This study explored how bitter melon powder (BMP) alters the colonic microenvironment during the development of obesity-associated fatty liver in rats. We observed that BMP effectively inhibited the body weight gain and lipid accumulation in the liver, ameliorated glucose intolerance, and increased the colon weight after an 8-week treatment compared to that in the high-fat diet (HFD) group. BMP significantly decreased fecal water toxicity towards HT-29 cells, as revealed by the cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay results, and the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in colon mucosa. Additionally, gut permeability in the BMP group was restored to normal levels. Finally, BMP alleviated the inflammatory state of the rat colon mucosa and liver tissues as well as the systemic inflammation.
Animals ; Colon ; drug effects ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Feces ; chemistry ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Momordica charantia ; Obesity ; complications ; Powders ; Rats

PURPOSE: In epidemiologic and animal studies, a high fat diet (HFD) has been shown to be associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) and a higher risk of osteoporotic fractures. Meanwhile, consuming a HFD containing diacylglycerol (DAG) instead of triacylglycerol (TAG) is known to offer metabolically beneficial effects of reductions in body weight and abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a HFD containing DAG (HFD-DAG) on bone in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=39) were divided into three weight-matched groups based on diet type: a chow diet group, a HFD containing TAG (HFD-TAG) group, and a HFD-DAG group. After 20 weeks, body composition and bone microstructure were analyzed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and micro-computed tomography. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR of bone marrow cells were performed to investigate the expressions of transcription factors for osteogenesis or adipogenesis. RESULTS: The HFD-DAG group exhibited lower body weight, higher BMD, and superior microstructural bone parameters, compared to the HFD-TAG group. The HFD-DAG group showed increased expression of Runx2 and decreased expression of PPARgamma in bone marrow cells, compared to the HFD-TAG group. The HFD-DAG group also had lower levels of plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and triglyceride than the HFD-TAG group. CONCLUSION: Compared to HFD-TAG, HFD-DAG showed beneficial effects on bone and bone metabolism in C57BL/6J mice.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adipogenesis ; Animals ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Bone Density/*drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat/*adverse effects ; Dietary Fats/*pharmacology ; Diglycerides/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Osteogenesis/*drug effects ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Triglycerides ; X-Ray Microtomography

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jinlida on changes in expression of skeletal muscle lipid transport enzymes in fat-induced insulin resistance ApoE -/- mice.

METHODEight male C57BL/6J mice were selected in the normal group (NF), 40 male ApoE -/- mice were fed for 16 weeks, divided into the model group (HF), the rosiglitazone group ( LGLT), the Jinlida low-dose group (JLDL), the Jinlida medium-dose group (JLDM), the Jinlida high-dose group (JLDH) and then orally given drugs for 8 weeks. The organization free fatty acids, BCA protein concentration determination methods were used to determine the skeletal muscle FFA content. The Real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR ( RT-PCR) and Western blot method were adopted to determine mRNA and protein expressions of mice fatty acids transposition enzyme (FAT/CD36), carnitine palm acyltransferase 1 (CPT1), peroxide proliferators-activated receptor α( PPAR α).

RESULTJinlida could decrease fasting blood glucose (FBG), cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and fasting insulin (FIns) and raise insulin sensitive index (ISI) in mice to varying degrees. It could also up-regulate mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1 and PPARα, and down-regulate mRNA and protein levels of FAT/CD36.

CONCLUSIONJinlida can improve fat-induced insulin resistance ApoE -/- in mice by adjusting the changes in expression of skeletal muscle lipid transport enzymes.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; CD36 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the dietary intake levels of trans fatty acids (TFA) in a Chinese population and establish a basis for health risk assessment of trans fatty acids.

METHODSThe TFA contents data of 2613 food items and food consumption data of 10,533 people aged 3 years and above in two large cities in China were matched and a simple assessment method was used to estimate the distribution of dietary TFA intake.

RESULTSThe mean content of TFA was highest in margarine (1.68 ± 0.83 g/100g), followed by chocolate and candy (0.89 ± 2.68 g/100g), edible vegetable oils (0.86 ± 0.82 g/100g), milk (0.83 ± 1.56 g/100g), and bakery foods (0.41 ± 0.91 g/100g). TFA intake accounted for 0.34%, 0.30%, 0.32%, and 0.29% of the total energy intake in the 3-6, 7-12, 13-17, and ⋝18 year age groups, respectively. Of the populations studied, 0.42% demonstrated TFA intakes (as percentage of energy intake) greater than 1%. The main sources of dietary TFA intake were edible vegetable oils, milk, mutton, and beef, and baked foods, which accounted for 49.8%, 16.56%, 12.21%, and 8.87%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe current intake of TFA among people in two cities did not appear to be of major health concern regarding the threshold of TFA intake as the percentage of total energy recommended by the World Health Organization. Because most TFA were derived from industrially processed foods, the government should reinforce nutrition labeling and regulate food producers to further reduce TFA in food and to provide scientific instruction for consumers to make sound choices.

Adolescent ; Analysis of Variance ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Diet Surveys ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; metabolism ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Food ; standards ; Food Analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Trans Fatty Acids ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) stimulated by medium-chain triglyceride (MCT).

METHODS30 Male C57BL/6J obese mice induced by fed high fat diet (HFD) were divided into 2 groups, and fed another HFD with 2% MCT or long-chain triglyceride (LCT) respectively for 12 weeks. Body weight, blood biochemical variables, interscapular brown fat tissue (IBAT) mass, expressions of mRNA and protein of beta 3-adrenergic receptors (β3-AR), uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), protein kinase A (PKA), and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in IBAT were measured.

RESULTSSignificant decrease in body weight and body fat mass was observed in MCT group as compared with LCT group (P<0.05) after 12 weeks. Greater increases in IBAT mass was observed in MCT group than in LCT group (P<0.05). Blood TG, TC, LDL-C in MCT group were decreased significantly, meanwhile blood HDL-C, ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C and norepinephrine were increased markedly. Expressions of mRNA and protein of β3-AR, UCP1, PKA, HSL, ATGL in BAT were greater in MCT group than in LCT group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that MCT stimulated the activation of BAT, possible via norepinephrine pathway, which might partially contribute to reduction of the body fat mass in obese mice fed high fat diet.

Adipose Tissue, Brown ; drug effects ; Adiposity ; drug effects ; Animals ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ion Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Uncoupling Protein 1 ; Weight Loss

The study objectives were to investigate the relationship between early exposure to genistein and obesity in young adulthood and to evaluate changes in reproductive health during puberty and adulthood following in utero exposure to genistein. Thirty-two female rats were randomized into four groups; low dose 400 mg genistein/kg diet group (LG), mid-dose 1200 mg genistein/kg diet group (MG), high dose 3600 mg genistein/kg diet group (HG), and control group without genistein diet (CON). Rats were fed genistein at the beginning of pregnancy along with a high-fat diet. Pups were sacrificed at week 4 and week 8 after birth. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results showed a correlation between maternal genistein intake and genistein concentration in pups' plasma. Compared to CON, body weight reduced significantly in male HG group at week 8. No statistical differences were found in plasma estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), interleukin (IL)-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with early genistein exposure. Furthermore, uterine histopathology showed notable changes in groups HG and MG compared with CON at week 4 and week 8. In conclusion, maternal genistein supplement could reduce body weight in male pups and alter uterine histopathology in female pups.
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Uterus ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ketogenic diet (KD) on the clinical and electroencephalogram features in children with pharmacoresistant epileptic encephalopathy.

METHODThirty-one children (19 boys, 12 girls) aged 7 months to 7 years (mean 2 years 5 month) with epilepsy refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were included in this study. In addition to their original AED treatment, the children were assigned to different ketogenic diets based on their age. The prospective electro-clinical assessment was performed prior to the KD and then one week, one month and again 3 months after the initiation of therapy, respectively.

RESULTThe reduction of seizure frequency in 52%, 68% and 71% of all patients exceeded 50% one week, one month and three months after KD treatment respectively. KD is particularly effective in myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE; Doose Syndrome) and West syndrome with 100% and 81.25% of the patients having a greater than 50% seizure reduction, respectively. After 3 months of KD treatment, more than 2/3 patients experienced a reduction in interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and improvement in EEG background.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical and electroencephalographic improvement confirms that KD is beneficial in children with refractory epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diet, Ketogenic ; methods ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; Lennox Gastaut Syndrome ; Male ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spasms, Infantile ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; Syndrome ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate risk factors for parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis (PNAC) in preterm infants.

METHODSA retrospective case-control study was performed on 244 preterm infants who received parenteral nutrition (PN) for over 14 days from January 2000 to October 2011.

RESULTSCompared with those without PNAC (n=221), preterm infants with PNAC (n=23) had a longer total duration of PN, a higher total amino acid intake, a higher total lipid intake, a higher maximum daily amino acid intake, a higher maximum daily lipid intake, a higher intravenous calorie intake on the 14th day of PN, a lower birth weight and higher incidence rates of neonatal infection and anemia. Compared with those with PNAC, preterm infants without PNAC who showed a higher total amino acid intake also had a higher total lipid intake, a longer total duration of PN, a higher rate of mechanical ventilation and a lower gestational age. The preterm infants without PNAC who showed a higher total lipid intake also had a lower gestational age. Preterm infants without PNAC who showed a longer total duration of PN also had a lower gestational age.

CONCLUSIONSTotal duration of PN, total amino acid intake, maximum daily amino acid intake, total lipid intake, maximum daily lipid intake, intravenous calorie intake on the 14th day of PN, low birth weight, and neonatal infection and anemia are the risk factors for PNAC. Other risk factors need further investigation.

Amino Acids ; administration & dosage ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholestasis ; etiology ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Parenteral Nutrition ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and adiponectin on insulin resistance in different fat diet rats.

METHODSThirty weanling female rats were randomly divided into 3 group (n = 10): a low-fat soybean oil (LFS; 22% of total energy fed as fat), high-fat soybean oil (HFS; 40% of total energy fed as fat), or high-fat soybean oil and swimming training at the same time (HFS + T). After fed for 10 weeks, the level of TNF-alpha, adiponectin in serum of rats were observed.

RESULTS(1) The body weight, percentage of body fat of HFS group increased compared with that of LFS group (P < 0.05), however those of HFS + T group were decreased (P < 0.05). (2) The level of serum insulin and ISI in HFS group were increased by LFS group (P < 0.05), in HFS+ T group the levels decreased. (3) And the serum level of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in HFS group were higher than those in LFS group (P < 0.05), the serum levels of adiponectin in HFS group were lower than those in LFS rats, and in HFS+ T group the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were lower than those in HFS group (P < 0.05), the adiponectin level was higher than that in HFS group, and there were no significant difference between LFS group and HFS + T group.

CONCLUSIONExercises training could improve sugar and fat metabolism disorders, which also contributes to improving insulin resistance caused by high-fat diet.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Insulin ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

It has been recognized that ginseng has anti-diabetic effects in skeletal muscle, but the mechanism has not been intensively investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) supplementation on muscle glucose uptake in high-fat fed rats. Sixteen rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (CON, n = 8) and a Korean red ginseng group (KRG, n = 8). The KRG group ingested RG extract (1 g·kg(-1), 6 days/week) mixed in water for two weeks. After the two-week treatment, plasma lipid profiles, and glucose and insulin concentrations were measured. The triglyceride (TG) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) contents were measured in the skeletal muscle and liver. The rate of glucose transport was determined under a submaximal insulin concentration during muscle incubation. Plasma FFA concentrations were significantly decreased in KRG (P < 0.05). Liver and muscle triglyceride concentrations were also decreased in the KRG treatment group (P < 0.05) compared to the CON group. In addition, resting plasma insulin and glucose levels were significantly lower after Korean red ginseng treatment (P < 0.05). However, muscle glucose uptake was not affected by Korean red ginseng treatment, as evidenced by the rate of glucose transport in the epitorchealis muscle under submaximal insulin concentrations. These results suggest that while KRG supplementation could improve whole body insulin resistance and plasma lipid profiles, it is unlikely to have an effect on the insulin resistance of skeletal muscle, which is the major tissue responsible for plasma glucose handling.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Dietary Supplements ; analysis ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Panax ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Triglycerides ; metabolism