No description available.

Motivation: The metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that includes obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance or non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, pro-thrombotic state and pro-inflammatory state. The NHANES I11 study showed the prevalence of this syndrome to be 24.0% in men and 23.4% in women in the USA. These figures translate to more than 47 million US residents having the metabolic syndrome. In the THUSA (acronym for Transition and Health in the Urbanization of South Africans) study in South Africa it was found that 12% and 28.4% of men and women, respectively, of the black population of the North West Province had three or more disturbances characterizing this syndrome. Therefore, it is evident that the metabolic syndrome is a health problem not only for developed countries but also for developing countries. As a result, this syndrome has been identified as a target for dietary therapies to reduce the risk of CVD and type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated an inverse association between nut consumption and coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality in different population groups. Nut consumption may not only offer protection against heart disease, but also increase longevity. Recently, the benefits of nuts consumption were acknowledged by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when they approved a qualified health claim that eating nuts (1.5 ounces/day ≈ 42.8 g/day) may reduce the risk of CHD. In this regard, the most comprehensively studied mechanism involved the favourable lipid lowering effects of nuts. There is, however, a lack of data in the literature regarding the effect of nuts on the metabolic syndrome. Objective: The main objective of this study was to examine the effects of a high walnut diet and a high unsalted cashew nut diet on markers of the metabolic syndrome in humans. In order to provide a foundational body of evidence for the aforementioned, a secondary objective included conducting a systematic review that investigates the effects of nuts on the lipid profile. Methods: The main project consisted of a controlled feeding trial with a parallel, randomized controlled study design on participants having the metabolic syndrome. Sixty-four subjects having this syndrome (29 men, 35 women) with a mean (±SD) age of 45±10 y and who met with the selection criteria were all fed a 3-week run-in control diet. After this period, participants were grouped according to gender and age and then randomized into three groups, namely, those that received a controlled feeding diet including walnuts (20% energy (E), 60-100g/day; protein:carbohydrate:fat=18:42:40%E). or unsalted cashew nuts (20%E 66- 1 15g/day; protein:carbohydrate:fat=l9:44:37%E) or no nuts (protein:carbohydrate:fat=20:47:33%E) for 8 weeks. The participants' physical activity and weight were maintained for the duration of the study. For the systematic review. human intervention trials that investigated the independent effects of nuts on lipid concentrations were included. Medline and Web of Science databases were searched from the start of the database to August 2004 and supplemented by cross-checking reference lists of relevant publications. These papers received a rating based upon the methodology as it appeared in the publication. No formal statistical analysis was performed due to the large differences in study designs of the dietary intervention trials. The main outcome measures for the systematic review, were percentage differences between treatment and control groups for total blood cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triacyglycerols (TG). Results: Regarding the main objective, we found that both the walnut and unsalted cashew nut intervention diets had no significant effect on the lipid profile, serum fructosamine, insulin, insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein, blood pressure and serum uric acid concentrations when compared to the control dict. All three groups experienced highly significant increases in serum insulin concentrations when comparing the baseline to end (P<0.05). In turn, insulin resistance increased while insulin sensitivity decreased in all three groups. Plasma glucose concentrations increased significantly in the cashew nut group compared to the control group (P<0.05). By contrast, serum fructosamine was unchanged in the cashew nut group while the control group had significantly increased concentrations of this short-term marker of glycaemic control. The literature search for the systematic review yielded 41 5 publications. After screening, 23 nut studies were included in the review with most of these studies including heart-healthy diets. The majority of the studies were short (4-6 weeks) with only one study lasting 6 months. The number of subjects in most of the studies was sufficient to study the effects on TC and LDL-C but not for HDL-C and TG. The results of three almond (50-100g/day), two peanut (35-68g/day), one pecan nut (72g/day) and four walnut (40-84g/day) studies showed convincing evidence for a lipid lowering effect of TC between 2-1 6% and LDL-C between 2- 19%, when compared to their control diets. Currently, there are indications from inadequately designed intervention studies that hazelnuts (lg/day/kg body weight) and pistachios (20%E) may have a lipid lowering effect. At this stage the evidence for macadamia nuts is less convincing. Furthermore, it is apparent that the components in nuts further reduce TC and LDL-C concentrations beyond the effects predicted by equations based solely on dietary fatty acid profiles. Conclusions: In the controlled feeding trial, subjects displayed no improvement in the markers of the metabolic syndrome after following a walnut or unsalted cashew nut diet compared to a control diet while maintaining body weight (8 weeks). Finally, we suspect that the dramatic increase in insulin resistance may have masked the protective effects of the walnut and cashew nut diets in our subjects with the metabolic syndrome Further research is warranted before a consensus can be reached. From the systematic review it was concluded that the consumption of ≈50-100g (≈1.5-3.5 servings) of nuts five or more times/week as part of a heart-healthy diet with total fat content (high in mono- and /or polyunsaturated fatty acids) of ≈ 35% of energy may significantly decrease TC and LDL-C in normo- and hyperlipidemic individuals. Recommendations: A similar nut controlled feeding trial with some form of calorie restriction, should be done on participants having the metabolic syndrome. Future research should use randomized controlled studies with larger sample sizes and longer duration to investigate the effects of nuts on HDL-C and TG concentrations. Also, studies should investigate the effects on the lipid profile of mixed nuts and those individual nuts not yet considered. In addition, the unique nutrient and non-nutrient composition of nuts requires further research in order to elucidate the possible mechanisms responsible for the LDL-C lowering effect / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Orientador: Matthieu Tubino / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T16:51:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aricetti_JulianaAparecida_M.pdf: 3453712 bytes, checksum: 05441cfd4b0bc4b35a48f907bb26b81e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: No presente trabalho foram desenvolvidos métodos alternativos aos atualmente utilizados para a determinação do índice de acidez e do índice de iodo de biodiesel e de óleos e gorduras. Os métodos oficiais para a determinação do índice de acidez (ABNT NBR 14448 e AOCS 3d-63) são problemáticos devido ao uso de solventes tóxicos (álcool isopropílico e tolueno). Tais solventes ainda, apresentam problema metodológico, pois afetam, no método potenciométrico, o funcionamento do eletrodo de vidro devido à desidratação da membrana do mesmo. O método que utiliza indicador visual ácido-base apresenta baixa reprodutibilidade, baixa repetibilidade e baixa precisão, situação que se torna mais grave quando as amostras são coloridas, uma vez que a detecção do ponto final da titulação depende da percepção visual do analista. Com o intuito de contornar estes tipos de problemas, foram desenvolvidos dois métodos alternativos, sendo um potenciométrico (MPT - com base no método da ABNT NBR 14448) e outro titulométrico com uso de indicador visual ácido-base (MIV - com base no método AOCS Cd 3d-63). O MPT utiliza como solventes uma mistura constituída por água destilada e álcool etílico (50:50 v/v). É utilizado eletrodo de vidro preenchido com solução aquosa de KCl 3,0 mol L. Este método apresentou resultados de boa qualidade, redução considerável no custo e na toxicidade da análise, maior estabilidade do eletrodo de vidro quanto à desidratação da membrana e, portanto maior durabilidade. O método MIV segue o mesmo procedimento do método potenciométrico descrito e utiliza como indicador visual a fenolftaleína. Também neste caso, os resultados são de boa qualidade. Para ambos os métodos, o custo é cerca de 80% menor e a quantidade de resíduos gerados é cerca de 40% menor do que no caso dos métodos oficiais. Para a determinação do índice de iodo, foram desenvolvidos três métodos alternativos ao oficial para biodiesel e para óleos e gorduras (EN 14111 e AOCS Cd 1-25 ). Um deles é titulométrico com uso de indicador visual que utiliza como solvente álcool etílico e água destilada e gelada; e como reagente, solução etanólica de iodo. Todo o procedimento analítico pode ser realizado em cerca de 10 minutos. Os demais métodos são potenciométricos, sendo um baseado no método oficial (Wijs potenciométrico), onde a determinação do ponto final da titulação é realizada com uso de eletrodo de platina e outro no qual a determinação do ponto final da titulação também é realizada com eletrodo de platina mas em solução etanol-água. De modo geral, neste trabalho objetivou-se a substituição no uso de solventes tóxicos e do reagente de Wijs por outros mais amigáveis ambientalmente. Os métodos desenvolvidos apresentam menor custo (redução de cerca de 90%) e toxicidade muito mais baixa por conta dos solventes e reagentes utilizados. Os três métodos desenvolvidos apresentaram resultados coerentes com o método oficial. Estudou-se a possibilidade de correlacionar alguns dos parâmetros do biodiesel, determinados através dos métodos analíticos propostos, com o objetivo de reduzir o número necessário de análises segundo as exigências da ANP. Verificou-se, por exemplo, que é possível, com excelente correlação, determinar o índice de cetano através do índice de iodo / Abstract: In this work we developed alternative methods currently used for determining the acid value and iodine value of biodiesel and of oils and fats. The official methods for determining the acid value (ABNT NBR 14448 and AOCS 3d-63) are problematic due to the use of toxic solvents (isopropyl alcohol and toluene). These solvents also have methodological problem, because they affect, the potentiometric method, the operation of the glass electrode membrane due to dehydration of the same. The method that uses visual acid-base indicator has a low reproducibility, low repeatability and low accuracy, a situation that becomes more severe when the samples are colored, since the detection of end point depends on the visual perception of the analyst. In order to outline these types of problems, we developed two alternative methods, instead a potentiometric (MPT - based on the method of ABNT NBR 14448) and another titration with the use of visual indicator acid-base (MIV - based on the method AOCS Cd 3d-63). MPT uses as solvent a mixture consisting of distilled water and ethanol (50:50 v / v). It¿s used a glass electrode filled with aqueous solution of KCl 3.0 mol L. This method showed good results, considerable reduction in cost and of the toxicity analysis, greater stability of the glass electrode as the dehydration of the membrane are more durable. The MIV method follows the same procedure of the potentiometric method described and used as visual indicator phenolphthalein. Here too, the results are of good quality. For both methods, the cost is about 80% lower and the amount of waste produced is about 40% lower than in the case of official methods. For the determination of iodine value, we were developed three alternatives to the official for biodiesel and for oils and fats (EN 14 111 and AOCS Cd 1-25). One is titration with the use of visual indicator that uses as solvent ethyl alcohol and distilled water and ice, and as reagent solution of iodine in ethanol. The whole analytical procedure can be performed in about 10 minutes. The other methods are potentiometric, on based on the official method (potenciometric Wijs), where the determinaton of the end point is preformed using a platinum electrode and another in which the determination of the end point is also made with platinum electrode but in ethanol-water solution. Generaly, this study aimed to replace the use of toxic solvents and reagent Wijs for other more environmentally friendly. The methods developed have lower cost (reduction of about 90%) and much lower toxicity due to the solvents and reagents used. The three developed methods showed good agreement with the results of official method. We studied the possibility to correlate some of the parameters of the biodiesel, as determined by the methods proposed, aiming to reduce the required number of tests as required by ANP. There was, for example, which is possible, with excellent correlation, to determine the cetane number by iodine / Mestrado / Quimica Analitica / Mestre em Química

There is a lot of factors which has impact on quality of bovine meat. The aim of this thesis was to examine correlations between chosen SNPs in leptin gene and specific hormones and metabolites, which have influence on the meat quality and also complete health condition of beef. There were 99 bulls of Czech Fleckvieh cattle used for this study. The examined parameters were insulin, glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, non-esterified fatty acids and betahydroxybutiric acid. There was shown no statistically signifiant correlation between leptin gene polymorfisms and observed parameters. Only proved correlation was between leptin and cholesterol and glucose. There is lot of other factors involved in changes of amount of these substances though.

No description available.

WRINKLED1 (WRI1), a member of the APETALA2 (AP2) class of transcription factors regulates fatty acid biosynthesis and triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in plants. Among the four known Arabidopsis WRI1 paralogs, only WRI2 was unable to complement and restore fatty acid content in wri1-1 mutant seeds. Avocado (Persea americana) mesocarp, which accumulates 60-70% dry weight oil content, showed high expression levels for orthologs of WRI2, along with WRI1 and WRI3, during fruit development. While the role of WRI1 as a master regulator of oil biosynthesis is well-established, the function of WRI1 paralogs is poorly understood. Comprehensive and comparative in silico analyses of WRI1 paralogs from avocado (a basal angiosperm) with higher angiosperms Arabidopsis (dicot), maize (monocot) revealed distinct features. Predictive structural analyses of the WRI orthologs from these three species revealed the presence of AP2 domains and other highly conserved features, such as intrinsically disordered regions associated with predicted PEST motifs and phosphorylation sites. Additionally, avocado WRI proteins also contained distinct features that were absent in the nonfunctional Arabidopsis ortholog AtWRI2. Through transient expression assays, we demonstrated that both avocado WRI1 and WRI2 are functional and drive TAG accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. We predict that the unique features and activities of ancestral PaWRI2 were likely lost in orthologous genes such as AtWRI2 during evolution and speciation, leading to at least partial loss of function in some higher eudicots. This study provides us with new targets to enhance oil biosynthesis in plants.

Transcriptome analysis based on deep expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing allows quantitative comparisons of gene expression across multiple species. Using pyrosequencing, we generated over 7 million ESTs from four stages of developing seeds of Ricinus communis, Brassica napus, Euonymus alatus and Tropaeolum majus, which differ in their storage tissue for oil, their ability to photosynthesize and in the structure and content of their triacylglycerols (TAG). The larger number of ESTs in these 16 datasets provided reliable estimates of the expression of acyltransferases and other enzymes expressed at low levels. Analysis of EST levels from these oilseeds revealed both conserved and distinct species-specific expression patterns for genes involved in the synthesis of glycerolipids and their precursors. Independent of the species and tissue type, ESTs for core fatty acid synthesis enzymes maintained a conserved stoichiometry and a strong correlation in temporal profiles throughout seed development. However, ESTs associated with non-plastid enzymes of oil biosynthesis displayed dissimilar temporal patterns indicative of different regulation. The EST levels for several genes potentially involved in accumulation of unusual TAG structures were distinct. Comparison of expression of members from multi-gene families allowed the identification of specific isoforms with conserved function in oil biosynthesis. In all four oilseeds, ESTs for Rubisco were present, suggesting its possible role in carbon metabolism, irrespective of light availability. Together, these data provide a resource for use in comparative and functional genomics of diverse oilseeds. Expression data for more than 350 genes encoding enzymes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism are available at the 'ARALIP' website ().

Bovine milk fat globules naturally vary from less than 0.2 µm to 15 µm in diameter. Milk has at least two distinct distributions of fat globules. While the majority (~90%) of globules in milk are of the smaller distribution (average diameter of 0.4 µm), virtually all the fat is carried in the larger globules (average diameter 3.5 µm). This distribution suggests some compositional and/or functional significance might exist between the two populations of fat globules, which may be related to origin of these globules in the lactating cell. Milk fat globules have a unique structure, composed of a core droplet of non polar lipids (triacylglycerol) surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane known as milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). Other than MFGM, there is another source of membrane that has been identified in skim milk. It has been hypothesized that this skim milk membrane (SMM) is derived from MFGM, but little data are available to support this idea, and the membrane may also have alternate origins. In this study, different aggregates of lipids (small and large fat globules, SMM, skim milk) from milk were isolated and characterized for their lipid contents. Isolation of small and large fat globules fractions was verified by laser diffraction particle size analysis. The lipids were extracted from isolated different lipid aggregates and individual classes were separated using thin layer chromatography. Lipids were transesterified to fatty acid methyl esters and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that there are some compositional differences between native milk fat globule membranes of different sizes. For example, the total phospholipid fraction of small fat globules (SFG) contained significantly more unsaturated C18:1n9 and C18:2n6 than large fat globules (LFG). Conversely, sphingomyelin composition of SFG contained less C18:1n9 and C18:2n6cc, but more long chain fatty acids C22:0, C23:0, and C24:0. Phosphatidylethanolamine composition of SMM contained more C17:1 than SFG and LFG. The composition of C18:1n9 in triacylglycerol increased with fat globule size. Clear differences were also found in lipid profile of SMM and small and large fat globules from milk. Composition differences between SMM and native milk fat globules of different sizes suggest that origin of this membrane material in skim milk might have some different source than that of MFGM.

付記する学位プログラム名: 充実した健康長寿社会を築く総合医療開発リーダー育成プログラム / 京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第21794号 / 工博第4611号 / 新制||工||1718(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科合成・生物化学専攻 / (主査)教授 梅田 眞郷, 教授 跡見 晴幸, 教授 秋吉 一成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

A variety of plants synthesize and store oil in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG) in their seed and nonseed tissues that are commonly used as vegetable oils. In seed tissues, an acyl CoA-dependent diacylglycerol (DAG) acyltransferase (DGAT) and/or -independent phospholipid:DGAT (PDAT) catalyze the conversion of DAG to TAG. In avocado fruit, which stores up to 70% oil by dry weight in mesocarp, it is hypothesized that both DGAT and PDAT are likely involved in TAG synthesis. To investigate, TAG content and composition and transcript levels for the acyltransferases in avocado fruit were quantified by gas chromatography and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Temporal, tissue-specific and phenotypic comparisons revealed that while DGAT1 gene expression was specifically associated with TAG accumulation, PDAT also correlated with higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid; DGAT2 was barely detectable. These studies suggest that TAG biosynthesis in nonseed tissues of avocado involves acyl CoA-dependent and -independent reactions.