Fat Storage Research Articles

The Role of Probiotics in Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health for Weight Management: A Mini Review

The rising global prevalence of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders highlights the urgent need for innovative, sustainable interventions. Probiotics, as modulators of gut microbiota, have emerged as promising agents in weight management by influencing metabolic health. This mini-review explores the role of probiotics in modulating gut microbiota to support energy metabolism, appetite regulation, and fat storage. Evidence underscores the strain-specific benefits of probiotics, such as Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055, Bifidobacterium breve B-3, and Akkermansia muciniphila, in reducing visceral fat, improving glucose metabolism, and mitigating obesity-related inflammation. The mechanisms underlying these effects include short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, modulation of appetite-regulating hormones, and improvements in gut barrier integrity. While the findings are promising, variability in outcomes highlights the importance of tailored probiotic interventions and underscores the need for standardized methodologies in future research. By addressing these challenges, probiotics can serve as integral components of personalized nutrition strategies, advancing both metabolic health and public health objectives.

Obesity and Adipose-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Implications for Metabolic Regulation and Disease

Obesity, a global epidemic, is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic syndrome. Adipose tissue, once viewed as a passive fat storage site, is now recognized as an active endocrine organ involved in metabolic regulation and inflammation. In obesity, adipose tissue dysfunction disrupts metabolic balance, leading to insulin resistance and increased production of adipose-derived extracellular vesicles (AdEVs). These vesicles play a key role in intercellular communication and contribute to metabolic dysregulation, affecting organs such as the heart, liver, and brain. AdEVs carry bioactive molecules, including microRNAs, which influence inflammation, insulin sensitivity, and tissue remodeling. In the cardiovascular system, AdEVs can promote atherosclerosis and vascular dysfunction, while those derived from brown adipose tissue offer cardioprotective effects. In type 2 diabetes, AdEVs exacerbate insulin resistance and contribute to complications such as diabetic cardiomyopathy and cognitive decline. Additionally, AdEVs are implicated in metabolic liver diseases, including fatty liver disease, by transferring inflammatory molecules and lipotoxic microRNAs to hepatocytes. These findings highlight the role of AdEVs in obesity-related metabolic disorders and their promise as therapeutic targets for related diseases.

The role of gut microbiota in pediatric obesity: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Pediatric obesity is a growing global concern, with multifactorial etiologies that include genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of obesity, particularly in children. This narrative review explores the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and pediatric obesity, emphasizing dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, and potential therapeutic interventions. Studies reveal that gut microbiota can modulate energy metabolism, regulate inflammatory responses, and influence fat storage through complex biochemical pathways. Additionally, alterations in microbial diversity and composition have been linked to metabolic disorders commonly associated with obesity, such as insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. Novel therapies, including prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, show promise but require further validation through large-scale clinical trials. This review consolidates current knowledge, offering a foundation for future clinical applications targeting gut microbiota in the management of pediatric obesity while identifying critical gaps for further research.

Inferring the energy cost of resistance to parasitic infection and its link to a trade-off

BackgroundIn infected hosts, immune responses trigger a systemic energy reallocation away from energy storage and growth, to fuel a costly defense program. The exact energy costs of immune defense are however unknown in general. Life history theory predicts that such costs underpin trade-offs between host disease resistance and other fitness related traits, yet this has been seldom assessed. Here we investigate immune energy cost induced by infection, and their potential link to a trade-off between host resistance and fat storage that we previously exposed in sheep divergently selected for resistance to a pathogenic helminth.ResultsTo this purpose, we developed a mathematical model of host-parasite interaction featuring individual changes in energy allocation over the course of infection. The model was fitted to data from an experimental infectious challenge in sheep from genetically resistant and susceptible lines to infer the magnitude of immune energy costs. A relatively small and transient immune energy cost in early infection best explained within-individual changes in growth, energy storage and parasite burden. Among individuals, predicted responses assuming this positive energy cost conformed to the observed trade-off between resistance and storage, whereas a cost-free scenario incorrectly predicted no trade-off.ConclusionsOur mechanistic model fitting to experimental data provides novel insights into the link between energy costs and reallocation due to induced resistance within-individual, and trade-offs among individuals of selected lines. These will be useful to better understand the exact role of energy allocation in the evolution of host defenses, and for predicting the emergence of trade-offs in genetic selection.

Sex differences in the metabolism of glucose and fatty acids by adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in humans.

Adult males and females have markedly different body composition, energy expenditure, and have different degrees of risk for metabolic diseases. A major aspect of metabolic regulation involves the appropriate storage and disposal of glucose and fatty acids. The use of sophisticated calorimetry, tracer, and imaging techniques have provided insight into the complex metabolism of these substrates showing that the regulation of these processes varies tremendously throughout the day, from the overnight fasting condition to meal ingestion, to the effects of physical activity. The sexual dimorphism in substrate metabolism is most readily observed in how fatty acids are stored and mobilized. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive and critical summary of the reported sex-differences in the mobilization, oxidation and storage of fat and carbohydrate in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. We will describe how adipose tissue lipolysis differs between sexes, and how this varies between fed, fasted and exercise conditions. We will also review what is known about endogenous and exogenous fatty acid storage in adipose tissue and muscle, as well as how oxidation compares between men and women in response to exercise. What has been learned about the cellular level regulation of these processes will be described. Although glucose metabolism exhibits fewer differences between men and women, we will also review the existing knowledge on this topic.

JMJD8 regulates adipocyte hypertrophy through the interaction with Perilipin 2.

Adipocyte hypertrophy significantly contributes to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. Our previous research established JMJD8 as a mediator of insulin resistance, noting its role in promoting adipocyte hypertrophy within an autonomous adipocyte context. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remained elusive. In this study, we employed a proteomics approach to identify Perilipin 2 (PLIN2), a lipid-associated protein, as a binding partner of JMJD8. Our investigations unveiled a robust interaction between JMJD8 and PLIN2, demonstrating its pivotal role in driving adipocyte hypertrophy and promoting insulin resistance. Furthermore, we show that JMJD8 suppresses fasting-induced lipophagy and curtails energy production, which involves inhibition of PLIN2 phosphorylation. These findings underscore the critical roles played by JMJD8 and PLIN2 in governing lipid droplet homeostasis, while also shedding light on a potential regulatory mechanism governing fat store mobilization during energy deprivation.

The relationship between obesity and gut microbiota

This article begins by discussing the important the impact of the gut microbiome on obesity, emphasizing how changes in microbial diversity and composition can influence fat storage, energy extraction, and metabolic health. It first outlines the connection between gut microbes and key obesity-related mechanisms such as fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation. Next, external elements like nutrition, medications, lifestyle, and genetics that influence the composition of the gut microbiome and, consequently, obesity outcomes are examined. Afterward, potential interventions for restoring microbial balance are discussed, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, as well as their impact on metabolic health and weight management. Finally, the article highlights new research directions, such as personalized microbiome therapies, gut-brain interactions, and multi-omics approaches, suggesting that these could lead to more effective treatments for obesity. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of further research into the gut microbiome to develop targeted interventions to combat obesity

Physiological accumulation of lipid droplets in newborn liver during breastfeeding is driven by TLR4 ligands.

The liver plays a central role in fat storage, but little is known about physiological fat accumulation during early development. Here we investigated a transient surge in hepatic lipid droplets observed in newborn mice immediately after birth. We developed a novel model to quantify liver fat content without tissue processing. Using high-resolution microscopy assessed spatial distribution of lipid droplets within hepatocytes. Lugol's iodine staining determined the timing weaning period, and milk deprivation experiments investigated the relationship between milk intake and fat accumulation. Lipidomic analysis revealed changes in the metabolic profile of the developing liver. Finally, we investigated the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling in fat storage using knockout mice and cell-specific deletion strategies. Newborn mice displayed a dramatic accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets within the first 12 hours after birth, persisting for the initial two weeks of life. This pattern coincided with exclusive milk feeding and completely abated by the 3rd week, aligning with weaning. Importantly, the observed fat accumulation shared characteristics with established models of pathological steatosis, suggesting potential biological relevance. Lipid droplets were primarily localized within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Milk deprivation experiments demonstrated that milk intake is the primary driver of this transient fat accumulation. Lipidomic analysis revealed significant changes in the metabolic profile of newborn livers compared to adults. Interestingly, several highly abundant lipids in newborns were identified as putative ligands for TLR4. Subsequent studies using TLR4-deficient mice and cell-specific deletion revealed that TLR4 signaling, particularly within hepatocytes, plays a critical role in driving fat storage within the newborn liver. Additionally, a potential collaboration between metabolic and immune systems was suggested by the observed effects of myeloid cell-specific TLR4 ablation. This study demonstrates a unique phenomenon of transient hepatic fat accumulation in newborn mice driven by milk intake and potentially regulated by TLR4 signaling, particularly within hepatocytes.

Multi-omics profiling reveals altered mitochondrial metabolism in adipose tissue from patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe form steatohepatitis (MASH) contribute to rising morbidity and mortality rates. The storage of fat in humans is closely associated with these diseases' progression. Thus, adipose tissue metabolic homeostasis could be key in both the onset and progression of MASH. We conducted a case-control observational research using a systems biology-based approach to analyse liver, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), omental visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and blood of n=100 patients undergoing bariatric surgery (NCT05554224). MASH was diagnosed through histologic assessment. Whole-slide image analysis, lipidomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics were performed on tissue samples. Lipidomics and proteomics profiles were determined on plasma samples. Liver transcriptomics, proteomics, and lipidomics revealed interconnected pathways associated with inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and lipotoxicity in MASH. Paired adipose tissue biopsies had larger adipocyte areas in both fat depots in MASH. Enrichment analyses of proteomics and lipidomics data confirmed the association of liver lesions with mitochondrial dysfunction in VAT. Plasma lipidomics identified candidates with high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.919, 95% CI 0.840-0.979) for screening MASH. Mitochondrial dysfunction is also present in VAT in patients with obesity-associated MASH. This may cause a disruption in the metabolic equilibrium of lipid processing and storage, which impacts the liver and accelerates detrimental adaptative responses. The project leading to these results has received funding from 'la Caixa' Foundation (HR21-00430), and from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (PI21/00510) and co-funded by the European Union.

Monascus pilosus SWM-008 red mold rice and its components, monascinol and monascin, reduce obesity in a high-fat diet-induced rat model through synergistic modulation of gut microbiota and anti-lipogenesis.

This study is the first to explore the effects of the novel yellow pigment monascinol (Msol) from red mold rice (RMR) on reducing body fat and to compare its effects with those of monascin (MS) and ankaflavin (AK). In a high-fat diet-induced rat model, different doses of RMR fermented rice (RL, RM, RH) and purified Msol, MS, and AK were administered over an 8-week period. The results showed that all treatment groups significantly reduced body weight and fat mass. Msol, in particular, activated acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), inhibiting fatty acid synthesis and reducing triglyceride accumulation. All treatments suppressed the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes by inhibiting CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins β (C/EBPβ) and C/EBPα, as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). In the liver, RL, RM, RH, MS, and AK enhanced the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), ACC, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1α (CPT-1α), thereby promoting fatty acid metabolism. Additionally, RMR and its active components, MS and Msol, reduced body fat by modulating gut microbiota. These compounds significantly decreased the abundance of bacteria associated with fat storage, such as Oliverpabstia intestinalis, while increasing the abundance of bacteria linked to energy expenditure and lipid breakdown, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and Ruminococcus callidus. Moreover, MS and Msol upregulated proteins involved in fat degradation, such as UCP1, thereby enhancing fat burning and reducing fat accumulation. These regulatory effects suggest that Monascus and its components have potential in managing metabolic health and reducing obesity.

Dietary fat quantity and composition influence hepatic lipid metabolism and metabolic disease risk in humans.

The excessive accumulation of intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) in the liver is a risk factor for metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. IHTG can excessively accumulate owing to imbalances in the delivery, synthesis, storage and disposal of fat to, in and from the liver. Although obesity is strongly associated with IHTG accumulation, emerging evidence suggests that the composition of dietary fat, in addition to its quantity, plays a role in mediating IHTG accumulation. Evidence from human cross-sectional and interventional studies indicates that diets enriched with saturated fat compared to other fat types and carbohydrates produce divergent effects on IHTG content. However, the mechanistic reasons for these observations remain unknown. Given the challenges of investigating such mechanisms in humans, cellular models are needed that can recapitulate human hepatocyte fatty acid metabolism. Here, we review what is known from human studies about how dietary fat, its quantity and composition contribute to IHTG accumulation. We also explore the effects of fatty acid composition on hepatocellular fat metabolism from data generated in cellular models to help explain the divergences observed in in vivo studies.

Evaluating lower limits of body fat percentage in athletes using DXA.

Body fat percentage (BF%) is routinely measured in athletes to monitor training and dietary interventions. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is widely considered the gold standard body composition measurement technique, but DXA BF% values measure consistently higher than other techniques. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to determine the lowest DXA-estimated whole-body fat mass in free-living athletes with unrestricted access to food. In this cross-sectional analyses, 732 participants across 18 competitive sports (643 athletes; 88 %) plus two (male and female) "non-athlete" male and female cohorts (89 non-athletes; 12 %) underwent a whole-body DXA scan using a Horizon A Hologic™ device (software version 13.6.0.5; TBAR 1209), performed and analyzed by a single operator. The average BF % in 454 males (20.9 ± 3.8 years) was 18.2 ± 4.9 % (range 10.3 - 37.2 %), with basketball players having the lowest BF% (15.3 ± 2.6 %) and non-athletes having the highest BF% (21.6 ± 5.4 %) (1-way ANOVA between 10 teams: F = 12.3; p < 0.0001). The average BF% in 278 females (21.3 ± 5.5 years) was 27.1 ± 5.1 % (range 16.2 - 45.3 %), with runners having the lowest BF% (23.5 ± 3.5 %) and non-athletes having the highest BF% (31.7 ± 6.3 %) (1-way ANOVA between 10 teams F = 12.9; p < 0.0001). In absolute values (kg), the average body fat for males was 19.9 ± 8.0 kg (range 6.7 - 62.0 kg) and 18.9 ± 6.4 kg (range 9.2 - 49.7 kg) for females. These data suggest that the lower limits of whole-body fat mass in free-living competitive athletes is approximately 10 % for males and 16 % for females. Whether these DXA-derived fat thresholds represent "healthy" levels, or how much of these DXA-derived fat depots represent essential fat stores located within lean soft tissue mass, remains unclear.

Varieties and Physical Characteristics of Indigenous Cattle Breeds in Somalia: A Literature Review

The aim of this review was to find out the indigenous Somali cattle breeds in Mogadishu, Somalia and also what is the physical difference between them and what do other scholar wrote about them, this breeds have some unique characteristics and they have one thing in common which is important for pastoralist communities because pastoralists depend on these animals for their livelihood. This study found different types of indigenous breeds including Dawara, Surqo, Gassara, Saywal and Somali Boran those were originated in local community as well as other breeder were hybrid but all of them were resilient and sustainable for local pastoralists. The Somali cattle breeds occupy specific niches in terms of environment and diseases. They have cultural importance with milk and meat; and play roles in local economies supporting their livelihoods. The Boran breed, said to have originated from the Boran clan in south Ethiopia, is exposed to high temperatures and infectious diseases. They are not only good for meat but also produce substantial amounts of milk. The Gassara breed is smaller than other breeds and has been described as being less productive but able to survive under harsh conditions because they easily adapt and store fat – valuable features during droughts when pastures disappear. Similarly, the Dawara breed plays an important role among some pastoral Somali communities and remains culturally valued by them even though its milk yields have been recorded as being lower than those of other breeds. Saywal cattle is a local variety of the Sahiwal which is both a milk and meat producing breed that originated in India as evidenced by the history of trade activities on the livestock heritages in the region. The Surqo breed of cattle is a cross-breed between boran and dawara breeds hence their contribution to food security in certain regions of Somalia. Cattle hybrids, on the other hand, introduced in with the help of the Somali government through overseas artificial insemination have higher milk production but take time to adapt with the environment. Therefore, the protection of the genetic resources and unique characteristics of these locally developed breeds is of prerequisite importance to the livelihood of pastoralists and food security in Somalia. The study recommends establishing artificial insemination centers in all region were dominate with cattle husbandry to produce hybrids that combine the hardiness of local cattle breeds those have desirable productivity characteristics. Additionally, development international collaboration Such as agencies those have skilled in livestock biotechnology and also ability to enhance the effectiveness of breeding programs of cattle. Also make Improve management practices, including the rotational grazing and the development of water resources for rural areas, together with training for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists on modern husbandry techniques, are also essential.

Beyond Calories: Individual Metabolic and Hormonal Adaptations Driving Variability in Weight Management—A State-of-the-Art Narrative Review

The global rise in obesity underscores the need for effective weight management strategies that address individual metabolic and hormonal variability, moving beyond the simplistic “calories in, calories out” model. Body types—ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph—provide a framework for understanding the differences in fat storage, muscle development, and energy expenditure, as each type responds uniquely to caloric intake and exercise. Variability in weight outcomes is influenced by factors such as genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic changes in hormonal signaling pathways and metabolic processes, as well as lifestyle factors, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress. These factors impact the magnitude of lipogenesis and myofibrillar protein synthesis during overfeeding, as well as the extent of lipolysis and muscle proteolysis during caloric restriction, through complex mechanisms that involve changes in the resting metabolic rate, metabolic pathways, and hormonal profiles. Precision approaches, such as nutrigenomics, indirect calorimetry, and artificial-intelligence-based strategies, can potentially leverage these insights to create individualized weight management strategies aligned with each person’s unique metabolic profile. By addressing these personalized factors, precision nutrition offers a promising pathway to sustainable and effective weight management outcomes. The main objective of this review is to examine the metabolic and hormonal adaptations driving variability in weight management outcomes and explore how precision nutrition can address these challenges through individualized strategies.

Human liver organoids are susceptible to Plasmodium vivax infection

BackgroundThe eradication of Plasmodium vivax malaria is complicated due to the presence of hypnozoites, the hidden dormant form of the parasite that is present in the liver. Currently available drug regimens are effective at killing hypnozoites but cause side effects and are difficult to administer. Studies testing drugs for liver-stage malaria remain rare and mainly rely on the use of cancerous or immortalized hepatic cells and primary hepatocytes.MethodsOrganoids were used as platform to model liver-stage vivax malaria. Hepatic endoderm cells, endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal cells were generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells and self-assembled into liver organoids on top of Matrigel layer. Liver characteristic and maturity were examined through genes and proteins expression of liver markers, and liver functional tests before infected with Plasmodium vivax sporozoites. The infection was then verified by the detection of parasitophorous vacuole membrane proteins, Upregulated in Infectious Sporozoite 4 (UIS4), and blood-stage infection following co-culture with human reticulocytes.ResultsGenerated liver organoids showed upregulation of liver specific transcripts including hepatic nuclear factor 4A (HNF4A), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and albumin (ALB) which also confirmed by the protein expression. Furthermore, those organoids resembled mature hepatocytes in terms of albumin secretion, fat and glycogen storage and cytochrome activity. Following invasion of P. vivax sporozoites, PvUIS4 was detected and the hepatic merozoites could develop into ring-stage and early trophozoites in human reticulocytes. Moreover, differential expression patterns of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol synthesis were also detected.ConclusionsStem cell-derived liver organoids resemble mature liver cells in terms of liver functions and are susceptible to infection with P. vivax sporozoites, paving the way for studies on the mechanism of hypnozoite formation and testing of possible hypnozoitocidal drugs.

Use of Transcriptomics to Identify Candidate Genes for Hematopoietic Differences Between Wujin and Duroc Pigs.

Hematopoiesis is a complex physiological process that ensures renewal of blood cells to maintain normal blood circulation and immune function. Wujin pigs exhibit distinct characteristics such as tender meat, high fat storage, strong resistance to roughage, robust disease resistance, and oxidation resistance. Therefore, using Wujin pigs as models may offer valuable insights for hematopoietic-related studies. In this study, twelve healthy 35-day-old piglets, including six Wujin and six Duroc piglets of similar weight, were selected from each of the Wujin and Duroc pig groups and housed in single cages. After 30 days of feeding, blood and bone marrow samples were collected. Routine blood indices and hematopoietic-related serum biochemical indexes of Wujin and Duroc pigs were determined, and bone marrow gene expression levels were analyzed using transcriptomics. (1) Hemoglobin (Hb) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) levels in Wujin pigs were significantly higher than in Duroc pigs (p < 0.05), and platelet counts and serum Hb levels in Wujin pigs were significantly lower than in Duroc pigs (p < 0.05). (2) A total of 312 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified between the pigs. Their functions were mainly related to blood systems, inflammation, and oxidation. Six differentially expressed genes may be related to hematopoietic function. (3) By combining the differential genes screened through sequencing with Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis results, 16 hematopoietic function differential genes were obtained, mainly focusing on immunity, inflammation, and induction of apoptosis functions. Differences were present in the immune and inflammatory responses between Wujin pigs and Duroc pigs, suggesting that differences in hematopoietic function between the two breeds were related to antioxidant capacity and disease resistance.

Effect of the sarcoptic mange upon metabolome profiling in wild boars.

Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious disease and represents one of the main health concerns for humans and non-human mammals worldwide. It is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei and can course with different morphological and physiological presentations. Accordingly, aside from skin inflammation, hosts may experience changes in body condition, immune system, biochemistry, reproduction, and thermoregulation, although the understanding of the downstream metabolic burden is still missing. In this context, mange-derived fat store depletion and following imbalance of fatty acid composition might contribute to the severity of the illness. The lack of a tool for early detection of this etiological agent often results in significant financial losses for farmers and harm to animal welfare. Therefore, using targeted LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics approach, we sought to investigate the impact of sarcoptic mange upon metabolome profiling in the blood serum of mangy wild boars. Thirteen wild boars were analyzed in three different clinical conditions, namely when they were sick, during the therapeutic treatment with ivermectin, and when they were deemed recovered from the disease. We identified specific long-chain acylcarnitines highly abundant in the blood serum of the subjects within the infection phase, when compared to the ivermectin-treated and healthy conditions. Overall, data from our preliminary study highlighted the need for more accurate and broad-based studies, about the potential role of the long chain acylcarnitines in the metabolic homeostasis, to help early diagnose of the sarcoptic mange.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Pleurotus ferulae Water Extract on 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

This study offers promising insights into the anti-obesity potential of Pleurotus ferulae, an edible mushroom valued in Asian cuisine for its nutritional benefits. A hot water extract of P. ferulae (PWE) administered to high-fat diet-induced obese mice over an 8-week period significantly reduced their body weight gain and fat accumulation. PWE not only improved the body weight metrics but also positively influenced the serum lipid profile of obese mice by lowering their total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In vitro studies using 3T3-L1 adipocytes showed that PWE inhibited adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation by downregulating key adipogenic transcription factors, particularly PPARγ and C/EBPα, as well as related lipogenic genes involved in fat synthesis and storage, such as Fabp4, Fasn, and Scd1. Chemical analysis revealed that PWE is rich in polysaccharides, which have been associated with various health benefits, including anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer properties. These findings suggest that the bioactive compounds in PWE may serve as functional food components that could potentially be applied for the prevention and management of obesity and other metabolic disorders.

Identification of Candidate Genes for Sebum Deposition in Pekin Ducks Using Genome-Wide Association Studies.

Sebum deposition is a vital trait influencing meat quality and production efficiency in Pekin ducks. Providing insights into the genetic basis of fat deposition could help improve breeding strategies aimed at producing high-quality meat ducks. This study aimed to identify the genetic mechanisms and lipid metabolism pathways regulating subcutaneous and intramuscular fat deposition in two Pekin duck strains: Nankou No. 1 and Jingdian. A total of 72 male ducks, Nankou No. 1 (n = 36) and Jingdian (n = 36), were raised under controlled conditions for 42 days. On days 28, 35, and 42, ducks from each group were selected and slaughtered, and their subcutaneous and liver tissues were collected to analyze lipid enzyme activities. On day 42, additional ducks from each strain were slaughtered and evaluated for carcass performance, as well as intramuscular and sebum yield. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was conducted in the Nankou No. 1 strain. Our results showed statistically significant differences in intramuscular and subcutaneous fat yield between the two strains, with Nankou No. 1 exhibiting a higher yield than Jingdian (p < 0.05). The GWAS results identified 96 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associated with sebum deposition. Functional annotation identified ALDH7A1 as a key candidate gene involved in lipid metabolism and fat storage regulation in Pekin ducks, Nankou No. 1 strain. Enzyme activity assays in liver and subcutaneous tissues revealed breed-specific differences in lipid metabolism, aligning with genetic findings. The activities of the lipid enzymes changed over time, suggesting changes in the developmental stages. The results on fat yield and enzymatic activities further align with molecular findings from the GWAS, which identified variations in lipid metabolism pathways. These results highlight genetic markers and biochemical pathways related to fat deposition in Pekin ducks, offering new insights for selective breeding programs aimed at optimizing fat content in meat production. Further research is needed to clarify the specific role of ALDH7A1 in lipid metabolism and its potential to enhance fat deposition traits in poultry.

Hidden link between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and pediatric obesity.

The increasing prevalence of pediatric obesity has emerged as a significant public health concern. Among various contributing factors, exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has gained recognition for its potential role. EDCs, including bisphenols, phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organochlorines, disrupt hormonal regulation and metabolic processes, contributing to alterations in fat storage, appetite regulation, and insulin sensitivity. This study offers a comprehensive review of the current research linking EDC exposure to pediatric obesity by integrating the findings from experimental and epidemiological studies. It also addresses the complexities of interpreting this evidence in the context of public health, highlighting the urgent need for further research.