Excessive abdominal obesity, coupled with a decline in muscle mass and physical function that is exacerbated by sedentary living, contributes substantively to the disease and disability common to our aging population. The Senior Study, a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the health benefits associated with performing resistance exercise (RE), aerobic exercise (AE), or a combination of both exercise modalities (RAE) for six months in the absence of caloric restriction, was conducted on otherwise healthy but abdominally obese, sedentary men (n=57) and women (n=79) between the ages of 60 and 80. The purpose of the first manuscript (Chapter 3) was to compare the effects of exercise modality on visceral obesity and insulin resistance in the Senior Study. All exercise groups significantly reduced total abdominal and visceral fat (P<0.05) and waist circumference (P<0.001), which measure explained 30% of the variance in total abdominal fat changes (P<0.001). AE and RAE improved insulin sensitivity (P<0.05), but the RE group did not (P>0.1). The greatest insulin sensitivity increase was observed within the RAE group (48% increase, P<0.001). The purpose of the second manuscript (Chapter 4) was to evaluate the effects of exercise modality on cardiorespiratory and functional fitness in the Senior Study. AE and RAE increased cardiorespiratory fitness (P<0.001), whereas RE did not (P>0.1). All exercise groups improved functional fitness performance (P<0.001), but age- and sex-specific percentile ranking improvement within RAE was greater than AE (P<0.01). RE and RAE significantly increased skeletal muscle (P<0.01), predominantly in the upper body, while AE did not (P=1.0). AE and RAE reduced total fat (P<0.001). Both fat loss and muscle gain were independent predictors of improvements in functional fitness (P<0.05). The findings from these studies demonstrate conclusively that a combined resistance and aerobic exercise program without caloric restriction is an optimal strategy for the therapeutic reduction of health risk in abdominally obese men and women. While each exercise modality offers distinct benefits and remains a viable option for needs-based exercise prescription, the combination was associated with the greater simultaneous improvements to body composition, insulin resistance, and cardiorespiratory and functional fitness than either resistance or aerobic exercise alone. / Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2007-09-13 13:21:31.772

abstract: To date, there have not been any studies in a human population that explore the potential of vinegar ingestion in reducing visceral fat, a common yet serious metabolic disease risk factor. However, previous research in animal models exhibit promising findings, showing that vinegar is effective at reducing visceral fat. This is thought to be due to the activation of AMPK (adenosine monophosphate protein kinase) by acetic acid, the active ingredient in vinegar. The purpose of this study was to identify if this potentially groundbreaking relationship exists in human subjects. Healthy, nonsmoking, sedentary adults between the ages 18-45 y and a waist circumference measurement greater than or equal to 33 inches for women and 38 inches for men were recruited for this study. Twenty-three participants completed this 8-week, parallel arm, randomized control trial that tested the efficacy of red wine vinegar consumption (2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, twice per day, before a meal; providing 3.6 g acetic acid) against a placebo (1 apple cider vinegar pill, twice per day, before a meal; providing 0.0225 g acetic acid) for 8 weeks. Participants were randomized into either the vinegar (VIN) or control (CON) group after being stratified by age, gender, waist circumference, and weight. Results found that the VIN group experienced a 2% decrease in visceral fat (cm3, quantified by a DXA scan), but this change did not differ significantly from that of the CON group (p=0.256). The VIN group also experienced a slight decrease in insulin compared to the CON group, but this change was not significantly different than the control change (p=0.125). However, the change in HOMA-IR trended downward in the VIN group (-16%) as compared to the CON group (+9%) (p=0.079) with a large effect size, 0.153. Other parameters did not show statistically significant results between the groups. Further research is indicated in order to examine the potential of vinegar to reduce visceral fat. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2018

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第19964号 / 医博第4154号 / 新制||医||1017(附属図書館) / 33060 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 柳田 素子, 教授 横出 正之, 教授 渡邊 直樹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Aging is characterized by a progressive stiffening of large elastic arteries in the cardiothoracic region. Importantly, large artery stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality in both healthy and diseased populations. The results of several studies suggest that obesity, particularly visceral adiposity, is associated with the accelerated stiffening of central elastic arteries in middle-aged and older adults. Despite the widely recognized association between obesity, aging and arterial stiffness, there remains a paucity of information regarding both the initiation of arterial stiffening and effective treatment strategies. To address these issues, we tested the hypotheses that weight gain increases arterial stiffness in nonobese young males, and atorvastatin treatment reduces large artery stiffness in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. Consistent with our first hypothesis, weight gain increased arterial stiffness in nonobese young men. In addition, we demonstrated that, independent of total body fat, those individuals with relatively larger increases in abdominal visceral fat also experienced correspondingly larger increases in arterial stiffness. Regarding our second hypothesis, atorvastatin treatment decreased arterial stiffness in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. Importantly, the reduction in arterial stiffness with atorvastatin appeared to be independent of the reduction in C-reactive protein. The findings of the present studies could potentially lead to the identification of effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of arterial stiffening in the population. / Ph. D.

No description available.

abstract: Objectives: To investigate the potential of vinegar supplementation as a means for reducing visceral fat in healthy overweight and obese adults, and to evaluate its effects on fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin. Subjects and Methods: Forty-five sedentary overweight and obese adult participants with a waist circumference greater than 32 inches for women and 37 inches for men were randomly assigned to one of two groups, the vinegar group (VIN, n=21) or the control group (CON, n=24), and instructed to consume either two tablespoons of liquid red wine vinegar (3.6g acetic acid) or a control pill (0.0225g acetic acid) twice daily at the beginning of a meal for 8 weeks. Participants were also instructed to maintain normal diet and physical activity levels. Anthropometric measures, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, blood samples, and 24-hour dietary recalls were collected at baseline and at end of trial. A compliance calendar was provided for daily tracking of vinegar supplementation. Results: Compliance to vinegar supplementation averaged 92.7 ±13.3% among the VIN group and 89.1 ±18.9% among the CON group. There were no statistically significant differences in anthropometric measurements between baseline and week 8: weight (P=0.694), BMI (P=0.879), and waist circumference (P=0.871). Similarly, DXA scan data did not show significant changes in visceral fat (P=0.339) or total fat (P=0.294) between baseline and week 8. The VIN group had significant reductions in fasting glucose (P=0.003), fasting insulin (P <0.001), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance scores (P <0.001) after treatment. Conclusions: These data do not support the findings from previous studies that indicated a link between vinegar supplementation and increased fat metabolism, specifically visceral fat reduction. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2019

Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is a polypeptide precursor with 241 amino acid residues which undergoes extensive post-translational modification to yield a range of smaller, biological active peptides including £\-, £] -, £^-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (£\-MSH, £]-MSH, £^-MSH )¡A£]-endorphin (£]-EP) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). POMC-derived peptides play important roles in appetite and energy homeostasis. Recently, the peripheral POMC system is under active investigation to delineate their pathogenic roles in metabolic diseases such as Cushing¡¦s syndrome and obesity. In the present study, we utilized adenovirus gene delivery system to achieve systemic POMC overexpression in adult C57/BL6 mice for at least 30 days. Subsequently, the plasma and abdominal adipose tissue of mice were collected and analyzed by biochemical assays and weight determination respectively. POMC overexpression did not increase in the food uptake and body weight. These results imply that local POMC gene delivery induced the visceral fat accumulation and altered the metabolism in mice. It was observed that systemic POMC overexpression significantly elevated the triglyceride and the cholesterol levels in mice. However, POMC gene delivery also induced elevated plasma glucose concentration at weeks 1-4 and evoked glucose tolerance in mice at week 4. Interestingly, insulin resistance was readily detected in POMC-transduced in mice at as early as week 1. Besides, Micro-CT scanning and histological studies demonstrated that the visceral fat was significantly increased in POMC over-expressing mice compared with control animals. These data indicate that hepatic POMC gene delivery causes systemic ACTH rise and insulin resistance, which recapitulates the clinical features of Cushing¡¦s syndrome. In summary, POMC gene delivery induces systemic POMC overexpression and results in visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance, which may facilitates a mice model for Cushing¡¦s-like metabolic syndrome.

A obesidade abdominal já se aproxima de proporções epidêmicas em todo mundo. Estudos sugerem que o acúmulo de gordura intra-abdominal ou visceral (GV) está associado aos fatores de risco (FR) cardiometabólicos. A avaliação da GV é limitada pela falta de métodos confiáveis e de baixo custo. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a GV medida pela ultrassonografia (US), sua relação com as medidas antropométricas, perfil metabólico e o risco cardiovascular (RCV), e seu papel no diagnóstico da síndrome metabólica (SM). Foram selecionados 148 participantes do projeto Atividade Física na Vila, sendo 113 mulheres com 50,9611,47 anos e 35 homens com 49,4012,29 anos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros clínicos e metabólicos. O RCV foi classificado como baixo, moderado e grave. A US abdominal foi realizada sempre pelo mesmo observador. A espessura da GV foi definida como a distância entre a superfície posterior do músculo reto-abdominal e a parede anterior da aorta, e a gordura sub-cutânea (GSC) como a distância entre a superfície anterior do músculo reto abdominal e o limite gordura/pele. Foi calculada a razão GV/GSC. A SM ocorreu em 59% e o RCV foi baixo em 69% dos casos. A GV mostrou maior associação com a cintura abdominal do que com o IMC e não houve diferença entre os sexos. A GV (5016,4 x 38,3 16,2 mm; p=0,001) e a GV/GSC (2,41,1 x 1,70,5; p=0,001) foram maiores no grupo com SM. A GV &#8805;37,2 mm representou um risco oito vezes maior (OR=8,9, IC=3,7-21, p<0,001) para o desfecho da SM. Este ponto de corte mostrouA obesidade abdominal já se aproxima de proporções epidêmicas em todo mundo. Estudos sugerem que o acúmulo de gordura intra-abdominal ou visceral (GV) está associado aos fatores de risco (FR) cardiometabólicos. A avaliação da GV é limitada pela falta de métodos confiáveis e de baixo custo. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a GV medida pela ultrassonografia (US), sua relação com as medidas antropométricas, perfil metabólico e o risco cardiovascular (RCV), e seu papel no diagnóstico da síndrome metabólica (SM). Foram selecionados 148 participantes do projeto Atividade Física na Vila, sendo 113 mulheres com 50,9611,47 anos e 35 homens com 49,4012,29 anos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros clínicos e metabólicos. O RCV foi classificado como baixo, moderado e grave. A US abdominal foi realizada sempre pelo mesmo observador. A espessura da GV foi definida como a distância entre a superfície posterior do músculo reto-abdominal e a parede anterior da aorta, e a gordura sub-cutânea (GSC) como a distância entre a superfície anterior do músculo reto abdominal e o limite gordura/pele. Foi calculada a razão GV/GSC. A SM ocorreu em 59% e o RCV foi baixo em 69% dos casos. A GV mostrou maior associação com a cintura abdominal do que com o IMC e não houve diferença entre os sexos. A GV (5016,4 x 38,3 16,2 mm; p=0,001) e a GV/GSC (2,41,1 x 1,70,5; p=0,001) foram maiores no grupo com SM. A GV &#8805;37,2 mm representou um risco oito vezes maior (OR=8,9, IC=3,7-21, p<0,001) para o desfecho da SM. Este ponto de corte mostrou boa sensibilidade (81%) e valor preditivo positivo (74%). Os pacientes com GV &#8805;37,2mm apresentaram RCV moderado/ grave (43,4%, p<0,01). Concluímos que a GV medida pela US é útil no diagnóstico da SM e na identificação de pacientes com alto RCV. Sugerimos como ponto de corte da GV o valor &#8805; 37,2mm para o diagnóstico da SM. / Abdominal obesity is closer to epidemic proportions in some countries with increasing prevalence among population around the world. Epidemiological studies have been confirmed that abdominal obesity, and the increase of visceral fat (VF), is associated to cardiometabolic diseases. The visceral fat analysis is limited because of the lack of confident and low cost methods. The prior objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between antropometrical and VF measures taken from ultrasonography (US) and estimate the use of US in prediction of cardiometabolic diseases. Abdominal circumference, body mass index, glicemic / lipidic profile and blood pressure and measurement of VF and SCF were taken from 148 volunteers. The US was always performed by de same examiner. VF measure was proceed with a 3,5 MHz probe, 1,0 cm from the umbilicus in a transversal view, and defined as the distance between the internal face of rectus-abdominis muscle and the anterior wall of the aorta. The same probe was used to the subcutaneous fat (SCF) measurements, at the same region.SCF was defined as the distance between the cutaneous surface and the external face of rectus-abdominis muscle, and also determining VF/SCF ratio. VF was better associated to abdominal circumference than to BMI, and there wasnt found significant difference between gender. The group with metabolic syndrome (MS) showed highest values of VF and VF/SCF. VF &#8805; 37,2 mm represented an eight times increased risk in MS development (OR = 8,9, IC=3,7-21, p<0,001).This cut off (37,2 mm) showed good sensibility (81%) and positive predictive value (74%). 43% of the patients with VF&#8805;37,2 mm were identified as moderate/severe CVR. We concluded that VF measured by US is useful on MS diagnosis and at the identification of severe CVR patients. We also suggest a cut off value &#8805; 37,2mm to the MS diagnosis.

A obesidade abdominal já se aproxima de proporções epidêmicas em todo mundo. Estudos sugerem que o acúmulo de gordura intra-abdominal ou visceral (GV) está associado aos fatores de risco (FR) cardiometabólicos. A avaliação da GV é limitada pela falta de métodos confiáveis e de baixo custo. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a GV medida pela ultrassonografia (US), sua relação com as medidas antropométricas, perfil metabólico e o risco cardiovascular (RCV), e seu papel no diagnóstico da síndrome metabólica (SM). Foram selecionados 148 participantes do projeto Atividade Física na Vila, sendo 113 mulheres com 50,9611,47 anos e 35 homens com 49,4012,29 anos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros clínicos e metabólicos. O RCV foi classificado como baixo, moderado e grave. A US abdominal foi realizada sempre pelo mesmo observador. A espessura da GV foi definida como a distância entre a superfície posterior do músculo reto-abdominal e a parede anterior da aorta, e a gordura sub-cutânea (GSC) como a distância entre a superfície anterior do músculo reto abdominal e o limite gordura/pele. Foi calculada a razão GV/GSC. A SM ocorreu em 59% e o RCV foi baixo em 69% dos casos. A GV mostrou maior associação com a cintura abdominal do que com o IMC e não houve diferença entre os sexos. A GV (5016,4 x 38,3 16,2 mm; p=0,001) e a GV/GSC (2,41,1 x 1,70,5; p=0,001) foram maiores no grupo com SM. A GV &#8805;37,2 mm representou um risco oito vezes maior (OR=8,9, IC=3,7-21, p<0,001) para o desfecho da SM. Este ponto de corte mostrouA obesidade abdominal já se aproxima de proporções epidêmicas em todo mundo. Estudos sugerem que o acúmulo de gordura intra-abdominal ou visceral (GV) está associado aos fatores de risco (FR) cardiometabólicos. A avaliação da GV é limitada pela falta de métodos confiáveis e de baixo custo. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a GV medida pela ultrassonografia (US), sua relação com as medidas antropométricas, perfil metabólico e o risco cardiovascular (RCV), e seu papel no diagnóstico da síndrome metabólica (SM). Foram selecionados 148 participantes do projeto Atividade Física na Vila, sendo 113 mulheres com 50,9611,47 anos e 35 homens com 49,4012,29 anos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros clínicos e metabólicos. O RCV foi classificado como baixo, moderado e grave. A US abdominal foi realizada sempre pelo mesmo observador. A espessura da GV foi definida como a distância entre a superfície posterior do músculo reto-abdominal e a parede anterior da aorta, e a gordura sub-cutânea (GSC) como a distância entre a superfície anterior do músculo reto abdominal e o limite gordura/pele. Foi calculada a razão GV/GSC. A SM ocorreu em 59% e o RCV foi baixo em 69% dos casos. A GV mostrou maior associação com a cintura abdominal do que com o IMC e não houve diferença entre os sexos. A GV (5016,4 x 38,3 16,2 mm; p=0,001) e a GV/GSC (2,41,1 x 1,70,5; p=0,001) foram maiores no grupo com SM. A GV &#8805;37,2 mm representou um risco oito vezes maior (OR=8,9, IC=3,7-21, p<0,001) para o desfecho da SM. Este ponto de corte mostrou boa sensibilidade (81%) e valor preditivo positivo (74%). Os pacientes com GV &#8805;37,2mm apresentaram RCV moderado/ grave (43,4%, p<0,01). Concluímos que a GV medida pela US é útil no diagnóstico da SM e na identificação de pacientes com alto RCV. Sugerimos como ponto de corte da GV o valor &#8805; 37,2mm para o diagnóstico da SM. / Abdominal obesity is closer to epidemic proportions in some countries with increasing prevalence among population around the world. Epidemiological studies have been confirmed that abdominal obesity, and the increase of visceral fat (VF), is associated to cardiometabolic diseases. The visceral fat analysis is limited because of the lack of confident and low cost methods. The prior objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between antropometrical and VF measures taken from ultrasonography (US) and estimate the use of US in prediction of cardiometabolic diseases. Abdominal circumference, body mass index, glicemic / lipidic profile and blood pressure and measurement of VF and SCF were taken from 148 volunteers. The US was always performed by de same examiner. VF measure was proceed with a 3,5 MHz probe, 1,0 cm from the umbilicus in a transversal view, and defined as the distance between the internal face of rectus-abdominis muscle and the anterior wall of the aorta. The same probe was used to the subcutaneous fat (SCF) measurements, at the same region.SCF was defined as the distance between the cutaneous surface and the external face of rectus-abdominis muscle, and also determining VF/SCF ratio. VF was better associated to abdominal circumference than to BMI, and there wasnt found significant difference between gender. The group with metabolic syndrome (MS) showed highest values of VF and VF/SCF. VF &#8805; 37,2 mm represented an eight times increased risk in MS development (OR = 8,9, IC=3,7-21, p<0,001).This cut off (37,2 mm) showed good sensibility (81%) and positive predictive value (74%). 43% of the patients with VF&#8805;37,2 mm were identified as moderate/severe CVR. We concluded that VF measured by US is useful on MS diagnosis and at the identification of severe CVR patients. We also suggest a cut off value &#8805; 37,2mm to the MS diagnosis.

abstract: ABSTRACT Vitamin C plays an important role in fatty acid metabolism because it is required for carnitine synthesis. Vitamin C has been shown to have an inverse relationship with weight and body fat percent in a number of studies. However, there has been limited research exploring the relationship between vitamin C status and fat oxidation. This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between plasma vitamin C and fat oxidation in 69 participants and between plasma vitamin C and body fatness in 82 participants. Participants were measured for substrate utilization via indirect calorimetry while at rest and measured for body fatness via DEXA scan. Participants provided a single fasting blood draw for analysis of plasma vitamin C. Results did not show a significant association between vitamin C and fat oxidation while at rest, therefore the data do not support the hypothesis that vitamin C status affects fat oxidation in a resting state. However, a significant inverse association was found between vitamin C and both total body fat percent and visceral fat. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2014