D supplementation

BACKGROUND

The comparatively low 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have been reported in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Herein we investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between serum 25(OH)D levels and MetS risk profile in northern middle-aged Chinese subjects without vitamin D supplementation.

METHODS

A cohort of 211 participants including 151 MetS patients and 60 controls at 20-69 years of age were enrolled from suburban Beijing, China. The recruited MetS patients were subjected to diet and exercise counselling for 1-year. All subjects at baseline and MetS patients after intervention underwent clinical evaluations.

RESULTS

Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly decreased in MetS patients. 25(OH)D levels were inversely related to MetS score, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) after adjusting for cofounders (all P < 0.05). Participants in the lowest tertile of 25(OH)D levels had increased odds for MetS (P = 0.045), elevated FBG (P = 0.004) in all subjects, and one MetS score gain in MetS patients (P = 0.005). Longitudinally, the metabolic statuses as well as 25(OH)D levels of MetS patients were significantly improved (all P < 0.05), and the increase of 25(OH)D levels were inversely related to MetS scores, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), FBG, and TyG, while positively related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) after adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

25(OH)D levels were significantly decreased in MetS patients, and it was negatively associated with metabolic dysfunctions at baseline and 1-year after. Metabolic aberrations of MetS patients were significantly ameliorated with 1-year follow-up counselling accompanying by notably elevated 25(OH)D levels.

Serum ZAG and Adiponectin Levels Were Closely Related to Obesity and the Metabolically Abnormal Phenotype in Chinese Population

INTRODUCTION

To explore serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) and adiponectin in metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO) and metabolically abnormal diabetic obese (MADO) subjects and the relationship with metabolically phenotypes of obesity.

METHODS

Two hundred twenty-five subjects including 32 with MHNO, 40 with MHO, 104 with MAO and 49 with MADO were enrolled. Baseline clinical data and biochemical variables were collected. Serum ZAG and adiponectin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Metabolically healthy (<3 metabolic abnormalities) or abnormal (≥3 metabolic abnormalities) subjects were classified based on the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) criteria. Obesity (body mass index ≥28 kg/m²) was recommended by China Obesity Task Force.

RESULTS

Serum ZAG levels were higher in the MHO group, but were progressively lower in MAO and MADO groups (P all<0.05). In all subjects, total cholesterol, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and homeostasis model assessment of adiponectin were independent variables to serum ZAG levels. Compared with subjects in the highest tertile of ZAG, the odds ratio (OR) of metabolically abnormal risks of subjects in the lowest and median tertiles of ZAG were higher both in a univariate and three adjustment models (P all<0.05). Serum ZAG could discriminate the metabolically abnormal phenotype with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area of 0.622 (95% CI, 0.539-0.706, P<0.05). Combination of ZAG and adiponectin had improved diagnosis value accuracy, with ROC curve area of 0.703 (95% CI, 0.629-0.776, P<0.05), and 62.7% sensitivity and 73.6% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Serum ZAG levels were higher in MHO subjects, but lower in MAO and MADO subjects. The decreased serum ZAG levels were closely related to the metabolically abnormal phenotype of obese patients. Serum ZAG, especially the combination with adiponectin might be the potential diagnostic biomarkers for metabolically abnormal obese patients.