Nutrition
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Fetal malnutrition is an early-life inducer of dyslipidemia and glucose intolerance. The aim of this study was to examine whether maternal azuki bean (Vigna angularis) polyphenol (AP) intake during lactation affects the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and lipid metabolism in offspring exposed to fetal malnutrition. ⋯ Our results suggest that maternal AP intake during lactation upregulates AMPK phosphorylation not only in young but also in adult offspring exposed to fetal malnutrition and may lead to decreased hepatic lipid accumulation by ACC phosphorylation and downregulation of SREBP-1c expression.
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Several studies have shown that soy isoflavones have estrogen-like activities and might constitute an alternative to hormone replacement treatment. The present study investigated the effects of soy isoflavones alone and combined with vitamin D3 on prevention of bone loss. ⋯ Treatment with soy isoflavones might be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy in decreasing bone loss from postmenopausal estrogen deficiency. In addition, there are further effects on increasing transcription factor osterix expression and preosteoblast proliferation when these were combined with vitamin D3.
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We investigated whether a reduced iso-α acid derived from an extract of Humulus lupulus L., META060, had an effect on weight gain, body composition, and metabolism in a high-fat-diet (HFD) fed mouse model. ⋯ META060 has potential therapeutic value for managing obesity and insulin resistance, and further research into the mechanism of action is warranted.
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The identification of the active phenolic compounds in the mixed extract of sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) body wall by high-performance liquid chromatography and an assessment of its hepatoprotective activity against thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats. ⋯ Sea cucumber mixed extract contains physiologically active phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, which afforded a potential hepatoprotective activity against thioacetamide-induced liver injury in a rat model.