Alcohol Drinks Induce Acute Lowering in Circulating l-Arginine in Obese and Type 2 Diabetic Subjects.

Since low serum l-arginine (Arg) and high asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) can predict microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we tested whether Arg and ADMA are affected by diet and physical activity in overweight/obese and T2DM subjects. We tested the effects on serum Arg and ADMA of single loads of dextrose, protein, fat, or alcohol (∼300 calories each); one episode of physical exercise; and 12 weeks of standard lifestyle modification (dietary and physical activity counseling). Alcohol drink was followed by ∼30% lowering in Arg. Arg and ADMA increased after a protein load but remained stable after glucose or fat load or 30 min of treadmill walk. Following 12 weeks of lifestyle modification, ADMA declined only in subjects achieving weight loss >5%. In conclusion, alcohol is a previously unrecognized acute suppressor of serum Arg. Lifestyle modification lowers ADMA in subjects who achieve weight loss >5%. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04406402.

Alleviation of Dyslipidemia via a Traditional Balanced Korean Diet Represented by a Low Glycemic and Low Cholesterol Diet in Obese Women in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

A traditional balanced Korean diet (K-diet) may improve energy, glucose, and lipid metabolism. To evaluate this, we conducted a randomized crossover clinical trial, involving participants aged 30-40 years, who were randomly assigned to two groups-a K-diet or westernized Korean control diet daily, with an estimated energy requirement (EER) of 1900 kcal. After a 4-week washout period, they switched the diet and followed it for 4 weeks. The carbohydrate, protein, and fat ratios based on energy intake were close to the target values for the K-diet (65:15:20) and control diet (60:15:25). The glycemic index of the control diet and the K-diet was 50.3 ± 3.6 and 68.1 ± 2.9, respectively, and daily cholesterol contents in the control diet and K-diet were 280 and 150 mg, respectively. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters involved in energy, glucose, and lipid metabolism were measured while plasma metabolites were determined using UPLC-QTOF-MS before and after the 4-week intervention. After the four-week intervention, both diets improved anthropometric and biochemical variables, but the K-diet significantly reduced them compared to the control diet. Serum total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower in the K-diet group than in the control diet group. The waist circumference (p = 0.108) and insulin resistance index (QUICKI, p = 0.089) tended to be lower in the K-diet group than in the control diet group. Plasma metabolites indicated that participants in the K-diet group tended to reduce insulin resistance compared to those in the control diet group. Amino acids, especially branched-chain amino acids, tyrosine, tryptophan, and glutamate, and L-homocysteine concentrations were considerably lower in the K-diet group than in the control diet group (p < 0.05). Plasma glutathione concentrations, an index of antioxidant status, and 3-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations, were higher in the K-diet group than in the control diet group. In conclusion, a K-diet with adequate calories to meet EER alleviated dyslipidemia by decreasing insulin resistance-related amino acids and increasing ketones in the circulation of obese women.

Precision Nutrition Model Predicts Glucose Control of Overweight Females Following the Consumption of Potatoes High in Resistant Starch.

Individual glycemic responses following dietary intake result from complex physiological processes, and can be influenced by physical properties of foods, such as increased resistant starch (RS) from starch retrogradation. Predictive equations are needed to provide personalized dietary recommendations to reduce chronic disease development. Therefore, a precision nutrition model predicting the postprandial glucose response (PPGR) in overweight women following the consumption of potatoes was formulated. Thirty overweight women participated in this randomized crossover trial. Participants consumed 250 g of hot (9.2 g RS) or cold (13.7 g RS) potatoes on two separate occasions. Baseline characteristics included demographics, 10-day dietary records, body composition, and the relative abundance (RA) and α-diversity of gut microbiota. Elastic net regression using 5-fold cross-validation predicted PPGR after potato intake. Most participants (70%) had a favorable PPGR to the cold potato. The model explained 32.2% of the variance in PPGR with the equation: 547.65 × (0 [if cold, high-RS potato], ×1, if hot, low-RS potato]) + (BMI [kg/m2] × 40.66)-(insoluble fiber [g] × 49.35) + (Bacteroides [RA] × 8.69)-(Faecalibacterium [RA] × 73.49)-(Parabacteroides [RA] × 42.08) + (α-diversity × 110.87) + 292.52. This model improves the understanding of baseline characteristics that explain interpersonal variation in PPGR following potato intake and offers a tool to optimize dietary recommendations for a commonly consumed food.

Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Derived Oxylipins from the Lipoxygenase Pathway in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Plasma at Delivery and Their Relationship with Infant Growth.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important for neonatal development and health. One mechanism by which omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids exert their effects is through their metabolism into oxylipins and specialized pro-resolving mediators. However, the influence of oxylipins on fetal growth is not well understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify oxylipins present in maternal and umbilical cord plasma and investigate their relationship with infant growth. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify oxylipin levels in plasma collected at the time of delivery. Spearman's correlations highlighted significant correlations between metabolite levels and infant growth. They were then adjusted for maternal obesity (normal body mass index (BMI: ≤30 kg/m2) vs. obese BMI (>30 kg/m2) and smoking status (never vs. current/former smoker) using linear regression modeling. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Our study demonstrated a diverse panel of oxylipins from the lipoxygenase pathway present at the time of delivery. In addition, both omega-3 and omega-6 oxylipins demonstrated potential influences on the birth length and weight percentiles. The oxylipins present during pregnancy may influence fetal growth and development, suggesting potential metabolites to be used as biomarkers for infant outcomes.

Hypothalamic miR-1983 Targets Insulin Receptor ß and the Insulin-mediated miR-1983 Increase Is Blocked by Metformin.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in the hypothalamus are capable of regulating energy balance and peripheral metabolism by inhibiting translation of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Hypothalamic insulin resistance is known to precede that in the periphery, thus a critical unanswered question is whether central insulin resistance creates a specific hypothalamic miRNA signature that can be identified and targeted. Here we show that miR-1983, a unique miRNA, is upregulated in vitro in 2 insulin-resistant immortalized hypothalamic neuronal neuropeptide Y-expressing models, and in vivo in hyperinsulinemic mice, with a concomitant decrease of insulin receptor ß subunit protein, a target of miR-1983. Importantly, we demonstrate that miR-1983 is detectable in human blood serum and that its levels significantly correlate with blood insulin and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance. Levels of miR-1983 are normalized with metformin exposure in mouse hypothalamic neuronal cell culture. Our findings provide evidence for miR-1983 as a unique biomarker of cellular insulin resistance, and a potential therapeutic target for prevention of human metabolic disease.

Impact of combined consumption of fish oil and probiotics on the serum metabolome in pregnant women with overweight or obesity.

BACKGROUND: If a pregnant woman is overweight, this can evoke metabolic alterations that may have health consequences for both mother and child. METHODS: Pregnant women with overweight/obesity (n = 358) received fish oil+placebo, probiotics+placebo, fish oil+probiotics or placebo+placebo from early pregnancy onwards. The serum metabolome was analysed from fasting samples with a targeted NMR-approach in early and late pregnancy. GDM was diagnosed by OGTT. FINDINGS: The intervention changed the metabolic profile of the women, but the effect was influenced by their GDM status. In women without GDM, the changes in nine lipids (FDR<0.05) in the fish oil+placebo-group differed when compared to the placebo+placebo-group. The combination of fish oil and probiotics induced changes in more metabolites, 46 of the lipid metabolites differed in women without GDM when compared to placebo+placebo-group; these included reduced increases in the concentrations and lipid constituents of VLDL-particles and less pronounced alterations in the ratios of various lipids in several lipoproteins. In women with GDM, no differences were detected in the changes of any metabolites due to any of the interventions when compared to the placebo+placebo-group (FDR<0.05). INTERPRETATION: Fish oil and particularly the combination of fish oil and probiotics modified serum lipids in pregnant women with overweight or obesity, while no such effects were seen with probiotics alone. The effects were most evident in the lipid contents of VLDL and LDL only in women without GDM. FUNDING: State Research Funding for university-level health research in the Turku University Hospital Expert Responsibility Area, Academy of Finland, the Diabetes Research Foundation, the Juho Vainio Foundation, Janssen Research & Development, LLC.

Sex Differences in Early Programming by Maternal High Fat Diet Induced-Obesity and Fish Oil Supplementation in Mice.

Pre-pregnancy obesity is a contributing factor for impairments in offspring metabolic health. Interventional strategies during pregnancy are a potential approach to alleviate and/or prevent obesity and obesity related metabolic alterations in the offspring. Fish oil (FO), rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) exerts metabolic health benefits. However, the role of FO in early life remains still unknown. Hence, this study objective was to determine the effect of FO supplementation in mice from pre-pregnancy through lactation, and to study the post-natal metabolic health effects in gonadal fat and liver of offspring fed high fat (HF) diet with or without FO. Female C57BL6J mice aged 4-5 weeks were fed a HF (45% fat) diet supplemented with or without FO (30 g/kg of diet) and low fat (LF; 10% fat) pre-pregnancy through lactation. After weaning, offspring (male and female) from HF or FO dams either continued the same diet (HF-HF and FO-FO) or switched to the other diet (HF-FO and FO-HF) for 13 weeks, creating four groups of treatment, and LF-LF was used as a control group. Serum, gonadal fat and liver tissue were collected at termination for metabolic analyses. Offspring of both sexes fed HF with or without fish oil gained (p < 0.05) more weight post weaning, compared to LF-LF-fed mice. All the female offspring groups supplemented with FO had reduced body weight compared to the respective male groups. Further, FO-FO supplementation in both sexes (p < 0.05) improved glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity compared to HF-HF. All FO-FO fed mice had significantly reduced adipocyte size compared to HF-HF group in both male and females. Inflammation, measured by mRNA levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (Mcp1), was reduced (p < 0.05) with FO supplementation in both sexes in gonadal fat and in the liver. Markers of fatty acid synthesis, fatty acid synthase (Fasn) showed no sex specific differences in gonadal fat and liver of mice supplemented with HF. Female mice had lower liver triglycerides than male counterparts. Supplementation of FO in mice improved metabolic health of offspring by lowering markers of lipid synthesis and inflammation.

Curcumin supplementation improves biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in conditions of obesity, type 2 diabetes and NAFLD: updating the status of clinical evidence.

Oxidative stress and inflammation remain the major complications implicated in the development and progression of metabolic complications, including obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In fact, due to their abundant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there is a general interest in understanding the therapeutic effects of some major food-derived bioactive compounds like curcumin against diverse metabolic diseases. Hence, a systematic search, through prominent online databases such as MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar was done focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the impact of curcumin supplementation in individuals with diverse metabolic complications, including obesity, T2D and NAFLD. Summarized findings suggest that curcumin supplementation can significantly reduce blood glucose and triglycerides levels, including markers of liver function like alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in patients with T2D and NAFLD. Importantly, this effect was consistent with the reduction of predominant markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, such as the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in these patients. Although RCTs suggest that curcumin is beneficial in ameliorating some metabolic complications, future research is still necessary to enhance its absorption and bioavailability profile, while also optimizing the most effective therapeutic doses.

Beneficial Effects of High Intensity Interval Training and/or Linseed Oil Supplementation to Limit Obesity-Induced Oxidative Stress in High Fat Diet-Fed Rats.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and linseed oil (LO) supplementation are effective strategies to reduce obesity-induced oxidative stress. Our aim was to determine whether the HIIT + LO combination prevents obesity-induced oxidative stress in high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. HFD-fed 8-week-old, male, Wistar rats were subdivided in four groups: HFD, LO (2% of sunflower oil replaced with 2% of LO in the HFD), HIIT (4 days/week for 12 weeks), and HIIT + LO. Wistar rats fed a low-fat diet (LFD) were used as controls. Epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and plasma samples were collected to measure oxidative stress markers (AOPP, oxLDL), antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GPx activities) and pro-oxidant (NOx and XO) enzyme activities. Compared with the LFD, the HFD altered the pro/antioxidant status in different tissues (increase of AOPP, oxLDL, SOD and catalase activities in plasma, and SOD activity increase in liver and decrease in adipose tissues) but not in gastrocnemius. LO upregulated CAT activity and decreased NOx in liver. HIIT alleviated HFD negative effects in liver by reducing SOD and NOx activities. Moreover, the HIIT + LO combination potentiated SOD activity upregulation in subcutaneous tissue. HIIT and LO supplementation have independent beneficial effects on the pro/antioxidant balance. Their association promotes SOD activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Inflammatory Markers' Levels in Obese Patients.

In view of research suggesting a possible beneficial impact of vitamin D on systemic inflammatory response, the authors decided to investigate an influence of vitamin D supplementation on serum levels of certain inflammatory markers in obese patients. The current study included such biomarkers as interleukin-6 (IL-6), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), C-X3-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 1 (CX3CL1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and nitric oxide (NO). The measurements were performed with the ELISA method before and after 3-month-long supplementation of 2000 IU of vitamin D orally. The results showed that the therapy did not induce any statistically significant changes in serum levels of MCP-1, IL-6, CX3CL1, and PACAP. The supplementation was related to a significant increase in measurements of NO and AOPP levels, although the correlation analysis between vitamin D concentration after its supplementation and the concentration of the molecular parameters did not show significant relation. In conclusion, our study seems to contradict certain aspects of findings available in the literature regarding the vitamin D's impact.

Effect of Acupuncture on Simple Obesity and Serum Levels of Prostaglandin E and Leptin in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

AIM: The study is aimed at investigating the curative effect of acupuncture on simple obesity and its influence on serum levels of prostaglandin E and leptin in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. METHODS: In the study, there are 50 male SD rats. We took 10 as healthy controls and fed 40 with a diet of high fat for 8 weeks. After the 40 rat model was established successfully, we fed 10 rats in the model group with a normal diet and treated 10 rats in the acupuncture group by acupuncture. During the experiment, the body fat and body length of rats were measured weekly, and Lee's index was calculated. After the treatment, the levels of leptin, prostaglandin E, C-reactive protein (CRP), triacylglycerol (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were detected, and the liver fat morphology was observed by electron microscope. RESULTS: Acupuncture significantly downregulated the serum levels of CRP, TG, CHO, LDL, leptin, and prostaglandin E and upregulated the serum levels of HDL in rats with simple obesity. CONCLUSION: On basis of these results, it was found that acupuncture could boost fat metabolism and weight loss by inhibiting the production of leptin and prostaglandin E.

The Assessment of Some Metabolic Markers by Combination of Ursolic Acid Supplementation and Resistance Training in Young Older Obese Women.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we explored the impacts of moderate-to-high intensity resistance circuit training (MHRCT) and Ursolic acid (UA) supplementation to improve these pathological changes in young older obese women (women between the ages of 50 and 70). METHODS: The study included twenty-five young older women (age > 50 years and ≤70 years) with stage I-II obesity (BMI ≥ 30 and <40 kg/m2), who received eight weeks placebo with MHRCT, and MHRCT with UA supplementation. UA or placebo orally was ingested as a capsule three times per day for eight weeks. The following parameters were evaluated post- and pre-intervention. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures. RESULTS: Interleukin-15 (IL-15), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Insulin, and HOMA-IR decreased significantly in the placebo and UA groups versus control, but the UA group significantly decreased compared with the placebo (p<0.05). In turn, the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Irisin levels showed a significant increase in the placebo and UA groups versus control. However, the BDNF in the UA group significantly increased compared with the placebo (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that applying resistance training can reverse the pathological changes that may occur with aging and a sedentary lifestyle. Our results showed that UA could enhance the effects of this type of exercise. Therefore, a combination of the resistance training program and UA supplementation may be considered as a novel and influential intervention to metabolic derangements and may also decrease the burden associated with this condition.

Kale supplementation during high fat feeding improves metabolic health in a mouse model of obesity and insulin resistance.

Cruciferous vegetables have been widely studied for cancer prevention and cardiovascular health. Broccoli is the cruciferous vegetable whose phytochemistry and physiological effects have been most extensively studied. Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) appears on lists of 'healthiest, nutrient dense foods' but, there is paucity of data on kale as a functional food. In a 12-week study, we tested the effect of curly green kale on high fat diet (HFD) induced obesity and insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, endotoxemia and inflammation in C57BL/6J mice fed isocaloric diets. Kale supplementation did not attenuate HFD diet induced fat accumulation and insulin resistance (P = ns; n = 9) but, it lowered serum triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LPL) cholesterol and prevented HFD induced increases in systemic endotoxemia and inflammation (serum LPS and Ccl2) (P<0.01; n = 9). In adipose tissue, kale enhanced the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis (P<0.01; n = 9), reduced the appearance of histologic markers of inflammation, downregulated both the gene expression and protein expression of the adipose tissue specific inflammation markers CD11c and F4/80 (P<0.001; n = 9) and reduced the gene expression of a battery of chemokine C-C motif ligands (Ccl2, Ccl6, Ccl7, Ccl8, Ccl9) and chemokine C-C motif receptors (Ccr2, Ccr3, Ccr5). We conclude that kale vegetable protects against HFD diet induced dysfunction through mechanisms involving lipid metabolism, endotoxemia and inflammation.

Effects of 60-Day Saccharomyces boulardii and Superoxide Dismutase Supplementation on Body Composition, Hunger Sensation, Pro/Antioxidant Ratio, Inflammation and Hormonal Lipo-Metabolic Biomarkers in Obese Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

In animals it has been demonstrated that Saccharomyces boulardii and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) decrease low-grade inflammation and that S. boulardii can also decrease adiposity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 60-day S. boulardii and SOD supplementation on circulating markers of inflammation, body composition, hunger sensation, pro/antioxidant ratio, hormonal, lipid profile, glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR, in obese adults (BMI 30-35 kg/m2). Twenty-five obese adults were randomly assigned to intervention (8/4 women/men, 57 ± 8 years) or Placebo (9/4 women/men, 50 ± 9 years). Intervention group showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease of body weight, BMI, fat mass, insulin, HOMA Index and uric acid. Patients in intervention and control groups showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of GLP-1. Intervention group showed an increase (p < 0.05) of Vitamin D as well. In conclusion, the 60-day S. boulardii-SOD supplementation in obese subjects determined a significant weight loss with consequent decrease on fat mass, with preservation of fat free mass. The decrease of HOMA index and uric acid, produced additional benefits in obesity management. The observed increase in vitamin D levels in treated group requires further investigation.

Hepcidin and Iron Deficiency in Women One Year after Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Iron deficiency with or without anemia, needing continuous iron supplementation, is very common in obese patients, particularly those requiring bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to address the impact of weight loss on the rescue of iron balance in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG), a procedure that preserves the duodenum, the main site of iron absorption. The cohort included 88 obese women; sampling of blood and duodenal biopsies of 35 patients were performed before and one year after SG. An analysis of the 35 patients consisted in evaluating iron homeostasis including hepcidin, markers of erythroid iron deficiency (soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (PPIX)), expression of duodenal iron transporters (DMT1 and ferroportin) and inflammatory markers. After surgery, sTfR and PPIX were decreased. Serum hepcidin levels were increased despite the significant reduction in inflammation. DMT1 abundance was negatively correlated with higher level of serum hepcidin. Ferroportin abundance was not modified. This study shed a new light in effective iron recovery pathways after SG involving suppression of inflammation, improvement of iron absorption, iron supply and efficiency of erythropoiesis, and finally beneficial control of iron homeostasis by hepcidin. Thus, recommendations for iron supplementation of patients after SG should take into account these new parameters of iron status assessment.

Reversal of Insulin Resistance in Overweight and Obese Subjects by trans-Resveratrol and Hesperetin Combination-Link to Dysglycemia, Blood Pressure, Dyslipidemia, and Low-Grade Inflammation.

The dietary supplement, trans-resveratrol and hesperetin combination (tRES-HESP), induces expression of glyoxalase 1, countering the accumulation of reactive dicarbonyl glycating agent, methylglyoxal (MG), in overweight and obese subjects. tRES-HESP produced reversal of insulin resistance, improving dysglycemia and low-grade inflammation in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Herein, we report further analysis of study variables. MG metabolism-related variables correlated with BMI, dysglycemia, vascular inflammation, blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. With tRES-HESP treatment, plasma MG correlated negatively with endothelial independent arterial dilatation (r = -0.48, p < 0.05) and negatively with peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) quinone reductase activity (r = -0.68, p < 0.05)-a marker of the activation status of transcription factor Nrf2. For change from baseline of PBMC gene expression with tRES-HESP treatment, Glo1 expression correlated negatively with change in the oral glucose tolerance test area-under-the-curve plasma glucose (ΔAUGg) (r = -0.56, p < 0.05) and thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) correlated positively with ΔAUGg (r = 0.59, p < 0.05). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) correlated positively with change in fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.70, p < 0.001) and negatively with change in insulin sensitivity (r = -0.68, p < 0.01). These correlations were not present with placebo. tRES-HESP decreased low-grade inflammation, characterized by decreased expression of CCL2, COX-2, IL-8, and RAGE. Changes in CCL2, IL-8, and RAGE were intercorrelated and all correlated positively with changes in MLXIP, MAFF, MAFG, NCF1, and FTH1, and negatively with changes in HMOX1 and TKT; changes in IL-8 also correlated positively with change in COX-2. Total urinary excretion of tRES and HESP metabolites were strongly correlated. These findings suggest tRES-HESP counters MG accumulation and protein glycation, decreasing activation of the unfolded protein response and expression of TXNIP and TNFα, producing reversal of insulin resistance. tRES-HESP is suitable for further evaluation for treatment of insulin resistance and related disorders.

Low-molecular alginate improved diet-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome through modulating the gut microbiota in BALB/c mice.

Alginate is the most abundant polysaccharide in brown seaweed, which is widely used as a food additive, but its high viscosity and gel property limit its applications in foods as a functional ingredient. In this study, low-molecular alginate from Laminaria japonica (L-LJA) was prepared, and its effect on obesity and metabolic syndrome was analyzed in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. L-LJA reduced weight gain, fat accumulation in the liver and epididymal adipose tissue, lipid abnormality and inflammation in HFD-fed mice accompanied with the improvement of gut microbiota. L-LJA modulated the structure of gut microbiota, increased some Bacteroidales members, and reduced some Clostridiales members in mice, which were positively correlated with the improvement of physiological status. Fecal transplant from L-LJA-fed mice reduced fat accumulation in body tissues and lipid abnormality in the serum and liver and increased short chain fatty acids production in HFD-fed mice, confirming that L-LJA-induced gut microbiota alteration played an important role in its bioactivity. L-LJA has better solubility and can be utilized in food systems in high dose, implying that it can be developed as a prebiotic agent to increase both economic value and nutritive value of alginate.

Effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on the eicosanoid profile in individuals with obesity and overweight: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present beneficial effects on counteracting inflammation status, displaying a critical anti-inflammatory role and maintaining physiological homeostasis in obesity. The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of n-3 PUFAs intake on the eicosanoid profile of people with obesity and overweight. The search strategy on Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and ProQuest was undertaken until November 2019 and updated January 2021. The effect size of n-3 PUFAs on prostaglandins was estimated by Glass's, type 1 in a random-effect model for the meta-analysis. Seven clinical trials met the eligible criteria and a total of 610 subjects were included in this systematic review, and four of seven studies were included in meta-analysis. The intake of n-3 PUFAs promoted an overall reduction in serum pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Additionally, n-3 PUFAs intake significantly decreased the arachidonic acid COX-derived PG eicosanoid group levels (Glass's Δ -0⋅35; CI -0⋅62, -0⋅07, I 2 31⋅48). Subgroup analyses showed a higher effect on periods up to 8 weeks (Glass's Δ -0⋅51; CI -0⋅76, -0⋅27) and doses higher than 0⋅5 g of n-3 PUFAs (Glass's Δ -0⋅46; CI -0⋅72, -0⋅27). Dietary n-3 PUFAs intake contributes to reduce pro-inflammatory eicosanoids of people with obesity and overweight. Subgroup's analysis showed that n-3 PUFAs can reduce the overall arachidonic acid COX-derived PG when adequate dose and period are matched.

Factors determining the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D response to vitamin D supplementation: Data mining approach.

Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to prevent vitamin D deficiency, but various factors can affect the response to supplementation. Data mining is a statistical method for pulling out information from large databases. We aimed to evaluate the factors influencing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in response to supplementation of vitamin D using a random forest (RF) model. Data were extracted from the survey of ultraviolet intake by nutritional approach study. Vitamin D levels were measured at baseline and at the end of study to evaluate the responsiveness. We examined the relationship between 76 potential influencing factors on vitamin D response using RF. We found several features that were highly correlated to the serum vitamin D response to supplementation by RF including anthropometric factors (body mass index [BMI], free fat mass [FFM], fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]), liver function tests (serum gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], total bilirubin, total protein), hematological parameters (mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC], hematocrit), and measurement of insulin sensitivity (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance). BMI, total bilirubin, FFM, and GGT were found to have a positive relationship and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, MCV, MCHC, fat percentage, total protein, and WHR were found to have a negative correlation to vitamin D concentration in response to supplementation. The accuracy of RF in predicting the response was 93% compared to logistic regression, for which the accuracy was 40%, in the evaluation of the correlation of the components of the data set to serum vitamin D.

Taurine supplementation in conjunction with exercise modulated cytokines and improved subcutaneous white adipose tissue plasticity in obese women.

Interventions that can modulate subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) function, such as exercise training and nutritional components, like taurine, modulate the inflammatory process, therefore, may represent strategies for obesity treatment. We investigated the effects of taurine supplementation in conjunction with exercise on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in plasma and scWAT of obese women. Sixteen obese women were randomized into two groups: Taurine supplementation group (Tau, n = 8) and Taurine supplementation + exercise group (Tau + Exe, n = 8). The intervention was composed of daily taurine supplementation (3 g) and exercise training for 8 weeks. Anthropometry, body fat composition, and markers of inflammatory and oxidative stress were determined in plasma and scWAT biopsy samples before and after the intervention. We found that, although taurine supplementation increased taurine plasma levels, no changes were observed for the anthropometric characteristics. However, Tau alone decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6), and in conjunction with exercise (Tau + Exe), increased anti-inflammatory interleukins (IL-15 and IL10), followed by reduced IL1ß gene expression in the scWAT of obese women. Tau and Tau + Exe groups presented reduced adipocyte size and increased connective tissue and multilocular droplets. In conclusion, taurine supplementation in conjunction with exercise modulated levels of inflammatory markers in plasma and scWAT, and improved scWAT plasticity in obese women, promoting protection against obesity-induced inflammation. TRN NCT04279600 retrospectively registered on August 18, 2019.