High-calorie Diet Research Articles

Improvement of energy metabolism associated with NUTRIOSE® soluble fiber, a dietary ingredient exhibiting prebiotic properties, requires intestinal gluconeogenesis

While the prevalence of obesity progresses worldwide, the consumption of sugars and dietary fiber increases and decreases, respectively. In this context, NUTRIOSE® soluble fiber is a plant-based food ingredient with beneficial effects in Humans. Here, we studied in mice the mechanisms involved, particularly the involvement of intestinal gluconeogenesis (IGN), the essential function in the beneficial effects of dietary fibers.To determine whether NUTRIOSE® exerts its beneficial effects via the activation of IGN, we studied the effects of dietary NUTRIOSE® on the development of obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which IGN is able to prevent. To assert the role of IGN in the observed effects, we studied wild-type (WT) and IGN-deficient mice.In line with our hypothesis, NUTRIOSE® exerts metabolic benefits in WT mice, but not in IGN-deficient mice. Indeed, WT mice are protected from body weight gain and NAFLD induced by a high calorie diet. In addition, our data suggests that NUTRIOSE® may improve energy balance by activating a browning process in subcutaneous white adipose tissue.While the gut microbiota composition changes with NUTRIOSE®, this is not sufficient in itself to account for the benefits observed. On the contrary, IGN is obligatory in the NUTRIOSE® benefits, since no benefit take place in absence of IGN.In conclusion, IGN plays a crucial and essential role in the set-up of the beneficial effects of NUTRIOSE®, highlighting the interest of the supplementation of food with healthy ingredients in the context of the current obesity epidemic.

Anti-Obesity and Anti-Dyslipidemic Effects of Salicornia arabica Decocted Extract in Tunisian Psammomys obesus Fed a High-Calorie Diet.

Salicornia is a halophyte plant that has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of scurvy, goiter, and hypertension. It is commercialized in Europe and Asia as fresh salads, pickled vegetables, green salt, or tea powder. This work is the first to assess the potential anti-obesity and anti-dyslipidemic effects of Salicornia arabica decocted extract (SADE). SADE was characterized by its significant in vitro radical scavenging activity (using DPPH and ABTS assays). The effect of SADE on food intake, weight loss, serum biochemical parameters, liver and kidney weights, adiposity index and on liver histology was investigated in the Tunisian gerbil Psammomys obesus (P. obesus), which is recognized as a relevant animal model of human obesity and diabetes. P. obesus animals were firstly randomly divided into two groups: the first received a natural low-calorie chow diet (LCD), and the second group received a high-calorie diet (HCD) over 12 weeks. On day 90, animals were divided into four groups receiving or not receiving SADE (LCD, LCD + SADE, HCD, and HCD + SADE). If compared to the HCD group, SADE oral administration (300 mg/kg per day during 4 weeks) in HCD + SADE group showed on day 120 a significant decrease in body weight (-34%), blood glucose (-47.85%), serum levels of total cholesterol (-54.92%), LDL cholesterol (-60%), triglycerides (-48.03%), and of the levels of hepatic enzymes: ASAT (-66.28%) and ALAT (-31.87%). Oral administration of SADE restored the relative liver weight and adiposity index and significantly limited HCD-induced hepatic injury in P. obesus. SADE seems to have promising in vivo anti-obesity and anti-dyslipidemic effects.

Effects of High-Fat and High-Fat High-Sugar Diets in the Anxiety, Learning and Memory, and in the Hippocampus Neurogenesis and Neuroinflammation of Aged Rats

High-caloric diets induce several deleterious alterations in the human body, including the brain. However, information on the effects of these diets on the elderly brain is scarce. Therefore, we studied the effects of 2 months of treatment with high-fat (HF) and high-fat-high-sugar (HFHS) diets on aged male Wistar rats at 18 months. Anxiety levels were analyzed using the open-field and plus-maze tests, while learning and memory processes were analyzed using the Morris water maze test. We also analyzed neurogenesis using doublecortin (DCX) and neuroinflammation using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In aged rats, the HFHS diet impaired spatial learning, memory, and working memory and increased anxiety levels, associated with a reduction in the number of DCX cells and an increase in GFAP cells in the hippocampus. In contrast, the effects of the HF diet were lighter, impairing spatial memory and working memory, and associated with a reduction in DCX cells in the hippocampus. Thus, our results suggest that aged rats are highly susceptible to high-caloric diets, even if they only started in the elderly, with an impact on cognition and emotions. Furthermore, diets rich in saturated fats and sugar are more detrimental to aged rats than high-fat diets are.

The effect of a high-calorie diet on the total content of chemical elements and metal-ligand forms of zinc in the blood serum and liver of Wistar rats

Background. Worldwide, there is a rapid increase in the number of people suffering from various forms of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism disorders. Modern studies show that the transport, distribution, excretion and accumulation of chemical elements in these types of metabolic disorders change in different ways and affect the further functional state of the body differently.The aim. To evaluate the level of macro- and microelements in the blood serum and liver, as well as the content of metal-ligand forms of zinc in the blood serum of a Wistar rat in a high-calorie diet.Materials and methods. Thirty male rats were selected for the experiment, from which two groups were formed: control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15). The animals of the control group received the basic diet (270 kcal/100 g), and the animals of the experimental group received a high-calorie diet. During the experiment, the caloric content of the diet of the experimental group gradually increased from the caloric content of the total diet. During the study, body weight, biochemical parameters of blood and urine were evaluated. The analysis of macro- and microelements in the samples was carried out using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Determination of the content of individual zinc compounds in blood serum was carried out using a combination of a chromatograph and a mass spectrometer.Results. It was found that a high-calorie diet led to a decrease in the level of iron, chromium, iodine, zinc, potassium, calcium, and an increase in vanadium in blood serum. In the liver, there was a decrease in the level of lithium and an increase in the level of calcium, vanadium, chromium, iron, zinc, cobalt. When assessing the chemical forms of zinc in the blood serum, a percentage increase in the albumin fraction was recorded against the background of a decrease in amino acid complexes and low-molecular-weight forms of zinc.Conclusion. The data obtained suggest that a high-calorie diet leads to an imbalance of chemical elements, which can serve as one of the triggers for dysregulation of a number of physiological functions of the body.

New Insights into Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

High-calorie diet and sedentary lifestyles are strongly associated with the development and onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). According to the International Diabetes Federation, the global incidence of diabetes among individuals aged 20–79 years was 9.3% in 2019. The current estimated total number of patients with diabetes is 463 million, with an expected increase to over 578 million by 2030.[1] Systemic insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion in T2D result in several complications that severely impair a patients quality of life, especially the development of T2D nephropathy (T2DN).[2] Increasing evidence has shown that the dysregulation of TGF-β signaling contributes to the development of T2DN. For example, the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway is dysregulated in the kidneys of T2D patients, where activation of Smad3 and loss of its inhibitor Smad7 lead to severe glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.[3] T2D associated with high levels of blood glucose and advanced glycation end-products can induce Smad3 phosphorylation in mesangial cells, tubular epithelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.[3–4] Smad3 also reportedly downregulated the expression of the transcription factors Pdx-1, Nkx6.1, and NeuroD1 in the islet beta cells of db/db mice,[6,7] which transcriptionally suppresses the proliferation and function of islet beta cells and therefore further promotes the progression of T2D. In contrast, Smad7, a natural negative feedback regulator of Smad3, can reduce renal inflammation in diabetic nephropathy by promoting islet beta cell proliferation by targeting an NF-κB-dependent mechanism.[8] Thus, rebalancing the equilibrium between Smad3 and Smad7 in TGF-β downstream signaling may represent a therapeutic strategy for T2DN.[9] Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been reported to have therapeutic effects in T2D. For example, a clinical study showed that Tianqi can significantly slow down diabetes progression and minimize diabetes risk by enhancing glucose tolerance.[10] Berberine, the main compound of Coptis, reduced insulin resistance in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes by suppressing oxidative stress and aldose reductase.[11] Combination therapy is a well-documented therapeutic protocol for TCM, which involves the simultaneous or sequential use of more than one herbal component to maximize the therapeutic outcome by parallel regulation of numerous signaling pathways and transcriptional events. In fact, our group has invented a novel TCM-based combination therapy named AANG, containing a natural Smad7 agonist, asiatic acid (AA) from Centella asiatica,[12] and the Smad3 inhibitor naringenin (NG) from Citrus or Millettiareticulata Benth,[13] which synergistically inhibit multidrug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting Smad3-dependent p-glycoprotein expression at the transcriptional level.[14] These findings revealed the therapeutic potential of AANG in other human diseases associated with the aberration of TGF-β/Smad3 signaling. Encouragingly, our recently published article in the International Journal of Biological Sciences[15] provides novel insights into Smad3-dependent T2DN. In this study, we used AANG to rebalance the Smad3/Smad7 equilibrium in the diabetic injured kidneys of db/db mice, which not only reduced NF-κB-driven renal inflammation but also prevented Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis. Moreover, the collective results of the study found that AANG combination had a better effect than monotherapy with either AA or NG on the regulation of Smad3/Smad7 signaling in diabetic kidneys. Our data suggested that AANG effectively protected islet beta cells against diabetes-induced regression in a Smad3-dependent manner. Furthermore, we observed the synergistic effect of AANG on the induction of Smad7 for protecting the diabetic kidney against NF-κB-mediated renal inflammation.[16,17] In addition, we detected that AANG can inhibit the expression of the Smad3-dependent fibrogenic lncRNA Erbb4-IR[18] and inflammatory lncRNA LRNA9884[19] in db/db mice, which may also represent a protective mechanism against T2DN. Importantly, in the same study,[15] we unexpectedly discovered the preventive effect of AANG therapy on the primary disease T2D. We found that AANG synergistically prevented the onset of T2D in db/db mice, resulting in improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. The preventive effect of AANG on T2D was achieved by starting treatment in 4-week-old db/db mice at the pre-diabetic stage but not at the post-diabetic stage (12-week-old db/db mice). We further identified that AANG exerts a preventive effect on pancreatic islets, the niche of T2D onset. These interesting findings suggested that AANG can prevent T2D if applied to individuals at the pre-diabetic stage. In summary, our new study[15] demonstrated the efficiency of AANG in suppressing the development of T2DN in db/db mice by systematically rebalancing Smad3/Smad7 signaling in the pancreas and kidneys, which consequently suppressed Smad3-mediated renal fibrosis and NF-κB-driven renal inflammation. In addition, we unexpectedly discovered a novel therapeutic function of AANG in preventing T2D onset by reserving beta cell proliferation and insulin production capacity in islets under diabetic conditions. This research provides new insights and important clinical rationale for translating this AANG combined therapy as a unique and an effective treatment for T2DN, as well as a TCM-based formula for preventing T2D onset in patients with pre-diabetic conditions.

Intermittent fasting for the management of NAFLD: Is there enough evidence?

Abstract The pathogenesis of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been described as multifactorial, with genetic and environmental factors acting synergistically and causing excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and downstream pathogenetic insults. High-calorie diets, particularly those rich in foods with high (saturated) fat and sugar content, and sugar-sweetened beverages, are among the behavioral risk factors with a crucial role in the disease pathogenesis. In addition, meal frequency and meal timing appear to be relevant factors associated with NAFLD. Current guidelines recommend a hypocaloric, preferably Mediterranean diet as the main dietary intervention approach, but various other dietary models have been evaluated in patients with NAFLD. Among these, several intermittent fasting regimens have shown promising results. Diets based on Time-Restricted Feeding and Intermittent Energy Restriction have demonstrated some improvements in body adiposity, liver enzymes, and hepatic steatosis, but most studies included a small number of subjects, were of relatively short-duration, and used surrogate markers of NAFLD. The best intermittent fasting regimen for NAFLD is not yet known, and further well-designed research that evaluates the feasibility (mainly on long-term), safety and efficacy outcomes of these dietary interventions is still needed. Our review has evaluated the up-to-date information regarding the intermittent fasting dietary intervention in NAFLD and generated some key-point messages that are relevant to physicians and dietitians involved in the care of patients with NAFLD.

Low-Molecular-Mass Fragments of Collagen Improve Parameters Related to Mass and Inflammation of the Adipose Tissue in the Obese Rat.

Despite clearly recognized links between increased body mass and increased risk for various pathological conditions, therapeutic options to treat obesity are still very limited. The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of low-molecular-mass collagen fragments obtained from the scales of Antarctic wild marine fish on rats' visceral and subcutaneous white adipose tissue in a high-calorie diet-induced obesity model. The study was conducted on outbred rats, which were divided into 3 experimental groups: (i) control, consuming standard food (3.81 kcal/g), (ii) obese group, consuming a high-calorie diet (5.35 kcal/g), and (iii) obese group, consuming a high-calorie diet (5.35 kcal/g) with intragastric administration of low-molecular-mass collagen fragments (at a dose 1 g/kg of body mass during 6 weeks). Low-molecular-mass collagen fragments were obtained by a procedure that included collagen extraction from fish scales and enzymatic hydrolysis with pepsin. Apart from hematoxylin and eosin staining, fibrosis level was assessed by histochemical Van Gieson's trichrome picrofuchsin staining, and mast cells were analysed by toluidine blue O staining. Group treated with low-molecular-mass fragments of collagen exhibited decreased rate of mass gain, relative mass, area occupied by collagen fibre of both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, and cross-sectional area of both visceral and subcutaneous adipocytes. Treatment with low-molecular-mass fragments of collagen reduced the infiltration of immune cells, number of mast cells and their redistribution back to the septa. This was also accompanied by a decreased number of the crown-like structures formed by the immune cells, which are markers of chronic inflammation that accompanies obesity. This is the first study that reports the anti-obesity effect of low-molecular-mass fragments produced as a result of controlled hydrolysis of collagen from the scales of Antarctic wild marine fish in the in vivo model. Another novelty of this work is the observation that the tested collagen fragments not only reduce the body mass, but also improve the morphological and inflammatory parameters (decrease in the number of crown-like structures, immune cell infiltration, fibrosis and mast cells). Altogether, our work suggests that low-molecular-mass collagen fragments are a promising candidate for amelioration of some comorbidities linked to obesity.

Self-assembling polymer-based short chain fatty acid prodrugs ameliorate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis

With the preponderance of a high-calorie diet and sedentary lifestyle, the prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a state of abnormally elevated lipid accumulation in the liver with chronic inflammation, is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Hence, cost-effective therapeutic interventions are required to manage this disease at an early stage. Numerous reports have suggested a link between gut microbial dysbiosis, particularly a decrease in the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing microbiota and NASH pathogenesis. Considering these low molecular weight (LMW) SCFAs such as acetic, propionic, and butyric acids have been used to inhibit hepatic steatosis in mouse models. However, the poor pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of SCFAs, caused due to their LMW, renders them therapeutically ineffective. Thus, to improve the PK characteristic-based therapeutic efficacy of LMW SCFAs, we designed SCFA-based prodrugs that possess self-assembling characteristics in aqueous media. The designed SCFA prodrugs consist of enzyme-metabolizable amphiphilic block copolymers, [poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(vinyl ester)s] conjugated to propionic acid (PA) or butyric acid (BA) by an ester linkage, which self-assemble into stable nanosized micelles several tens of nanometers in diameter (NanoPA and NanoBA). Via pharmacological analysis, we confirmed that, after oral administration, LMW BA decreased to a physiological level within 24 h in the liver, whereas BA liberated from NanoBA was observed until 72 h post-administration, implying a sustained release profile. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of NanoSCFA in a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-induced NASH and liver fibrosis mouse model by ad libitum drinking. NanoSCFA, particularly NanoBA, exhibited the remarkable potential to ameliorate the phenotypic features of fatty liver disease by reducing hepatic lipogenesis and fibrosis, with negligible adverse effects. In contrast, conventional LMW SCFAs failed to prevent the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease, which plausibly can be explained by their rapid clearance and discernible adverse effects. Mechanistic studies revealed that NanoBA restored the nuclear expression of PPARα, a transcriptional factor regulating mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, in the periportal hepatocytes and decreased the CPT1A expression level in the hepatic tissues, reflecting the therapeutic effects of NanoBA. Taken together, we confirmed that our NanoSCFA potentially improved the PK properties of SCFAs, and it consequently alleviated NASH symptoms and fibrotic liver compared to LMW SCFAs. Our study establishes NanoSCFA as a suitable nano-assembled prodrug for NASH treatment.

A combined X-ray fluorescence and infrared microspectroscopy study for new insights into elemental-biomolecular obesity-induced changes in rat brain structures

The objective of our research was to determine the brain changes at the molecular and elemental levels typical of early-stage obesity. Therefore a combined approach using Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy (FTIR-MS) and synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) was introduced to evaluate some brain macromolecular and elemental parameters in high-calorie diet (HCD)- induced obese rats (OB, n = 6) and in their lean counterparts (L, n = 6). A HCD was found to alter the lipid- and protein- related structure and elemental composition of the certain brain areas important for energy homeostasis. The increased lipid unsaturation in the frontal cortex and ventral tegmental area, the increased fatty acyl chain length in the lateral hypothalamus and substantia nigra as well as the decreased both protein α helix to protein β- sheet ratio and the percentage fraction of β-turns and β-sheets in the nucleus accumbens were revealed in the OB group reflecting obesity-related brain biomolecular aberrations. In addition, the certain brain elements including P, K and Ca were found to differentiate the lean and obese groups at the best extent. We can conclude that HCD-induced obesity triggers lipid- and protein- related structural changes as well as elemental redistribution within various brain structures important for energy homeostasis. In addition, an approach applying combined X-ray and infrared spectroscopy was shown to be a reliable tool for identifying elemental-biomolecular rat brain changes for better understanding the interplay between the chemical and structural processes involved in appetite control.

Maternal Pea Protein Intake Provides Sex-Specific Protection against Dyslipidemia in Offspring from Obese Pregnancies.

Increased consumption of dietary pulse protein has been shown to assist in body weight regulation and improve a range of metabolic health outcomes. We investigated if the exchange of casein for yellow pea protein (YPPN) in an obese-inducing maternal diet throughout pregnancy and lactation offered protection against obesity and dyslipidemia in offspring. Sixty female Sprague Dawley rats were fed a low-calorie control diet (CON), a high-caloric obesity-inducing diet (with casein protein (CP), HC-CP), or an isocaloric/macronutrient-matched HC diet supplemented with YPPN isolate (HC-PPN) in pre-pregnancy, gestation, and lactation. Body weight (BW) and metabolic outcomes were assessed in male and female offspring at weaning and in adulthood after consuming the CON diet in the postnatal period. Consumption of the HC-PPN diet did not protect against maternal obesity but did improve reproductive success compared with the HC-CP group (72.7% versus 43.7%) and reduced total energy, fat, and protein in maternal milk. Male, but not female, offspring from mothers fed the HC-CP diet demonstrated hyperphagia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation as adults compared with CON offspring. Isocaloric exchange of CP for YPPN in a high-calorie obese-inducing diet did not protect against obesity but did improve several aspects of lipid metabolism in adult male offspring including serum total cholesterol, LDL/VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), and hepatic TG concentration. Our results suggest that the exchange of CP for YPPN in a maternal obese-inducing diet selectively protects male offspring from the malprogramming of lipid metabolism in adulthood.

Can Resveratrol Influence the Activity of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1? A Combined In Silico and In Vivo Study.

The enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD-1) is an NADPH-dependent reductase, responsible for the activation of cortisol by reducing cortisone. Resveratrol (RES), a type of natural polyphenol, is reported to be able to slow the progression of cancer and cardiovascular disease and improve the health of mice on a high-calorie diet. In this article, we applied molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the possibility of binding RES to 11β-HSD-1. The 11β-HSD-1:RES complex is stable on the μs time scale, and backbone RMSD-based clustering identified three conformations. Special attention was paid to the interaction pattern between the ligand and the target molecule, revealing hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl group of RES and Thr124, as well as hydrophobic interactions responsible for the binding. In vivo studies demonstrated the ability of resveratrol at a dose of 40 mg/kg to reduce 11β-HSD-1 activity in the liver of rats under conditions of experimental post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as in non-stressed animals. In both cases, the resveratrol-induced reduction in 11β-HSD-1 activity was accompanied by an increase in plasma corticosterone levels and a decrease in anxiety levels in the plus maze test.

What are Sertoli cells? Historical, methodological, and functional aspects.

Sertoli cells are somatic cells that are in close contact with germ cells in the mammalian testes. They have multiple functions and fulfill key roles for the development and proper maturation of spermatogenic cells into functional spermatozoa. One of their most important properties is to release trophic factors and supply nutrients to germ cells. But they are also involved in the regulation of the immune system in testis, and provide an immunologically privileged environment for developing germ cells. Because they are so essential for reproductive cells, their alterations can have detrimental consequences for fertility. Many environmental factors and exposures such as high caloric diet, toxins, and pollutants are thought to compromise Sertoli cells physiology. This review describes the discovery of Sertoli cells and the methods used for their study, summarizes their major properties and functions, and describes their dysfunctions in pathologies, particularly associated with environmental stressors.

High Risk of Metabolic Complications Due to High Consumption of Processed Foods

Abstract: The lack of knowledge among adolescents makes them more sensitive to engage in unhealthy habits which might harm health and nutritional status. A high caloric diet and lack of physical activity are responsible for the generation of reactive oxygen species leading to neurological diseases. The gap in knowledge about Junk food and its complications poses a significant threat to public health policy. Metabolic Syndrome develops due to high fat-induced chronic inflammation and leads to cognition disturbances, stroke, and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Adolescent age is the most devastating one where several Lifestyle associated diseases (Sophisticated and cozy lifestyle) occur and is linked with chronic diseases viz., Alzheimer, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Alcoholic Fatty liver disease, Obesity, Hypertension, etc. The unstructured eating behaviors should be prevented at the earliest to overcome the "Fast food Genocide" from eating Processed foods to obesity and nutritional deficiencies leading to neurological complications and destructing the brain cell. As we age, memory begins to decline, and thus by lowering our intake of high calorific foods and salt intake, we could reduce metabolic syndrome-related and age-related issues like blood pressure, T2DM, obesity, etc. Thus, to curb diseases linked with Junk foods, awareness about nutritional values of foods among adolescents and higher tax slabs of junks foods should be made to reduce the purchase of such products.

Anti-obesity effect of collagen peptides obtained from Diplulmaris antarctica, a jellyfish of the Antarctic region

To investigate the ability of collagen peptides derived from a jellyfish of the Antarctic region (Diplulmaris antarctica) to prevent the development of obesity in rats fed a high-calorie diet. Collagen peptides were produced by pepsin hydrolysis of jellyfish-derived collagen. The purity of collagen and collagen peptides was confirmed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Rats were fed a high-calorie diet for ten weeks and were simultaneously orally administered collagen peptides (1 g per 1 kg of body weight every other day) starting from the fourth week. Body mass index (BMI), body weight gain, selected nutritional parameters, the key parameters associated with insulin resistance, and the level of oxidative stress markers were assessed. Compared with untreated obese rats, rats treated with hydrolyzed jellyfish collagen peptides had a decreased body weight gain and body mass index. They also had a decreased level of fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, lipid peroxidation products (conjugated dienes, Schiff bases), and oxidatively modified proteins, as well as a restored activity of superoxide dismutase. Collagen peptides obtained from Diplulmaris antarctica can be used to prevent and treat obesity caused by a high-calorie diet and pathologies associated with increased oxidative stress. Given the obtained results and the abundance of Diplulmaris antarctica in the Antarctic region, this species can be considered a sustainable source of collagen and its derivatives.

The Factors Affecting The Occurrence of Obesity in College Students

Obesity is a physical condition that can lead to health disorder. An increase in body mass index can be a risk factor for some non-communicable diseases, among which are cardiovascular diseases. College students are among the people with high risk of obesity. This review aims to describe factors that can cause obesity and hence the increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases in college students. We first collected 608 studies associated with our review and then selected 9 studies that highly correlate to our specific purpose. We evaluated each selected study for its quality and risk of bias using STROBE. We then conducted data extraction of each study. It can be concluded from the results of data extraction that even though there are various factors contributing to the occurence of obesity in college students, skipping breakfast and high snack consumption have a close relationship with the occurence. In addition, inadequate physical activity and high calorie diet also contribute to its occurence. Finally, smoking is also associated with the occurence of obesity, that can lead to the increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Ketogenic Diet and Ketone Bodies against Ischemic Injury: Targets, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potential.

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used as a treatment for epilepsy since the 1920s, and its role in the prevention of many other diseases is now being considered. In recent years, there has been an intensive investigation on using the KD as a therapeutic approach to treat acute pathologies, including ischemic ones. However, contradictory data are observed for the effects of the KD on various organs after ischemic injury. In this review, we provide the first systematic analysis of studies conducted from 1980 to 2022 investigating the effects and main mechanisms of the KD and its mimetics on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, gut, and eyes. Our analysis demonstrated a high diversity of both the composition of the used KD and the protocols for the treatment of animals, which could be the reason for contradictory effects in different studies. It can be concluded that a true KD or its mimetics, such as β-hydroxybutyrate, can be considered as positive exposure, protecting the organ from ischemia and its negative consequences, whereas the shift to a rather similar high-calorie or high-fat diet leads to the opposite effect.

Challenges in Imaging the Obese Patients

Objective: Obesity is a very common health problem and is considered a global non-communicable disease by the World Health Organization (WHO). Modern-day obesity is mainly due to physical inactivity, a high-calorie diet, and a sedentary lifestyle. It is associated with a multitude of commodities, such as diabetes type II, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and even cancer. Due to this, obese patients are more likely to present for health assessment and are more likely to require imaging. The size of these patients brings diagnostic challenges involving gantry size, image quality, and radiation exposure. This review article compiles all the challenges and new techniques to overcome them during the imaging of the obese. Key findings: There are many challenges to imaging the obese, as mentioned. Each modality also has its own specific set of challenges. There have been efforts to overcome these shortcomings, and many manufacturers now produce machines with higher weight load capacity and many other features to improve imaging of the obese, as mentioned in this article. Conclusion: Obese patients face unique challenges in medical imaging and intervention. Over the last few years, medical manufacturers, radiographers, and radiologists have recognized these issues and come up with innovative techniques to overcome these challenges. Implications for practice: Technical challenges of imaging obese patients need to be known and addressed, as mentioned in this paper.

Evaluation of the impact of unhealthy nutrition on the intestinal microbiota, mitochondrial function and the formation of multiple organ metabolic syndrome, ways of correction

BACKGROUND: The problem of metabolic syndrome is considered a demographic catastrophe. According to WHO experts,«by 2025, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the world will amount to more than 300 million people, and in the next 25 years it is expected to increase by 50%.» The pathophysiological mechanisms of MS formation and the role of unhealthy diet on the development of intestinal dysbiosis, mitochondrial insufficiency remain unclear.AIM: To study the effect of unhealthy diet on the state of the intestinal microbiota and the development of metabolicmitochondrial insufficiency in the formation of a multi-organ metabolic syndrome, evaluation of ways of correction.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical picture assessment, anthropometric data (body mass index), laboratory results (glucose, cholesterol and fractions) were carried out in patients with MS, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, C-reactive protein, lipid peroxidation indicators: malondialdehyde, diene conjugates, schiff bases, hydroperoxides, catalase, superoxide dismutase, succinate dehydrogenase (ASDH), α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (α-AGFDH). Hemorheological parameters were evaluated by the apparent viscosity of blood, the yield strength, the aggregation coefficient of erythrocytes and platelets. The microbiota and microbiome of the intestine were evaluated by species, strain composition and the level of metabolites-propionic, butyric, acetic acid, lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycans. A questionnaire was conducted to study the nature of nutrition.RESULTS: The study included 128 patients with MS and 25 healthy individuals. According to medical outpatient records from anamnesis, questioning of each patient, complaints and clinical picture, 26.2% of patients had type 2 diabetes, 3.74% of men had erectile dysfunction, 7.5% of women had polycystic ovaries, 15.1% had night apnea syndrome, 8.7% hyperuricemic syndrome, 96.5% of patients had metabolic fatty liver steatosis. According to the results of the survey, it was revealed that 99.8% of patients adhered to an unhealthy and unbalanced, high-calorie diet, 46.4% of patients had a low level of physical activity, 48.7% had an average. The revealed disorders of lipid, carbohydrate metabolism, microbiota and intestinal microbiome were associated with increased lipid peroxidation, decreased levels of antioxidant defense enzymes, indicators reflecting mitochondrial function against the background of hemorheological disorders.CONCLUSION: In multi-organ MS, unhealthy diet can be considered as a targeted risk factor triggering pathophysiological mechanisms at the level of the intestinal microbiota, followed by a cascade of metabolic disorders in the form of activation of lipid peroxidation with inhibition of antioxidant defense enzymes, the development of multi-organ mitochondrial insufficiency and the development of latent hemorheological syndrome. The revealed metabolic complex obviously constitutes a multiorgan morphological cluster underlying the development of multi-organ metabolic syndrome. Based on the identified disorders, pathogenetically justified correction of MS should include a balanced diet with mitochondrial protective therapy.

Multi-Nutrient Analysis of Dietary Macronutrients with All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality: Data from NHANES 1999-2014.

Macronutrients are a major component of the human diet. However, few studies have assessed their collective association with mortality. We sought to evaluate the associations of macronutrient intake with all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in US adults using a multi-nutrient approach. This prospective cohort analysis used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the years 1999 to 2014. The participants included 33,681 US adults aged 20-85 years (52.5% female). The maximum follow-up time was 16.8 years, with a total of 4398 total deaths, including 772 cardiovascular deaths and 952 cancer deaths. The associations between mortality and dietary macronutrients were explored using three-dimensional generalized additive models, allowing for visual and statistical inference of complex nonlinear associations. Absolute macronutrient intake demonstrated a three-way interactive association with all-cause mortality (p < 0.001), cardiovascular mortality (p = 0.02), and cancer mortality (p = 0.05), adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, dietary quality, and lifestyle. Compositionally, a high caloric diet composed of moderately high protein (20%), moderate fat (30%), and moderate carbohydrate (50%) levels was associated with the highest mortality risk. Across the total energy intake levels, lower mortality risk was observed in two separate regions consisting of higher protein (30%), higher carbohydrate (60%), and lower fat levels (10%) or lower protein (10%), moderate carbohydrate (45%), and higher fat levels (45%). These findings highlight a complex nonlinear and interactive association between macronutrients and all-cause mortality such that several distinct dietary compositions are associated with similarly high or low risk. Future research is needed to explore the drivers of these associations and whether they differ across varying dietary patterns and populations.

High Consumption of Lard and Fructose Modulates Larval Pupation and Stress Resistance in Drosophila Melanogaster Adults

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are becoming the number one health problem in modern society. Unhealthy diet with sedentary life style are considered to be the main causes of obesity. Food with excessive fat and fructose play an important role here. The aim of this work was to study the effects of feeding with lard, as a source of fat, or fructose, as a source of carbohydrates, on physiological and biochemical parameters of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster Canton S. The addition of 10% lard to the basic medium containing 5% fructose inhibited pupation of Canton S larvae. Medium with 15% fructose did not affect larval pupation rate. One-week feeding with medium containing 10% lard reduced climbing activity in 9-day-old Canton S males. In addition, food with 15% lard reduced climbing activity in female flies. One-week feeding with high fructose medium (15% fructose) did not affect climbing activity of flies of both sexes. Both high calorie diets, with lard and fructose, significantly increased the resistance of males to cold stress (measured by reducing time required for recovery from chill coma), but reduced heat stress resistance (determined by faster onset in heat coma at 40°C) in both sexes. The resistance of insects to starvation was reduced on high lard medium but not on fructose one. Foods enriched with fructose or lard did not affect food consumption, body masses and triacylglyceride content and levels of low- and high-molecular thiols in 9-day-old of flies of both sexes. In addition, feeding with high lard resulted in a downward trend in lower glucose and glycogen levels, whereas high fructose had the opposite effects. Thus, foods with high fructose and lard modulated stress resistance in adult flies and may affect energy metabolism. Detailed mechanisms underlying physiological effects of high fructose and lard in Drosophila needs further research.