The Symbiotic Effect of a New Nutraceutical with Yeast ß-Glucan, Prebiotics, Minerals, and Silybum marianum (Silymarin) for Recovering Metabolic Homeostasis via Pgc-1α, Il-6, and Il-10 Gene Expression in a Type-2 Diabetes Obesity Model.

The use of natural products and derivatives for the prevention and control of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as type-2 diabetes (T2D), obesity, and hepatic steatosis is a way to achieve homeostasis through different metabolic pathways. Thus, male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet (HFD) vehicle, HFD + Supplemented, HFD + Supplemented_S, and isolated compounds. The vehicle and experimental formulations were administered orally by gavage once a day over the four weeks of the diet (28 consecutive days). We evaluated the energy homeostasis, cytokines, and mitochondrial gene expression in these groups of mice. After four weeks of supplementation, only the new nutraceutical group (HFD + Supplemented) experienced reduced fasting glycemia, insulin, HOMA index, HOMA-ß, dyslipidemia, ectopic fat deposition, and hepatic fibrosis levels. Additionally, the PPARγ coactivator 1 α (Pgc-1α), interleukin-6 (Il-6), and interleukin-10 (Il-10) gene expression were augmented, while hepatic steatosis decreased and liver parenchyma was recovered. The glutathione-S-transferase activity status was found to be modulated by the supplement. We discovered that the new nutraceutical was able to improve insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis mainly by regulating IL-6, IL-10, and Pgc-1α gene expression.

Novel nutraceutical supplements with yeast ß-glucan, prebiotics, minerals, and Silybum marianum (silymarin) ameliorate obesity-related metabolic and clinical parameters: A double-blind randomized trial.

Purpose: It is known that obesity has a multifactorial etiology that involves genetic and environmental factors. The WHO estimates the worldwide prevalence of 1.9 billion overweight adults and more than 650 million people with obesity. These alarming data highlight the high and growing prevalence of obesity and represent a risk factor for the development and aggravation of other chronic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is frequently considered the hepatic outcome of type 2 diabetes. The use of non-pharmacological therapies such as food supplements, nutraceuticals, and natural integrative therapies has grown as an alternative tool for obesity-related diseases compared to conventional medications. However, it is a still little explored research field and lacks scientific evidence of therapeutic effectiveness. Considering this, the aim is to evaluate whether a new nutraceutical supplement composition can improve and supply essential mineral nutrients, providing an improvement of obesity-related metabolic and endocrine parameters. Methods: Sedentary volunteers (women and men) with body mass index (BMI) ≤34.9 kg/m2 were divided into two groups: Novel Nutraceutical Supplement_(S) (n = 30) and Novel Nutraceutical Supplement (n = 29), differing in the absence (S) or presence of silymarin, respectively. Volunteers were instructed to take two capsules in the morning and two capsules in the evening. No nutritional intervention was performed during the study period. The data (anthropometrics and anamneses) and harvest blood (biochemistry and hormonal exams) were collected at three different time points: baseline time [day 0 (T0)], day 90 (T90), and day 180 (T180) post-supplementation. Results: In the anthropometric analysis, the waist circumference in middle abdomen (WC-mid) and waist circumference in iliac crest (WC-IC) were reduced. Also, the waist-to-height ratio (WHt R) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) seem to slightly decrease alongside the supplementation period with both nutraceutical supplements tested as well as transaminase enzyme ratio [aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR)], a known as a biomarker of NAFLD, and endocrine hormones cortisol and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at 90 and 180 days post-supplementation. Conclusions: In a condition associated with sedentary and no nutritional intervention, the new nutraceutical supplement composition demonstrated the ability to be a strong and newfangled tool to improve important biomarkers associated with obesity and its comorbidities.

A novel supplement with yeast ß-glucan, prebiotic, minerals and Silybum marianum synergistically modulates metabolic and inflammatory pathways and improves steatosis in obese mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the synergic effects of a novel oral supplement formulation, containing prebiotics, yeast ß-glucans, minerals and silymarin (Silybum marianum), on lipid and glycidic metabolism, inflammatory and mitochondrial proteins of the liver, in control and high-fat diet-induced obese mice. METHODS: After an acclimation period, 32 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: nonfat diet (NFD) vehicle, NFD supplemented, high-fat diet (HFD) vehicle and HFD supplemented. The vehicle and experimental formulation were administered orally by gavage once a day during the last four weeks of the diet (28 consecutive days). We then evaluated energy homeostasis, inflammation, and mitochondrial protein expression in these groups of mice. RESULTS: After four weeks of supplementation, study groups experienced reduced glycemia, dyslipidemia, fat, and hepatic fibrosis levels. Additionally, proliferator-activated receptor-α, AMP-activated protein kinase-1α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1α, and mitochondrial transcription factor A expression levels were augmented; however, levels of inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB kinase subunit α and p65 nuclear factor-κB expression, and oxidative markers were reduced. Notably, the cortisol/C-reactive protein ratio, a well-characterized marker of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis immune interface status, was found to be modulated by the supplement. CONCLUSION: We discovered that the novel supplement was able to modify different antioxidant, metabolic and inflammatory pathways, improving the energy homeostasis and inflammatory status, and consequently alleviated hepatic steatosis.

Chia flour (Salvia hispanica L.) did not improve the deleterious aspects of hyperlipidic diet ingestion on glucose metabolism, but worsened glycaemia in mice.

Obesity is mainly caused by intake of a high-fat diet and sedentarism, and is considered a public health issue worldwide. Increased intestinal permeability may favour endotoxaemia generated by lipopolysaccharides, a substance present in the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and, consequently, an increase in systemic inflammation and metabolic diseases. In contrast (On the other hand), consumption of a healthy diet can help in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. In this way, chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.), rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, may present an anti-inflammatory role. In addition, chia is rich in antioxidants like caffeic and gallic acid and fiber. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between chia seeds, inflammatory mechanisms and intestinal permeability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the effects of chia administration on metabolism in obese mice. Swiss mice were fed a hyperlipidic diet either supplemented with or without 3% chia flour for 16 weeks. The results showed that supplementation could not reduce the deleterious effects of the lipid-rich diet in terms of body composition, glucose intolerance and activity of antioxidants enzymes in the liver. In addition, supplementation with chia in the control diet decreased the amount of occludin in the intestinal colon. In conclusion, although chia did not improve metabolic parameters it seemed to restore the intestinal barriers integrity. The beneficial effects of chia seem to be dependent of the quantity used, since our data conflict with those in the literature; however, it is important to note that other studies, unlike our protocol, used chia in the form of seeds or oil, and not flour.