PAP/HIP protein is an obesogenic factor.

In this article we report the obesogenic role of the acute phase protein PAP/HIP. We found that the transgenic TgPAP/HIP mice develop spontaneous obesity under standard nutritional conditions, with high levels of glucose, leptin, and LDL and low levels of triglycerides and HDL in blood. Accordingly, PAP/HIP-deficient mice are skinny under standard nutritional conditions. We also found that expression of PAP/HIP is induced in intestinal epithelial cells in response to gavage with olive oil and this induction is AG490 sensitive. We demonstrated that incubation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with a low concentration as 1 ng/ml of recombinant PAP/HIP results in accelerated BrdU incorporation in vitro. PAP/HIP-dependent adipocytes growth is sensitive to the MEK inhibitor U0126. Finally, patients with severe obesity present higher blood levels of PAP/HIP than non-obese control individuals. Altogether our data suggest that PAP/HIP could be a mediator of fat tissue development, released by the intestine and induced by the presence of food into the gut.

Effect on blood lipids of two daily servings of Camembert cheese. An intervention trial in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.

As a concentrated source of saturated fat, cheese consumption is considered to be associated with increased cholesterolemia and generally forbidden in dietary guidelines for adults with hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of saturated fatty acids on lipid parameters and blood pressure with regards to different types of dairy products: Camembert and full-fat yoghurt. One-hundred and fifty-nine moderate hypercholesterolemic subjects without treatment were instructed to consume two full-fat yoghurts (2 × 125 g) per day for 3 weeks (run-in period) and then for a further period of 5 weeks, either two full-fat yoghurts or two 30 g servings of Camembert cheese per day. We observed that over the 5-week daily consumption of two servings of Camembert cheese, blood pressure and serum lipids did not change in moderate hypercholesterolemic subjects. These results suggest that fermented cheese such as Camembert could be consumed daily without affecting serum lipids or blood pressure.

LDL-cholesterol-lowering effect of a dietary supplement with plant extracts in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia.

PURPOSE: Red yeast rice (RYR), sugar cane-derived policosanols (SCdP) and artichoke leaf extracts (ALEs) are currently incorporated alone or in combination into dietary supplements for their potential low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol)-lowering effects. Yet, there is no information supporting the efficacy of this association on the reduction in LDL-cholesterol. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a new dietary supplement (DS) with RYR, SCdP and ALEs on LDL-cholesterol. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, parallel controlled study, 39 subjects from 21 to 55 years with moderate hypercholesterolemia without drug treatment were assigned to 2 groups and then consumed either a DS containing RYR, SCdP and ALEs or a placebo over a 16-week period. Plasma concentrations of lipids [LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), triacylglycerols (TG)] and plasma levels of vitamins C and E, total polyphenols and malondialdehyde were determined at baseline and after 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. RESULTS: LDL-cholesterol and TC were reduced by, respectively, 21.4 % (95 % CI, -13.3 to -24.9 %, p < 0.001) and 14.1 % (95 % CI, -10.1 to -18.0 %, p < 0.001) at week 16 in the DS group compared with baseline. Similar results were obtained at weeks 4, 8 and 12. TG decreased by 12.2 % after 16 weeks in the DS group (95 % CI: -24.4 to -0.1 %, p < 0.05). For the vitamin E/TC ratio, a difference was observed between groups at week 16 (p < 0.05). Other parameters were not modified. CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of this new DS decreased LDL-cholesterol and TC and is therefore an interesting, convenient aid in managing mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.

Protein/Fiber Index Modulates Uremic Toxin Concentrations in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate (PCS), two uremic toxins (UTs), are associated with increased mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). These toxins are produced by the microbiota from the diet and excreted by the kidney. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of diet on IS and PCS concentration in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: We performed a prospective monocentric study using a seven-day diet record and determination of serum IS and PCS levels in HD patients. We tested the association between toxin concentrations and nutritional data. RESULTS: A total of 58/75 patients (77%) completed the diet record. Mean caloric intake was 22 ± 9.2 kcal/kg/day. The protein/fiber index was 4.9 ± 1.8. No correlation between IS or PCS concentration and protein/fiber index was highlighted. In the 18 anuric patients (31%) in whom residual renal function could not affect toxin concentrations, IS and PCS concentrations were negatively correlated with fiber intake and positively correlated with the protein/fiber index. In a multivariate analysis, IS serum concentration was positively associated with the protein/fiber index (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A low protein/fiber index is associated with low concentrations of uremic toxins in anuric HD patients. Diets with an increased fiber intake must be tested to determine whether they reduce PCS and IS serum concentrations.