The Health and Nutritional Status of Children (10-18 years) Belonging to Food Insecure Households: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012-2019).

To research the health and nutritional status in Korean children and adolescents belonging to food insecure households (FI), the preregistered secondary data of 18 items from the Food Security Evaluation in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES; 2012-2019) were used. Comparative analyses (food security group [FS], (n = 3150) vs. FI, (n = 405) of household characteristics, health status (anthropometrics, clinics, mentality), and nutritional status (nutrient intake, diet-quality, and pattern) were performed in children (boys: 1871, girls: 1684) aged 10-18 years. The FI comprised higher proportions of participants from low-income families, basic livelihood-security recipients, and vulnerability (characteristics: female household heads, aged ≥50, single, unemployed, with low education and unmet healthcare needs). Compared to FS, boys had higher abdominal obesity and alcohol use, whereas girls had lower high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) and mental vulnerability (self-perceived obesity despite FS-similar anthropometry) in FI. Inadequate protein intake among boys and girls, and high carbohydrate and inadequate fat intake among girls were especially found in the FI status. From the results of a nutrition quality test, Vit-A in boys, and protein, niacin, and iron intakes in girls were insufficient, respectively. Health-nutritional policies to improve children's lifestyles should reinforce FI-based intake of deficient nutrients.

The association between dietary sodium intake and obesity in adults by sodium intake assessment methods: a review of systematic reviews and re-meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The scientific evidence of a sodium-obesity association is limited by sodium intake assessments. Our specific aim is to synthesize the association between dietary sodium intake and obesity across the sodium intake assessments as evidenced by systematic reviews in adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A systematic search identified systematic reviews comparing the association of dietary sodium intakes with obesity-related outcomes such as body mass index (BMI), body weight, waist circumference, and risk of (abdominal) obesity. We searched PubMed on October 24, 2022. To assess the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), we employed the ROBIS tool. RESULTS: This review included 3 systematic reviews, consisting of 39 unique observational studies (35 cross-sectional studies and 4 longitudinal studies) and 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We found consistently positive associations between dietary sodium intake and obesity-related outcomes in cross-sectional studies. Studies that used 24-h urine collection indicated a greater BMI for those with higher sodium intake (mean difference = 2.27 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-2.51; P < 0.001; I2 = 77%) compared to studies that used spot urine (mean difference = 1.34 kg/m2; 95% CI, 1.13-1.55; P < 0.001; I2 = 95%) and dietary methods (mean difference = 0.85 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.1-1.51; P < 0.05; I2 = 95%). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative synthesis of the systematic reviews has shown that cross-sectional associations between dietary sodium intake and obesity outcomes were substantially different across the sodium intake assessments. We need more high-quality prospective cohort studies and RCTs using 24-h urine collection to examine the causal effects of sodium intake on obesity.

Minor alleles in the FTO SNPs contributed to the increased risk of obesity among Korean adults: meta-analysis from nationwide big data-based studies.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Many studies have revealed an association between fat mass and the obesity-related gene (FTO) and obesity. On the other hand, no meta-analysis was conducted with data from only Koreans. Therefore, this study performed a meta-analysis using Korean data to provide evidence for the association between FTO single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of obesity among Korean adults. SUBJECT/METHODS: Meta-analysis was finally conducted with data extracted from seven datasets of four studies performed on Korean adults after the screening passed. Five kinds of FTO SNPs (rs9939609, rs7193144, rs9940128, rs8050136, and rs9926289) were included, and the relationship between FTO SNPs and body mass index (BMI) was investigated using linear regression with an additive model adjusted for covariants, such as age, sex, and area. RESULTS: The minor alleles of FTO SNPs were associated with increased BMI (odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.42). In sub-group analysis, FTO rs9939609 T>A was significantly associated with BMI (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.06-1.42). The other FTO SNPs together were significantly associated with BMI (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25-1.49). The publication bias was not observed based on Egger's test. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that minor alleles in the FTO SNPs were significantly associated with an increased BMI among Korean adults. This meta-analysis is the first to demonstrate that minor alleles in the FTO SNPs contribute significantly to the increased risk of obesity among Korean adults using data from a Korean population.

Effect of isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Complementary and alternative medicines can be used to alleviate climacteric symptoms that significantly affect the quality of life of postmenopausal women. Isoflavones are the most common plant-based therapies for postmenopausal changes, but the results of previous studies have been controversial. MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate whether isoflavones would affect menopausal symptoms as well as ovarian hormones, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were used to perform the systematic search. Included studies were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of isoflavone supplementation on menopausal symptoms. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included for the final quantitative assessment. Isoflavone intervention was varied between 49.3 and 135 mg of isoflavones per day for 12 wk-2 yrs. The meta-analysis showed that supplementation of isoflavones significantly increased the estradiol levels (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.615, P = 0.035) and Kupperman index (SMD = 3.121, P = 0.003) but had no significant effect on hot flashes, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. However, both estradiol and the Kupperman index showed significant heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 94.7%, P < 0.001 and I2 = 98.1%, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although the results showed a significant SMD in estradiol and the Kupperman index, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the high heterogeneity. Further validation with a larger RCT will be necessary. Overall, isoflavone supplementation has distinct effects on the climacteric symptoms and hormonal changes in postmenopausal women.

RMR-Related DNAJC6 Expression Suppresses Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Cells.

Obesity causes various complications such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. In a pilot GWAS study, we screened the DNAJC6 gene which is significantly related to the resting metabolic rate (RMR) in childhood obesity. With DNAJC6-overexpressed 3T3-L1 cells (TgHsp), we investigated the new obesity mechanism caused by an energy imbalance. After differentiation, lipid droplets (Oil red O staining) were not formed in TgHsp cells compared to the control. TgHsp preadipocyte fibroblast morphology was also not clearly observed in the cell morphology assay (DAPI/BODIPY). In TgHsp cells, the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and aP2 (adipogenesis-related biomarkers) decreased 3-, 39-, and 200-fold, respectively. The expression of the adipokines leptin and adiponectin from adipose tissues also decreased 2.4- and 840-fold, respectively. In addition, the levels of pHSL(Ser563) and free glycerol, which are involved in lipolysis, were significantly lower in TgHsp cells than in the control. The reduction in insulin receptor expression in TgHsp cells suppressed insulin signaling systems such as AKT phosphorylation, and GLUT4 expression. Degradation of IRS-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was caused by chronic exposure to insulin, but not TgHsp. Mitochondrial functions such as oxygen consumption and ATP production, as well as proton leak and UCP1 protein expression, decreased in TgHsp cells compared to the control. Moreover, autophagy was observed by increasing autophagosomal proteins, LC3, on Day 8 of differentiation in TgHsp cells. Through our first report on the DNAJC6 gene related to RMR, we found a new mechanism related to energy metabolism in obesity. DNAJC6 expression positively suppressed adipogenesis, leading to the subsequent resistance of lipolysis, adipokine expression, insulin signaling, and mitochondrial functions.

MEK6 Overexpression Exacerbates Fat Accumulation and Inflammatory Cytokines in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity.

Obesity is a state of abnormal fat accumulation caused by an energy imbalance potentially caused by changes in multiple factors. MEK6 engages in cell growth, such as inflammation and apoptosis, as one of the MAPK signaling pathways. The MEK6 gene was found to be related to RMR, a gene associated with obesity. Because only a few studies have investigated the correlation between MEK6 and obesity or the relevant mechanisms, we conducted an experiment using a TgMEK6 model with MEK6 overexpression with non-Tg and chow diet as the control to determine changes in lipid metabolism in plasma, liver, and adipose tissue after a 15-week high-fat diet (HFD). MEK6 overexpression in the TgMEK6 model significantly increased body weight and plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. p38 activity declined in the liver and adipose tissues and lowered lipolysis, oxidation, and thermogenesis levels, contributing to decreased energy consumption. In the liver, lipid formation and accumulation increased, and in adipose, adipogenesis and hypertrophy increased. The adiponectin/leptin ratio significantly declined in plasma and adipose tissue of the TgMEK6 group following MEK6 expression and the HFD, indicating the role of MEK6 expression in adipokine regulation. Plasma and bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) of the TgMEK6 group increased MEK6 expression-dependent secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines but decreased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, further exacerbating the results exhibited by the diet-induced obesity group. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the synergistic effect of MEK6 with HFD in fat accumulation by significantly inhibiting the mechanisms of lipolysis in the adipose and M2 associated cytokines secretion in the BMDM.

Effects of Anthocyanin Supplementation on Reduction of Obesity Criteria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Anthocyanins, water-soluble flavonoids that produce red-to-blue pigment in plants, have antioxidant properties and have been developed as a functional food to fight obesity. In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), a systematic review with meta-analysis (SR-MA) was used to investigate these anti-obesity effects. Using search engines (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane-library, and CINAHL) and keywords (anthocyanins, BMI, WC, WHR, and inflammatory biomarkers), 11 out of 642 RCTs (28.3-500 mg/day of anthocyanins for 4 to 24 weeks) were included. The results showed a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) (MD = -0.36, 95% CI = -0.58 to -0.13), but body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC) did not change. Anthocyanins decreased BMI in the non-obese (non-OB) group in five RCTs (BMI ≤ 25; MD = -0.40 kg/m2; 95% CI = -0.64 to -0.16;) but did not affect BMI in the obese (OB) group. A subgroup analysis of six RCTs showed that fewer than 300 mg/day reduced BMI (MD = -0.37; 95% CI = -0.06 to -0.14), but ≥300 mg/day did not. A treatment duration of four weeks for four RCTs was sufficient to decrease the BMI (MD = -0.41; 95% CI = -0.66 to -0.16) as opposed to a longer treatment (6-8 or ≥12 weeks). An analysis of the effect of anthocyanins on the BMI showed a significant fall among those from the Middle East compared to those from Asia, Europe, South America, or Oceania. In conclusion, the anthocyanin supplementation of 300 mg/day or less for four weeks was sufficient to reduce the BMI and BW compared to the higher-dose and longer-treatment RCTs. However, further studies might be conducted regarding the dose- or period-dependent responses on various obese biomarkers.

Beiging Modulates Inflammatory Adipogenesis in Salt-Treated and MEK6-Transfected Adipocytes.

To investigate whether the beiging process changes the interactive effects of salt and MEK6 gene on inflammatory adipogenesis, the salt treatment (NaCl 50 mM) and MEK6 transfection of Tg(+/+) cells were performed with white adipocytes (WAT) and beige-like-adipocytes (BLA). BLA induced by T3 were confirmed by UCP-1 expression and the MEK6 protein was 3.5 times higher in MEK6 transfected WAT than the control. The adipogenic genes, PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α, were 1.5 times more highly expressed in the salt-treated groups than the non-salt-treated groups, and adipogenesis was greatly increased in Tg(+/+) WAT compared to non-transfected Tg(-/-). The adipogenesis induced by salt treatment and MEK6 transfection was significantly reduced in BLA. The inflammatory adipocytokines, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, were increased in the salt-treated Tg(+/+) WAT, but an anti-inflammation biomarker, the adiponectin/leptin ratio, was reduced in Tg(+/+), to tenth of that in Tg(-/-). However, the production of adipocytokines in WAT was strongly weakened in BLA, although a combination of salt and MEK6 transfection had the most significant effects on inflammation in both WAT and BLA. Oxygen consumption in mitochondria was maximized in salt-treated and MEK6 transfected WAT, but it was decreased by 50% in BLA. In conclusion, beiging controls the synergistic effects of salt and MEK6 on adipogenesis, inflammation, and energy expenditure.

Peanut sprout rich in p-coumaric acid ameliorates obesity and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and the inhibition of browning in adipocytes via mitochondrial activation.

Obesity is accompanied by adipose tissue inflammation that subsequently reduces thermogenic potential in brown and beige (brown-like) adipocytes. We previously reported that peanut sprout (PS) inhibited triglyceride accumulation via fatty acid oxidation in adipocytes. However, it is unknown whether PS reverses diet-induced obesity/inflammation and protects against the inflammation-induced inhibition of browning. To investigate this, C57BL/6 male mice, as an in vivo model, were randomly assigned to three different diets and fed for 8 weeks: (i) low-fat diet (LF, 11% kcal from fat), (ii) high-fat diet (HF, 61% kcal from fat), or (iii) HF diet with PS (4% PS in diet, HF + PS). As an in vitro model, lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced macrophages and 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the absence (white adipocytes) or presence of dibutyryl-cAMP (Bt-cAMP, beige adipocytes) were used. The supplementation of PS improved HF-diet-mediated body weight gain, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia as compared to the HF group. Although there was a marginal impact on visceral hypertrophy, PS reversed the adipocyte inflammation. In parallel, LPS-mediated induction of inflammation was impeded by PS extract (PSE) in macrophages and adipocytes. PSE also protected against LPS-induced suppression of adipocyte browning in Bt-cAMP-treated adipocytes with mitochondrial activation. The phenolic acid analysis showed that among the constituent of PSE, p-coumaric acid (PCA) was identified as a polyphenol that showed a similar effect to PSE. PCA treatment was also able to maintain a higher temperature than the control group upon cold exposure. Taken together, PCA-enriched PS attenuated HF-diet-induced obesity and protected against LPS-induced inflammation and the inhibition of browning via mitochondrial activation.

RMR-Related MAP2K6 Gene Variation on the Risk of Overweight/Obesity in Children: A 3-Year Panel Study.

From a pilot GWAS, seven MAP2K6 (MEK6) SNPs were significantly associated with resting metabolic rate (RMR) in obese children aged 8-9 years. The aim of this study was to investigate how RMR-linked MEK6 variation affected obesity in Korean children. With the follow-up students (77.9%) in the 3-year panel study, the changes of the variables associated with obesity (such as anthropometrics, blood biochemistry, and dietary intake) were collected. After the MEK6 SNPs were screened by Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP array 6.0, the genotyping of the seven MEK6 SNPs was performed via SNaPshot assay. As the prevalence of obesity (≥85th percentile) increased from 19.4% to 25.5%, the rates of change of the variables RMR, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and dietary intake (energy and carbohydrate intakes) increased. The rate of overweight/obesity was higher in all mutant alleles of the seven MEK6 SNPs than it was in the matched children without mutant alleles. However, over the 3-year study period, RMRs were only significantly increased by the mutants of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs996229 and rs756942, mainly related to male overweight/obesity as both WC and SBP levels increased. In the mutants of two of the SNPs, the odds ratio of overweight/obesity risk was six times higher in the highest tercile of fat intake and SBP than those of the lowest tercile. For personalized medicine to prevent pediatric obesity, SBP, WC, and dietary fat intake should be observed, particularly if boys have mutants of MEK6 SNPs, rs9916229, or rs756942.

The Effects of C3G and D3G Anthocyanin-Rich Black Soybean on Energy Metabolism in Beige-like Adipocytes.

Various mechanisms of obesity prevention have been identified; however, the roles of brown or beige fat as regulators of the energy balance are unclear. The effects of anthocyanin-rich black soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., testa (ABS) extracts on the energy balance were investigated by comparing beige-like adipocytes (BLA) and white adipocytes (WAT). ABS extracts reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma protein expression and triglyceride accumulation in WAT and BLA without inducing nuclear damage. The biomarkers of fat degradation (phospho-AMPKα and ATGL) or glycerol secretion in the medium and ß-oxidation of fatty acids (CPT2) in the ABS-treated BLA were increased compared to those in WAT. ABS extracts significantly increased the expression of thermogenesis markers (UCP1 and CIDEA) and biomarkers related to mitochondrial activation (cytochrome c and NRF1) in BLA. In the primary cell culture of brown adipocytes (BAT) from rats fed ABS, the expression levels of PGC1-α, cytochrome c, and UCP1 proteins were increased compared to those in BAT from nonfed rats. A reduction in the NAD/NADH ratio was consistently associated with an increase in the oxygen consumption rate and basal/maximal respiration rate in ABS-treated BLA. Anthocyanins promote beiging in the body, contribute to the prevention of obesity, and are potentially useful functional materials.

L-Carnitine's Effect on the Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was carried out to assess L-carnitine supplements' influence on the biomarkers of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and CINAHL were used to collect RCT studies published prior to February 2020. RCT studies were included if they had at least one of the following biomarker outcome measurements: waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), or high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLc). Nine of twenty studies with adequate methodological quality were included in this meta-analysis. The dose of L-carnitine supplementation administered varied between 0.75 and 3 g/day for durations of 8-24 weeks. L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced WC and systolic BP (SBP), with no significant effects on FBS, TG, and HDLc. We found that L-carnitine supplementation at a dose of more than 1 g/d significantly reduced FBS and TG and increased HDLc. In conclusion, L-carnitine supplementation is correlated with a significant reduction of WC and BP. A dose of 1-3 g/d could improve the biomarkers of MetSyn by reducing FBS and TG and increasing HDLc.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Cultured Ginseng Roots Extract in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Mouse Macrophages and Adipocytes.

Wild ginseng, Panax ginseng Meyer, is a traditional medicine widely used in Asia. Due to low reward and high costs, wild ginseng is produced by a plant cell culture technique called cultured ginseng roots (GR). The health benefits of wild ginseng have been well studied, but the potential health effects of GR are largely unknown. Thus, we investigated the role of a GR extract (GRE) on inflammatory responses. We firstly investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of GRE in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. GRE (100 µg/mL) dampened pro-inflammatory gene expression, cytokine release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. These anti-inflammatory responses by GRE were confirmed in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), which showed that GRE could inhibit inflammation with the induction of antioxidant levels. LPS was recently reported to impair mitochondrial bioenergetics in mouse macrophages. We next measured the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), determining mitochondrial function. LPS treatment downregulated OCR; however, GRE partially restored the LPS-mediated energy homeostasis defects. Furthermore, GRE-pretreated conditioned media (CM) obtained from mouse macrophages decreased CM-mediated adipocyte inflammation. Collectively, these data suggested that GRE attenuated LPS-induced inflammation, and it might be partially involved in the protection from mitochondrial dysfunction in macrophages and adipocytes.

Research trends in obesity & obesogenic environments in Korea.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Globally, it has been projected that there will be 2 billion overweight and 1 billion obese individuals by 2030. In Korea, the prevalence of adult obesity (BMI>25) increased from 29.7% in 2009 to 32.4% in 2015. Moreover, childhood obesity, which leads to adulthood obesity, has increasingly become a social problem. The purpose of this review is to summarize the scientific basis for the development of effective models and policies aimed at preventing obesity over a lifetime based on research modeling obesogenic environments. MATERIALS/METHODS: The review focuses on the characteristics of obesity prevalence and trends in 3P analysis (papers, patents, and products) as well as government-funded projects in Korean obesity obesogenic environments over the last 10 years. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: As a result of the 3P analysis, studies on obesity risk factors were frequently carried out, according to two data bases RISS (4.9%) and PubMed (24.7%). Since there were only 17% patents related to the mechanism of preventing obesity in 7,951 Korean patents related to obesity, new paradigms of technologies to dominate the global obesity markets are needed. After government-funded projects were analyzed, communication and cooperation in multi-governmental departments were suggested to elucidate the characteristics of Korean obesity. Government should also produce short- and long-term road maps to develop a practical, successful outcome. Although the rate of obesity in Korea is currently lower than in other developed countries according to WHO criteria, without adequate governmental intervention, obesity rates will approach those of the top countries with high incidence rates of obesity within the next 10 years.

Lipoprotein Lipase Inhibitor, Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid, Aggravates Metabolic Phenotypes and Alters HDL Particle Size in the Western Diet-Fed db/db Mice.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) hydrolyzes triglycerides in lipoprotein to supply fatty acids, and its deficiency leads to hypertriglyceridemia, thereby inducing metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) has been recently reported to inhibit LPL secretion by endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi redistribution. However, the role of NDGA on dyslipidemia and MetSyn remains unclear. To address this question, leptin receptor knock out (KO)-db/db mice were randomly assigned to three different groups: A normal AIN76-A diet (CON), a Western diet (WD) and a Western diet with 0.1% NDGA and an LPL inhibitor, (WD+NDGA). All mice were fed for 12 weeks. The LPL inhibition by NDGA was confirmed by measuring the systemic LPL mass and adipose LPL gene expression. We investigated whether the LPL inhibition by NDGA alters the metabolic phenotypes. NDGA led to hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia. More strikingly, the supplementation of NDGA increased the percentage of high density lipoprotein (HDL)small (HDL3a+3b+3c) and decreased the percentage of HDLlarge (HDL2a+2b) compared to the WD group, which indicates that LPL inhibition modulates HDL subclasses. was NDGA increased adipose inflammation but had no impact on hepatic stress signals. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that LPL inhibition by NDGA aggravates metabolic parameters and alters HDL particle size.

Laminaria japonica Extract Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function by Altering Inflammatory Response and Tight Junction-Related Protein in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Caco-2 Cells.

In the normal physiological state, intestinal epithelial cells act as a defensive frontline of host mucosal immunity to tolerate constant exposure to external stimuli. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory and gut permeability protective effects of Laminaria japonica (LJ) water extract (LJE) and three types of fermented Laminaria japonica water extracts (LJE-F1, LJE-F2, and LJE-F3) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Caco-2, human intestinal epithelial cells. All four extracts significantly decreased the production of nitric oxide and interleukin-6 induced by LPS stimulus. In addition, LJE and the three types of LJE-Fs also inhibited LPS-induced loss of monolayer permeability, as assessed by changes in transepithelial electrical resistance. All four LJ extracts significantly prevented the inhibition of the protein levels of occludin, whereas LJE, LJE-F1, and LJE-F3 significantly attenuated the reduction in phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase compared with the LPS-treated group in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, LJE and its fermented water extracts appear to have potential gut health-promoting effects by reducing inflammation and partially regulating the tight junction-related proteins in human intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, additional studies are warranted to evaluate Laminaria japonica as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Metabolomics Associated with Genome-Wide Association Study Related to the Basal Metabolic Rate in Overweight/Obese Korean Women.

A previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) on obese/overweight Korean women reported five new genetic loci associated with the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass index (BMI), NRG3, OR8U8, BCL2L2-PABPN1, PABPN1, and SLC22A17. This metabolite GWAS (mGWAS) aimed to identify the key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by these genes. Potential metabolic pathways associated with leanness and obesity were identified by detecting metabolites in association with GWAS. Waist circumference, lean body mass, and body fat mass were strongly associated with BMI rather than BMR. However, plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly higher in obese individuals with low BMR than in lean individuals with high BMR. Upon analyzing NRG3, BCL2L2-PABPN1, and SLC22A17, uric acid, succinic acid, arginine, uridine, and aspartic acid were the metabolites positively associated with obesity. Uric acid and arginine were both identified through general metabolomics targeting of obesity genes classified on the basis of BMI or BMR. Metabolites associated with disruption in beta-oxidation, lipid metabolism, branched-chain amino acid and aromatic amino acid catabolism, the urea cycle, and purine/pyrimidine metabolism play important roles in obesity classified on the basis of either BMI or BMR in middle-aged Korean women. These results further the current understanding of obesity and the predictability of obesity-related risks using mGWAS.

Peanut Sprout Extracts Attenuate Triglyceride Accumulation by Promoting Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Oxidation in Adipocytes.

Peanut sprouts (PS), which are germinated peanut seeds, have recently been reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. However, the underlying mechanisms by which PS modulates lipid metabolism are largely unknown. To address this question, serial doses of PS extract (PSE) were added to 3T3-L1 cells during adipocyte differentiation. PSE (25 µg/mL) significantly attenuated adipogenesis by inhibiting lipid accumulation in addition to reducing the level of adipogenic protein and gene expression with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Other adipocyte cell models such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts C3H10T1/2 and primary adipocytes also confirmed the anti-adipogenic properties of PSE. Next, we investigated whether PSE attenuated lipid accumulation in mature adipocytes. We found that PSE significantly suppressed lipogenic gene expression, while fatty acid (FA) oxidation genes were upregulated. Augmentation of FA oxidation by PSE in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes was confirmed via a radiolabeled-FA oxidation rate experiment by measuring the conversion of [³H]-oleic acid (OA) to [³H]-H2O. Furthermore, PSE enhanced the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), especially maximal respiration, and beige adipocyte formation in adipocytes. In summary, PSE was effective in reducing lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation involved in AMPK and mitochondrial activation.

Salt Induces Adipogenesis/Lipogenesis and Inflammatory Adipocytokines Secretion in Adipocytes.

It is well known that high salt intake is associated with cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. However, the research on the mechanism of obesity due to high salt intake is rare. To evaluate the roles of salt on obesity prevalence, the gene expression of adipogenesis/lipogenesis and adipocytokines secretion according to adipocyte dysfunction were investigated in salt-loading adipocytes. High salt dose-dependently increased the expression of adipogenic/lipogenic genes, such as PPAR-γ, C/EBPα, SREBP1c, ACC, FAS, and aP2, but decreased the gene of lipolysis like AMPK, ultimately resulting in fat accumulation. With SIK-2 and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activation, salt increased the metabolites involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) such as ADD1, CYP11ß2, and MCR. Increasing insulin dependent insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-signaling, resulting in the insulin resistance, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) and Akt-mTOR were activated but AMPK(Thr172) was depressed in salt-loading adipocytes. The expression of pro-inflammatory adipocytokines, TNFα, MCP-1, COX-2, IL-17A, IL-6, leptin, and leptin to adiponectin ratio (LAR) were dose-dependently increased by salt treatment. Using the inhibitors of MAPK/ERK, U0126, we found that the crosstalk among the signaling pathways of MAPK/ERK, Akt-mTOR, and the inflammatory adipogenesis can be the possible mechanism of salt-linked obesity. The possibilities of whether the defense mechanisms against high dose of intracellular salts provoke signaling for adipocytes differentiation or interact with surrounding tissues through other pathways will be explored in future research.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Agar free-Gelidium amansii (GA) extracts in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gelidium amansii (GA) contains plenty of agars and various biological substances, which make them a popular functional food to control body weight in previous studies. Unlike previous studies focused on agar in GA, objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of agar-free GA extract (AfGAE) on preventive and treatment models by using diets-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: AfGAE were used to test their effects on the prevention (Exp-1) and treatment (Exp-2) against obesity after pilot study in DIO mice. The weight changes of the body and fat tissues and protein expression related to lipid metabolism and inflammation as well as plasma lipid profile and insulin were detected. RESULTS: Although AfGAE did not prevent long-term DIO, it did increase the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine production and lipolysis protein. We further evaluated various doses of AfGAE in preventive and treatment models. As a result, our findings suggested that an AfGAE administration as a preventive model might be a better approach to achieve its anti-inflammatory and lipolysis-promoting effects in DIO mice. CONCLUSION: Although future studies to investigate the target materials such as polyphenols in AfGAE are required, the result suggests that GA without agar might be a therapeutic tool to improve health conditions related to inflammation.