Nutrition
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Previous studies suggest that low vitamin D status is associated with obesity characterized by excess lipid storage in adipocytes. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the most hormonally active form of vitamin D 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] on adipocyte fat storage and lipid metabolism in mature 3T3-L1 cells. ⋯ The observed potent inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)2D on adipocyte fat storage in mature 3T3-L1 cells suggests that vitamin D might improve adipocyte metabolic function and protect against obesity. Increased NAD concentrations and SIRT1 activity may play a role in the mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D action.
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Nigella sativa belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. The therapeutic role of methanolic extract (ME) and volatile oil (VO) fractionated from N. sativa seed oil was investigated for antiperoxidative and antioxidant effects in atherogenic suspension fed rats. ⋯ The lipidemic oxidative stress was effectively mitigated by antiperoxidative activities of ME and VO. Thus, these test extracts, especially ME, may be used as antioxidant as well as hypolipidemic agents in the form of natural food supplement to prevent or treat diseases caused by free radicals.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of phytic acid (PA) on fatty liver and gut microflora in rats fed a high-sucrose (HSC) diet. ⋯ This work showed that dietary PA ameliorates sucrose-induced fatty liver through reducing the expression of hepatic lipogenesis genes and modulates gut microflora in rats.