Enlargement of adipocytes in obesity leads to alteration in adipokine production and these changes are linked to the development of obesity-related cardiovascular diseases. Adipokines specifically associated with obesity-related hypertension include angiotensinogen and adiponectin. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been reported to reduce blood pressure in obese insulin-resistant rats, but its mechanism of action has not been identified. The objective of this study was to determine whether CLA’s ability to improve obesity-related hypertension involves reducing adipocyte size and altering adipokine production. Fa/fa Zucker rats (6 or 16 week old) were fed diets containing CLA isomers for 8 weeks. The trans(t)10,cis(c)12-CLA isomer reduced adipocyte size in both younger and older rats. Despite beneficial changes in cell size of rats fed the t10,c12-CLA isomer, there were no changes in the renin-angiotensin system or pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 or the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. In contrast, the t10,c12-CLA isomer increased adiponectin levels both in the circulation and in adipose tissue. This was associated with increased phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in adipose tissue and aorta. Direct treatment of CLA isomers in cultured endothelial cells did not increase eNOS phosphorylation but increases were observed with adiponectin treatment. In vivo, infusion with adiponectin increased eNOS phosphorylation in adipose of fa/fa Zucker rats in parallel with improvements in blood pressure. Similarly, when circulating levels of adiponectin increased in rats fed the t10,c12-CLA isomer diet, blood pressure was also attenuated. In younger rats, both the t10-c12 and c9,t11-CLA isomers were significantly different from the control group at week 8, however, only the t10,c12-CLA isomer was comparable to the commonly used anti-hypertensive medication captopril. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of the t10,c12-CLA isomer on blood pressure may in part be due to its ability to reduce the number of large adipocytes in vivo, thus increasing the production of adiponectin which subsequently activates vascular eNOS.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 45 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-45).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2006. / Title from PDF title page screen. Advisor: Michael K. McIntosh; submitted to the School of Health and Human Performance. Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-151).

The potential for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) incorporation into pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) formulations was evaluated. A series of free radical bulk copolymerizations of CLA/styrene (Sty) and CLA/butyl acrylate (BA) were designed to allow the estimation of reactivity ratios. Bulk terpolymerizations of CLA/Sty/BA were also evaluated before moving to emulsion terpolymerizations of CLA/Sty/BA. The polymers were characterized for composition, conversion, molecular weight and glass transition temperature while latexes were characterized for viscosity, particle size, tack, peel strength, and shear strength. All experiments were performed at 80oC and monitored with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. While bulk experiments were monitored off-line, the emulsion experiments were monitored in-line. Absorbance peaks related to the monomers and polymer were tracked to provide conversion and polymer composition data using a multivariate calibration method. Off-line measurements using gravimetry and 1H-NMR spectroscopy were compared to the ATR-FTIR data and no significant differences were detected between the measurement methods. Pseudo-kinetic models, developed and validated with the copolymer experimental data, were used to estimate reactivity ratios. The copolymer pseudo-kinetic models were extended to a terpolymer pseudo-kinetic model and validated with experimental data. The pseudo-kinetic models incorporated the ability of oleic acid, a common impurity found in CLA, to trap electrons thus influencing the reaction kinetics significantly. The influence of terpolymer composition, chain transfer agent concentration, cross-linker concentration, molecular weight, viscosity and particle size on tack, peel strength and shear strength was investigated by using a constrained mixture design. The final forms of the resulting empirical models allowed the creation of 3D response surfaces for PSA performance optimization. The incorporation of 30 wt.% CLA into a practical PSA application suitable for the removable adhesives category was achieved.

Approximately 200 million people worldwide, including 25 million in the United States, suffer from osteoporosis. The pathophysiology of osteoporosis suggests that prevention through dietary intervention can be one of the most important actions. Diet can also be a successful alternative for minimizing bone loss and the need for osteoporosis related drug therapy. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is the collective term used to describe positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid with two conjugated double bonds. CLA has been shown to be biologically active in many systems, yet CLA’s effect on bone mass is not clearly established. The purpose of this research is to investigate CLA’s isomeric effect and synergy with dietary calcium on bone mass. CLA was observed to increase the body ash, representative of bone mass, in male ICR mice after 4-weeks of supplementation. CLA was also administered to mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells during osteoblastic differentiation. CLA increased protein expression related to osteogenesis as well as increasing the calcium concentration of the osteoblastic matrix. In summary, this research provides evidence for the ability of CLA to preserve bone mass.

No description available.

Milk fat composition determines specific rheological, sensory and physicochemical properties of dairy products such as texture, melting point, flavor, color, oxidation rates, and viscosity. Previous studies have shown that milkfats containing higher levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have lower melting points and decreased solid fat contents which leads to softer-textured products. An increased risk of higher oxidation rates can be a disadvantage of high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Three different milkfat compositions were obtained through dietary manipulation of cows: high oleic content, high linoleic content and control milkfat. Ice cream and butter were processed from the treated and control milks. Butter and ice cream samples then were analyzed to measure differences in fatty acid profiles and firmness. High-oleic and high-linoleic milkfat had lower concentrations of saturated fatty acids, such as C 16:0. Conjugated linoleic acid content was increased in the high-linoleic milkfat. High-oleic milkfat resulted in a softer butter. Ice cream samples were analyzed to measure differences in viscosity, melting point, oxidation rate and sensory perception. Significant differences (P<0.05) were found in the fatty acid profiles of milkfat, ice cream mix viscosity, peroxide values of ice cream after 3 to 5 months of storage, butter color, and butter firmness. Sensory analyses included a scooping test at -18°C to detect differences in texture. A difference test was conducted to determine oxidation flavor differences between the three ice cream treatments at extended storage times. No significant differences were found in the scooping test or the oxidation flavor difference. Manipulation of the cow's diet increased the total amount of unsaturated fatty acids. It also influenced firmness of butter and behavior of peroxide values during extended storage of high-linoleic ice cream. / Master of Science

No / The effects of a conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) mixture of single isomers (50:50, w/w, cis9,trans11:trans10,cis12) and the individual isomers on (a) the production of resting and calcium ionophore stimulated 14C-eicosanoids and (b) the incorporation of 14C-arachidonic acid (AA) into membrane phospholipids of human saphenous vein endothelial cells were investigated. The CLA mixture and the individual isomers were found to inhibit resting production of 14C-prostaglandin F2a by 50, 43 and 40%, respectively. A dose dependent inhibition of stimulated 14C-prostaglandins was observed with the CLA mixture (IC50 100 ¿M). The cis9,trans11 and trans10,cis12 (50 ¿M) isomers individually inhibited the overall production of stimulated 14C-prostaglandins (between 35 and 55% and 23 and 42%, respectively). When tested at a high concentration (100 ¿M), cis9,trans11 was found to inhibit eicosanoid production in contrast to trans10,cis12 that caused stimulation. The overall degree of 14C-AA incorporation into membrane phospholipids of the CLA (mixture and individual isomers) treated cells was found to be lower than that of control cells and the cis9,trans11 isomer was found to increase the incorporation of 14C-AA into phosphatidylcholine. Docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and linoleic acid did not alter the overall degree of incorporation of 14C-AA. The results of this study suggest that both isomers inhibit eicosanoid production, and although trans10,cis12 exhibits pro-inflammatory activity at high concentrations, the CLA mixture maintains its beneficial anti-inflammatory action that contributes to its anti-carcinogenic and anti-atherogenic properties.

The high rate of obesity is having a significant impact on human health. Understanding the underlying biological mechanisms that regulate adipogenesis and adipocyte lipid metabolism is necessary to identify novel approaches that promote weight loss. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an example of a naturally-derived product reported to exhibit an anti-obesity effect. For this thesis, it was hypothesized that the anti-obesity effects of the t10-c12 CLA isomer is due to lipid droplet dynamics alteration through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which leads to weight loss via affecting adipogenesis and/or adipocyte death. Testing of this hypothesis was achieved by examining the effects of the most biologically active CLA isomers, cis-9, trans-11 (c9-t11), trans-10, cis-12 (t10-c12) CLA using in vitro (3T3-L1 cell line) and in vivo (mouse) models. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, both c9-t11 and t10-c12 CLA stimulated early stage differentiation, while t10-c12 CLA inhibited late differentiation as indicated by fewer lipid droplets, lower adipokine levels, and decreased levels of perilipin-1 and phospho-perilipin-1 compared to null. The t10-c12 CLA isomer decreased hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) levels and inhibited lipolysis by activating protein kinase Cα (PKCα). As well, t10-c12-CLA inhibited adipocyte differentiation by stabilizing β-catenin, which sequesters peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in an inactive complex. Reduced body weight in both db/db and C57B/L6 mice fed t10-c12 CLA was due to less white and brown fat mass without changes in lean body mass or an alteration in feed intake compared to their respective control. t10-c12 CLA did not stimulate cell death in white adipose tissue. Immune cell infiltration was decreased in calorie restricted pair weight control mice, but not with CLA. t10-c12 CLA-induced weight loss did not improve hyperglycemia in db/db mice. In conclusion, the anti-adipogenic effects of t10-c12 CLA in vitro result from stabilization of β-catenin, which alters lipid droplet dynamics through HSL levels and perilipin-1 phosphorylation via the activation of PKCα. In contrast, t10-c12 CLA promotes loss of adipose tissue in vivo, possibly by activating β-catenin, but without influencing either adipogenesis or adipocyte clearance. This study suggests a novel mechanism for the anti-obesity effect of t10-c12 CLA, and highlights the possible side-effects associated with t10-c12 CLA consumption. / February 2016