Partially defatted rather than native poppy seeds beneficially alter lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet.

Partially defatted poppy seeds, a by-product of poppy oil cold pressing, could be an interesting dietary supplement for obesity management. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dietary supplementation with a small amount of native or partially defatted poppy seeds on gastrointestinal function and lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet. The defatted poppy seeds had, among others, lower fat content and higher fibre and protein content than native poppy seeds. The rats fed with a high-fat diet were characterised by severe metabolic disorders, especially in the liver, and poppy seeds were unable to prevent them. However, depending on the seed form, dietary supplementation with poppy seeds differentially affected the microbial and endogenous lipid metabolism in rats. In the distal intestine, both dietary seed forms stimulated microbial acetate production, and the supplementation with partially defatted poppy seeds additionally inhibited isobutyrate and isovalerate formation, which indicates a reduction in putrefaction. Both dietary seed forms increased cholesterol accumulation in the liver. Only dietary supplementation with partially defatted poppy seeds attenuated visceral fat and hepatic triglyceride accumulations and lowered blood triglyceride concentrations, and at the transcriptional level, the inhibition of SREBP-1c, which upregulates genes responsible for de novo lipogenesis, was additionally observed in this organ. In conclusion, a low and regular consumption of partially defatted poppy seeds may be beneficial in managing obesity-related disorders.

Asteraceae Seeds as Alternative Ingredients in a Fibre-Rich Diet: Protein Quality and Metabolic Effects in Rats.

We verified whether milk thistle seeds and pot marigold seeds provided valuable components for a fibre-rich diet and how their addition affected body composition, nitrogen balance and lipid metabolism in rats. Growing rats were fed a control diet (5% fibre) or three fibre-rich diets (24% fibre), which contained cellulose as the sole source of fibre (24%; positive control), milk thistle seeds (32%) or pot marigold seeds (39%). All diets were balanced in macronutrients, including total protein content (9%), which was half of the amount recommended for rats to maximise protein absorption and utilisation, and the ratio of plant protein to animal protein (approx. 1:1). After 4 weeks, dietary pot marigold seeds reduced body weight gain, which translated into lower gains of body fat and lean mass in rats (all at p ≤ 0.05). Protein digestibility differed among individual fibre-rich diets (p ≤ 0.05), with the lowest result having been recorded for dietary pot marigold seeds (73%), followed by dietary milk thistle seeds (78%), and the highest result having been recorded for dietary soybean protein isolate (control protein source, 89%). Nitrogen retention was higher with dietary soybean protein isolate (53%) and dietary milk thistle seeds (47%) than with dietary pot marigold seeds (38%) (p ≤ 0.05). In the caecal digesta, the concentrations of the major short-chain fatty acids were almost or >2-fold higher after dietary milk thistle seeds and pot marigold seeds than after the positive control diet (all at p ≤ 0.05). Dietary pot marigold seeds enlarged the liver and increased the plasma activities of liver enzymes but reduced hepatic lipid contents (all at p ≤ 0.05). Certain Asteraceae seeds provide components of varied nutritional quality, with milk thistle seeds being a relatively good source of protein and both types of seeds being a source of fermentable fibre. Pot marigold seeds have potential anti-obesogenic effects, but with the risk of damaging internal organs.

Reduced sodium absorption in the colon under serotonin is a potential factor aggravating secretory diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Serotonin is a substance with a propulsive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It stimulates the intestinal secretion of water and electrolytes, and plays an important role in the pathophysiology of secretory diarrhea. However, the influence of serotonin on intestinal absorption is very poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the serotonin and selected antagonists of serotonin receptors, i.e., ondansetron (5-HT3) and GR113808 (5-HT4), on electrogenic sodium ion absorption in the colon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The electrophysiologic method developed by Ussing and modified with a stimulating function on the mucosal side of the isolated colon wall was used. The influence of selected serotonergic compounds on the electrogenic transport of sodium ions under stationary conditions and mechanical stimulation was investigated. For this purpose, experiments were performed on specimens of isolated rabbit colon. Amiloride and bumetanide were used as reagents directly controlling individual ion transport. The data were analyzed using tests for paired samples (paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and one-sided sign test). RESULTS: Serotonin reduced stationary and stimulated colonic sodium absorption. The 5-HT3 receptor antagonist did not influence the studied phenomenon, while 5-HT4 antagonists acted contrary to serotonin. CONCLUSIONS: Serotonin reduces both stationary and stimulated sodium ion absorption, thus playing an important role in the pathophysiology of secretory diarrhea. The described phenomenon depends on serotonin's action on 5-HT4 receptors.

Comparative Effects of Native and Defatted Flaxseeds on Intestinal Enzyme Activity and Lipid Metabolism in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet Containing Cholic Acid.

We hypothesize that defatting is an important factor that can determine the beneficial effects of flaxseeds on rats with diet-induced disorders. The experiment lasts 8 weeks and is conducted on Wistar rats allocated to four groups as follows: a control group fed with a standard diet; a high-fat (HF) group fed with a diet containing 21% fat and 0.1% cholic acid as a stimulator of lipid absorption; an HF group fed a diet supplemented with 1% native flaxseeds; and an HF group fed a diet supplemented with 1% defatted flaxseeds. In the HF group, several unfavourable changes in the gut and lipid metabolism are observed. Supplementation of the HF diet with native flaxseeds prevent an increase in colonic ß-glucuronidase activity, whereas dietary defatted flaxseeds increase mucosal disaccharidase activities in the small intestine (sucrose, maltase and lactase). Regardless of the form of supplementation, dietary flaxseeds increase bacterial glycolytic activity in the distal intestine and decrease hepatic fat, especially triglyceride, accumulation. Both flaxseed forms decrease lipid peroxidation in the kidneys and increase the blood HDL cholesterol concentration with the native form being more efficient in the former and the defatted form being more efficient in the latter. The lipid-modulating effects of defatted flaxseeds are associated with reduced hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, which is not the case in terms of native flaxseeds. Dietary supplementation with a relatively small amount of flaxseeds can exert beneficial effects on gut functions and lipid metabolism in rats, and these effects are affected by defatting to some extent.

Serrated polyps detected during screening colonoscopies.

AIM OF THE STUDY: It is estimated that between 15% and 35% of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) developing from adenomas come from serrated polyps. Currently, the most effective method used to prevent CRC is the removal of adenomas, including serrated polyps, during colonoscopy. The aim of this paper is to analyze the changes characterized as serrated polyps and detected during screening colonoscopies performed as part of the Screening Program for Early Colorectal Cancer Detection (SPED). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In our center, as part of the nationwide SPED between 2000 and 2009, 1,442 screening colonoscopies were performed. RESULTS: Serrated polyps were found in 11.9% of all patients and in 45.8% of patients who had polyps removed by endoscopy. In screening colonoscopy of the large intestine, the following polyps were found most frequently: hyperplastic, < 1 cm, without a stalk, multiple, located in the distal part of the large intestine, in men and in patients with a first-degree relative with a history of abdominal cancer. Detecting and removing polyps was facilitated by the fact that the cecum was intubated and the bowel preparation had been performed either very well or well. The detection rate of serrated polyps was not influenced by patients' place of residence or their age. CONCLUSIONS: Serrated polyps constitute a frequent, and very frequent among removed polyps, abnormality detected during screening colonoscopy.