An animal model to study complications resulting from childhood obesity is lacking. Our objective was to develop a porcine model for studying mechanisms underlying diet-induced childhood obesity. Pre-pubertal female pigs, age 35 d, were fed a high-energy diet (HED; n = 12), containing tallow and refined sugars, or a control corn-based diet (n = 11) for 16 wk. Initially, HED pigs self-regulated energy intake similar to controls, but, by wk 5, consumed more (P < 0.001) energy per kg body weight. At wk 15 and 22, pigs were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); blood glucose increased (P < 0.05) in control pigs and returned to baseline levels within 60 min. HED pigs were hyperglycemic at time 0, and blood glucose did not return to baseline (P = 0.01), even 3 h post-challenge. During OGTT, glucose area under the curve was higher and insulin area under the curve was lower in HED pigs compared to controls (P = 0.001). Pigs given 6 wk of dietary intervention, consuming a control diet, marginally improved glucose area under the curve and LDL-cholesterol although insulin area under the curve was unaffected. Chronic HED intake increased (P < 0.05) subcutaneous, intramuscular, and perirenal fat deposition, and induced hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, and low-density lipoprotein hypercholesterolemia; however, a 6 wk dietary intervention partially recovered a normal physiology. These data suggest pre-pubertal pigs fed HED are a viable animal model for studying childhood obesity. / Master of Science

Metabolic syndrome refers to clusters of risk factors (e.g. obesity, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver and hypertension) that would lead to development of cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of this disease is high and the therapeutic approaches are insufficient. Potential use of Chinese herbal medicines to target on metabolic syndrome has attracted great attention. Erigerontis Herba (EH) is a Chinese herb that is traditionally used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Its effect on diet-induced metabolic syndrome has not been previously investigated. The present study was the first investigation of the effects of Erigerontis Herba, Erigerontis containing herbal formulae and its polyphenol-enriched fraction (EHP) on diet-induced metabolic syndrome. / To determine the effects of EH, EH-containing herbal formulae and EHP on obesity, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis and hypertension, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models were used. For in vitro studies, cholesterol uptake inhibition and adipogenesis differentiation assays were performed using Caco-2 cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes, respectively. Ex vivo organ bath studies were performed to determine the vasodilative effects, and respective underlying mechanisms were determined via inhibition of different pathways using corresponding blockers. In vivo animal model of high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome was performed using C57Bl/6 mice. Preventive effects of these herbal extracts were determined by supplementation of extract to high-fat diet for 8 weeks, followed by measurement of body weight, liver and adipose tissues weight, plasma lipid, plasma glucose and liver lipid. Proteins and genes expressions related to lipid metabolism were also determined using Western blotting and RT-PCR. Bioavailability of these herbal extracts were investigated using human intestinal Caco-2 cells monolayer. / Among all tested, EHP demonstrated most prominent effects in the inhibition of both cholesterol uptake and adipogenesis in vitro; and possessed significant vasodilative effects ex vivo, and also significant beneficial effects on obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice, but not on hyperlipidemia. EH-containing herbal formulae exhibited significant inhibitory effects on cholesterol uptake in Caco-2 cells. Among all tested, only DZ4 showed inhibitory effect on adipogenesis. EH, on the other hand, significantly inhibited adipogenesis but exerted no effect on cholesterol uptake. EH and EH-containing herbal formulae showed significant vasodilative effects in ex vivo studies. For in vivo studies, only DZ6 showed mild beneficial effects on diet-induced obesity (inguinal fat/body weight and peri-renal fat/body weight), hepatic steatosis and hyperlipidemia. EH alone showed no significant beneficial effects on high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome in mice. Preliminary bioavailability experiments suggested that all herbal preparations had relatively low bioavailability, although EHP had a comparative higher permeation ability through Caco-2 monolayer. / In conclusion, this is the first comprehensive study of the effects of EH (with or without other herbs) on diet-induced metabolic syndrome. EHP, a polyphenol-enriched fraction isolated from EH showed potent beneficial effect on diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis both in vitro and in vivo, as well as significant vasodilative effects ex vivo. These data suggested the potential for EHP to be developed as dietary supplementation for metabolic syndrome. The effects will be further determined in clinical trials in the future. / 代謝綜合癥是多種心血管危險因子異常聚集的病理狀態，其病癥包括肥胖，高血脂，胰岛素抗性，高血糖，脂肪肝和高血壓等。它的發病率很高，但是目前治療以及預防這一疾病的措施尚不完善。近年來，用中藥治疗這一疾病引起人们廣大關注。燈盞細辛作為傳統中草藥經常用於心血管和腦血管疾病，但其對於代謝綜合癥是否有效有待研究發現。本課題組建立了高脂餵食引起代謝綜合癥模型，并探討了燈盞細辛，燈盞細辛複方，以及燈盞細辛你酚類對此疾病的療效及作用機制。 / 我們用體內，體外及離體模型研究了燈盞細辛，燈盞細辛複方以及燈盞細辛酚對於肥胖，高血脂，脂肪肝和高血壓的作用。我們用3T3-L1和Caco-2細胞模型研究了燈盞細辛相關提取物對於膽固醇吸收和脂肪生成的作用，用大鼠離體血管環體外實驗，研究了他們對於血管擴張的作用及其機制。另外，本課題組建立了高脂餵食小鼠代謝綜合癥模型，并探討了這些中藥提取物作為食物補充劑對於代謝綜合癥的作用。我們用實時定量PCR技術和蛋白質印跡技術測量了各種相關蛋白和基因的表達。此外，我們還用人的腸細胞單層轉運模型研究了這些中藥提取物的生物利用度。 / 體外實驗結果表明，四個燈盞細辛複方都有明顯抑制膽固醇吸收的作用，但是對於脂肪生成，只有複方DZ4有明顯抑制作用。燈盞細辛提取物可以明顯抑制脂肪生成，但是對膽固醇吸收卻沒有明顯作用。燈盞細辛酚對於兩者都具有明顯的抑制作用。另外，大鼠離體動血管環研究結果顯示，燈盞細辛複方，燈盞細辛提取物以及燈盞細辛酚都有明顯的擴張血管的作用。高脂餵食小鼠代謝綜合癥實驗結果結果顯示四個燈盞細辛複方中只有複方DZ6對於肥胖，脂肪肝和高血脂有作用。燈盞細辛對代謝綜合癥無明顯作用，但是燈盞細辛酚對于肥胖和脂肪肝卻有明顯抑制作用對於此代謝綜合癥小鼠模型。生物利用度相關研究結果顯示，燈盞細辛，燈盞細辛複方以及燈盞細辛酚的生物利用度都相對較低。 / 總括來說，我們綜合研究了燈盞細辛對於代謝綜合癥的藥效。燈盞細辛酚對於肥胖和脂肪肝在體內體外模型都顯示了較好的抑製作用。再加上其對於擴張血管有非常明顯的作用，它有潛能被發展為代謝綜合癥的治療預防方法。 / Wang, Yanping. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-256). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 01, November, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for Masters in Technology: Clinical Technology Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Background The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clustering of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and is noted to be increasing globally. Several studies have shown a link between the MS, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) possibly through a process of inflammation. Dialysis therapy may increase inflammation and could worsen MS and increase CV risk and diseases in ESRD patients. ESRD has been associated with increased CV disease in dialysis patients. Although there have been several reports on the prevalence of MS from the general population as well as from other specific groups, there are no known studies in South Africa on the prevalence of MS in ESRD patients on chronic dialysis therapy. The prevalence and risk factors for CV diseases are also currently unknown in the dialysis population in Cape Town. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MS in the dialysis population at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, to determine the effect of dialysis on MS and its traits and to evaluate CV risk in this patient group. Methods A total of 143 prevalent chronic dialysis patients who consented were used for this study. Demographic and relevant clinical details including systolic and diastolic blood pressures, waist and hip circumference and body mass index were obtained from all patients. Blood was drawn in the fasting state for assessment of full lipogram, glucose, ferritin, iron, calcium and phosphate. The metabolic syndrome was defined using the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII) criteria. To determine the impact of dialysis on MS and its traits in our patients, only incident (new) patients starting dialysis were followed up for assessment of MS traits at timed intervals (at baseline, at 6 months and at 12 months) following initiation of chronic dialysis. To evaluate CV risk in this study, common traditional CV risk factors were assessed and were stratified according to number of risk factors as low ( ≤ 1), moderate (2 – 4) or high ( ≥ 4). Relevant statistical methods were used for analysis. Results Of the 143 patients in the study, 67.8% were on haemodialysis (HD) and 32.2% were on peritoneal dialysis (PD). The mean age of all the patients was 38.5 ± 10.4 years. The MS was present in 37.1% of all patients (PD – 52.2%, HD 29.9%; p = 0.015) and the frequency of increased waist circumference and hypertriglyceridaemia were significantly higher in PD patients than HD patients (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.006 respectively). Hypertension was the most prevalent MS trait in all the patients (89.5%) and was also the most prevalent trait in males (92.4%), females (85.9%) and in HD and PD patients (91.3% and 88.7% respectively). The frequency of CV risk was 3.5, 75.5 and 21.0% respectively for low, moderate and high CV risk and there was no difference in CV risk in HD and PD patients. High CV risk correlated with body mass index (BMI), increased waist circumference (WC), hyperphosphataemia, raised calcium – phosphate product, raised parathyroid hormone (PTH) and elevated C-reactive protein (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in MS prevalence or prevalence of MS traits in patients who were followed up irrespective of gender or modality of dialysis (p > 0.05) Conclusion The prevalence of the MS is higher in dialysis patients compared to the general population in South Africa and among dialysis patients, the prevalence is higher in PD than HD patients. Patients with MS have significantly higher CV risk factors than those without MS. Although dialysis therapy appear to have no significant effects on the prevalence of the MS or its traits in this study, the increased prevalence of the MS and CV risk factors may be related to the underlying disease process associated with ESRD. There is therefore an urgent need to identify and treat dialysis patients with the MS in order to reduce CV morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Further prolonged prospective studies are needed to clarify the impact of dialysis on the MS and its traits in the ESRD population.

<p>Obesity is today a problem that has reached epidemic proportions. One of the causes of obesity is the over-consumption of energy. Fat is the most energy-dense nutrient, where the quality seems to be more important for the development of the metabolic diseases than the quantity. The fatty acid composition in serum lipid fractions can be used to mirror the dietary fat quality.</p><p>Stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD) is an enzyme that converts saturated to monounsaturated fatty acids. A surrogate measure of SCD activity can be estimated as a fatty acid ratio; 16:1/16:0 (palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid) and 18:1/18:0 (oleic acid/stearic acid). The aim of this project was to investigate the intra-day variation in the SCD-ratio in humans eating a standardized diet. The results showed that triacylglycerol and nonesterified fatty acid fractions in serum lipids had a significant variance in the 16:1/16:0 ratio during the day, whereas 18:1/18:0 ratio in the same fractions did not exhibit the same pattern. In this study 16:1/16:0 ratio also seems to be a better marker than 18:1/18:0 ratio for estimating SCD activity. For further evaluation of the intra-day variation there need to be a more long-term study of the SCD-activity for a larger group of subjects.</p>

Introduction. Pima Indians living in the United States (U.S.) have the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the world. Their Mexican counterparts, living a traditional lifestyle in the mountain of Sonora, Mexico, have at least five times less diabetes than the U.S. Pima Indians. The effects of a traditional lifestyle in reducing type 2 diabetes risk factors and the association of factors to type 2 diabetes were evaluated in a sample of 1211 genetically related Pima Indians living different lifestyles (224 from Mexico and 887 from U.S.). Subsets of these populations were used to address specific questions. First, differences in insulin resistance between subjects with normal glucose tolerance (194 Mexican versus 449 U.S. Pima) were evaluated. Second, the effect of physical activity and obesity explaining differences in metabolic syndrome prevalence were evaluated in 224 and 447 Mexican and U.S. Pima Indians. Third, factors associated with type 2 diabetes were evaluated in each Pima Indian population (224 from Mexico and 887 from U.S.).Methods. Demographic, physical, biochemical, and lifestyle factors were measured in 1996 in a cross-sectional study of Pima Indians 20 years of age or older living in Maycoba, Sonora Mexico and contrasted to results from a sample of U.S. Pima Indians participating in an ongoing epidemiological study that used similar methods and selection criteria. Insulin resistance was estimated by both fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Metabolic syndrome was defined using the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP III) criteria. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing weigh in kilograms by the square of height in meters (Kg/m2). Physical activity was measured using a questionnaire developed for the U.S. Pima Indians and adapted to the Mexican Pima Indian population. Type 2 diabetes was defined according to the 1999 WHO criteria after an oral glucose tolerance test. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to answer the first question (related to differences in insulin resistance) and multiple logistic regressions analysis to answer the second (related with differences in metabolic syndrome) and third questions (related to factors associated with type 2 diabetes).Results. Insulin resistance was much lower in the Mexican Pima Indians than in genetically related U.S. counterparts, even after controlling for differences in obesity, age and sex. In addition, the unadjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 24.1% and 56.6 % in the Mexican and U.S. Pima Indians, respectively. However, most of the difference in metabolic syndrome prevalence was explained by differences in obesity and physical activity. Furthermore, in Mexican Pima Indians, type 2 diabetes was independently associated with age, fasting insulin, and waist circumference. In the U.S. Pima Indians, type 2 diabetes was associated with with age, sex, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, blood pressure and physical activity.Conclusion. The findings underscore the importance of lifestyle in the prevention of type 2 diabetes risk factors, such as insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, even in individuals with high propensity to develop diabetes.

Motivation: Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors predisposing to coronary heart disease (CHD) and is classified as a "disease of modern civilization". Characteristics of the metabolic syndrome include abdominal obesity, increased triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations, increased small dense low-density lipoprotein(LDL) particles, decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, insulin resistance, inflammation, glucose intolerance and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects with metabolic syndrome may be susceptible to oxidative stress due to their prolonged exposure to elevated glucose levels. A variety of natural antioxidants exists (e.g. glutathione, l3-carotene, vitamin C, polyphenols) that may prevent oxidative damage to biological structures. Nuts are rich sources of unsaturated fatty acids, protein, fibre, .micronutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants. Duet o their high antioxidant content, it can, therefore, be speculated that nuts may play a role in the prevention of oxidative stress in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Objective: - To investigate the effect of a high walnut and a high unsalted cashew nut diet on the antioxidant status of subjects with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Sixty eight subjects with diagnosed metabolic syndrome (according to the ATP III criteria) were recruited to take part in this parallel, randomized, controlled feeding trial. Subjects were mainly recruited from the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus and surrounding areas. After a run-in period of three weeks during which the participants followed a prudent diet, subjects were randomly divided into three groups receiving either walnuts or cashew nuts (63- 108g/day)as part of a prudent diet, or continued with the prudent control diet. The intervention was followed for eight weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning(after the three week run-in period) and at the end of the intervention. Antioxidant variables including oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG), diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (dRom) were measured at the beginning and the end of the intervention. C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and plasminogen activator-inhibitor activity (PAI-1a) were also measured as markers of inflammation. The antioxidant capacity and the polyphenol content of the diets and the walnuts and cashew nuts were determined at the end of the intervention. Results: A significant decrease in dRom and significant increases in GSSG, the redox status of glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and ORAC were observed in all three groups from baseline to end. GSH remained unchanged from baseline to end in all three groups. No significant differences in changes in dRom (p = 0.92), GSSG (p = 0.99), GSH/GSSG (p = 0.86), antioxidant capacity (p = 0.10) and GSH (p = 0.34) were observed from baseline to end between groups. The total polyphenol content of the walnut and control diets were similar and significantly higher than the cashew nut diet. The antioxidant capacity of the walnut and cashew nut diets showed a tendency to be higher than the control diet (p = 0.07 and p = 0.06 respectively). CRP, fibrinogen and PAI-1a concentrations did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion No significant differences between the groups receiving walnuts, cashew nuts or no nuts were observed in GSH, GSSG, GSH/GSSG, dRom or ORAC. Therefore, there seems to be no beneficial effect of the inclusion of walnuts and cashew nuts in the diet on the antioxidant status of the participants. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Dietetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

An estimated 86 million Americans in the United States age 20 and older are classified as prediabetic. Prediabetes is defined as an individual having a higher blood sugar than normal increasing the risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). T2DM is among the top ten leading causes of death in the United States and costs an estimated 245 billion dollars annually. Interventions need to take place among patients with prediabetes in order to prevent the T2DM epidemic from compounding. This study examined the effects of a six-week low carbohydrate diet on A1C values, weight and BMI, and cardiovascular markers among patients with prediabetes. A retrospective chart review examined 1,169 patients with prediabetes that met inclusion criteria from July 2013 to April 2016. Patients had completed a six-week low carbohydrate diet program with weekly clinic visits with a nurse practitioner and followed the prescribed low carbohydrate diet. A significant difference in means was found when comparing pre A1C values (M= 5.93, SD= 0.20) and post A1C values (M= 5.57, SD= 0.25); (t (1142) = 49.3, p = 0.00), pre intervention weight (M= 227.0, SD= 52.0) and post intervention weight (M = 209.5, SD = 48.0); (t (1168) = 79.3, p = 0.00), and pre BMI (M = 36.8, SD = 7.0) and post BMI (M = 34.0, SD = 6.6); (t (1168) = 77.8, p = 0.00). Additionally, statistical significance was found for cardiovascular markers including systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. These findings suggest that a low carbohydrate diet is effective at improving metabolic risk factors for prediabetes and preventing the progression to T2DM. Low carbohydrate diets should be further examined for long term effectiveness and could be recommended to patients with prediabetes in order to reverse the epidemic of T2DM.