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The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases

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A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2023) | Viewed by 67009

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bohkyung Kim

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Guest Editor

Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
Interests: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; obesity; inflammation; fibrosis; food bioactives; molecular nutrition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global prevalence of obesity has markedly increased over the past few decades. World Health Organization (WHO) defined obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulations that may have adverse effects on health. With the rising obesity rates, the risk of death from obesity-associated chronic and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, hypertension, osteoarthritis, and specific type of cancers has significantly increased. Obesity has been known as a metabolic disorder associated with oxidative stress and chronic low-grade inflammation that leads to systemic changes in the whole body. Emerging evidence indicates functional foods and their bioactive compounds with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects can be used to prevent obesity and obesity-associated metabolic diseases. The scientific results of the impact of functional foods on obesity-associated metabolic diseases will support the valuable data on the benefit of consumption of functional foods. This Special Issue, “The effects of functional foods in obesity-associated metabolic diseases,” focuses on the effects and underlying mechanisms of functional foods and their bioactive compounds on preventing obesity and obesity-associated chronic metabolic diseases. A broad range of article types, such as original researchs, reviews, and clinical trials, related to the topics are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Bohkyung Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

functional foods
natural products
bioactive compounds
obesity
chronic diseases
metabolic disorders
molecular nutrition

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 4887 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Huangshan Maofeng Green Tea Extracts Prevent Obesity-Associated Metabolic Disorders by Maintaining Homeostasis of Gut Microbiota and Hepatic Lipid Classes in Leptin Receptor Knockout Rats

by Guohuo Wu, Wei Gu, Huijun Cheng, Huimin Guo, Daxiang Li and Zhongwen Xie

Foods 2022, 11(19), 2939; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods11192939 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1905

Abstract

Huangshan Maofeng green tea (HMGT) is one of the most well-known green teas consumed for a thousand years in China. Research has demonstrated that consumption of green tea effectively improves metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of obesity prevention are still not well understood. This study investigated the preventive effect and mechanism of long-term intervention of Huangshan Maofeng green tea water extract (HTE) on obesity-associated metabolic disorders in leptin receptor knockout (Lepr^−/−) rats by using gut microbiota and hepatic lipidomics data. The Lepr^−/− rats were administered with 700 mg/kg HTE for 24 weeks. Our results showed that HTE supplementation remarkably reduced excessive fat accumulation, as well as ameliorated hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in Lepr^−/− rats. In addition, HTE increased gut microbiota diversity and restored the relative abundance of the microbiota responsible for producing short chain fatty acids, including Ruminococcaceae, Faecalibaculum, Veillonellaceae, etc. Hepatic lipidomics analysis found that HTE significantly recovered glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid classes in the liver of Lepr^−/− rats. Furthermore, nineteen lipid species, mainly from phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), and triglycerides (TGs), were significantly restored increases, while nine lipid species from TGs and diglycerides (DGs) were remarkably recovered decreases by HTE in the liver of Lepr^−/− rats. Our results indicated that prevention of obesity complication by HTE may be possible through maintaining homeostasis of gut microbiota and certain hepatic lipid classes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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17 pages, 6101 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sargassum thunbergii Extract Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice by Modulating AMPK Activation and the Gut Microbiota

by Dahee Kim, Jing Yan, Jinwoo Bak, Jumin Park, Heeseob Lee and Hyemee Kim

Foods 2022, 11(16), 2529; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods11162529 - 21 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2423

Abstract

Sargassum thunbergii (Mertens ex Roth) Kuntze (ST) is a brown alga rich in indole-2-carboxaldehyde. This study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of ethanol extract from ST in in vitro and in vivo models. In 3T3-L1 cells, ST extract significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in mature adipocytes while lowering adipogenic genes (C/epba and Pparg) and enhancing metabolic sensors (Ampk, Sirt1), thermogenic genes (Pgc-1a, Ucp1), and proteins (p-AMPK/AMPK and UCP1). During animal investigation, mice were administered a chow diet, a high-fat diet (HF), or an HF diet supplemented with ST extract (at dosages of 150 and 300 mg/kg bw per day) for 8 weeks (n = 10/group). ST extract administration decreased weight gain, white adipose tissue weight, LDL-cholesterol, and serum leptin levels while improving glucose intolerance. In addition, ST extract increased the expression of Ampk and Sirt1 in adipose tissue and in the liver, as well as p-AMPK/AMPK ratio in the liver, compared to HF-fed mice. The abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the feces increased in response to ST extract administration, although levels of Romboutsia ilealis decreased compared with those in HF-fed mice. ST extract could prevent obesity in HF-fed mice via the modulation of AMPK activation and gut microbiota composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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10 pages, 1535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effect of Diet-Supplemented and Endogenously Produced Omega-3 Fatty Acids against HFD-Induced Colon Inflammation in Mice

by Shalom Sara Thomas, Youn-Soo Cha and Kyung-Ah Kim

Foods 2022, 11(14), 2124; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods11142124 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1603

Abstract

Perilla (Perilla frutescens) oil reduces high-fat-diet-induced colon inflammation by suppressing the NF-κB pathway. In the current study, we compared the effect of endogenously produced and externally supplemented omega-3 fatty acids on high-fat-diet-induced colon inflammation. The fat-1 transgenic mice that endogenously synthesize omega-3 fatty acids were backcrossed with C57BL/6J wild-type mice to obtain transgenic (TR) and wild-type (WT) littermates. Five-week-old male littermates were divided into five groups: two groups fed 10% normal diet (WTLD, TRLD) and three groups fed with a 60% fat high-fat diet (WTHD, TRHD, and WTPO). In the WTPO group, 8% (w/w) of perilla oil was added. Perilla oil supplemented WT mice and fat-1 transgenic mice suppressed high-fat-diet-induced body weight and improved serum lipid levels. Furthermore, the WTPO and TRHD groups exhibited increased colon length, lower macroscopic scores, and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory markers and improved epithelial integrity barrier markers. The expression of GPR120 was increased in the WTPO group. Altogether, our results indicated that perilla oil could improve the symptoms of colon inflammation as an alternate omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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15 pages, 3289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat-Killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 Attenuate Lipid Accumulation in Diet-Induced Obese (DIO) Mice by Activating AMPK Signaling in Liver

by Meiqi Fan, Young-Jin Choi, Nishala Erandi Wedamulla, Yujiao Tang, Kwon Il Han, Ji-Young Hwang and Eun-Kyung Kim

Foods 2022, 11(4), 575; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods11040575 - 16 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2060

Abstract

To explore the inhibitory mechanism of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis, EF-2001 on hepatic lipid deposition, a diet-induced obese (DIO) animal model was established by high-fat diet (HFD). The DIO C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: the normal group without HFD (ND, n = 8), obesity group (HFD, n = 8), experimental group (HFD + EF-2001, 200 mg/kg, n = 8), and positive control group (HFD + Orlistat, 60 mg/kg, n = 8). After 4 weeks, liver and adipose tissue were fixed in 10% paraformaldehyde, followed by embedding in paraffin for tissue sectioning. The differences in body mass, body fat ratio, fatty cell area, and lipid profiling of the liver (TC, LDL, and HDL) were also determined. Moreover, Western blot was performed to analyze the expression of lipid accumulation-related proteins, including AMPK, PPARγ, SREBP-1, ACC, and FAS. Compared with the HFD group, the HFD + EF-2001 group exhibited decreased fat mass, liver index, adipocyte area, TC, and LDL, and an increased level of HDL. The results of liver hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and oil red O staining showed that the mice in each intervention group were improved on hepatic lipid accumulation, and the mice in the HFD + EF-2001 group were the most similar to those in the normal group when compared with the HFD group. From the Western blot results, we proved that EF-2001 activated the AMPK signaling pathway. EF-2001 significantly upregulated the expressions of p-AMPK and p-ACC and downregulated PPARγ, SREBP-1, and FAS in murine liver. Taken together, these results suggest that EF-2001 decrease lipid accumulation in the DIO model mice through the AMPK pathway and ameliorate liver damage by HFD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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15 pages, 2649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Anthocyanin-Rich Bilberry Extract on Transintestinal Cholesterol Excretion

by Jimin Hong, Minji Kim and Bohkyung Kim

Foods 2021, 10(11), 2852; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods10112852 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2174

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the modifiable and primary risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Emerging evidence suggests the stimulation of transintestinal cholesterol excretion (TICE), the nonbiliary cholesterol excretion, using natural products can be an effective way to reduce CVD. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) has been reported to have cardioprotective effects by ameliorating oxidative stress, inflammation, and dyslipidemia. However, the role of bilberry in intestinal cholesterol metabolism is not well understood. To examine the effects of bilberry in intestinal cholesterol metabolism, we measured the genes for cholesterol flux and de novo synthesis in anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract (BE)-treated Caco-2 cells. BE significantly decreased the genes for cholesterol absorption, i.e., Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). In contrast, BE significantly upregulated ABCG8, the apical transporter for cholesterol. There was a significant induction of low-density lipoprotein receptors, with a concomitant increase in cellular uptake of cholesterol in BE-treated cells. The expression of genes for lipogenesis and sirtuins was altered by BE treatment. In the present study, BE altered the genes for cholesterol flux from basolateral to the apical membrane of enterocytes, potentially stimulating TICE. These results support the potential of BE in the prevention of hypercholesterolemia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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14 pages, 4923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ethanol-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Alcohol Metabolism Regulation by GABA-Enriched Fermented Smilax china Root Extract in Rats

by Naila Boby, Eon-Bee Lee, Muhammad Aleem Abbas, Na-Hye Park, Sam-Pin Lee, Md. Sekendar Ali, Seung-Jin Lee and Seung-Chun Park

Foods 2021, 10(10), 2381; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods10102381 - 08 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3738

Abstract

Chronic alcohol consumption can cause hepatic injury and alcohol-induced toxicities. Extracts from Smilax china root have been widely used in traditional medicine and for their potential pharmacological benefits. We aimed to determine if fermented Smilax china extract (FSC) regulates alcoholic fatty liver and liver injury using two in vivo experiments. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ethanol (3 g/kg b.w.; po) with or without FSC pretreatment to induce an acute hangover. In another experiment, rats were fed either a normal or Lieber-DeCarli ethanol (6.7%) diet with or without FSC pretreatment (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg b.w.; po) for 28 days. Serum biomarkers, liver histopathology, and the mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipogenic, and lipolytic genes were analyzed. FSC pretreatment significantly reduced blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations, upregulated the mRNA expression of alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased the activities of liver enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. It also downregulated SERBP-1c and upregulated PPAR-α and reduced the gene expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the liver. The final extract after fermentation had increased GABA content. Furthermore, FSC was found to be safe with no acute oral toxicity in female rats. Thus, FSC increases alcohol metabolism and exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to induce hepatoprotection against alcohol-induced damage. It may be used as a functional food ingredient after excess alcohol consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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14 pages, 5653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AGL9: A Novel Hepatoprotective Peptide from the Larvae of Edible Insects Alleviates Obesity-Induced Hepatic Inflammation by Regulating AMPK/Nrf2 Signaling

by Meiqi Fan, Young-Jin Choi, Yujiao Tang, Ji Hye Kim, Byung-gyu Kim, Bokyung Lee, Sung Mun Bae and Eun-Kyung Kim

Foods 2021, 10(9), 1973; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods10091973 - 24 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2807

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity properties of the novel peptide Ala-Gly-Leu-Gln-Phe-Pro-Val-Gly-Arg (AGL9), isolated from the enzymatic hydrolysate of Allomyrinadichotoma larvae. To investigate the preventive effects of AGL9 against hepatic steatosis and its possible mechanisms of action, we established an nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model by feeding C57BL/6 mice a high-fat diet. NAFLD mice were administered 100 mg/kg AGL9 and 60 mg/kg orlistat via gavage (10 mL/kg) for 5 weeks, followed by the collection of blood and liver tissues. We found that AGL9 normalized the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/LDL, adiponectin, and leptin in these mice. Additionally, AGL9 activated the protein-level expression of 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation and the transcript-level expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glucocorticoid receptor, nuclear respiratory factor 2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in hepatocytes. These results showed that AGL9 exhibited hepatoprotective effects by attenuating lipid deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammation via inhibition of AMPK/Nrf2 signaling, thereby reducing the production of hepatic proinflammatory mediators and indicating AGL9 as a potential therapeutic strategy for NAFLD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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16 pages, 2604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Obesity Effects of Morus alba L. and Aronia melanocarpa in a High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6J Mouse Model

by Na-Yeon Kim, Shalom Sara Thomas, Dae-Il Hwang, Ji-Hye Lee, Kyung-Ah Kim and Youn-Soo Cha

Foods 2021, 10(8), 1914; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods10081914 - 18 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3282

Abstract

The present study investigated the synergic effect of extracts of Morus alba (MA) and Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) (AR) against high-fat diet induced obesity. Four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups that were fed for 14 weeks with a normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HD), HD with M. alba 400 mg/kg body weight (MA), HD with A. melanocarpa 400 mg/kg body weight (AR), or HD with a mixture (1:1, v/v) of M. alba and A. melanocarpa (400 mg/kg) (MA + AR). Treatment with MA, AR, and MA + AR for 14 weeks reduced high fat diet-induced weight gain and improved serum lipid levels, and histological analysis revealed that MA and AR treatment markedly decreased lipid accumulation in the liver and adipocyte size in epididymal fat. Furthermore, micro-CT images showed MA + AR significantly reduced abdominal fat volume. Expression levels of genes involved in lipid anabolism, such as SREBP-1c, PPAR-γ, CEBPα, FAS, and CD36 were decreased by MA + AR treatment whereas PPAR-α, ACOX1, and CPT-1a levels were increased by MA + AR treatment. Protein expression of p-AMPK and p-ACC were increased in the MA + AR group, indicating that MA + AR ameliorated obesity by upregulating AMPK signaling. Together, our findings indicate that MA and AR exert a synergistic effect against diet-induced obesity and are promising agents for managing obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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Review

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28 pages, 1129 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Bioactive Compounds as Inhibitors of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysfunctions via Regulation of Cellular Redox Balance and Histone Acetylation State

by Hyunju Kang and Bohkyung Kim

Foods 2023, 12(5), 925; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods12050925 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 45404

Abstract

Bioactive compounds (BCs) are known to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties by regulating the cellular redox balance and histone acetylation state. BCs can control chronic oxidative states caused by dietary stress, i.e., alcohol, high-fat, or high-glycemic diet, and adjust the redox balance to recover physiological conditions. Unique functions of BCs to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) can resolve the redox imbalance due to the excessive generation of ROS. The ability of BCs to regulate the histone acetylation state contributes to the activation of transcription factors involved in immunity and metabolism against dietary stress. The protective properties of BCs are mainly ascribed to the roles of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2). As a histone deacetylase (HDAC), SIRT1 modulates the cellular redox balance and histone acetylation state by mediating ROS generation, regulating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/NADH ratio, and activating NRF2 in metabolic progression. In this study, the unique functions of BCs against diet-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction have been considered by focusing on the cellular redox balance and histone acetylation state. This work may provide evidence for the development of effective therapeutic agents from BCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Functional Foods in Obesity-Associated Metabolic Diseases)

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