A pilot study of the effects of niacin administration on free fatty acid and growth hormone concentrations in children with obesity

Sub-chronic exposure to PhIP induces oxidative damage and DNA damage, and disrupts the amino acid metabolism in the colons of Wistar rats

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are a group of mutagenic compounds produced during thermal processing of protein-rich foods. One of the most abundant HCAs, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) has potential carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on human organs, especially the colon. This study aimed to explore the toxic effects of PhIP on amino acid metabolism in the colon of Wistar rats using RNA-seq and LC-MS/MS. Exposure to PhIP for 4 weeks induced oxidative damage and DNA damage in the colons, and disrupted the expression of related genes involved in tryptophan metabolism, beta(β)-alanine metabolism, valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, and glutathione metabolic pathways. Moreover, the levels of fecal metabolites related to amino acid metabolism were affected by PhIP. Cumulatively, these results indicate that PhIP can induce colonic oxidative injury and disorders related to amino acid metabolism, thereby providing a new theoretical basis for the study of PhIP toxicity.

Niacin stimulates EPH4EV mammary epithelial cell proliferation and mammary gland development in pubertal mice through activation of AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 signaling pathways

Previous studies have shown the effects of vitamins on the development of the mammary gland. However, the role of niacin in this process has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of niacin on mammary gland development in pubertal mice and to use a mouse mammary epithelial cell line to study the underlying mechanism. The results showed that niacin could activate the AKT/mTOR and ERK signaling pathways and increase phosphorylation of 4EBP1 to promote the synthesis of cell proliferation markers, leading to the dissociation of the Rb-E2F1 complex in mMECs. In addition, 0.5% niacin promoted mammary duct development, increased the expression of cyclin D1/D3 and PCNA and activated Akt/mTOR and ERK1/2 in the mammary glands of pubertal mice. These results strongly suggest that niacin stimulates mammary gland development in pubertal mice through the Akt/mTOR and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

Changes in Plasma Free Fatty Acids Associated with Type-2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased total plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. The exact mechanisms by which the plasma FFA profile of subjects with T2DM changes is unclear, but it is thought that dietary fats and changes to lipid metabolism are likely to contribute. Therefore, establishing the changes in concentrations of specific FFAs in an individual’s plasma is important. Each type of FFA has different effects on physiological processes, including the regulation of lipolysis and lipogenesis in adipose tissue, inflammation, endocrine signalling and the composition and properties of cellular membranes. Alterations in such processes due to altered plasma FFA concentrations/profiles can potentially result in the development of insulin resistance and coagulatory defects. Finally, fibrates and statins, lipid-regulating drugs prescribed to subjects with T2DM, are also thought to exert part of their beneficial effects by impacting on plasma FFA concentrations. Thus, it is also interesting to consider their effects on the concentration of FFAs in plasma. Collectively, we review how FFAs are altered in T2DM and explore the likely downstream physiological and pathological implications of such changes.

Reuniting overnutrition and undernutrition, macronutrients, and micronutrients

Over-nutrition and its late consequences are a dominant theme in medicine today. In addition to the health hazards brought on by over-nutrition, the medical community has recently accumulated a roster of health benefits with obesity, grouped under "obesity paradox." Throughout the world and throughout history until the 20^th century, under-nutrition was a dominant evolutionary force. Under-nutrition brings with it a mix of benefits and detriments that are opposite to and continuous with those of over-nutrition. This continuum yields J-shaped or U-shaped curves relating body mass index to mortality. The overweight have an elevated risk of dying in middle age of degenerative diseases while the underweight are at increased risk of premature death from infectious conditions. Micronutrient deficiencies, major concerns of nutritional science in the 20^th century, are being neglected. This "hidden hunger" is now surprisingly prevalent in all weight groups, even among the overweight. Because micronutrient replacement is safe, inexpensive, and predictably effective, it is now an exceptionally attractive target for therapy across the spectrum of weight and age. Nutrition-related conditions worthy of special attention from caregivers include excess vitamin A, excess vitamin D, and deficiency of magnesium.

Association study between growth hormone receptor (GHR ) gene polymorphisms and obesity in Korean population

A main target of growth hormone (GH) is adipose tissue in human body. The GH secretion in obesity patients is impaired. It is needless to say that growth hormone receptor (GHR) is necessary in GH hormone signaling. The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the development of obesity. A total of 211 overweight/obese subjects with a body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m² and 157 nonoverweight/obese controls with a BMI of 18.5-23.0 kg/m² were involved in this study. Seven SNPs including the rs6451620 (intron), rs4130114 (intron), rs4410646 (intron), rs6898743 (intron), rs4394131 (intron), rs6182 (Cys440Phe), and rs6184 (Pro579Thr) and rs2229765 SNPs of GHR gene were genotyped. Genotyping was performed using custom DNA chip. SNPStats was used to calculate the odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, and P-value. The link-age disequilibrium block and haplotypes among seven SNPs were determined using Haploview version 4.2. Dominant, recessive, and log-additive genetic models were conducted for genetic analyzing. Among tested SNPs in GHR gene, rs4410646 and rs6898743 showed significant association with obesity (rs4410646, P=0.02 in dominant model and P=0.036 in log-additive model; rs6898743, P=0.039 in dominant model and P=0.044 in log-additive model). In summary, these results suggest that GHR gene polymorphisms might play a role in the development of obesity in the Korean population.

Association study between growth hormone receptor (GHR ) gene polymorphisms and obesity in Korean population

A main target of growth hormone (GH) is adipose tissue in human body. The GH secretion in obesity patients is impaired. It is needless to say that growth hormone receptor (GHR) is necessary in GH hormone signaling. The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the development of obesity. A total of 211 overweight/obese subjects with a body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m² and 157 nonoverweight/obese controls with a BMI of 18.5–23.0 kg/m² were involved in this study. Seven SNPs including the rs6451620 (intron), rs4130114 (intron), rs4410646 (intron), rs6898743 (intron), rs4394131 (intron), rs6182 (Cys440Phe), and rs6184 (Pro579Thr) and rs2229765 SNPs of GHR gene were genotyped. Genotyping was performed using custom DNA chip. SNPStats was used to calculate the odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, and P-value. The link-age disequilibrium block and haplotypes among seven SNPs were determined using Haploview version 4.2. Dominant, recessive, and log-additive genetic models were conducted for genetic analyzing. Among tested SNPs in GHR gene, rs4410646 and rs6898743 showed significant association with obesity (rs4410646, P=0.02 in dominant model and P=0.036 in log-additive model; rs6898743, P=0.039 in dominant model and P=0.044 in log-additive model). In summary, these results suggest that GHR gene polymorphisms might play a role in the development of obesity in the Korean population.