Nutrition
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Patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) avoid sun exposure owing to photosensitivity. For decades, sun-avoiding Danes have been recommended daily vitamin D supplements all year. We offered our EPP patients serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) monitoring, and counseling if their level was low. We aimed to investigate the effect of the general recommendation and counseling on 25(OH)D status in patients attending our clinic. Additionally, the 25(OH)D status of our EPP patients was compared to that of British patients with EPP not taking vitamin D supplements and with that of the general Danish population. ⋯ This study documents the positive effect of vitamin D recommendations on serum 25(OH)D in patients with EPP. Follow-up on vitamin D status and recommendations is essential to increase 25(OH)D levels.
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The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the micronutrient selenium, as inorganic selenite, on adipocytes differentiation, and to identify underlying molecular mechanisms to advance the understanding of basic cellular mechanisms associated with adipogenesis. ⋯ Selenium, as selenite, prevented adipogenesis through increasing antioxidant selenoprotein expression, leading to decreased inflammatory markers and, subsequently, to a decrease in differentiation and lipid deposition. These findings, if demonstrated in vivo, could provide valuable data for novel dietary approaches to prevent obesity.
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Species Lactobacillus acidophilus and butyrate producer Clostridium cochlearium have been shown to have potential antiobesity effects. The aim of this study was to show that the combination of C. cochlearium and L. acidophilus (CC-LA) has beneficial effects on body weight control and glucose homeostasis in high-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. ⋯ The present study provided evidence that the CC-LA combination reduced obesity and improved glucose metabolism in high-fat diet-treated DIO mice, potentially mediated by the modulation of gut microbiota.
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Based on taurine's beneficial roles in metabolic diseases in rodents and obese individuals, we investigated the effects of taurine supplementation on adipose tissue using transcriptome analysis, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) of obese women. ⋯ For the first time, to our knowledge, we showed that supplementation with 3 g of taurine for 8 wk promoted no effect in the insulin signaling pathway in the scWAT of obese women. These findings bring new perspectives to investigate different taurine doses and the intervention period for human studies owing to the potential antiobesity activity of taurine.
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As the global aging phenomenon intensifies, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is gradually increasing. Diet appears to be an effective way to prevent and delay the progression of AD. Previous studies have found that cognitive impairment and neuronal damage were effectively alleviated by blueberry extract (BBE) in AD mice, but its mechanism is still unclear. The aims of this study were to detect the main anthocyanins of BBE; then to verify the protective effects of anthocyanin-rich BBE on hippocampal neurons and the promotion of autophagy; and finally to investigate the main protective effects and mechanisms of protocatechuic acid (PCA), a major metabolite of BBE, for promoting autophagy and thus playing a neuroprotective role. ⋯ This study elucidated the mechanism of BBE for reducing neuronal damage by promoting neuronal autophagy and proved PCA may be the main bioactive metabolite of BBE for neuroprotective effects, providing a basis for dietary intervention in AD.