Postprandial Energy Expenditure Research Articles

Animal and plant-based proteins have different postprandial effects on energy expenditure, glycemia, insulinemia, and lipemia: A review of controlled clinical trials.

Dietary proteins have been shown to stimulate thermogenesis, increase satiety, and improve insulin sensitivity in the short and long term. Animal-based proteins (AP) and plant-based proteins (PP) have different amino acid profiles, bioavailability, and digestibility, so it seems to have various short- and long-term effects on metabolic responses. This review aimed to compare the findings of controlled clinical trials on postprandial effects of dietary Aps versus PPs on energy expenditure (EE), lipemia, glycemia, and insulinemia. Data are inconclusive regarding the postprandial effects of APs and PPs. However, there is some evidence indicating that APs increase postprandial EE, DIT, and SO more than PPs. With lipemia and glycemia, most studies showed that APs reduce or delay postprandial glycemia and lipemia and increase insulinemia more than PPs. The difference in amino acid composition, digestion and absorption rate, and gastric emptying rate between APs and PPs explains this difference.

SGLT2 inhibitor versus carbohydrate-restricted isocaloric diet: reprogramming substrate oxidation in type 2 diabetes

ObjectiveBased on the whole-body energy metabolism and insulin action, the difference between increased excretion of carbohydrate in urine by SGLT2i and reduced same amount of oral carbohydrate intake are scarce. This study aimed to compare the effect of carbohydrate availability with reduced oral intake (carbohydrate-restricted isocaloric diet: CRIC diet) or lost in urine, as urinary glucosuria on sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) treatment, focus on the insulin requirement and the macronutrient oxidation within insulin treated type 2 diabetes.MethodsThis is randomized 3-arm open-label prospective study. Subjects treated with titrated basal-bolus insulin regimen subsequent to three diet regimens, control diet (CON), administration of canagliflozin 100 mg/day to CON (SGLT2i), or CRIC diet, with a week admission to the endocrinology ward followed by 12 weeks outpatients’ management. The main outcome measures including the total insulin dose (TID) required to achieve euglycemia, fasting and postprandial energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) at 1-week and 12-week.ResultsWe enrolled 23 patients with type 2 diabetes (male/female: 14/9, age: 53.6 ± 14.2 years, body mass index: 26.9 ± 4.8 kg/m2, HbA1c: 12.5 ± 1.6%). The TID was similar with CON and SGLT2i at both 1 and 12-weeks. Although comparable net carbohydrate availability in SGLT2i and CRIC groups, the TID was significantly higher in the CRIC (p = 0.02) compare to the SGLT2i at both 1 and 12-weeks. Fasting EE was similar in all groups, postprandial EE was significantly elevated in the SGLT2i and CRIC groups compared to the CON group (p = 0.03 and 0.04). Compare to the CON, lower basal fasting RQ (p = 0.049) and decreased delta-RQ (postprandial RQ/fasting RQ) indicated continuous lipid substrate utilization in the SGLT2i (p = 0.04) and CRIC (p = 0.03) groups.ConclusionThe CRIC diet resulted in a similar fasting and postprandial EE and substrate oxidation compared to the SGLT2i. The increased insulin requirement in the CRIC diet indicates that a relatively highly lipid and protein consumption, compared to the SGLT2i and CON, may influence insulin requirement.

Unexpected Postprandial Energy Expenditure and Fuel Oxidation Responses to Meals with Different Macronutrient Compositions

Unexpected Postprandial Energy Expenditure and Fuel Oxidation Responses to Meals with Different Macronutrient Compositions

Short-Term Ingestion of Medium-Chain Triglycerides Could Enhance Postprandial Consumption of Ingested Fat in Individuals with a Body Mass Index from 25 to Less than 30: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Crossover Study.

The elimination of obesity is essential to maintaining good health. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) inhibit fat accumulation. However, studies examining energy expenditure and fat oxidation with continuous ingestion of MCTs show little association with the elimination of obesity. In this study, we conducted a randomized, double-blind crossover clinical trial to investigate the effects of continuous ingestion of MCTs on postprandial energy expenditure and ingested long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) oxidation. A daily 2 g of MCTs were ingested for two weeks by sedentary participants with a body mass index (BMI) from 25 (kg/m2) to less than 30. Ingestion of a meal containing MCTs and isotopic carbon-13-labeled (13C) LCTs increased energy expenditure and consumption of diet-derived LCTs, as determined by postprandial 13C carbon dioxide excretion, compared to canola oil as the placebo control. These results indicate that continuous ingestion of MCTs could enhance postprandial degradation of diet-derived fat and energy expenditure in sedentary, overweight individuals.

Chewing increases postprandial diet-induced thermogenesis

Slow eating, which involves chewing food slowly and thoroughly, is an effective strategy for controlling appetite in order to avoid being overweight or obese. Slow eating also has the effect of increasing postprandial energy expenditure (diet-induced thermogenesis). It is still unclear whether this is due to oral stimuli; that is, the duration of tasting food in the mouth and the duration of chewing. To investigate the effects of oral stimuli on diet-induced thermogenesis in 11 healthy normal weight males, we conducted a randomized crossover study comprising three trials: (1) drinking liquid food normally, (2) drinking liquid food after tasting, and (3) adding chewing while tasting. Oral stimuli (i.e., the duration of tasting liquid food in the mouth and the duration of chewing) significantly increased diet-induced thermogenesis after drinking liquid food. This result demonstrates that the increase in diet-induced thermogenesis is due to oral stimuli rather than the influence of the food bolus. Increased diet-induced thermogenesis induced by chewing and taste stimuli may help to prevent overweight and obesity.

Effects of acute and chronic nuts consumption on energy metabolism: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials

Nuts are high-energy density foods and are associated with beneficial effects on health, including weight control. Effects on resting energy expenditure, respiratory quotient, and diet-induced thermogenesis are suggested mechanisms behind the effects of nuts consumption on weight control. Thus, we revised the randomised clinical trials that assessed acute and chronic nuts consumption effects on energy metabolism. Walnuts (22.1 g to 56 g) consumption appears to modulate energy metabolism markers differently depending on the dose and profile of the evaluated subject. In its turn, 56 g of high-oleic peanuts increased postprandial energy expenditure and thermic effect of food after three hours postprandial compared to consumption of conventional peanuts. Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, and a mix of nuts were the nuts studies in the chronic studies, which does not seem to influence energy metabolism markers. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of other types of nuts consumption on energy metabolism.

Circadian Rhythms in Resting Metabolic Rate Account for Apparent Daily Rhythms in the Thermic Effect of Food.

ContextDaily variation in the thermic effect of food (TEF) is commonly reported and proposed as a contributing factor to weight gain with late eating. However, underlying circadian variability in resting metabolic rate (RMR) is an overlooked factor when calculating TEF associated with eating at different times of the day.ObjectiveThis work aimed to determine whether methodological approaches to calculating TEF contribute to the reported phenomena of daily variation in TEF.MethodsFourteen overweight to obese but otherwise healthy individuals had their resting and postprandial energy expenditure (EE) measured over 15.5 hours at a clinical research unit. TEF was calculated for breakfast, lunch, and dinner using standard methods (above a baseline and premeal RMR measure) and compared to a method incorporating a circadian RMR by which RMR was derived from a sinusoid curve model and TEF was calculated over and above the continuously changing RMR. Main outcome measures were TEF at breakfast, lunch, and dinner calculated by different methods.ResultsStandard methods of calculating TEF above a premeal measured RMR showed that morning TEF (60.8 kcal ± 5.6) (mean ± SEM) was 1.6 times greater than TEF at lunch (36.3 kcal ± 8.4) and 2.4 times greater than dinner TEF (25.2 kcal ± 9.6) (P = .022). However, adjusting for modeled circadian RMR nullified any differences between breakfast (54.1 kcal ± 30.8), lunch (49.5 kcal ± 29.4), and dinner (49.1 kcal ± 25.7) (P = .680).ConclusionDifferences in TEF between morning and evening can be explained by the underlying circadian resting EE, which is independent of an acute effect of eating.

Dietary Fat Chain Length, Saturation, and PUFA Source Acutely Affect Diet-Induced Thermogenesis but Not Satiety in Adults in a Randomized, Crossover Trial.

Structural differences in dietary fatty acids modify their rate of oxidation and effect on satiety, endpoints that may influence the development of obesity. This study tests the hypothesis that meals containing fat sources with elevated unsaturated fats will result in greater postprandial energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and satiety than meals containing fats with greater saturation. In a randomized, 5-way crossover design, healthy men and women (n = 23; age: 25.7 ± 6.6 years; BMI: 27.7 ± 3.8 kg/m2) consumed liquid meals containing 30 g of fat from heavy cream (HC), olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SFO), flaxseed oil (FSO), and fish oil (FO). Energy expenditure and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) were determined by metabolic rate over a 240 min postprandial period. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, glucose, insulin, and triacylglycerol (TAG) were assessed. DIT induced by SFO was 5% lower than HC and FO (p = 0.04). Energy expenditure and substrate oxidation did not differ between fat sources. Postprandial TAG concentrations were significantly affected by fat source (p = 0.0001). Varying fat sources by the degree of saturation and PUFA type modified DIT but not satiety responses in normal to obese adult men and women.

Metabolic responses to mild cold acclimation in type 2 diabetes patients

Mild cold acclimation for 10 days has been previously shown to markedly improve insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Here we show in a single-arm intervention study (Trialregister.nl ID: NL4469/NTR5711) in nine patients with type 2 diabetes that ten days of mild cold acclimation (16–17 °C) in which observable, overt shivering was prevented, does not result in improved insulin sensitivity, postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism or intrahepatic lipid content and only results in mild effects on overnight fasted fat oxidation, postprandial energy expenditure and aortic augmentation index. The lack of marked metabolic effects in this study is associated with a lack of self-reported shivering and a lack of upregulation of gene expression of muscle activation or muscle contraction pathways in skeletal muscle and suggests that some form of muscle contraction is needed for beneficial effects of mild cold acclimation.

Effect of High-Protein Diet on Postprandial Energy Expenditure in Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of measuring a postprandial increase in energy expenditure (ΔEE) using a state-of-the-art whole-body calorimetry unit (WBCU) in children and youth with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Five participants (aged 10–25 y) received both a standard and a high-protein diet in a random order (crossover design). Resting energy expenditure, postprandial ΔEE 6 h after intake of a standard [15% of total energy (TE)] and a high-protein (30% TE) meal, and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured in a WBCU. No differences were observed in ΔEE comparing the 2 meals. Mean RER was lower following the high-protein meal (0.80 ± 0.01) compared with the standard meal (0.87 ± 0.02) (P = 0.009). Despite the high participant burden, it was feasible to conduct this metabolic test in children and youth with PWS. This study paves the way for further studies targeting EE in this patient population.

Nocturnal whey protein ingestion impairs post-prandial glucose tolerance at breakfast.

Poor post-prandial glucose control is a risk factor for multiple health conditions. The second-meal effect refers to the progressively improved glycaemic control with repeated feedings, an effect which is achievable with protein ingestion at the initial eating occasion. The most pronounced glycaemic response each day therefore typically occurs following breakfast, so the present study investigated whether ingesting protein during the night could improve glucose control at the first meal of the day. In a randomised crossover design, fifteen adults (seven males, eight females; age, 22 (sd 3) years; BMI, 24·0 (sd 2·8) kg/m2; fasting blood glucose, 4·9 (sd 0·5) mmol/l) woke at 04.00 (sd 1) hours to ingest 300 ml water with or without 63 g whey protein. Participants then completed a mixed-macronutrient meal tolerance test (1 g carbohydrate/kg body mass, 2356 (sd 435) kJ), 5 h 39 min following the nocturnal feeding. Nocturnal protein ingestion increased the glycaemic response (incremental AUC) to breakfast by 43·5 (sd 55·5) mmol × 120 min/l (P = 0·009, d = 0·94). Consistent with this effect, individual peak blood glucose concentrations were 0·6 (sd 1·0) mmol/l higher following breakfast when protein had been ingested (P = 0·049, d = 0·50). Immediately prior to breakfast, rates of lipid oxidation were 0·02 (sd 0·03) g/min higher (P = 0·045) in the protein condition, followed by an elevated post-prandial energy expenditure (0·38 (sd 0·50) kJ/min, P = 0·018). Post-prandial appetite and energy intake were similar between conditions. The present study reveals a paradoxical second-meal phenomenon whereby nocturnal whey protein feeding impaired subsequent glucose tolerance, whilst increasing post-prandial energy expenditure.

1865-P: SGLT2 Inhibition Compared with Iso-energetic/Low-Carbohydrate Diet Reprograms Systemic Substrate Oxidation in Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: Pharmacologic inhibition of the renal sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2i) facilitates lipid oxidation. Iso-energetic/low-carbohydrate diet (i-Carbo) eliminates the same amount of glucose as SGLT2 inhibition (∼ 50 g/day of glucose). We examined whether i-Carbo and SGLT2i may have any impact, on 1) fasting and postprandial energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation, 2) the basal-bolus dose of insulin that achieve euglycemia. Method: Twenty four T2D (M/F = 15/9, age 53.6 ± 14.2, BMI 26.9 ± 4.8 kg/m2, HbA1c 12.5 ± 1.6 %) were enrolled to this 12 weeks, randomized, 3 arms open-label, prospective study with basal-bolus insulin titration algorithm, control diet (CON) or adding canagliflozin 100 mg/day to CON (SGLT2i) and the i-Carbo. We measured indirect calorimetry to provide EE and respiratory quotient (RQ) during fasting and postprandial before and after the intervention. Results: In spite of similar carbohydrate amount in the i-Carbo, compared to the SGLT2i, the total daily dose of insulin was significantly higher (p=0.02). Compared to the CON, fasting EE were similar on both SGLT2i and i-Carbo, however, postprandial EE were elevated, respectively (p=0.03, 0.04). Fasting RQ was marginally higher in SGLT2i compared to the CON (p=0.049). Postprandial RQ was elevated by means of increased carbohydrate substrate utilization on both SGLT2i (p=0.04) and i-Carbo (p=0.03) groups compared to the CON. Conclusion: Iso-energetic/low-carbohydrate in i-Carbo, which matches urinary carbohydrate loss in SGLT2i, had similar fasting and postprandial energy expenditure and substrate oxidation rate. Increased insulin requirement in i-Carbo indicates that relative high lipid and protein ratio, compared to SGLT2i, may have any effect to insulin requirement. Disclosure H. Igarashi: None. H. Uchino: None. M. Furuta: None. M. Miyagi: None. N. Kumashiro: Research Support; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. T. Hirose: Research Support; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Daiichi Sankyo, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.

Insights into Manipulating Postprandial Energy Expenditure to Manage Weight Gain in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

SummaryWomen with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to be obese and have difficulty in losing weight. They demonstrate an obesity-independent deficit in adaptive energy expenditure. We used a clinically realistic preclinical model to investigate the molecular basis for the reduced postprandial thermogenesis (PPT) and develop a therapeutic strategy to normalize this deficit. Sheep exposed to increased androgens before birth develop the clinical features of PCOS. In adulthood they develop obesity and demonstrate an obesity-independent reduction in PPT. This is associated with reduced adipose tissue uncoupling protein expression and adipose tissue noradrenaline concentrations. These sheep are insulin resistant with reduced insulin signaling in the brain. Increasing brain insulin concentrations using intranasal insulin administration increased PPT in PCOS sheep without any effects on blood glucose concentrations. Intranasal insulin administration with food is a potential novel strategy to improve adaptive energy expenditure and normalize the responses to weight loss strategies in women with PCOS.

SAT-597 Hypothalamic ESR1 Gene Knockdown Elicits Intermittent Decrement in Postprandial Energy Expenditure Associated with Obesity Onset in Female Rhesus Monkeys

Declining serum estradiol (E2) levels during the menopausal transition are associated with increased central adiposity and heightened risk for metabolic disease. Estrogenic effects on adiposity and metabolism in female rodents are primarily mediated by estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) activation in ventromedial (VMN) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei within the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). The role of hypothalamic ESR1 in the menopausal transition, and in regulating body weight, body composition and energy homeostasis in female primates, however, remains unclear. To investigate the involvement of ESR1 in regulating female primate body weight, we employed RNAi technology to assess ESR1 gene knockdown throughout the MBH of adult, full-grown, ovary intact female rhesus macaques. Using MRI-guided stereotaxic targeting, adeno-associated viral vector 8 (AAV8) expressing shRNA-ESR1 (ERαKD) (n=6), or a scrambled control sequence (n=4), were infused bilaterally into the MBH to knockdown ESR1 expression. Results: ERαKD females exhibited a ~22% (+2.0 ± 0.1 kg) increase in body weight to attain 10.4±0.9 kg after ~12-24 months (mo) (p<0.05), compared to ~12% increase in controls (+ 1.1±0.1 kg) attaining 9.1±1.0 kg body mass. The divergence in body weights between female groups, however, began at 6 mo. Daily calorie consumption at ~26 mo was comparable between groups. Assessments at ~28 months enabled customized metabolism cage analysis of energy expenditure (EE) corrected for fat-free mass and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Postprandial EE (hours (h) 1-5 after once daily feeding) was inconsistently diminished in ERαKD compared to control females (1st day: ERαKD 0.087±0.001 vs. Control 0.104±0.002 kcal/min/kg, p<0.0002; 2nd day: ERαKD 0.092±0.0004 vs. Control 0.095±0.002 kcal/min/kg, NS). Overnight fasted RER (hours -1 to -2 prior to feeding) tended (p<0.06) to remain higher in ERαKD (1st day, 0.757±0.010, 2nd day, 0.732±0.031) compared to control females (1st day, 0.728±0.007, 2nd day, 0.728±0.060) suggesting constrained switching between lipids and other carbon sources for energy metabolism during fasting in ERαKD females. We found no significant differences in 24 hr, 12 hr light or 12 hr dark EE and RER. Overall, these findings highlight MBH ESR1 roles in regulating body weight, energy expenditure and carbon sources utilized in daily energy metabolism, and suggest a discrete MBH location for development of therapeutic targeting to combat female obesity.

Thermic effect of food and resting energy expenditure after sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss in adolescent females.

Few studies have addressed the effect of bariatric surgery on factors related to energy balance, including resting energy expenditure (REE) and thermic effect of food (TEF). To our knowledge, very few studies have examined changes in REE and none have investigated modifications in TEF after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) performed in adolescents. To assess energy expenditure in females who underwent SG as adolescents and matched-control participants as preliminary data about the potential of SG to confer differences in postprandial energy expenditure. Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. In this observational study, REE and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured via indirect calorimetry, followed by a standardized meal and assessment of TEF and postprandial RQ. Plasma drawn before and every 15 minutes after the meal was assayed for insulin, glucose, and C-peptide. Usual dietary intake was estimated using 24-hour recall interviews. Fasting REE and RQ were similar between surgical and control groups. Postmeal TEF also did not differ between groups. The surgical group had higher RQ early in the postprandial period, whereas the control group RQ was higher after 125 minutes post meal. Compared with the control group, the surgical group had lower postprandial glucose, higher insulin and C-peptide, and consumed less daily energy during usual intake. Postprandial RQ was consistent with the rapid gastric emptying typical of SG, yet we observed no group differences in REE or TEF. These findings may have been due to limited statistical power. More comprehensive studies of EE after SG are warranted.

Subjective palatability and appetite after gluten-free pasta: A pilot study

The interest in gluten-free (GF) diet has greatly increased also in people without celiac disease (CD). This pilot study aimed to investigate the postprandial effect of GF-pasta, made by using the pasta-making process applied to artisan wheat pasta, on palatability, appetite sensation, and glucose metabolism in 8 healthy volunteers. Two iso-caloric lunch-meals consisting of: 1) gluten-free pasta (GFP) and 2) refined wheat pasta (RP) were compared in cross-over design. Both subjective appetite, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), and blood sample were taken before meal and at half-hour intervals for 4 hours. Palatability was evaluated immediately after the meal-test by VAS. All participants underwent pre- and postprandial energy expenditure (EE) measured by indirect calorimetry. We found that subjective palatability did not significantly differ between meals. Similarly, repeated measures ANOVA showed that GFP did not affect appetite ratings, postprandial glucose, and insulin responses compared to RP. Then, postprandial EE was affected by time (P=0.006), increasing at 60 min, but not by meals. In conclusion, artisanal GFP was as palatable as RP pasta, without affecting perceived satiety and postprandial glycaemia compared to RP in healthy subjects. Clearly, GFP results are preliminary and need to be investigated in larger studies.

Effect of the fatty acid composition of meals on postprandial energy expenditure: a systematic review.

The energy imbalance produced by an increase in caloric intake and/or decrease in energy expenditure induces obesity. However, the fatty acid composition of a diet can affect the metabolism in different ways, having a role in the development of obesity. To determine the effect of different fatty acids types and composition on Diet-Induced Thermogenesis (DIT) and postprandial energy expenditure in humans. A search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases, yielded a total of 269 potential articles as a first result; 254 were excluded according to the criteria. Fifteen articles were used for this systematic review. The studies analyzed report different effects of the fatty acids of the treatment on the diet-induced thermogenesis. Evidence indicates that the consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids causes a greater DIT than saturated fatty acids. Also, the consumption of medium-chain fatty acids compared to long-chain fatty acids has been shown to increase DIT. Likewise, the use of certain oils has shown positive effects on postprandial energy expenditure, as is the case of olive oil, compared to rapeseed oil. The use of specific types of fatty acids in the everyday diet can increase postprandial energy expenditure in humans. Nevertheless, longer-term studies are required.

Effect of Exercise Mode and Intensity on Subsequent Postprandial Carbohydrate and Fat Metabolism in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of pre-meal exercise mode and/or intensity on postprandial energy expenditure, substrate partitioning, and blood substrate and hormone concentrations in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Nine adult men with chronic (≥1 yr) thoracic SCI consented to participation. Following assessment of neuromuscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness, participants completed four experimental trials. On the first trial before the meal, participants completed ~42.5 min of circuit resistance exercise (CRT). The CRT energy cost was measured and subsequent exercise trials were designed to be isocaloric. Participants then completed seated control (CON), high intensity interval arm cycling (HIIT), and moderate intensity continuous arm cycling (MICT) trials in randomized order. Immediately after exercise or sitting, trial participants consumed a liquid mixed meal. During exercise and for 150 min following the meal, expired gases were collected continuously and analyzed via indirect calorimetry and blood samples were taken every 30 min. RESULTS: Participants exercised at 52±6, 53±7, and 65±5 %VO2peak for a cost of 120±19, 120±22, and 122±33 kcal during MICT, CRT, and HIIT, respectively. Only CRT appeared to have an elevated EE at 150 min post-exercise (1.43±0.15 vs 1.34-1.32 kcal·min-1 in other conditions). The greatest increases in accumulated whole-body fat oxidation during recovery were seen in CRT and HIIT (15.1±3.2 and 13.3±4.8 g·150 min-1, respectively) compared to MICT and CON (11.9±4.7 and 10.6±4.1 g·150 min-1, respectively). As with energy expenditure, only CRT appeared to have elevated fat oxidation at 150 min post-exercise (83.1±19.1 vs 64.8-67.9 mg·min-1 in other conditions). In accordance, integrated area under the curve (iAUC) of blood triglyercides and glycerol was lowest and highest, respectively, in CRT. Blood glucose was similar in all conditions, but CRT showed the lowest iAUC for insulin. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-meal exercise changed postprandial energy metabolism in persons with SCI. Independent of exercise energy expenditure, intensity is an important determinant of post-exercise energy expenditure. Furthermore, exercise mode incorporating resistance and high intensity exercise appears to stimulate greater fat oxidation during recovery.

The MC4R genetic variants are associated with lower visceral fat accumulation and higher postprandial relative increase in carbohydrate utilization in humans

PurposeThe interactions between lifestyle and genetic factors play an important role in obesity development. Mutations in melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) gene are one of the most common cause of monogenic obesity, however, the functional effects of polymorphic variants near MC4R gene in general populations remain uncertain. The aim of our study was to analyze whether the common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MC4R gene influence the food preferences, physical activity, body fat content and distribution, as well as fasting and postprandial energy expenditure and substrates utilization.MethodsWe genotyped previously identified MC4R SNPs: rs17782313, rs633265, rs1350341, rs12970134 in 927 subjects, who underwent anthropometric, total body fat content, visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measurements, and daily physical activity and dietary intake analysis. In randomly selected 47 subjects the energy expenditure, carbohydrate and lipid utilizations were evaluated in fasting state and after high-carbohydrate and control meals intake.ResultsWe found the significant associations between studied SNPs of MC4R gene and VAT and VAT/SAT ratio. Moreover, the GG genotype carriers of rs1350341, who had the lowest VAT accumulation (p = 0.012), presented higher relative increase in postprandial carbohydrate utilization (p = 0.013, p = 0.024).ConclusionsWe have observed that common SNPs of the MC4R gene influence the body fat content and distribution, as well as relative increase in postprandial carbohydrate utilization. We believe that our study may help to understand better the impact of MC4R gene on obesity development, and to help to provide personalized prevention/treatment strategies to fight against obesity and its metabolic consequences.

The Use of Plant-Based Diets for Obesity Treatment

In observational studies, individuals following vegetarian, particularly vegan, diets have healthier body weights, on average, compared with those following omnivorous diets. In clinical trials, vegetarian and vegan diets lead to significant weight loss, even in the absence of physical exercise or limits on energy intake. The mechanisms by which plant-based diets cause weight loss appear to be (1) reduced dietary energy density, as a result of their high fiber and low fat content, and (2) increased postprandial energy expenditure. The degree of weight loss associated with plant-based diets in clinical trials is as great as that with other popular diet patterns, and favorable changes in overall nutrition, plasma lipid concentrations, and blood pressure are also observed. Acceptability with, and adherence to vegan diets has been studied in varied populations in clinical trials and is similar to that of other therapeutic diets. &#x0D;