Effect of the Fat Eaten at Breakfast on Lipid Metabolism: A Crossover Trial in Women with Cardiovascular Risk.

Recent studies point out that not only the daily intake of energy and nutrients but the time of day when they are ingested notably regulates lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk (CVR). Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess if the type of fat ingested at breakfast can modify lipid metabolism in women with CVR. A randomized, crossover clinical trial was performed. Sixty volunteers were randomly assigned to a (A) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich breakfast, (B) saturated fatty acid (SFA)-rich breakfast, or (C) monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-rich breakfast. Plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein subfractions were determined. Our data showed that the PUFA-rich breakfast decreased lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), and intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), and increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL). A similar trend was observed for the MUFA-rich breakfast, whereas the SFA-rich breakfast, although it decreased VLDL, also increased IDL and reduced HDL. The PUFA-rich breakfast also decreased ß-lipoproteins and apolipoprotein-B. In summary, varying the type of fat eaten at breakfast is enough to significantly modify the lipid metabolism of women with CVR, which can be of great relevance to establish new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these subjects.

Effect of 1- and 2-Month High-Dose Alpha-Linolenic Acid Treatment on 13 C-Labeled Alpha-Linolenic Acid Incorporation and Conversion in Healthy Subjects.

SCOPE: The study aims at identifying 1) the most sensitive compartment among plasma phospholipids, erythrocytes, and LDL for studying alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) conversion, and 2) whether ALA incorporation and conversion is saturable after administration of 13 C-labeled ALA-rich linseed oil (LO). The effect of a daily intake of 7 g nonlabeled LO (>43% w/w ALA) for 1 month after bolus administration of 7 g 13 C-labeled LO on day 1, and for 2 months after bolus administration of 7 g 13 C-labeled LO on day 1 and day 29 on 13 C-ALA incorporation and conversion into its higher homologs is investigated in healthy volunteers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Incorporation and conversion of LO-derived 13 C-labeled ALA is quantified by applying compartmental modeling. After bolus administration, a fractional conversion of approximately 30% from 13 C-ALA to 13 C-DHA is calculated as reflected by the LDL compartment. Treatment with LO for 8 weeks induces a mean reduction of 13 C-ALA conversion to 13 C-DHA by 48% as reflected by the LDL compartment, and a mean reduction of the 13 C-ALA incorporation into LDL by 46%. CONCLUSION: A 2-month dietary intake of a high dose of LO is sufficient to reach saturation of ALA incorporation into LDL particles, which are responsible for ALA distribution in the body.

High-quality fish oil has a more favourable effect than oxidised fish oil on intermediate-density lipoprotein and LDL subclasses: a randomised controlled trial.

Fish oil (FO) supplementation reduces the risk of CVD. However, it is not known if FO of different qualities have different effects on lipoprotein subclasses in humans. We aimed at investigating the effects of oxidised FO and high-quality FO supplementation on lipoprotein subclasses and their lipid concentrations in healthy humans. In all, fifty-four subjects completed a double-blind randomised controlled intervention study. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive high-quality FO (n 17), oxidised FO (n 18) or high-oleic sunflower oil capsules (HOSO, n 19) for 7 weeks. The concentration of marine n-3 fatty acids was equal in high-quality FO and oxidised FO (1·6 g EPA+DHA/d). The peroxide value (PV) and anisidine value (AV) were 4 mEq/kg and 3 in high-quality FO and HOSO, whereas the PV and AV in the oxidised FO were 18 mEq/kg and 9. Blood samples were collected at baseline and end of study. NMR spectroscopy was applied for the analysis of lipoprotein subclasses and their lipid concentrations. High-quality FO reduced the concentration of intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) particles and large, medium and small LDL particles, as well as the concentrations of total lipids, phospholipids, total cholesterol, cholesteryl esters and free cholesterol in IDL and LDL subclasses compared with oxidised FO and HOSO. Hence, high-quality FO and oxidised FO differently affect lipid composition in lipoprotein subclasses, with a more favourable effect mediated by high-quality FO. In future trials, reporting the oxidation levels of FO would be useful.

Chronic consumption of an inositol-enriched carob extract improves postprandial glycaemia and insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inositols are thought to be mediators of the insulin signalling pathway. We assessed the effects of inositols on glycaemic control in fasting and postprandial states and evaluated lipoprotein profile and LDL particle size in healthy population. METHODS: A 12-week double-blind clinical trial was performed with forty healthy subjects administered either an inositol-enriched beverage (IEB) -containing 2.23 g of inositols in 250 ml- or a sucrose-sweetened beverage (SB) twice a day. Anthropometric measurements, fasting glucose levels, insulin and HOMA-IR index, lipoprotein profile and postprandial glucose concentrations (measured using the continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS)) were recorded throughout the intervention period. RESULTS: Following the 12-week trial subjects receiving the IEB exhibited a significant decrease in insulin, HOMA-IR and Apo B and an increase in LDL particle size, whereas the SB group showed increases in BMI and fasting glucose concentration. Analysis of postprandial glucose levels at breakfast, lunch and dinner revealed a mean reduction of glucose of ≈14% and a significant reduction in the area under the curve at 24 h after consumption of the IEB. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that chronic IEB supplementation induces a significant improvement in carbohydrated metabolism parameters in healthy subjects.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on lipoprotein subfractions in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: Favorable metabolic changes have been observed in many in vitro and animal studies after application of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2). Metabolic changes after hyperbaric oxygen therapy, especially focused on lipoprotein subfractions, have not been described in humans. Our aim was to investigate possible alteration in concentration of lipoprotein subfractions in diabetic patients after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. METHODS: 58 Type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in a prospective matched case-control study. A total of 31 underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and 27 were included in the control group without HBO2 exposure. Fasting concentrations of lipoprotein subfractions were measured by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel 24 hours before and 24 hours after hyperbaric sessions performed at 2.5 atmospheres absolute for 15 days. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, C-peptide and glycemic variability were assessed before and after therapy. RESULTS: We observed decreased subfractions of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL 3), LDL 1, LDL 2 and LDL 3-7 after hyperbaric oxygen treatment. In addition, the IDL 1 subfraction, as well as the concentration of C-peptide, increased significantly in the treatment arm. Glycemic variability improved after therapy. No differences were observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is connected with antiatherogenic metabolic changes. This study demonstrates that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may hold potential for inducing metabolic changes in diabetic patients that may decrease their cardiovascular risk.

Effects of sea buckthorn and bilberry on serum metabolites differ according to baseline metabolic profiles in overweight women: a randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Berries are associated with health benefits. Little is known about the effect of baseline metabolome on the overall metabolic responses to berry intake. OBJECTIVE: We studied the effects of berries on serum metabolome. DESIGN: Eighty overweight women completed this randomized crossover study. During the interventions of 30 d, subjects consumed dried sea buckthorn berries (SBs), sea buckthorn oil (SBo), sea buckthorn phenolics ethanol extract mixed with maltodextrin (SBe+MD) (1:1), or frozen bilberries. Metabolic profiles were quantified from serum samples by using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: All interventions induced a significant (P < 0.001-0.003) effect on the overall metabolic profiles. The effect was observed both in participants who had a metabolic profile that reflected higher cardiometabolic risk at baseline (group B: P = 0.001-0.008) and in participants who had a lower-risk profile (group A: P < 0.001-0.009). Although most of the changes in individual metabolites were not statistically significant after correction for multiplicity, clear trends were observed. SB-induced effects were mainly on serum triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and its subclasses, which decreased in metabolic group B. SBo induced a decreasing trend in serum total, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and subfractions of IDL and LDL in group B. During the SBe+MD treatment, VLDL fractions and serum triglycerides increased. Bilberries caused beneficial changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins in group B, whereas the opposite was true in group A. CONCLUSION: Berry intake has overall metabolic effects, which depend on the cardiometabolic risk profile at baseline. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01860547.

Dose-dependent effects of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on blood lipids in statin-treated hyperlipidaemic subjects.

The objective of the study was to evaluate potential benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rich fish oil supplementation as an adjunct to statin therapy for hyperlipidaemia. A total of 45 hyperlipidaemic patients on stable statin therapy with persistent elevation of plasma triglycerides (averaging 2.2 mmol/L) were randomised to take 4 g/day (n = 15) or 8 g/day (n = 15) of tuna oil or olive oil (placebo, n = 15) for 6 months. Plasma lipids, blood pressure and arterial compliance were assessed initially and after 3 and 6 months in 40 subjects who completed the trial. Plasma triglycerides were reduced 27% by 8 g/day DHA-rich fish oil (P < 0.05) but not by 4 g/day when compared with the placebo and this reduction was achieved by 3 months and was sustained at 6 months. Even though total cholesterol was already well controlled by the statin treatment (mean initial level 4.5 mmol/L), there was a further dose-dependent reduction with fish oil supplementation (r = -0.344, P < 0.05). The extent of total cholesterol reduction correlated (r = -0.44) with the initial total cholesterol levels (P < 0.005). In the subset with initial plasma cholesterol above 3.8 mmol/L, plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were isolated and assayed for cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) at the commencement of the trial and at 3 months of intervention. Fish oil tended to lower cholesterol and apoB in VLDL and raise both in LDL. There were no changes in IDL cholesterol, IDL apoB and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The results demonstrate that DHA-rich fish oil supplementation (2.16 g DHA/day) can improve plasma lipids in a dose-dependent manner in patients taking statins and these changes were achieved by 3 months. Fish oil in addition to statin therapy may be preferable to drug combinations for the treatment of combined hyperlipidaemia.

[Effects of water extractives of a qi and blood regulating prescription on early atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the water extractives of regulating qi and blood prescription (WQBP) had effects on early atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (ApoE-mice) at the age of 19 weeks or not, and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Forty ApoE-mice, six weeks of age, were given high-fat diet and randomly divided into four groups: high-dose WQBP-treated group (360 mg/kg), low-dose WQBP-treated group (72 mg/kg), simvastatin-treated group (25 mg/kg) and untreated group, with ten mice in each group. Meanwhile, ten C57BL/6 mice of same genetic background were allocated to normal control group. Mice in the high- and low-dose WQBP-treated groups and simvastatin-treated group were administered with corresponding drugs from the 15 to 19 weeks. Mice in the untreated and normal control groups were administered with isovolumic water. Sacrificed at 19 weeks, the level of blood-lipid, the plaque construction, plaque integral, and the contents of plaque macrophages and vessel smooth muscle cells of the mice were analyzed by immunohistochemical method and a computer picture processing system. RESULTS: Compared to the untreated group, high-dose WQBP group could obviously decrease the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Simvastatin group could decrease the levels of LDL-C and total cholesterol (TC) (P<0.01). In high-dose WQBP-treated group and simvastatin-treated group, the thickness of fiber cap and the quantities of vessel smooth muscle cells increased (P<0.05), the quantities of plaque macrophages and the ratio of lipid and plaque reduced (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: WQBP and simvastatin can interfere in early atherosclerosis of ApoE-mice, attenuate and stabilize plaque in some extent. The mechanisms may include adjusting blood lipid, decreasing macrophage number and increasing the quantities of vessel smooth muscle cells.