Body Fat Gain Research Articles

Exposure to Phthalates May Accelerate Body Fat Gain in Midlife Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Phthalates may disrupt energy balance in animals, but their effects in humans remain uncertain. We examined whether phthalate exposure was associated with body fat gain in midlife women. METHODS: We analyzed longitudinal data from 1369 women in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation Multi-Pollutant Study. Eleven phthalate metabolites measured in spot urine samples at baseline (1999/2000) were standardized with covariate-adjusted creatinine. Body weight (BW), percent body fat (BF%), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured near-annually until 2016/2017. For each metabolite, linear mixed effects models with interaction terms between time and log₂(metabolite) were used to predict outcomes, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and menopause-related factors. Analyses were conducted overall and stratified by baseline obesity status due to heterogeneity in outcome trajectories. All analyses were repeated using a second set of metabolites measured in 2002/2003 to evaluate findings’ robustness. RESULTS:In all women, metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP), and mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP) were associated with faster increases in BF%. The difference in the rate of change per doubling of metabolites ranged from 0.012 percentage point (pp)/year (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00014, 0.023) for MBzP to 0.019 pp/year (95% CI: 0.0044, 0.033) for MCPP. Stratified analyses revealed that positive associations occurred primarily in women who were normal/underweight at baseline, where mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), MBzP, and MCPP were associated with faster increases in all outcomes. For instance, each doubling of MnBP was associated with 0.091% (95% CI: 0.0025, 0.18), 0.029 pp/year (95% CI: 0.0083, 0.049), and 0.025% (95% CI: 0.0020, 0.047) faster increases in BW, BF%, and WHR, respectively. Most associations were attenuated and non-significant when using exposure data from 2002/2003. CONCLUSIONS:Some phthalate metabolites were associated with fat gains in midlife women, but results may be sensitive to the timing of exposure. KEYWORDS: Phthalates, Endocrine disrupting chemicals, Obesity and metabolic disorders, Female, Environmental epidemiology

Oxytocin and Bone: Review and Perspectives.

Recent data demonstrate the anabolic effect of oxytocin on bone. Bone cells express oxytocin receptors. Oxytocin promotes osteoblasts differentiation and function, leading to an increased bone formation with no effect on bone resorption and an improvement of bone microarchitecture. Oxytocin is synthetized by osteoblasts, and this synthesis is stimulated by estrogen. Animal studies demonstrate a direct action of oxytocin on bone, as the systemic administration of oxytocin prevents and reverses the bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency. Although oxytocin is involved in bone formation in both sexes during development, oxytocin treatment has no effect on male osteoporosis, underlining the importance of estrogen that amplifies its local autocrine and paracrine secretion. There are few human data showing a decrease in the oxytocin serum level in anorexia nervosa independently of estrogen and in amenorrheic women associated with impaired bone microarchitecture; in post-menopausal women a higher oxytocin serum level is associated with higher bone density, but not in osteoporotic men. Oxytocin displays many effects that may be beneficial in the management of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, cognitive disorders, breast cancer, diabetes and body fat gain, all age-related diseases affecting elderly women, opening exciting therapeutic perspectives, although the issue is to find a single route, dosage and schedule able to reach all these targets.

Meal composition during an ad libitum buffet meal and longitudinal predictions of weight and percent body fat change: The role of hyper-palatable, energy dense, and ultra-processed foods

BackgroundFoods that increase obesity risk are ubiquitous in the US food environment. Such foods may be the target of hedonic eating, which may facilitate weight gain and lead to obesity.The study tested whether meal composition during an ad libitum buffet meal was associated with 1-year weight and percent body fat changes among healthy younger adults without obesity. Hyper-palatable foods (HPF) were the study focus; comparisons were conducted with high energy dense (HED) and ultra-processed foods (UPF). DesignYounger adults without obesity (N = 82; 43% male; mean age 26.8) completed an ad libitum buffet meal and provided body composition measurements at baseline and 1-year follow up. Multiple regression models tested associations between the proportion of the target food consumed (HPF, HED, or UPF) during the ad libitum meal and 1) weight change and 2) percent body fat change. The proportion of HPF was characterized by HPF group, specifically carbohydrate and sodium (CSOD) foods or fat and sodium (FSOD) foods. ResultsParticipants who consumed a greater proportion of CSOD HPF in their ad libitum buffet meals had significantly greater weight change (b = 0.354, p = .003) and percent body fat change (b = 0.247, p = .036) at 1-year follow up. In contrast, no significant associations were found between the proportion of FSOD HPF, HED, or UPF consumed and anthropometric outcomes (p values = .099-.938). ConclusionsEating a greater proportion of hyper-palatable CSOD foods ad libitum appears to be a pattern of hedonic eating, which may increase an individual's risk for weight and body fat gain in early adulthood.

Antiobesity and Antidiabetic Effects of Portulaca oleracea Powder Intake in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6 Mice.

This study investigated the hypothesis that Portulaca oleracea L. exerts antiobesity and antidiabetic effects by evaluating blood lipid profiles, blood glucose control factors, protein expression of lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity improvement. Three groups of high-fat diet (HFD) induced obese C57BL/6 mice (n = 8) received treatment with low (5%; HFD + PO5%) or high (10%; HFD + PO10%) concentrations of P. oleracea powder for 12 weeks or no treatment (HFD) and were compared with each other and a fourth control group. Weight gain was reduced by 34% in the HFD + PO10% group compared to the HFD group. Moreover, the perirenal and epididymal fat contents in the HFD + PO10% group were 6.3-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively, lower than those in the HFD group. The atherogenic index (AI) and cardiac risk factor (CRF) results in the P. oleracea-treated groups were significantly lower than those in the HFD group. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels was lower in the HFD + PO10% group than in the HFD group. The protein expression levels of the proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 and PPAR-γ were upregulated in the HFD + PO10% group compared to the HFD group. However, the protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were lower in the P. oleracea-treated groups than in the HFD group. Our results demonstrate that P. oleracea powder could be effectively used to treat and prevent obesity and diabetes-associated diseases through suppression of weight gain and reduction in body fat and blood glucose levels.

Effects of ketoanalogues on skeletal muscle mass in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: real-world evidence

ObjectiveKetoanalogue (KA) supplementation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on a restricted protein diet has been shown to maintain their nutritional status in clinical trials. However, a gap existed between the findings of the clinical trials and the real-world practice. The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the KA effect on skeletal muscle mass in patients with stage 4–5 CKD. MethodsAmong 170 patients with CKD screened, 148 were recruited. Patients were defined as KA or non-KA users. During a 12-mo follow-up, skeletal muscle and body fat mass were measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis at baseline, 6 mo (n = 108), and 12 mo (n = 85). ResultsAmong the patients (mean age, 66.5 ± 12.9 y), KA users tended to maintain skeletal muscle and body fat mass, whereas non-KA users had a significantly reduced muscle mass (P = 0.011) and body fat gain (P = 0.004). Stratified by median age, in patients ≥68 y of age, non-KA users yielded the most significant muscle mass reduction and fat mass gain, whereas KA users revealed no changes in skeletal muscle and fat mass. ConclusionIn real-world practice, we concluded that KA supplementation favorably prevents skeletal muscle mass loss and fat mass gain in elderly patients with stage 4–5 CKD.

Novel Obesity Treatment Using Metformin Transdermal Patch

ObjectivesMetformin is the most commonly used FDA approved antidiabetic drug. Emerging evidence suggest that metformin can induce browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). However, oral administration of metformin has a low level of oral bioavailability, a high level of gastrointestinal side effects, and fast renal clearance, these lower its browning WAT efficacy. Hence, localized delivery of metformin directly to subcutaneous WAT (SubQ WAT) using transdermal delivery approach is an attractive alternative. The objectives of this study are to develop metformin transdermal patch and to evaluate its anti-obesity effects in mice. MethodsWe developed a metformin-loaded patch using the combination of microneedle (MN) and Iontophoresis. Thirty male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high fat diet for 4 weeks. Then, mice were randomly divided into one of the following six groups (5/group): 1. MN + Iontophoresis (Metformin), 2. MN + Iontophoresis (Blank), 3. MN alone, 4. Iontophoresis alone, 5. Gavage (Metformin), and 6. Gavage (Saline). Metformin dose was 3 mg/kg body weight/day. All treatments were given 3 times/week for additional 5 weeks. ResultsAs compared to those in other treatment groups, MN + Iontophoresis (Metformin)-treated mice had 3.6- and 7.5-fold lower changes in body weight and body fat % (P < 0.001), lower blood glucose levels (P < 0.01), lower IgWAT and gonadal WAT masses (P < 0.05), higher energy expenditure (P < 0.05), which was associated with higher IgWAT mRNA levels of (UCP1, >3.5-fold), (PGC-1α, >1.3-fold), (CIDEA, >1.9-fold), (TMEM26, 2.6-fold) and UCP1 and phosphorylated AMPK protein expression levels (>9.5- and 9.7-fold), and lower IgWAT mRNA levels of ACC1 (1.5-), leptin (1.2-), MCP1 (1.4-) and TNFα (1.36-fold) (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were found in food intake and plasma lipid profile. ConclusionsTransdermal delivery of metformin to SubQ WAT using MN and iontophoresis patches decreased body weight and fat gain, increased energy expenditure, lowered fat pad size and enhanced energy expenditure through browning of WAT. Funding SourcesThe project described was supported by Grant Number 1R15AT010395 from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and Grant Number 19AIREA34480011 from American Heart Association.

Nutritional Transition and Implications for Adiposity among Young Rural Men in India

The study examined longitudinal changes in food consumption associated with changes in adiposity among rural men in India. Young rural men (n=142) in Pune were followed-up decade apart (2005 and 2015) for anthropometry including Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat (BF), Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) and for Food Consumption (using FFQ). It was observed that decadal gain in mean BMI (3.77±2.60 kg/m2 ), BF (7.45±4.98 %) and WC (10.29±6.98cm) was significant (p&lt;0.000) amounting to 19%, 49% and 15% of baseline values respectively. Consequently, prevalence increased for overweight (45%), obesity (33%), adiposity (36%) and central obesity (23%). Consumption of rice increased among (17%) participants while that of roti decreased among 9%, but increased for non-vegetarian foods, fried snacks and marketed sweets among 25, 53 and 22% participants respectively. Significant associations were observed not only for mean gains in BMI and WC, but also for higher prevalence and ORs for overweight among those who increased consumption of non-vegetarian foods (OR-4.34; 95%CI: 1.7- 11.1), fried snacks (OR-4.32; 95%CI: 1.5-12.8) and marketed sweets (OR-3.21; 95%CI: 1.1-9.1). Further, increased consumption of non-vegetarian foods also indicated two times and five times higher ORs for overall and central obesity respectively. These observations underscore role of specific foods in nutritional transition that increase obesity and demands targeted approach for its prevention by emphasizing nutritional awareness, promoting healthy dietary habits and physical activity among rural men. Moreover, the findings have implications for similar settings in other developing countries.

Pterostilbene Inhibits Dyslipidemia-Induced Activation of Progenitor Adipose Gene Under High-Fat Diet and Radiation Stressor

Repeated exposure to ionizing radiation has been reported to increase the risk of chronic metabolic disorders such as systemic hyperlipidemia and intracellular lipid accumulation that might lead to diabetes-induced heart disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pterostilbene on high-fat diet rats suffering from ionizing radiation-induced hyperlipidemia. High-fat diet rats showed an increase in body weight and body fat compared with rats fed with normal chow. Pterostilbene and Orlistat treatments resulted in lower body weight and body fat gain, insulin resistance, reduced lipid peroxidation with attenuated liver enzyme levels, and regulated lipogenesis-related genes in the HFD + IR rat group. Regulation of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) mRNA enhanced paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and arylesterase (AE) activities and inhibited that of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA). It also increased the activities of plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Pterostilbene and Orlistat also corrected the alterations of serum leptin and adiponectin levels in lipidemic rats. Such findings provide evidence that Pterostilbene and Orlistat can act as normolipidemic agents that possess lipid-lowering effects and potential as a radioprotector.

High-Intensity Interval Training Does Not Change Vaspin and Omentin and Does Not Reduce Visceral Adipose Tissue in Obese Rats.

This study aimed to determine the expression of omentin and vaspin, inflammatory markers, body composition, and lipid profile in diet-induced obese rats and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untrained normal diet, trained normal diet (T-ND), untrained high-fat diet (Unt-HFD), and trained high-fat diet (T-HFD). For the animals of the Unt-HFD and T-HFD groups, a high-fat diet was offered for 4 weeks. After that, all the animals in the T-ND and T-HFD groups were submitted to HITT, three times per week, for 10 weeks (2 weeks of adaptation and 8 weeks of HIIT). Muscle (gastrocnemius), liver, epididymal adipose tissue, retroperitoneal adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and serum were collected to analyze TNF-α, IL-6, PCR, IL-8, IL-10, IL-4, vaspin, and omentin. A body composition analysis was performed before adaptation to HIIT protocol and after the last exercise session using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Omentin and vaspin in the VAT were quantified using Western blotting. The results showed that, when fed a high-fat diet, the animals obtained significant gains in body fat and elevated serum concentrations of vaspin and blood triglycerides. The HIIT was able to minimize body fat gain but did not reduce visceral fat despite the increase in maximum exercise capacity. Moreover, there was a reduction in the serum levels of adiponectin, IL-6, and IL-10. Finally, we concluded that, although the training protocol was able to slow down the weight gain of the animals, there was no reduction in visceral fat or an improvement in the inflammatory profile, including no changes in omentin and vaspin.

In Search of the Most Reproducible Neural Vulnerability Factors that Predict Future Weight Gain: Analyses of Data from Six Prospective Studies.

We tested if we could replicate the main effect relations of elevated striatum and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) response to high-calorie food stimuli to weight gain reported in past papers in six prospective datasets that used similar fMRI paradigms. Participants in Study 1 (N = 37; M age = 15.5), Study 2 (N = 160; M age = 15.3), Study 3 (N = 130; M age = 15.0), Study 4 (N = 175; M age = 14.3), Study 5 (N = 45; M age = 20.8), and Study 6 (N = 49; M age = 31.1) completed fMRI scans at baseline and had their BMI and body fat (Studies 4 and 6 only) measured at baseline and over follow-ups. Elevated striatal response to palatable food images predicted BMI gain in Studies 1 and 6 and body fat gain in Study 6. Lateral OFC activation did not predict weight gain in any of the six studies. Results provide limited support for the hypothesis that elevated reward region responsivity to palatable food images predicts weight gain. Factors that make replication difficult are discussed and potential solutions considered.

Assessment of Age-Induced Changes in Body Fat Percentage and BMI Aided by Bayesian Modelling: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

BackgroundLoss of fat-free mass (FFM) and gain in body fat (BF) are the key disability risk factors, also instrumental in perpetuating already existing functional disorders. Obesity construed in terms of body mass index (BMI) values, in view of undesirable gain in BF, is a risk factor for cardio-metabolic disorders. Both detrimental processes clearly evidence a scope of involutionary changes characteristic of an aging population, also standing for one of its greatest burdens.PurposeThe present study aimed to assess the changes in body composition (BC), in conjunction with the relationship between BF% and BMI, for defining overweight and obesity status in middle-aged and older adults, against the select indicator variables under study.Materials and MethodsThe study involved 4799 individuals (33.7% men), PONS Project participants, aged 43–64 years. BF% was measured with the aid of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. Age-induced changes in BC were determined against BF%, fat mass (FM), FFM, BMI, fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). The relationship between BF% and BMI was established with the aid of Bayesian regression models, adjusted for gender and age.ResultsIn both genders, BF% increased with age at a similar annual rate. The reduction of FFM was noted mainly in men, which in conjunction with BF% gain ensured BMI stability. The increase in BF% in women with stable FFM affected an increase in BMI. Regardless of the BMI threshold, the anticipated (predicted) BF% increased with age in both genders.ConclusionMonitoring of BC is of particular importance in older adults, in view of appreciably better characteristics of both the short- and long-term health predictors, as well as overall potential for developing specifically targeted, effective health interventions.

Relative Contribution of Gestational Weight Gain, Gestational Diabetes, and Maternal Obesity to Neonatal Fat Mass.

Maternal nutritional and metabolic status influence fetal growth. This study investigated the contribution of gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational diabetes (GDM), and maternal obesity to birthweight and newborn body fat. It is a secondary analysis of a prospective study including 204 women with a pregestational body mass index (BMI) of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 and 219 women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. GDM was screened in the second and third trimester and was treated by dietary intervention, and insulin if required. Maternal obesity had the greatest effect on skinfolds (+1.4 mm) and cord leptin (+3.5 ng/mL), but no effect on birthweight. GWG was associated with increased birthweight and skinfolds thickness, independently from GDM and maternal obesity. There was an interaction between third trimester weight gain and GDM on birthweight and cord leptin, but not with maternal obesity. On average, +1 kg in third trimester was associated with +13 g in birthweight and with +0.64 ng/mL in cord leptin, and a further 32 g and 0.89 ng/mL increase in diabetic mothers, respectively. Maternal obesity is the main contributor to neonatal body fat. There is an independent association between third trimester weight gain, birthweight, and neonatal body fat, enhanced by GDM despite intensive treatment.

The Gravitostat theory: Body fat is lost but is fat-free mass preserved?

The Gravitostat theory: Body fat is lost but is fat-free mass preserved?

Effect of temperature and/or sweetness of beverages on body composition in rats.

Sweetened beverages are mainly consumed cold and various processes are activated in response to external temperature variations. However, the effect of internal temperature variations through the ingestion of cold beverages is far from clear. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of beverage temperature on body composition. Sprague-Dawley rats (5-6-week-old males) had free access to food and beverage for 8 weeks. Energy intake, body weight and body composition were monitored. In Expt 1, two groups of rats (n 9) consumed water at room temperature (NW about 22°C) or cold (CW about 4°C). In Expt 2, rats were offered room-temperature (N) or cold (C) sweetened water (10 % sucrose CSu (n 7) and NSu (n 8); or 0·05 % acesulfame K CAk (n 6) and NAk (n 8)) for 12 h, followed by plain water. Our results show that in Expt 1, CW had higher lean body mass (P < 0·001) and lower body fat gain (P = 0·004) as compared with NW. In Expt 2, body weight (P = 0·013) and fat (P ≤ 0·001) gains were higher in the non-energetic sweetened groups, while lean body mass was not affected by the type of sweeteners or temperature. In conclusion, cold water ingestion improved lean body mass gain and decreased fat gain because of increased energy expenditure, while non-energetic sweetener (acesulfame K) increased body fat gain due to improved energy efficiency. Internal cold exposure failed to increase energy intake in contrast to that of external cold exposure.

Lipid Nephrotoxicity and Increased Risk of Nephrolithiasis in Model of Estrogen Deficiency

Menopause is a period during which women tend to gain body fat. Estrogen deficiency is proposed to impact body fat composition and energy balance in these women by influencing the levels of leptin, an adipocyte‐derived hormone that acts primarily on the central nervous system. Specifically, lipid nephrotoxicity increases the risk for kidney disease and nephrolithiasis due to renal lipid accumulation and overly acidic urinary pH. Mechanisms underlying these kidney disturbances and extent of their effects when women become estrogen deficient (i.e. post‐menopausal) are not well‐defined. Utilizing an estrogen deficient (i.e. ovariectomized) rodent model, we hypothesize that central leptin receptor activation regulates renal function by augmenting the accumulation of renal lipids and urinary pH acidification. We measured the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by creatinine clearance and protein level of the neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL), an early biomarker of kidney injury, by immunohistochemistry. An increase in creatinine clearance (from 1.3 ml/min to 2.3 ml/min) and protein levels of NGAL (over 90% increase in both glomeruli and tubules) was measured in ovariectomized adult female rats when compared with their sham‐operated controls. Treatment with leptin receptor antagonist (LAN‐6, 3μg/day), delivered for four weeks into the lateral ventricle by an osmotic pump, significantly attenuated these effects. Furthermore, we determined that perirenal fat accumulation was markedly higher in the same estrogen deficiency model when compared with the sham‐operated control. Perirenal fat accumulation has been associated with lipid accumulation in renal tissues and excess of intrarenal lipid is increasingly recognized to contribute to kidney injury through lipotoxicity. A significant accumulation of renal lipid, tested using oil red O staining, was detected in the renal tubules of the ovariectomized animals when compared with their controls. We also found significant acidification of urinary pH and decreased protein expression of a key player in urinary pH regulation, Na/H exchanger‐3 (NHE3), in ovariectomized animals when compared with their controls. Renal lipid accumulation, urinary pH acidification and decrease in NHE3 expression were all partially reversed by blocking activation of central leptin receptors. We propose that: 1. An increase in GFR combined with kidney injury presupposes kidney dysfunction, 2. infiltration of renal lipid leads to renal injury, through lipotoxicity, 3. urinary pH acidification and reduction of NHE3 expression increases the risk of nephrolithiasis. Taken together, these findings suggest that leptin plays a key role in the development of menopausal‐associated kidney disease.

Association Between Changes in Body Weight and Fat Weight in Middle Age General Population.

Body weight gain in middle age is thought to be mainly attributable to body fat gain. However, the association between the change in body weight and change in fat weight is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to clarify the association between the changes in body weight and fat weight in a middle-aged general population using a community-based cohort. We studied 3,193 subjects who underwent health check-ups. Fat weight was measured using a TANITA DC-270A body composition analyzer (Tanita Corporation, Tokyo). Good correlation was observed between the changes in body weight and fat weight (Pearson r = 0.88, P < 0.001). Among the study subjects, 408 (13%) were categorized in the weight loss group (weight loss ≥ 5%), 2,442 (76%) in the weight stable group, and 343 (11%) in the weight gain group (weight gain ≥ 5%). The percentage of change in fat weight in relation to the change in body weight was 65% on average in subjects with body weight loss, and 70% on average in those with body weight gain. Good correlation between changes in body weight and fat weight was observed regardless of age, gender, and baseline body mass index. A change in body weight was closely correlated with a change in fat weight among the middle-aged general population. Body weight change in the middle-age population appears to be mainly attributable to the change in fat weight.

Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids: Endocannabinoids, genetics and obesity

The tissue composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is important to health and depends on both dietary intake and metabolism controlled by genetic polymorphisms that should be taken into consideration in the determination of nutritional requirements, obesity and chronic disease risk. Experimental and clinical intervention studies suggest that omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids have opposing physiological and metabolic properties and elicit divergent effects on body fat gain through mechanisms of adipogenesis, browning of adipose tissue, lipid homeostasis, systemic inflammation and an increase in the tone of the endocannabinoid system. Overweight and obese individuals have higher levels of the arachidonic acid (AA) derived endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and an altered pattern of receptor expression. Since endocannabinoids are products of dietary fats, modification of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid intake modulates the endocannabinoids, with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) displacing AA from cell membranes, reducing AEA and 2-AG production, resulting in decrease in appetite and food intake leading to weight loss. Polygenic risk scores reveal susceptibility and an increase risk for obesity. Therefore, persons at risk for obesity will have to lower omega-6 and increase their omega-3 fatty acid intake in order to have a balanced ratio for health. A process needs to be established to define when genomic discoveries such as gene-nutrient-disease associations are “ready” to be evaluated as potential tools for personalized nutrition to improve public health.

Iron status, weight changes and body composition during anemia recovery in an experimental model: the effect of fermented goat or cow milk

Objective: to provide detailed information on iron status, body changes, food intake, hepatosomatic index, and body composition during recovery from severe iron deficiency anemia with fermented cow or goat milk. Material and methods: sixty male Wistar albino rats were divided into two experimental groups (control and anemic) and fed ad libitum an AIN-93G diet for 40 days, receiving a normal Fe diet (45 mg/kg of diet) or a low-Fe diet (5 mg/kg of diet), respectively. After induction of anemia, both the control and anemic groups were additionally fed for 30 days either a fermented cow milk-based or fermented goat milk-based diet with normal Fe content. Hematological and iron-related biochemical parameters, weight changes, food intake, hepatosomatic index, and body composition were assessed. Results: The hepatosomatic index was higher in the anemic group versus the control group. In both groups fed a fermented goat milk-based diet the hepatosomatic index was higher due to lower body weight and a higher liver weight. Food intake, weight gain, and total body fat were lower, whereas lean mass and free and total water were higher in the anemic group as compared to the control group. In both animal groups fed a fermented goat milk-based diet body weight and body fat were lower and the percentages of lean mass and free water and total water were higher. Conclusion: Iron deficiency decreased weight gain, lean mass, and body fat, indicating lower energy stores. Fermented goat milk-based diet recovers more efficiently iron status, decreased adiposity, and increased energy expenditure.

Body fat gain and loss differentially influence validity of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis during simultaneous fat-free mass accretion

The validity of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MFBIA) for detecting changes in fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and body fat percentage (BF%) was evaluated, as compared to a rapid 4-component (4C) model, in 31 females completing 8 weeks of resistance training. Analyses were performed in all participants (ALL) and in subgroups that gained FFM but lost FM (R subgroup) or gained both FFM and FM (G subgroup). It was hypothesized that methods would comparably detect changes in ALL, but discrepancies would occur in subgroup analysis. Changes in body composition did not significantly differ between 4C, DXA, and MFBIA. Equivalence testing indicated that similar changes were detected by DXA and MFBIA, compared to 4C, for ΔFFM in all analyses and ΔBF% in ALL and R subgroup. ΔFM was equivalent to 4C only in R subgroup for DXA and G subgroup for MFBIA. For ΔFM and ΔBF%, DXA and MFBIA produced similar magnitude errors in ALL. However, DXA exhibited lower error in R subgroup, whereas MFBIA exhibited lower error in G subgroup. For ΔFFM, DXA and MFBIA exhibited relatively similar errors in ALL and R subgroup, although MFBIA displayed proportional bias and weaker correlations with 4C than DXA. In G subgroup, MFBIA exhibited lower errors and a higher correlation with 4C ΔFFM than DXA. Although both DXA and MFBIA may have utility for estimating body composition changes during FFM accretion, DXA may be superior during simultaneous FM loss, whereas MFBIA may produce lower error during simultaneous FM gain.

Body fat change and 8-year incidence of hypertension: Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Hypertension is strongly correlated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Recent studies have demonstrated that body fat percentage (BF%) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between a change in BF% and body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of new-onset hypertension in a normotensive Korean cohort. At baseline (2001-2002), 8848 participants aged 40-70years were recruited for the study; follow-up surveys were completed in the year 2012. A total of 3902 adults (1866 men and 2036 women) were included in the final analysis. These subjects were divided into quartile groups according to changes in BF% and were followed for 8.4years to monitor for the development of hypertension. A Poisson regression model was used to evaluate the relative risk (RR) for hypertension according to BF% change quartile. Additionally, we also stratified participants into four groups according to BMI change levels and body fat change levels. Finally, we compared two factors, BF% change, and BMI change, to determine which is more predictive of incident hypertension. In an adjusted model, compared with the lowest BF% quartile group, the risk of new-onset hypertension significantly increased with BF% change: Changes in risk were 0%-2.0% for quartile 3 subjects (RR: 1.32 [1.06-1.63]) and 2.0%-8.9% for quartile 4 participants (RR: 1.78 [1.43-2.19]). We also revealed that the RR for new-onset hypertension was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.47-2.21) for quartile 4 group subjects, compared with subjects in quartile 1 (change in BMI -6.80 to -0.86% [kg/m2 ]). Body fat gain and BMI increase were predictors of hypertension in this community-based Korean cohort.