Prolonged consumption of soy or fish-oil-enriched diets differentially affects the pattern of hypothalamic neuronal activation induced by refeeding in rats

We used c-Fos immunoreactivity to estimate neuronal activation in hypothalamic feeding-regulatory areas of 3-month-old rats fed control or oil-enriched diets (soy or fish) since weaning. While no diet effect was observed in c-Fos immunoreactivity of 24-h fasted animals, the acute response to refeeding was modified by both hyperlipidic diets but with different patterns. Upon refeeding, control-diet rats had significantly increased c-Fos immunoreactivity only in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH, 142%). In soy-diet rats, refeeding with the soy diet increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH, 271%) and lateral hypothalamic area (LH, 303%). Refeeding fish-diet rats with the fish diet increased c-Fos immunoreactivity in PVH (161%), DMH (177%), VMH (81%), and ARC (127%). Compared to the fish-diet, c-Fos immunoreactivity was increased in LH by the soy-diet while it was decreased in ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and arcuate hypothalamic nucleus (ARC). Based on the known roles of the activated nuclei, it is suggested that, unlike the fish-diet, the soy-diet induced a potentially obesogenic profile, with high LH and low VMH/PVH activation after refeeding.

Cathepsin S as a biomarker of low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic disease risk

Cathepsin S is a protease important in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen presentation and also in degrading the extracellular matrix. Studies, most of them experimental, have shown that cathepsin S is involved in different pathological conditions such as obesity, inflammation, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer.    The overall hypothesis of this report is that high levels of circulating cathepsin S, is a biomarker that reflects pathology induced by inflammation and obesity. The overall aim of this report was to investigate possible associations between circulating cathepsin S, inflammation, glucometabolic disturbance, and its associated diseases in the community. As cathepsin S appears to be a novel risk marker for several pathological conditions, we also wanted to examine the effect of dietary intervention on circulating cathepsin S concentrations.    This thesis is based on data from three community-based cohorts, the Uppsala longitudinal study of adult men (ULSAM), the prospective investigation of the vasculature in Uppsala seniors (PIVUS), and a post-hoc study from the randomized controlled NORDIET trial.    In the first study, we identified a cross-sectional positive association between serum cathepsin S and two markers of cytokine-mediated inflammation, CRP and IL-6. These associations were similar in non-obese individuals. In longitudinal analyses, higher cathepsin S at baseline was associated with higher CRP and IL-6 levels after six years of follow-up. In the second study, we identified a cross-sectional association between increased serum levels of cathepsin S and reduced insulin sensitivity. These associations were similar in non-obese individuals. No significant association was observed between cathepsin S and insulin secretion. In longitudinal analysis, higher cathepsin S levels were associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes during the six-year follow-up. In the third study, we found that higher serum levels of cathepsin S were associated with increased mortality risk. Moreover, in the ULSAM cohort, serum cathepsin S was independently associated with cause-specific mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer. In the fourth study, we identified that adherence to an ad libitum healthy Nordic diet for 6 weeks slightly decreased the levels of plasma cathepsin S in normal or marginally overweight individuals, relative to the control group. Changes in circulating cathepsin S concentrations were correlated with changes in body weight, LDL-C, and total cholesterol.    Conclusion: This thesis shows that circulating cathepsin S is a biomarker that independently reflects inflammation, insulin resistance, the risk of developing diabetes, and mortality risk. Furthermore, a Nordic diet moderately reduced cathepsin S levels in normal-weight and overweight men and women. This effect may be partially mediated by diet-induced weight loss and possibly by reduced LDL-C concentrations. 

Genetic albation of the c-Cbl ubiquitin ligase domain results in increased energy expenditure and improved insulin action

Casitas b-lineage lymphoma (c-Cbl) is a multiadaptor protein with E3-ubiquitin ligase activity residing within its RING finger domain. We have previously reported that c-Cbl–deficient mice exhibit elevated energy expenditure, reduced adiposity, and improved insulin action. In this study, we examined mice expressing c-Cbl protein with a loss-of-function mutation within the RING finger domain (c-Cbl^A/– mice). Compared with control animals, c-Cbl^A/– mice display a phenotype that includes reduced adiposity, despite greater food intake; reduced circulating insulin, leptin, and triglyceride levels; and improved glucose tolerance. c-Cbl^A/– mice also display elevated oxygen consumption (13%) and are protected against high-fat diet–induced obesity and insulin resistance. Unlike c-Cbl^A/– mice, mice expressing a mutant c-Cbl with the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase binding domain ablated (c-Cbl^F/F mice) exhibited an insulin sensitivity, body composition, and energy expenditure similar to that of wild-type animals. These results indicate that c-Cbl ubiquitin ligase activity, but not c-Cbl–dependent activation of PI 3-kinase, plays a key role in the regulation of whole-body energy metabolism.

Is proximity to a food retail store associated with diet and BMI in Glasgow, Scotland?

Background: Access to healthy food is often seen as a potentially important contributor to diet. Policy documents in many countries suggest that variations in access contribute to inequalities in diet and in health. Some studies, mostly in the USA, have found that proximity to food stores is associated with dietary patterns, body weight and socio-economic differences in diet and obesity, whilst others have found no such relationships. We aim to investigate whether proximity to food retail stores is associated with dietary patterns or Body Mass Index in Glasgow, a large city in the UK.
Methods: We mapped data from a ‘Health and Well-Being Survey’ (n = 991), and a list of food stores (n = 741) in Glasgow City, using ArcGIS, and undertook network analysis to find the distance from respondents’ home addresses to the nearest fruit and vegetable store, small general store, and supermarket.
Results: We found few statistically significant associations between proximity to food retail outlets and diet or obesity, for unadjusted or adjusted models, or when stratifying by gender, car ownership or employment.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that in urban settings in the UK the distribution of retail food stores may not be a major influence on diet and weight, possibly because most urban residents have reasonable access to food stores

The quality of dietary intake methodology and reporting in child and adolescent obesity intervention trials : a systematic review

Assessing dietary intake is important in evaluating childhood obesity intervention effectiveness. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the dietary intake methods and reporting in intervention studies that included a dietary component to treat overweight or obese children. A systematic review of studies published in the English language, between 1985 and August 2010 in health databases. The search identified 2,295 papers, of which 335 were retrieved and 31 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies reported energy intake as an outcome measure, 20 reported macronutrient intakes and 10 studies reported food intake outcomes. The most common dietary method employed was the food diary (n = 13), followed by 24-h recall (n = 5), food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) (n = 4) and dietary questionnaire (n = 4). The quality of the dietary intake methods reporting was rated as ‘poor’ in 15 studies (52%) and only 3 were rated as ‘excellent’. The reporting quality of FFQs tended to be higher than food diaries/recalls. Deficiencies in the quality of dietary intake methods reporting in child obesity studies were identified. Use of a dietary intake methods reporting checklist is recommended. This will enable the quality of dietary intake results to be evaluated, and an increased ability to replicate study methodology by other researchers.

Quercetin ameliorates glucose and lipid metabolism and improves antioxidant status in postnatally monosodium glutamate-induced metabolic alterations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Obesity: effects of physical exercise and metformin on metabolic aspects of monosodium glutamate treated rats

The present study investigated the effects of swimming training and metformin on metabolic aspects of obese rats. Wistar rats were divided into control (C), obese (O), Trained Obese (TO) and metformin obese (MO) groups. Obesity was induced by subcutaneous monosodium glutamate injection (4 mg/g body weight). Exercise program consisted in swimming 1 h/day, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks, supporting a load corresponding to 5% of body weight. Metformin was dissolved in the drinking water (1.4 mg/ml) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for determinations of serum glucose, insulin and triglycerides and hematocrit. Samples of gastrocnemius muscle and liver were removed to evaluate triglycerides content MSG-induced obesity, increased serum glucose, insulin and triglycerides, while physical training was able to recover serum glucose and insulin and metformin treatment recovered serum insulin and slightly reduced the serum glucose. MSG-induced obesity also increased liver triglycerides content and physical training and metformin administration recovered these parameters. It was concluded that in MSG obese rats, physical exercise and metformin induced important metabolic alterations associated with an improvement in glucose homeostasis and in liver fat content. Obesity and Metabolism 2009; 5: 129-133.

Effect of maternal obesity on diabetes development in adult rat offspring

This study aimed to evaluate whether maternal obesity leads to the onset of diabetes in adult Wistar rats offspring. MSG solution neonatally administration induced obesity in rats (F(1)MSG group, n = 30); and saline solution was also administrated to control rats (F1CON group, n = 13). In 3rd month of age, both control and MS G groups were mated for offspring (generation FA named as F2CON, n = 28 and F(2)MSG groups, n = 15; and so both generations were studied until 7th month of life. Lee Index was measured for experimental obesity validation from 5th to 7th month. Glycemia was weekly determined during pregnancy and monthly from 3rd to 7th month. In the end of experimental period all rats were submitted to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), with estimation of total area under the curve (AUC); and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Rats were then anesthetized and killed. Data were statistically analyzed with significance level of p < 0.05. Lee Index has confirmed obesity in all MSG rats. Glycemic levels comparisons between generations showed significant maternal interference in control and MSG groups. OGTT analysis showed higher glycemia in obese rats (F(1)MSG) and their offspring (F(2)MSG) as compared to their respective controls; and MSG groups increased AUC from OGTT. As regards ITT, F(2)MSG showed higher glycemia at 30 and 120 min, suggesting a delay of insulin action decreasing. Although glucose intolerance and insulin resistance clinical conditions represent as a factors for type 2 Diabetes mellitus development, this experimental model proposal was not efficient to induce type 2 Diabetes mellitus, but for obesity developing, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in successive generations of rats. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influência da obesidade sobre a expressão gênica das proteínas reguladoras do trânsito de cálcio miocárdico

Pós-graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica - FMB

Inter-relação da leptina e dos hormônios tireoidianos na perda de peso de ratos obesos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of different intensities of physical exercise on insulin sensitivity and protein kinase B/Akt activity in skeletal muscle of obese mice

Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos do exercício físico agudo com diferentes intensidades sobre a sensibilidade à insulina e a atividade da proteína quinase B/Akt no músculo esquelético de camundongos obesos. Método: Foram utilizados camundongos Swiss, divididos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos, que receberam dieta padrão (grupo controle) ou dieta hiperlipídica (grupos obeso sedentário e grupos obesos exercitados 1 e 2), por período de 12 semanas. Dois diferentes protocolos de exercício foram utilizados: natação durante 1 hora com ou sem sobrecarga de 5% da massa corporal. O teste de tolerância à insulina foi realizado para estimar a sensibilidade à insulina. E os níveis protéicos da proteína quinase B/Akt e de sua fosforilação foram determinados no músculo esquelético dos camundongos, através da técnica de Western blot. Resultado: Uma sessão de exercício físico foi capaz de inibir a resistência à insulina em decorrência de uma dieta hiperlipídica. Foi possível demonstrar um aumento na fosforilação da proteína quinase B/Akt, melhora da sinalização da insulina e redução da glicemia de jejum nos camundongos que realizaram 1 hora de natação sem sobrecarga adicional e nos camundongos que realizaram 1 hora de natação com sobrecarga adicional de 5% de sua massa corporal. Entretanto, não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos que realizaram o exercício em diferentes intensidades. Conclusão: Independente da intensidade, o exercício físico aeróbio conseguiu aumentar a sensibilidade à insulina e a fosforilação da proteína quinase B/Akt, revelando ser uma boa forma de tratamento e prevenção do diabetes tipo 2.

Macadamia Oil Supplementation Attenuates Inflammation and Adipocyte Hypertrophy in Obese Mice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação preliminar do efeito da Physalis angulata L. sobre a obesidade induzida por dieta hipercalórica

The obesity has been considered one of the most serious public health problem in the worldwide scale, especially for being one of the main risk factors for many chronic diseases that characterize the metabolic syndrome. In addition to these diseases, obesity also causes dermatoses that affect not only the individual emotions but also cause various cutaneous infections. Thus, overweighting can be an agent that causes many types of stress: psychological, physical and social. In order to improve people’s life quality, several ethnopharmacological studies indicate plant species for the treatment of disorders associated with obesity due to the attraction of this regimen is perceived as safer and more health effective when compared to the treatment performed by traditional anorectic substances. If considered both food intake and also oral treatment with different compounds can promote change in the gene expression, besides an appropriate diet has been maintenance mechanism of body's vital functions. The aim of this work was to develop new standard methods for induced obesity and stress, which stress is induced through physical and psychogenic stressors in Swiss male mice. Also to evaluate the effect of supercritical extract of Physalis angulata L. on the food intake and corporeal weight loss

Efeito de treinamento de saltos verticais e do destreinamento sobre a expressão gênica de vias energéticas da musculatura esquelética de ratos Wistar induzidos à obesidade

Pós-graduação em Fisioterapia - FCT

Lycopene-rich tomato oleoresin modulates plasma adiponectin concentration and mRNA levels of adiponectin, SIRT1, and FoxO1 in adipose tissue of obese rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)