Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of polyphenols in adipose tissue: role of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier integrity and zinc homeostasis

Obesity is associated with an imbalance of micro-and macro-nutrients, gut dysbiosis, and a "leaky" gut phenomenon. Polyphenols, such as curcumin, resveratrol, and anthocyanins may alleviate the systemic effects of obesity, potentially by improving gut microbiota, intestinal barrier integrity (IBI), and zinc homeostasis. The essential micronutrient zinc plays a crucial role in the regulation of enzymatic processes, including inflammation, maintenance of the microbial ecology, and intestinal barrier integrity. In this review, we focus on IBI- which prevents intestinal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leakage - as a critical player in polyphenol-mediated protective effects against obesity-associated white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation. This occurs through mechanisms that block the movement of the bacterial endotoxin LPS across the gut barrier. Available research suggests that polyphenols reduce WAT and systemic inflammation via crosstalk with inflammatory NF-κB, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and zinc homeostasis.

Factors that contribute to effective online nutrition education interventions: a systematic review

CONTEXT

The use of the internet and technology as a medium for delivering online nutrition education (ONE) has increased; however, evidence-based studies exploring factors that contribute to best practices in online interventions have not emerged.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this systematic review was to identify factors that contributed to successful ONE interventions in relation to research studies published between 2009 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES

Following the PRISMA guidelines, relevant studies were identified through PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) databases.

DATA EXTRACTION

Five authors screened and determined the quality of the studies using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system and extracted the data from the articles.

DATA ANALYSIS

Twenty-seven studies were included: 21 studies were website-based, 3 were delivered through smartphone application, 2 were delivered as online courses, and 1 used text messages. Tailored messages/feedback, interaction between participants and investigators, identification of specific behaviors, use theory, adequate duration, and alignment between stated objectives and activities were factors that contributed to successful online interventions, while comparison bias and the lack of specific details on duration and dosage, tracking system, objective outcome measurements, and follow-up were factors that may have interfered with successful ONE interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings underscore the importance of developing ONE intervention designs that utilize factors unique to online platforms for effective interventions aimed at behavior change.

Protective Effects of Anthocyanins in Obesity-Associated Inflammation and Changes in Gut Microbiome

Obesity is a complex disease and a major public health epidemic. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a common underlying feature of obesity and associated metabolic diseases; adipose tissue is a major contributor to this systemic inflammation. Evidence shows that obesity-associated inflammation may originate from gut dysfunction, including changes in intestinal bacteria or microbiome profiles. Increasingly, food and plant bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are proposed to ameliorate obesity-associated inflammation. Among these, the health-promoting effects of anthocyanin-rich foods are of interest here. Specifically, this review summarizes the reported benefits of anthocyanins in obesity-associated inflammation and underlying molecular mechanisms, including the role of gut microbiome and cell signaling pathways regulated by anthocyanins both in vivo and in vitro.

A Pilot Study for Understanding Key Factors to Create an Innovative School Nutrition Program for the Prevention of Obesity and Risky Behaviors (P16-046-19)

Objectives

An innovative school nutrition program, Sustainable Life Skills to Reduce Obesity Risk (SuLiSRO), was developed. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the program and to understand main factors and implementation strategies for preventing obesity and risky behaviors among youth aged 11–14.

Methods

Using Social Cognitive theory, 2015–2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and literature reviews, SuLiSRO's curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary research team including registered dietitians, design faculty, and a youth expert. The intervention (3 weeks) was delivered in one Texas middle school. The first two weeks, nutrition interventions (e.g., MyPlate, healthy drinks, & food safety) along with cooking activities were delivered. The final week focused on healthy body image education. Each week also included 5–10 minutes of guided exercises. After the intervention, three focus group interviews (45 minutes, with twenty seven 8thgraders) were conducted and analyzed using Krueger's framework analysis.

Results

The focus groups determined program aspects that would best suit a longer intervention at an earlier stage (6thgrade). The students expressed the desire for more advanced cooking activities, so that they would feel confident using household items to prepare healthy and simple foods. Students requested further education to demonstrate appropriate clothing choices for their age and body sizes. They also requested the addition of mental health education into SuLiSRO to teach practical stress management tactics.

Conclusions

Evaluations provided key factors (e.g., body shape/size, physical activity, healthy eating, and mental health) and considerations (e.g., involvement of parents) for future implementation.

Funding Sources

Come N Go funding from the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Obesity Properties of Food Bioactive Components: Effects on Adipose Tissue

Obesity is an epidemic and costly disease affecting 13% of the adult population worldwide. Obesity is associated with adipose tissue hypertrophy and hyperplasia, as well as pathologic endocrine alterations of adipose tissue including local and chronic systemic low-grade inflammation. Moreover, this inflammation is a risk factor for both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance. Basic and clinical studies demonstrate that foods containing bioactive compounds are capable of preventing both obesity and adipose tissue inflammation, improving obesity-associated MetS in human subjects and animal models of obesity. In this review, we discuss the anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory protective effects of some bioactive polyphenols of plant origin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, available for the customers worldwide from commonly used foods and/or as components of commercial food supplements. We review how these bioactive compounds modulate cell signaling including through the nuclear factor-κB, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, toll-like receptors, and G-protein coupled receptor 120 intracellular signaling pathways and improve the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators secreted by adipose tissue and subsequently lower systemic inflammation and risk for metabolic diseases.

Photocatalytic degradation of toluene vapour using fixed bed multichannel photoreactors equipped with TiO2-coated fabrics

The feasibility of producing TiO2-coated fabric using nonwoven polyester as a photocatalyst support was examined through investigations on (i) changes in the fabric properties after coating with TiO2, (ii) the toluene removal capacity of a multichannel TiO2/fabric/UV reactor in removing the toluene vapour with and without O3 addition, and (iii) the photocatalytic effect of regenerated TiO2. The value and usefulness of a multichannel photoreactor as a main reactor or a supplementary device to improve the efficiency of VOC (volatile organic chemicals) removal in a photoreacting fabric filter, which was originally invented to simultaneously remove fine dust and VOCs, was manifested through investigations of the multichannel effect in the treatment of large volumes of air containing toluene as a sample VOC vapour. The parallel-flow photoreactor was manufactured by fixing TiO2-coated fabrics in parallel along the gas flow and installing UV sources for every channel. Photocatalytic degradation of toluene vapour was investigated with respect to various operational parameters such as reaction time, photocatalyst load, vapour load and number of channels. Toluene vapour was taken as a sample VOC because it is a non-biodegradable toxic organic substance, and the UV/TiO2 process was tested as an alternative process to biofiltration. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that nonwoven polyester can be used as a photocatalyst support, and the multichannel photoreactor, equipped with TiO2-coated fabrics, is a useful device that can economically and efficiently treat a larger vapour load by providing more channels with ozone addition and by arranging the reactor units in series.

Pimarane cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor and its structure-activity relationship

The structure-activity relationship and molecular modelings of a novel pimarane COX-2 inhibitor are reported. Particularly, a series of linker extended analogues designed on the basis of these studies exhibited significantly enhanced COX-2 inhibitory activities and selectivities.

Role of oxalacetate in lipoate effect on frog gastric mucosa

The mechanism of action of lipoate on frog gastric mucosa was investigated. Oxalacetate (OAA) reversed lipoate-inhibited QO2 and QH+ of chambered mucosas by 70 and 40%, respectively. Pyruvate or glucose produced similar effects. Neither activity was affected by OAA when added after glucose, pyruvate, decanoate, butyrate, or lipoate-propionate-inhibited mucosa. Lipoate-treated or lipoate-propionate-treated mucosa did not respond to histamine; OAA addition prior to histamine restored responsiveness. Tracer and chromatographic techniques showed that lipoate reduced and pyruvate increased OAA formation. Preincubation of mitochondrial extracts of gastric mucosa with 2 mM lipoate increased pyruvic dehydrogenase activity 110%. Pyruvic carboxylase (PC) activity was primarily in the mitochondrial fraction of the gastric mucosa. The PC preparation was shown to have an absolute requirement for CoASAc, contained biotin, was not inhibited by lipoate, and had an apparent Km approximately equal to 3.6 X 10(-4) M for pyruvate. The results suggest that OAA concentration is regulated by PC activity and is one of the factors controlling QO2 and QH+ in the frog gastric mucosa.

Lipoate effect on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and gastric H+ secretion

Acid secretion (QH+) and oxygen consumption (Qo2) by frog gastric mucosae in vitro were sharply stimulated by lipoate. A rapid decline followed stimulation, subsequently falling below control values. Addition of only glucose or lactate had no effect on Qo2 or QH+. Pyruvate caused slight significant stimulation of Qo2. Any one of these compounds added to lipoate-treated mucosae increased the stimulatory effect of lipoate and markedly slowed the rate of decline subsequent to maximum stimulation. Various fatty acids had a moderate-to-high stimulatory effect on Qo2 and QH+. Lipoate added prior to the addition of fatty acids decreased the stimulatory effect of buryrate (minus 56%), decanoate (minus 87%), and palmitate (minus 60%). Propionate became an inhibitor in the presence of lipoate. Lipoate increased (plus 100%) the amount of glycogen oxidized and decreased (minus 69%) the amount of triglycerides oxidized. Lipoate-treated mucosae did not respond to histamine. Addition of glucose restored responsiveness. The results indicate that beta-oxidation of fatty acids plays a major role in the acid secretory process and is centrally involved in cyclic AMP and histamine stimulation of QH+.