Nutrition
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Botanical compounds and extracts are widely used as nutritional supplements for the promotion of health or the prevention of disease. An extract of Artemisia dracunculus (PMI 5011) has been shown to improve insulin action, yet the precise mechanism is not known. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that the mechanism by which PMI 5011 and two related Artemisia extracts improve insulin action is associated with a down-regulation of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in the liver and an increase in DNL in the adipose tissue. ⋯ These results suggest that botanicals may not affect fractional DNL in animals on a high-fat diet. However, there were decreases in long-chain fatty acids and in glycerol coming from the newly synthesized triglycerides in plasma.
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The objective of this study was to compare the profiles of proinflammatory (interleukin [IL]-6 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 and transforming growth factor [TGF]-β) adipokines in the blood, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of metabolically healthy class III obese individuals and normal-weight controls. ⋯ Metabolically healthy, extremely obese individuals have effective immunoregulation to counter chronic obesity-related inflammation through the increased production of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β in adipose tissue, especially SAT; the increased presence of FOXP3-positive regulatory T cells; and increases in angiogenesis and adipogenesis induced by TGF-β and MMPs. These regulatory mechanisms could be important in the delayed onset of metabolic complications, even in extremely obese individuals.
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The aims of the following experiments were to characterize antidiabetic in vitro and in vivo activity of the polyphenol-rich aqueous extract of Rutgers Scarlet Lettuce (RSL). ⋯ RSLE demonstrated antidiabetic effects in vitro and in vivo and may improve metabolic syndrome conditions of fatty liver and glucose metabolism.
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Urea cycle disorders (UCDs) most often involve inherited deficiencies in genes that code for enzymes normally used by the urea cycle to breakdown nitrogen. UCDs lead to serious metabolic complications, including severe neurologic decompensation related to hyperammonemia. ⋯ Early, specialized nutrition therapy is a fundamental aspect of treating hyperammonemic crises in patients with UCD. The case presented here demonstrates the importance of early recognition of UCD and appropriate interventions with nutrition support.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of resistance exercise on the mRNA expression of muscle mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), muscle-specific RING finger-1 (MuRF-1), and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) in the presence or absence of whey protein ingestion. We hypothesized that resistance exercise in combination with whey protein ingestion alters the gene expression of proteins related to muscle protein synthesis (mTOR) and/or degradation (MuRF-1 and MAFbx), thus affecting muscle weight gain in rats. ⋯ A reduction in MAFbx gene transcription induced by whey protein and the interaction between exercise and whey protein ingestion on mTOR gene expression contributed significantly to differences in body and muscle weight gain.