• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.187-202
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The exposure to sucrose in rats has mimic abnormalities attributed to metabolic syndrome (MetS). The effects of honey bee and "free" glucose and fructose, have not been explored in this context. The aim was to expose Wistar rodents to sucrose solution (SS), honey solution (HS) and fructose/glucose solution (GFS) at 30% to assess their effects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: HS (n = 10), SS (n = 10) and GFS (n = 10) groups were formed. Solutions were ad libitum along 14-weeks. RESULTS: Between solutions consumptions, honey was significantly 42% higher (P = 0.000), while similar consumption was observed among GFS and SS. The feeding pattern of HS consumption was irregular along experiment; while the food intake pattern showed the similar trend among groups along time. Non statistical differences were obtained in any biochemical and anthropometric measure, however, a higher concentration of leptin (721 ± 507 pg/mL), lower concentration of total cholesterol (TC; 48.87 ± 2.41 mg/100 mL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL; 16.47 ± 6.55 mg/100 mL) and triglycerides (82.37 ± 32.77 mg/100 mL) was obtained in SS group. For anthropometric values, HS showed less total adipose tissue (AT; average 26 vs. 31-33 g) and adiposity index (average 6.11 vs. 7.6). Due to sugar-sweetened beverages consumption increases the risk for the development of chronic diseases; correlations between fluid intake and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. A moderate correlation was obtained in groups with the weight of total AT and solution intake; for the weight gain in GFS group and for triglycerides in HS and GFS. The highest hepatic tissue damage was observed in SS group with multiple intracytoplasmic vacuoles, atypia changes, moderate pleomorphism and hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the significantly higher consumption of HS, biochemical, anthropometrical and histological effects were not remarkably different in comparision to other sweeteners.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2021

Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium are commonly used probiotics. This study aimed to identify the effect of live combined Bacillus subtilis R0179 and Enterococcus faecium R0026 (LCBE) on obesity-associated hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota in C57BL/6 mice. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: normal group (N group), model group (M group), low-dose group (L group), and high-dose group (H group). Mice were gavaged with LCBE at 0.023 g/mice/day (L group) or 0.23 g/mice/day (H group) and fed with a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. In vitro E. faecium R0026 showed an ability to lower the low-concentration of cholesterol by 46%, and the ability to lower the high-concentration of cholesterol by 58%. LCBE significantly reduced the body weight gain, Lee index, brown fat index and body mass index of mice on a high-fat diet. Moreover, LCBE markedly improved serum lipids (including serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein) while also significantly reducing liver total cholesterol. Serum lipopolysaccharide and total bile acid in L and H groups decreased significantly compared with M group. PCR-DGGE analysis showed that the composition of gut microbiota in the treatment groups was improved. Akkermansia muciniphila was found in H group. The PCA result indicated a similar gut microbiota structure between LCBE treatment groups and normal group while the number of bands and Shannon diversity index increased significantly in the LCBE treatment groups. Finally, qPCR showed Bifidobacterium spp. increased significantly in H group compared with M group, LCBE alleviated liver steatosis and improved brown adipose tissue index.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.120-131
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels can increase gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk, although inconsistent findings related to that association have been reported. This study examined the association of serum vitamin D with GDM and the possible influencers on this association. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 259 pregnant women within the Seremban Cohort Study (SECOST). Blood samples at < 14 weeks of gestation were drawn to determine serum 25(OH)D levels. GDM diagnosis was made at 24 to 32 weeks of gestation using a standard procedure. Association between serum vitamin D and GDM was tested using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Nearly all women (90%) had mild (68.3%) or severe (32.2%) vitamin D deficiency (VDD). Non-GDM women with mild VDD had a significantly higher mean vitamin D intake than GDM women with mild VDD (t = 2.04, p < 0.05). Women with higher early pregnancy serum vitamin D levels had a greater risk of GDM. However, this significant association was only identified among those with a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in women with a body mass index indicating overweight or obese status. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of VDD in this sample of pregnant women underscores the need for effective preventive public health strategies. Further investigation of this unexpected association between serum vitamin D level and GDM risk in predominantly VDD pregnant women and the potential effects of adiposity and family history of T2DM on that association is warranted.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2021

Background Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a potential target for anti-obesity treatments. Previous studies have shown that BAT activation causes an acute metabolic boost and reduces adiposity. Furthermore, BAT and BAT-derived cell transplantation reportedly help treat obesity by regulating glucose and fatty acid metabolism. However, since BAT transplantation leads to whole-body weight loss, we speculated that earlier approaches cause a generalized and unnecessary fat tissue loss, including in breast and hip tissues. Methods We transplanted white adipose tissue-derived or BAT-derived preadipocytes prepared from C57BL/6 mice into one side of the inguinal fat pads of an obese mouse model (db/db mice) to examine whether it would cause fat loss at the peri-transplant site (n=5 each). The same volume of phosphate-buffered saline was injected as a control on the other side. Six weeks after transplantation, the inguinal fat pad was excised and weighed. We also measured the concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, fatty acids, and total cholesterol in the peripheral blood. Results BAT-derived preadipocytes showed abundant mitochondria and high levels of mitochondrial membrane uncoupling protein 1 expression, both in vivo and in vitro, with a remarkable reduction in weight of the inguinal fat pad after transplantation (0.17±0.12 g, P=0.043). Only free fatty acid levels tended to decrease in the BAT-transplanted group, but the difference was not significant (P=0.11). Conclusions Our results suggest that brown adipocytes drive fat degradation around the transplantation site. Thus, local transplantation of BAT-derived preadipocytes may be useful for treating obesity, as well as in cosmetic treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2021

Dynamic changes in adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF) with nutritional status play a role in the regulation of metabolic and endocrine functions. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system via β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) contributes to the control of postprandial enhancement of ATBF. Herein, we sought to identify the role of each β-AR subtype in the regulation of ATBF in mice. We monitored the changes in visceral epididymal ATBF (VAT BF), induced by local infusion of dobutamine, salbutamol, and CL316,243 (a selective β1-, β2-, and β3-AR agonist, respectively) into VAT of lean CD-1 mice and global adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) knockout (KO) mice, using laser Doppler flowmetry. Administration of CL316,243, known to promote lipolysis in adipocytes, significantly increased VAT BF of CD-1 mice to a greater extent compared to that of the vehicle, whereas administration of dobutamine or salbutamol did not produce significant differences in VAT BF. The increase in VAT BF induced by β3-AR stimulation disappeared in ATGL KO mice as opposed to their wild-type (WT) littermates, implying a role of ATGL-mediated lipolysis in the regulation of VAT BF. Different vascular reactivities occurred despite no significant differences in vessel density and adiposity between the groups. Additionally, the expression levels of the angiogenesis-related genes were significantly higher in VAT of ATGL KO mice than in that of WT, implicating an association of ATBF responsiveness with angiogenic activity in VAT. Our findings suggest a potential role of β3-AR signaling in the regulation of VAT BF via ATGL-mediated lipolysis in mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.279-293
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The steamed ginger has been shown to have antioxidative effects and a protective effect against obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of steamed ginger (SGE) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: The protective effects of SGE on adipogenesis were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by measuring lipid accumulations and genes involved in adipogenesis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND, 10% fat w/w), a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat w/w), and HFD supplemented with either 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg of SGE for 12 weeks. Serum chemistry was measured, and the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was determined in the adipose tissue. Histological analysis and micro-computed tomography were performed to identify lipid accumulations in epididymal fat pads. RESULTS: In 3T3-L1 cells, SGE significantly decreased lipid accumulation, with concomitant decreases in the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. SGE significantly attenuated the increase in body, liver, and epididymal adipose tissue weights by HFD. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in SGE fed groups compared to HFD. In adipose tissue, SGE significantly decreased adipocyte size than that of HFD and altered adipogenesis-related genes. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, steamed ginger exerted anti-obesity effects by regulating genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cell and epididymal adipose tissue of DIO mice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.99-99
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• 2002

The hormone resistin is associated with typeII diabetes mellitus in rodent model. Resistin impairs glucose tolerance and insulin action. A new class of anti-diabetic drugs were called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) downregulates a resistin which is induced during adipocyte differentiation. But the connection between increased adiposity and resistin remains unknown. The objectives of this study was to clone a mouse resistin cDNA and to generate transgenic mice overexpressing mouse resistin gene. The 555 bp of mouse resistin was amplified from mob cDNAS by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into pCR$\^$(R)/ 2.1 TOPO T-vector. Mouse resistin mRNA on the basis of Genbank sequence (acession no. AF323080). Then, the PCR product was cloned into pTargeT$\^$TM/ mammalian expression vector that has pCMV promoter and chimeric intron. Restriction enzyme analysis with BamH I and Not I was carried out to determine an orientation of the insert in the vector. The pCMV-mus/resistin gene was prepared from previous recombinant pTargeT$\^$TM/-mus/resistin by digestion of Bgl II, and has used for microinjection into pronuclei of one cell embryos. The microinjected embryos were transfered to pseudopregnant foster-mother. Mouse resistin expression was detected in transgenic F1 mice by Reverse Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Resistin gene expression mouse has heavier body weight which was measured higher level of plasma glucose than that of normal mouse. And in diet-induced experiments, the abdominal fat pads were isolated from each 24h starvation and re-feeding after fasting group mice that were assessed by RT-PCR analysis. In fasting group mice, resistin expression was higher than that of re-feeding group mice. This result suggests that the resistin gene overexpressing mice may be became to obesity and be useful as an animal disease model to be diabetes mellitus caused by insulin resistance of resistin.

• Journal of Convergence Korean Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2021

Objectives: Excessive accumulation of fat on specific region, regarded as localized fat, is one of the serious problems and well-known risk factors of health. Recently, an interest in health and aesthetics is growing by treating lipolytic injection. Polygonatum sibiricum Rehd (PS) has been known to have anti-oxidant, -aging and -atherosclerotic effects. In this study, we investigated the lipolytic effects of PS pharmacopuncture in obese mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice was fed with high fat diet to induce obesity for 12 weeks. PS pharmacopuncture was dissolved in saline by adjusting pH 7. 100 μL of PS pharmacopunture was injected subcutaneously into the left side inguinal fat pad, while saline was injected into the right side inguinal fat pad in mice as self-control. Samples were treated 3 times per weeks for 2 weeks. Results: PS pharmacopunture significantly decreased the inguinal fat weight compared to left side inguinal fat pad. Decrease rate of PS pharmacopuncture was about 21%. In addition, the diameter of adipocyte in inguinal fat tissues was significantly reduced by 17% compared to saline-injected side. There was no sign of toxicity through whole experiments. Conclusion: The present study indiates that PS pharmacopunture could be a material derived from natural herb as a lipolytic injection for decreasing localized fat.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.788-795
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• 2002

This study described the effect of levan (9-2,6-linked fructose polymer) feeding on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in growing rats. Levan was synthesized from sucrose using bacterial levansucrase. UCP is a mitochondrial protein that uncouples the respiratory chain from oxidative Phosphorylation and generates heat instead of ATP, thereby increase energy expenditure. We observed that 3% or 5% levan containing diet reduced serum triglyceride levels, visceral and peritoneal fat mass and induced the UCP expression in rats fed high fat diet in previous study. To determine whether the intake of low level of levan may have the hypolipidemic and anti-obesity effect, 4 wk old Sprague Dawley male rats were fed AIN-76A diet for 6 wk, and sub-sequently fed 1% or 2% levan solution for further 5 wk. Intake of 1% levan in liquid form reduced serum triglyceride and serum total cholesterol levels to 50% and 66% of control group, respectively. Although epididymal and peritoneal fat masses were not affected by levan feeding, visceral fat mass was lower in 1% levan group compared to control group. The expression of UCP2 mRNA in brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and hypothalamus and UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle were not changed by levan feeding, while the UCP2 mRNA in white adipose tissue was up-regulated by levan feeding. In conclusions, intake of low level of levan solution reduced serum triglyceride and total cholesterol, restrained the visceral fat accumulation and increased UCP expression in white adipose tissue in rats. This study suggests that hypolipidemic and anti-obesity effect of levan attributed to anti-lipogenesis and inefficeint energy utilization by up-regulation of UCPs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.736-744
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• 2007

Leptin, as an adipocyte-derived hormone, is an important regulator of food intake and energy expenditure. In the cross-sectional study, leptin was shown to be positively related to body adiposity and metabolic disorders in adults. However, there were very few studies which reported the leptin as a predictor of weight gain over time. We examined whether serum leptin can be used as an indicator of the present and 1-year past weight status in very young children. First grade students from elementary schools in Gwacheon City were enrolled in the study since 2005. The study subjects(total 375 students; 195 boys and 180 girls) participated in the investigation of both 2005 and 2006. Physical examinations including height, weight, waist circumference were done. To examine the prevalence of obesity, obesity index was used. Serum leptin was measured, and their nutritional status was also evaluated based on 3-Day dietary records. Serum leptin levels were strongly positively related with the value of the present BMI and with the value of the BMI one year before. We found no association with leptin levels and amount of energy intake and macronutrient intake in this children population. Children were divided into three groups according to leptin tertiles. The highest leptin tertile group showed highest prevalence of obesity in year 2006 as well as in year 2005. Serum leptin levels can reflect the weight status now and as well as 1-year before. Possibly serum leptin levels can predict the weight gain of year later. Without an action against the obesity on children with high leptin level, those children would maintain the excess adiposity growth and progress into the obesity-related metabolic disorders. Further studies are needed to predict the obesity as early as possible and preventive system then after.