Measured Food Intake Research Articles

Time-restricted feeding does not prevent adverse effects of palatable cafeteria diet on adiposity, cognition and gut microbiota in rats

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a popular dietary strategy whereby daily food intake is limited to a <12h window. As little is known about the effects of TRF on cognitive and behavioral measures, the present study examined the effects of time-restricted (8h/day; zeitgeber time [ZT]12–20) or continuous access to a high-fat, high-sugar cafeteria-style diet (Caf; Caf and Caf-TRF groups; n=12 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats) or standard chow (Chow and Chow-TRF groups) on short-term memory, anxiety-like behavior, adiposity and gut microbiota composition over 13-weeks with daily food intake measures. TRF significantly reduced daily energy intake in Caf- but not chow-fed groups. In Caf-fed groups, TRF reduced the proportion of energy derived from sugar while increasing that derived from protein. Caf diet significantly increased weight gain, adiposity and fasting glucose within 4 weeks; TRF partially reduced these effects. Caf diet increased anxiety-like behavior in the Elevated Plus Maze in week 3 but not week 12, and impaired hippocampal-dependent place recognition memory in week 11; neither measure was affected by TRF. Global microbiota composition differed markedly between chow and Caf groups, with a small effect of TRF in rats fed chow. In both chow and Caf diet groups, TRF reduced microbiota alpha diversity measures of Shannon diversity and evenness relative to continuous access. Results indicate only limited benefits of TRF access to an obesogenic diet under these conditions, suggesting that more severe time restriction may be required to offset adverse metabolic and cognitive effects when using highly palatable diets.

Effects of High-Intensity Intermittent Training on Metabolic Parameters and Irisin Levels in High-Fat-Fed Rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) on preventing significant weight gain and provide scientific theoretical support and practical guidance for reducing the occurrence of obesity. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control sedentary group (CS), the high-fat sedentary group (HS), the high-fat continuous exercise group (HE), and the high-fat intermittent exercise group (HI). The HE and HI groups underwent five days of continuous low-intensity exercise and eight weeks of high-intensity intermittent exercise. Weekly monitoring included measurements of food intake and body weight. An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to assess blood lipid and glucose levels, while ELISA kits measured serum insulin and irisin content. H&amp;E staining was used to observe adipocyte size. Results: In the HS group, body weight, blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels, and adipocyte size significantly increased, while the QUICKI index decreased. In the HI group, body weight, blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels, and adipocyte size decreased, and the QUICKI index increased. The effects of high-intensity intermittent exercise were superior to those of continuous low-intensity exercise. In the HI group, serum irisin levels did not change significantly after exercise, while in the HE group, there was a slight upward trend in irisin levels. Conclusion: A high-fat diet induced abnormal metabolism in rats. HIIT effectively prevents metabolic abnormalities induced by a high-fat diet, and its effects are more pronounced than those of low-intensity exercise. HIIT stimulates the secretion of blood irisin, affecting secretion levels, and may represent a novel mechanism for maintaining metabolic homeostasis. This has important implications for controlling significant weight gain.

Betahistine mesylate reduces the damage of blue light exposure in Drosophila model

Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of betahistine mesylate in treating vertigo and angioneurotic headache, enhancing microcirculation, and facilitating histamine release. However, limited research has been conducted on the drug's potential in mitigating blue light-induced damage. Thus, this study utilized Drosophila as the model organism and employed the Siler model to investigate the impact of various concentrations of betahistine mesylate on the lifespan, under 3000 lx blue light irradiation. At the same time we measure food intake, spontaneous activity, and sleep duration of Drosophila. The findings of this study indicate that a high concentration of betahistine mesylate can decrease the initial mortality (b0) in male flies, mitigating the damage of blue light to Drosophila. Consequently, this delays the aging process in male Drosophila and extends their average lifespan. After betahistine mesylate ingestion, locomotor activity upon blue light exposure decreased significantly in male Drosophila. In conclusion, this study offers initial evidence supporting the investigation of the regulatory mechanisms of betahistine mesylate on lifespan and its potential anti-blue light effects.

Improved leptin sensitivity and increased soluble leptin receptor concentrations may underlie the additive effects of combining PYY(3–36) and exendin-4 on body weight lowering in diet-induced obese mice

ObjectiveCo-treatment with long acting PYY and the GLP-1 receptor agonists has potential as an efficient obesity treatment. This study investigates whether the mechanisms behind additive reduction of food intake and weight loss depends on complementary effects in brain areas regulating food intake and if restoration of leptin sensitivity is involved. MethodsDiet-induced obese (DIO) mice were co-treated with PYY(3–36) and exendin-4 (Ex4, GLP-1R agonist) for 14 days using minipumps. Leptin responsiveness was evaluated by measuring food intake and body weight after leptin injection, and gene expression profile was investigated in various of brain regions and liver. ResultsWe show that weight loss associated with co-treatment of PYY(3–36) and Ex4 and Ex4 mono-treatment in DIO mice increased expression of several genes in area postrema (AP) known to be involved in appetite regulation and Cart, Pdyn, Bdnf and Klb were synergistically upregulated by the co-treatment. The upregulations were independent of weight loss, as shown by inclusion of a weight matched control. Moreover, PYY(3–36) and Ex4 co-treatment resulted in synergistically upregulated plasma concentrations of soluble leptin receptor (SLR) and improved sensitivity to exogenous leptin demonstrated by food intake lowering. ConclusionThe study results suggest that synergistic upregulation of appetite-regulating genes in AP and improved leptin sensitivity are important mediators for the additive weight loss resulting from PYY and Ex4 co-treatment.

Diversity of plant-based food consumption: A systematic scoping review on measurement tools and associated health outcomes

Plant-based foods encompass all food products derived from plant sources, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, herbs and spices, and nuts and seeds, plant-based fats and oils (e.g. olive oil) and plant-based beverages (e.g. tea and coffee). Consumption of diverse plant-based foods is a dietary pattern that has gained significant attention amongst the public, due to its perceived benefits for maintenance of health(1). Plant-based foods provide a rich source of macronutrients, micronutrients and non-nutrient bio-actives that are often reported to improve health outcomes. Despite this, there are no standard definitions of plant-based diversity, or consensus on methods of measurement in nutrition research studies. The objective of the current research was to conduct a scoping review of the literature to identify studies investigating plant-based food diversity and it’s impact on human health outcomes, and to subsequently characterize a) definitions of plant-based diversity used, b) methods used to assess plant-based food intake, c) methods used to assess plant- based food diversity, and d) health outcomes assessed and key findings.Eligible studies were those investigating the relationship or impact of plant-based food diversity on any health related or lifestyle outcome, by any study design, in high income countries only. Studies were identified by systematic searches of two electronic databases and manual searches of reference lists. No restrictions were applied for language or year of publication. The review was performed in line with the guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (2).Forty-four studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. The majority of studies were observational in design (39/44; 87%) and included fruits and vegetables only in their definitions of plant-based food diversity (32/44, 72%). Methods of measurement of both plant-based food intake and diversity varied greatly among studies, with only four studies (9%) utilizing a tool validated for assessment of plant-based food diversity in their population of interest. Health outcomes included dietary intake and behaviour, socioeconomic factors, cardiometabolic risk factors, and cancer risk,. No randomized controlled trials investigating the impact of plant food diversity on health outcomes were identified.There is a need for a consensus definition of “diverse plant-based foods” incorporating all relevant foods from plant sources (e.g. legumes, nuts, herbs). Robust measurement tools and reporting guidelines for the assessment of plant-based food diversity in nutrition research studies will help to standardize research in this area. Within countries, an assessment of standard levels of intake of plant-based foods would be beneficial, in identifying whether diverse plant-based eating may be a target for dietary improvement. Observational studies report associations between plant-based food diversity and health outcomes, that warrant investigation in future randomized controlled trials.

Investigating the Role of Arcuate Pirt Neurons in Energy Homeostasis

The arcuate nucleus (ARC) is a critical hypothalamic region for the control of metabolism and feeding. Previous studies show that a subgroup of inhibitory ARC neurons, which express the vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter gene ( Slc32a1) and the leptin receptor gene ( Lepr), control metabolism but not feeding. However, the identity of these neurons remains elusive. We identified a candidate neuron subtype in the ARC, marked by the expression of the phosphoinositide interacting regulator of the transient receptor potential ( Pirt) gene. We hypothesize, based on their molecular profile, that PirtARC neurons are activated by feeding to drive thermogenesis. We used the Pirt-Cre transgenic mouse to investigate the role of PirtARC neurons in energy homeostasis. To validate Cre activity, we expressed a reporter virus (AAV8-hSyn-FLEX-TVA-P2A-GFP-2A-oG) in the ARC of male and female Pirt-Cre mice (n=4; 6 injections, 50 nL each) and compared GFP (green fluorescent protein) fluorescence to Pirt expression by RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA FISH). In the absence of Cre expression, we failed to detect GFP expression, confirming the Cre dependency of the AAV. However, in Pirt-Cre mice, we found that 77% (380 of 495) of ARC Pirt RNA+neurons were GFP+ and that 79% (380 of 483) of GFP+ ARC neurons were Pirt RNA+, thereby validating the Pirt-Cre mouse for genetically targeting PirtARC neurons. Next, to investigate whether PirtARC neurons respond to metabolic states, we subjected male and female C57BL/6J mice to ad libitum feeding, 18-hour fasting, and 18-hour fasting then 2-hour refeeding (n=4 mice per condition). Using RNA FISH, we assessed the co-localization of Pirt mRNA with Fos mRNA (neuronal activity marker) across the metabolic states. We found that the percentage of PirtARC neurons co-expressing Fos mRNA is higher in ad libitum-fed mice than in fasted mice (p=0.0135; one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test), though neither group differed significantly from post-fast re-fed mice (p &gt; 0.05). This indicates that PirtARC neurons are more active in fed mice than fasted ones, consistent with our hypothesis. Finally, to investigate whether PirtARC neurons regulate food intake, we expressed the intersectional chemogenetics (AAV-CreON/FlpON-hM3Dq-HA) in the ARC of male and female Pirt-Cre::Slc32a1-Flp mice (n=6; 6 injections, 100 nL each) to activate PirtARC neurons. We intraperitoneally injected the artificial muscarinic receptor ligand, clozapine N-oxide (CNO; 1 mg/kg), or saline vehicle in ad libitum-fed mice during the 12-hour light cycle and measured food intake after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 4 hours on alternating days (CNO, 0.11 ± 0.05 g food/4 hrs.; saline, 0.11 ± 0.04 g food/4 hrs.; Two-way ANOVA, CNO vs saline, p &gt; 0.05 for all time points). Unlike other ARC inhibitory neurons, we found that activating PirtARC neurons does not increase food intake. Together, our results show that PirtARC neurons are a novel subtype of feeding-activated, non-orexigenic neurons in the arcuate hypothalamus. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Mesenchymal-specific Alms1 knockout in mice recapitulates metabolic features of Alström syndrome

ObjectiveAlström Syndrome (AS), caused by biallelic ALMS1 mutations, includes obesity with disproportionately severe insulin resistant diabetes, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver. Prior studies suggest that hyperphagia is accounted for by loss of ALMS1 function in hypothalamic neurones, whereas disproportionate metabolic complications may be due to impaired adipose tissue expandability. We tested this by comparing the metabolic effects of global and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-specific Alms1 knockout. MethodsGlobal Alms1 knockout (KO) mice were generated by crossing floxed Alms1 and CAG-Cre mice. A Pdgfrα-Cre driver was used to abrogate Alms1 function selectively in MSCs and their descendants, including preadipocytes. We combined metabolic phenotyping of global and Pdgfrα+ Alms1-KO mice on a 45% fat diet with measurements of body composition and food intake, and histological analysis of metabolic tissues. ResultsAssessed on 45% fat diet to promote adipose expansion, global Alms1 KO caused hyperphagia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, and fatty liver. Pdgfrα-cre driven KO of Alms1 (MSC KO) recapitulated insulin resistance, fatty liver, and dyslipidaemia in both sexes. Other phenotypes were sexually dimorphic: increased fat mass was only present in female Alms1 MSC KO mice. Hyperphagia was not evident in male Alms1 MSC KO mice, but was found in MSC KO females, despite no neuronal Pdgfrα expression. ConclusionsMesenchymal deletion of Alms1 recapitulates metabolic features of AS, including fatty liver. This confirms a key role for Alms1 in the adipose lineage, where its loss is sufficient to cause systemic metabolic effects and damage to remote organs. Hyperphagia in females may depend on Alms1 deficiency in oligodendrocyte precursor cells rather than neurones. AS should be regarded as a forme fruste of lipodystrophy.

Changes in food preferences and ingestive behaviors after glucagon-like peptide-1 analog treatment: techniques and opportunities.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs are approved for the treatment of obesity in adults and adolescents. Reports have emerged that the weight loss effect of these medications may be related to changes in food preferences and ingestive behaviors following the treatment. Understanding the mechanisms which impact ingestive behavior could expand opportunities to develop more refined and personalized treatment options for obesity. Recent studies investigating the relationship between GLP-1 analogs and ingestive behaviors were retrieved from PubMed using the search terms: "obesity," "food preference," "taste," "ingestive behavior," "weight loss medication," "anti-obesity medication," "GLP-1 analog," "tirzepatide," "liraglutide," "semaglutide." Measurement tools were studied to compare variables used to assess food intake behavior. The main outcomes from each study were analyzed to evaluate the current standing and future directions of appetitive, ingestive, and consummatory behaviors and their association with GLP-1 analogs. Thus far, studies have primarily explored the weight loss phase and report decreased short-term appetite and food intake upon treatment. However, research during the weight maintenance phase and objective measurements of food intake are notably sparse. Additionally, verbal reports have been primarily used to examine food intake, which can be susceptible to subjectivity. Elucidating the relationship between GLP-1 analogs and ingestive behavior could reveal additional parameters which contribute to their anti-obesity effects. To better understand these mechanisms, it is imperative to consider objective measurements of food intake in future studies. Several measurement tools have been adapted to measure variables of food behavior in humans, and each must be carefully considered with their strengths and limitations to develop optimal investigations.

Nutrient-rich food index 9.3 score and food choice values among female online food delivery users during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed eating habits, leading to an increased reliance on online food delivery. It's crucial to comprehend the diet quality and food choices among female users during this period.&#x0D; Objective: This study aims to explore the association between diet quality score and the food choice motives among female online food delivery users during the COVID-19 pandemic&#x0D; Methods: This online cross-sectional study involved surveying 405 female users recruited through consecutive sampling. The Food Choice Values Questionnaire (FCVQ) was utilized to understand their food choices, while nutrient intake and diet quality were assessed using the Nutrient-Rich Food 9.3 Index Score (NRF 9.3). Subsequently, the collected data underwent both univariate and multivariate analyses. Potential biases might arise due to time constraints during the pandemic and reliance on self-reported online data. Moreover, the method used to measure nutrient intake might not be ideal for this demographic, lacking tailored tests. Nonetheless, it’s important to highlight that the survey underwent prior validation among Indonesian adults, affirming its broad applicability.&#x0D; Results: Female users showed low average NRF 9.3 scores (241.67), indicating poor diet quality. Their prioritized food choice motives were also low. Significant associations surfaced between NRF 9.3 scores and food choice motives—tradition (p&lt;0.01, r: 0.229), comfort (p&lt;0.01, r: 0.223), organic (p&lt;0.01, r: 0.231), safety (p&lt;0.001, r: 0.162), weight control/health (p&lt;0.01, r: 0.171), and income (p&lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: The NRF 9.3 score is likely to increase when there are higher scores for tradition, comfort, and organic factors, and when income exceeds the minimum regional wage.

Con-FLIC: concurrent measurement of feeding behaviors and food consumption in Drosophila at single-fly resolution.

Accurate quantification of food intake and feeding behaviors are essential for understanding various biological processes, such as metabolism and aging. Currently, no methods allow for the concurrent measurement of both parameters for the same individual flies. Here, we couple Con-Ex ( Con sumption- Ex cretion) and FLIC ( F ly L iquid-Food I nteraction C ounter), previously developed to measure food consumption and various feeding behaviors, respectively, into a single platform that we named Con-FLIC. Using starvation as a known condition that changes food intake and feeding behaviors, we validate that Con-FLIC enables concurrent measurement of feeding behaviors and food intake in Drosophila at a single-fly resolution. We expect that Con-FLIC will be an easy non-invasive option to quantify food consumption and feeding behaviors concurrently in the same individual flies.

Con-DAM: Simultaneous measurement of food intake and sleep in Drosophila at the single fly resolution.

Sleep and feeding are conserved behaviors across many taxa of the animal kingdom and are essential for an organism's survival and fitness. Although Drosophila has been used to study these behaviors for decades, concurrent measurement of these two behaviors in the same flies on solid media has been a challenge. Here, we report Con-DAM, which enables simultaneous quantification of food intake and sleep/activity at the single fly resolution. Since Con-DAM integrates the Con-Ex (Consumption-Excretion) assay and the DAM (Drosophila Activity Monitor), two widely used tools to quantify food consumption and sleep/activity in flies into a single unit, we expect Con-DAM to serve as an easy method for various purposes that require quantifying food consumption and sleep/activity in the same individual flies.

Digital health application integrating wearable data and behavioral patterns improves metabolic health

The effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in reducing caloric intake and increasing physical activity for preventing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) has been previously demonstrated. The use of modern technologies can potentially further improve the success of these interventions, promote metabolic health, and prevent T2D at scale. To test this concept, we built a remote program that uses continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and wearables to make lifestyle recommendations that improve health. We enrolled 2,217 participants with varying degrees of glucose levels (normal range, and prediabetes and T2D ranges), using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) over 28 days to capture glucose patterns. Participants logged food intake, physical activity, and body weight via a smartphone app that integrated wearables data and provided daily insights, including overlaying glucose patterns with activity and food intake, macronutrient breakdown, glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and activity measures. The app furthermore provided personalized recommendations based on users’ preferences, goals, and observed glycemic patterns. Users could interact with the app for an additional 2 months without CGM. Here we report significant improvements in hyperglycemia, glucose variability, and hypoglycemia, particularly in those who were not diabetic at baseline. Body weight decreased in all groups, especially those who were overweight or obese. Healthy eating habits improved significantly, with reduced daily caloric intake and carbohydrate-to-calorie ratio and increased intake of protein, fiber, and healthy fats relative to calories. These findings suggest that lifestyle recommendations, in addition to behavior logging and CGM data integration within a mobile app, can enhance the metabolic health of both nondiabetic and T2D individuals, leading to healthier lifestyle choices. This technology can be a valuable tool for T2D prevention and treatment.

Fecal Metagenomics to Identify Biomarkers of Food Intake in Healthy Adults: Findings from Randomized, Controlled, Nutrition Trials

BackgroundUndigested components of the human diet affect the composition and function of the microorganisms present in the gastrointestinal tract. Techniques like metagenomic analyses allow researchers to study functional capacity, thus revealing the potential of using metagenomic data for developing objective biomarkers of food intake. ObjectivesAs a continuation of our previous work using 16S and metabolomic datasets, we aimed to utilize a computationally intensive, multivariate, machine-learning approach to identify fecal KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) Orthology (KO) categories as biomarkers that accurately classify food intake. MethodsData were aggregated from 5 controlled feeding studies that studied the individual impact of almonds, avocados, broccoli, walnuts, barley, and oats on the adult gastrointestinal microbiota. Deoxyribonucleic acid from preintervention and postintervention fecal samples underwent shotgun genomic sequencing. After preprocessing, sequences were aligned and functionally annotated with Double Index AlignMent Of Next-generation sequencing Data v2.0.11.149 and MEtaGenome ANalyzer v6.12.2, respectively. After the count normalization, the log of the fold change ratio for resulting KOs between pre- and postintervention of the treatment group against its corresponding control was utilized to conduct differential abundance analysis. Differentially abundant KOs were used to train machine-learning models examining potential biomarkers in both single-food and multi-food models. ResultsWe identified differentially abundant KOs in the almond (n = 54), broccoli (n = 2474), and walnut (n = 732) groups (q < 0.20), which demonstrated classification accuracies of 80%, 87%, and 86% for the almond, broccoli, and walnut groups using a random forest model to classify food intake into each food group’s respective treatment and control arms, respectively. The mixed-food random forest achieved 81% accuracy. ConclusionsOur findings reveal promise in utilizing fecal metagenomics to objectively complement self-reported measures of food intake. Future research on various foods and dietary patterns will expand these exploratory analyses for eventual use in feeding study compliance and clinical settings.

THU128 Transcription Factor ETV5 In POMC Neurons Regulate Energy And Glucose Homeostasis

Abstract Disclosure: S. Gahlot: None. A. Caron: None. S. Lee: None. J.K. Elmquist: None. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) are critical for the regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Pomc gene transcription is regulated by the Erythrocyte Transformation Specific (ETS)-domain transcription factors, including Etv1, Etv2, Etv4, and Etv5. Large-scale genome-wide association studies have identified ETV5 genetic variants linked with human obesity and body mass index. Histological studies in adult mouse pituitaries also show the co-localization of ETV5 with POMC and POMC-derived peptides: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Furthermore, whole-body Etv5 knockout mice are lean, severely glucose intolerant and hypoinsulinaemic. While these findings suggest a potential role for Etv5 in the control of energy and glucose balance, the role of Etv5 remains unknown. This study aims to determine whether ETV5 binds to the Pomc promoter to alter its expression and regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis. To assess whether ETV5 binds to the Pomc promoter, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation with quantitative real-time PCR (ChIP-qPCR) in C57BL/6J mice. ChIP-qPCR determined that Etv5 directly binds to the Pomc promoter. We further performed luciferase reporter assay in mouse neuroblastoma N2a cell lysates to measure the Pomc promoter activity after Etv5 knockdown or overexpression. Luciferase assay revealed that Etv5 knockdown increased, while Etv5 overexpression reduced the Pomc promoter activity in N2a cells. Also, Etv5 overexpression blocked the leptin-induced POMC activation. Further, to determine the role of Etv5 in POMC neurons to regulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis, we used the Cre/loxP system to selectively delete Etv5 from POMC neurons both prenatally and postnatally. Mice were fed either a standard chow or a 60% high-fat diet (HFD), followed by serial body weight, food intake, body composition, metabolic assessment, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance test measurements. We found that mice with a prenatal deletion of Etv5 in POMC neurons had reduced body weight, reduced lean mass, and were protected from HFD-induced insulin resistance. Similarly, postnatal deletion of Etv5 in POMC neurons resulted in reduced body weight, lean mass and fat mass, and increased insulin sensitivity and energy expenditure in mice of 8 weeks age. We also performed electrophysiological recordings in hypothalamic slices from these mice to assess POMC neuron excitability. We found that loss of Etv5 increased the activity and electrical excitability of POMC neurons. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized role of Etv5 in POMC neurons in the regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. These results also point to the potential therapeutic applications for Etv5 against obesity. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Limits to sustained energy intake. XXXIII. Thyroid hormones play important roles in milk production but do not define the heat dissipation limit in Swiss mice.

The limits to sustained energy intake set physiological upper boundaries that affect many aspects of human and animal performance. The mechanisms underlying these limits however remain unclear. We exposed Swiss mice to either supplementary thyroid hormones (THs) or methimazole during lactation at 21 °C or 32.5 °C, and measured food intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), milk energy output (MEO), serum THs and mammary gland gene expression of females, and litter size and mass of their offspring. Lactating females developed hyperthyroidism following exposure to supplementary THs at 21 °C, but they did not significantly change body temperature, asymptotic food intake, RMR or MEO, and litter and mass were unaffected. Hypothyroidism, induced by either methimazole or 32.5 °C exposure, significantly decreased asymptotic food intake, RMR and MEO, resulting in significantly decreased litter size and litter mass. Furthermore, gene expression of key genes in the mammary gland were significantly decreased by either methimazole or hot exposure, including gene expression of THs and prolactin receptors, and Stat5a and Stat5b. This suggests that endogenous THs are necessary to maintain sustained energy intake and milk energy output. Suppression of the thyroid axis seems to be an essential aspect of the mechanism by which mice at 32.5 °C reduce their lactation performance to avoid overheating. However, THs do not define the upper limit to sustained energy intake and milk energy output at peak lactation at 21 °C. Another, as yet unknown, factor, prevents supplementary thyroxine exerting any stimulatory metabolic impacts on lactating mice at 21 °C.

#3454 IMPACT OF SYMBIOTICS ON UREMIC TOXINS PRODUCTION, RENAL FUNCTION AND PEW SYNDROME IN SHIME AND CKD MICE MODELS

Abstract Background and Aims Alterations in gut microbiota in CKD patients have been linked to CKD progression, cachexia, and mortality. Gut dysbiosis is associated by modification of gut-microbiota-derived metabolites, including a decrease of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), an increase in gut-derived uremic toxins. Therefore, modulation of gut microbiota seems to be an attractive therapeutic approach. In silico studies led to the selection of bacterial species able to increase SCFAs production, improve gut function without having the enzymatic machinery for producing uremic toxins. The propose of this study is to indentify the impact of two different symbiotics containing the selected bacteria: 1) on both uremic toxins and SCFAs production using a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME) colonized with fresh feces from CKD or healthy controls (HC) and subsequently 2) on renal function, metabolic parameters, intestinal microbiota and gut-microbiota-derived metabolites in a mouse model of CKD (5/6 nephrectomy). Method 1) The SHIME® system manufactured by ProDigest (Ghent, Belgium) consists of systems comprising five double-wall biovessels simulating the stomach (ST), small intestine (SI), ascending colon (AC), transverse colon (TC), and descending colon (DC). The supernatant of the homogenized fecal slurry was inoculated into the AC (25 mL), TC (40 mL), and DC (30 mL), respectively. After fecal inoculation, SHIME system were fed in ST twice day with two different symbiotics (P1 or P2) for 10 days. After 7 days, we applied a diet amino acid (AA) challenge to all the groups. SCFAs and uremic toxins were quantified every day. 2) CKD mice received either P1 or P2 admix for 6 weeks. We measured food intake, body composition and renal function including renal fibrosis quantification. Plasma metabolomic and feces metagenomic analyses were performed. Results In vitro, the concentration of precursor of uremic toxins (indols and p-cresol) tended to be higher in DC colonized by feces from CKD patients and AA challenge increased uremic toxins production more significantly in CKD compared to HC. CKD microbiome showed a lower butyrate concentration at baseline and higher propionate and acetate production. Both P1 and P2 significantly limited uremic toxins production during AA challenge and increase SCFA production. In vivo, both symbiotics increased body weight (+14%) and food intake (+31%) compared to CKD mice on chow diet. Treatment did not impact lipid or glucose metabolism but fat accretion in epididymal was restored with P1. Both diets, but particularly P1, significantly reduced plasmatic urea, proteinuria, and kidney fibrosis. Symbiotics improved intestinal barrier with a greater expression of Occludin in the ileum. Metagenomic analyses of the gut microbiota indicated that the alfa-diversity was not different across groups while the beta-diversity was similar to the sham group if CKD mice were treated with symbiotics. Both symbiotics reduced significantly plasma levels of deleterious uremic toxins such as p-cresyl sulfate and indoxyl sulfate and symbiotics reduce fecal module of trypotophan degradation and other modules related to AA metabolism. Both diets increased fecal bacteria modules related to SCFAs production. Conclusion We have shown both in vitro and in vivo that a symbiotic association can reduce uremic toxins production and increase SCFA production by inducing a significant change in gut microbiota composition and function. These metabolic changes are associated with improved appetite, decreased uremic cachexia, and preserved renal function. This data needs be confirmed in a human clinical trial.

Food Detection and Calorie Estimation using Deep Learning

Abstract: For the fight against obesity, precise food and energy intake measurement techniques are essential. One of the most important lessons for long-term prevention and effective treatment programmes is the provision of users and patients with practical and intelligent solutions that assist them in measuring their food intake and gathering dietary information. In this article, we suggest a calorie measurement technique to assist patients and medical professionals in their battle against dietrelated illnesses. In this document, we suggest a food identification system that, when given the appropriate quantity of data, can assist a user in keeping track of daily caloric consumption. Calorie estimation for the current method must be done by hand. The proposed model will use a deep learning algorithm to offer a special method of calculating calories. In the world of medicine, calorie calculations for food are crucial. because the calories in this food are beneficial to your health. This measurement is derived from photographs of various foods, including fruits and vegetables. Our suggested solution relies on cell phones, which enable the user to take a picture of the food and instantly calculate the number of calories consumed. We classify food photos for system training using deep convolutional neural networks to reliably identify the food in the system. In this study, we use a convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect and identify images of food. Given the huge range of food types, picture recognition of food products is frequently very difficult. Whatever the case, deep learning has recently been shown to be an incredibly innovative image identification approach, and CNN is the greatest way to use deep learning.

"To brain or not to brain": evaluating the possible direct effects of the satiety factor oleoylethanolamide in the central nervous system.

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA), an endogenous N-acylethanolamine acting as a gut-to-brain signal to control food intake and metabolism, has been attracting attention as a target for novel therapies against obesity and eating disorders. Numerous observations suggested that the OEA effects might be peripherally mediated, although they involve central pathways including noradrenergic, histaminergic and oxytocinergic systems of the brainstem and the hypothalamus. Whether these pathways are activated directly by OEA or whether they are downstream of afferent nerves is still highly debated. Some early studies suggested vagal afferent fibers as the main route, but our previous observations have contradicted this idea and led us to consider the blood circulation as an alternative way for OEA's central actions. To test this hypothesis, we first investigated the impact of subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation (SDA) on the OEA-induced activation of selected brain nuclei. Then, we analyzed the pattern of OEA distribution in plasma and brain at different time points after intraperitoneal administration in addition to measuring food intake. Confirming and extending our previous findings that subdiaphragmatic vagal afferents are not necessary for the eating-inhibitory effect of exogenous OEA, our present results demonstrate that vagal sensory fibers are also not necessary for the neurochemical effects of OEA. Rather, within a few minutes after intraperitoneal administration, we found an increased concentration of intact OEA in different brain areas, associated with the inhibition of food intake. Our results support that systemic OEA rapidly reaches the brain via the circulation and inhibits eating by acting directly on selected brain nuclei.

Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in Semarang, Indonesia, during COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused several changes that affect overall health, including the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women. Several risk factors, including iron deficiency during pregnancy, diabetes, maternal smoking, preterm birth, low birth weight, and multiple pregnancies, can influence poor iron intake in infants. This study aims to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 238 pregnant women from two districts in Semarang, Indonesia. The study population was selected using a cluster sampling technique. Trained enumerators collected data through interviews using the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) to estimate participants' food intake and anthropometric measurements. Additionally, hemoglobin levels were measured by trained nurses during antenatal care (ANC) visits. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression to estimate the factors associated with anemia in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among all participants, 14.3% (n=34) were anemic, with 32.3% and 67.6% having moderate and mild anemia, respectively. Moreover, study variables such as less compliance with ANC (antenatal care) guidelines (p = 0.020), excessive phosphorus intake (p = 0.039), inadequate zinc intake (p = 0.003), and inadequate calcium intake (p = 0.043) were associated with anemia among pregnant women. Anemia among pregnant women in Semarang, Indonesia, is a mild public health problem. Less compliance with ANC guidelines, excessive phosphorus intake, and inadequate zinc intake are significantly associated with anemia among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychological dominant stressor modification to an animal model of depression with chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) is a protocol widely used to create an animal model of depression with food deprivation, water deprivation, and physical-dominant stressors as routine procedures. However, human depression mainly involves psychological stressors and does not always involve a lack of food and water; thus, CUMS procedures should be modified accordingly. Therefore, this study aimed to create an animal model of depression, mainly focusing on a psychologically dominant stressor without food and water deprivation. The CUMS and control groups, respectively, received CUMS modification (psychologically dominant stressors without food and water deprivation) for 21 days. A 24-h sucrose preference test (SPT) was used to assess the successful creation of an animal model of depression. Daily food intake measurements, weekly weight monitoring, and weight gain calculations were performed. Either an independent sample t-test or the Mann-Whitney test was used. Of the 42 rats included, 39 completed the study. Chronic unpredictable mild stress procedures for 21 days significantly reduced the SPT (p < 0.05), mean body weight (p < 0.05), and weekly weight gain (p < 0.05) in the CUMS group compared to the control group. However, the weekly average food intake did not statistically differ between the two groups. Psychological dominant CUMS modification to an animal model of depression resulted in lower SPT, body weight, and weekly weight gain in the CUMS group than in the control group.