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Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity
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Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2020) | Viewed by 56821

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Stephen Anton

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Research Division Chief, Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Interests: role of lifestyle factors in influencing obesity; cardiovascular disease; age-related metabolic disease conditions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the United States first documented the rise in rates of obesity and overweightness in the late 1980s, the prevalence of obesity in adults has steadily climbed. This rising prevalence has been noted across the world as the leading nutritional problem in high-income countries. More recently, obesity has become a significant public health burden in low- and middle-income countries. Although traditionally associated with undernutrition, malnutrition also comes in the form of obesity. The vast majority of US adults with obesity report a desire to weigh less. Although it is clear that calorie restriction produces short-term weight loss, there remains intense debate about the types of foods we should or should not eat to improve our metabolic health and maintain a healthy body weight. A growing body of evidence indicates that nutrition and specific dietary intake has an important role in determining our metabolic health over our lifespan. Specifically, emerging findings suggest that certain foods activate metabolic pathways that can disturb metabolic function and lead to a state in which fat storage and elevated levels of inflammation occur. Additionally, the role of meal timing has become a topic of increasing scientific interest, and its potential role to shift metabolism from lipid/cholesterol synthesis and fat storage to mobilization of fat through fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid-derived ketones has gained attention. The focus of this Special Issue is on the important role that our nutrition and meal timing have with respect to metabolic health and/or the development of obesity. A better understanding of the role of nutrition in metabolic dysfunction and obesity should result in the development of intervention strategies that can promote lifelong health.

Dr. Stephen D. Anton
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aging
  • metabolism
  • obesity
  • diet
  • intermittent fasting
  • body fat
  • exercise
  • physical activity

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 756 KiB  
Article
Circulating and Adipose Tissue Fatty Acid Composition in Black South African Women with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Pamela A. Nono Nankam, Paul J. van Jaarsveld, Elin Chorell, Melony C. Fortuin-de Smidt, Kevin Adams, Matthias Blüher, Tommy Olsson, Amy E. Mendham and Julia H. Goedecke
Nutrients 2020, 12(6), 1619; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12061619 - 31 May 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3071
Abstract
Background and Aims: During positive energy balance, excess lipid storage in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) is associated with increased lipolysis. Elevated circulating fatty acid (FA) concentrations from both SAT lipolysis and dietary fat intake may result in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation, impairment [...] Read more.
Background and Aims: During positive energy balance, excess lipid storage in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) is associated with increased lipolysis. Elevated circulating fatty acid (FA) concentrations from both SAT lipolysis and dietary fat intake may result in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation, impairment of glucose metabolism, altogether increasing obesity-associated metabolic risks. We aimed to test the hypothesis that FA composition of red blood cell total phospholipids (RBC-TPL) and SAT is associated with body fat centralisation (VAT/SAT ratio) and insulin sensitivity (SI) in black South African women with obesity. Methods: Participants’ (n = 41) body fat composition and distribution, SI, and RBC-TPL, abdominal and gluteal SAT (gSAT) FA composition (gas-liquid chromatography) were measured. Results: RBC-TPL contained higher proportions of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) than SAT (p < 0.001), which were associated with lower SI (p < 0.05). Mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1)-16 were lower, while poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and delta-5 and delta-6 desaturase indices were higher in RBC-TPL than SAT (p < 0.001). Interestingly, FA profiles differed between SAT depots with higher SFAs and lower MUFAs, SCD1-16 and SCD1-18 indices in abdominal compared to gluteal SAT (p < 0.01). In both SAT depots, higher SFAs and lower PUFAs (n-3 and n-6) correlated with lower VAT/SAT ratio; and lower PUFAs (n-3 and n-6) and higher total MUFA correlated with higher SI. Conclusion: Our findings confirm the relationships between the FA composition of RBC-TPL and SAT and metabolic risk in black women with obesity, which are dependent on both the FA class, and the tissue type/blood compartment in which they are distributed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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14 pages, 2465 KiB  
Article
Discordant Dose-Dependent Metabolic Effects of Eicosapentanoic Acid in Diet-Induced Obese Mice
by Mandana Pahlavani, Latha Ramalingam, Emily K. Miller, Hanna Davis, Shane Scoggin and Naima Moustaid-Moussa
Nutrients 2020, 12(5), 1342; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12051342 - 08 May 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2789
Abstract
Obesity is a widespread epidemic that increases the risk for several metabolic diseases. Despite several beneficial health effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, EPA), previous studies have used very high doses of EPA. In this study, dose-dependent effects of EPA on metabolic outcomes were [...] Read more.
Obesity is a widespread epidemic that increases the risk for several metabolic diseases. Despite several beneficial health effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, EPA), previous studies have used very high doses of EPA. In this study, dose-dependent effects of EPA on metabolic outcomes were determined in diet-induced obese mice. We used B6 male mice, fed high-fat diet (HF, 45% kcal fat) or HF diet supplemented with 9, 18, and 36 g/kg of EPA-enriched fish oil for 14 weeks. We conducted metabolic phenotyping during the feeding period, and harvested tissues and blood at termination. Only mice fed 36 g/kg of EPA significantly (p < 0.05) lowered body weight, fat content and epididymal fat pad weight, compared to HF. Both 18 and 36 g/kg doses of EPA significantly increased glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity, compared to HF or 9 g/kg of EPA. Locomotor activity was significantly increased with both 18 and 36 g/kg doses of EPA. Interestingly, all doses of EPA compared to HF, significantly increased energy expenditure and oxygen consumption and significantly reduced serum insulin, leptin, and triglycerides levels. These results demonstrate weight- and adiposity-independent metabolic benefits of EPA, at doses comparable to those currently used to treat hypertriglyceridemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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19 pages, 3523 KiB  
Article
Commiphora myrrha Resin Alcoholic Extract Ameliorates High Fat Diet Induced Obesity via Regulation of UCP1 and Adiponectin Proteins Expression in Rats
by Sahar H. Orabi, Eman SH. Al-Sabbagh, Hanem K. Khalifa, Mostafa Abd El-Gaber Mohamed, Moustafa Elhamouly, Shaban M. Gad-Allah, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim and Mabrouk A. Abd Eldaim
Nutrients 2020, 12(3), 803; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12030803 - 18 Mar 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4231
Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate anti-obesity potential of Commiphora myrrha resin ethanolic extract (CME) with the respect to expression of leptin, adiponectin and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in rats. Control rats fed basal diet. Second group fed basal diet and administered CME [...] Read more.
This study was performed to evaluate anti-obesity potential of Commiphora myrrha resin ethanolic extract (CME) with the respect to expression of leptin, adiponectin and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in rats. Control rats fed basal diet. Second group fed basal diet and administered CME (500 mg/kg bw) orally for 14 weeks. Third group fed high fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks. Fourth group fed HFD and administered CME as second group. Fifth group fed HFD for 8 weeks then fed basal diet and administered CME as third group for another 6 weeks. Phytochemical analysis of CME identified the presence of germacrene B, 1,4-benzoquinone, benzofuran, hexadecanoic acid, 9,12-octadecnoic acid methyl ester, reynosin, 11, 14-eicosadienoic acid, isochiapin B, bisabolene epixod, elemene and 1-heptatriacotanol. High fat diet significantly increased food intake, body weight, hyperglycemia, serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low density lipoprotein and ketone bodies, AST and AST activities, concentration of malondialdehyde and histopathological changes in hepatic tissues. However, it significantly reduced serum levels of high density lipoprotein, leptin and adiponectin, activity of hepatic glutathione reductase (GR) and brown adipose tissue UCP1 protein expression. In contrast, CME ameliorated HFD increased body weight, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, ketonemia, hepatic tissues lipid peroxidation, restored hepatic tissue architecture and enhanced protein expression of leptin, adiponectin and UCP1 and activity of hepatic GR. This study indicated that CME ameliorated HFD induced hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia through normalization of HFD reduced leptin, adiponectin and UCP1 proteins production and antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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11 pages, 1657 KiB  
Article
Physalis peruviana L. Pulp Prevents Liver Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Skeletal Muscles of Diet-Induced Obese Mice
by Francisco Pino-de la Fuente, Diego Nocetti, Camila Sacristán, Paulina Ruiz, Julia Guerrero, Gonzalo Jorquera, Ernesto Uribe, José Luis Bucarey, Alejandra Espinosa and Luis Puente
Nutrients 2020, 12(3), 700; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12030700 - 05 Mar 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4240
Abstract
A chronic high-fat diet (HFD) produces obesity, leading to pathological consequences in the liver and skeletal muscle. The fat in the liver leads to accumulation of a large number of intrahepatic lipid droplets (LD), which are susceptible to oxidation. Obesity also affects skeletal [...] Read more.
A chronic high-fat diet (HFD) produces obesity, leading to pathological consequences in the liver and skeletal muscle. The fat in the liver leads to accumulation of a large number of intrahepatic lipid droplets (LD), which are susceptible to oxidation. Obesity also affects skeletal muscle, increasing LD and producing insulin signaling impairment. Physalis peruviana L. (PP) (Solanaceae) is rich in peruvioses and has high antioxidant activity. We assessed the ability of PP to enhance insulin-dependent glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and the capacity to prevent both inflammation and lipoperoxidation in the liver of diet-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into groups and fed for eight weeks: control diet (C; 10% fat, 20% protein, 70% carbohydrates); C + PP (300 mg/kg/day); HFD (60% fat, 20% protein, 20% carbohydrates); and HFD + PP. Results suggest that PP reduces the intracellular lipoperoxidation level and the size of LD in both isolated hepatocytes and skeletal muscle fibers. PP also promotes insulin-dependent skeletal muscle glucose uptake. In conclusion, daily consumption of 300 mg/kg of fresh pulp of PP could be a novel strategy to prevent the hepatic lipoperoxidation and insulin resistance induced by obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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11 pages, 1702 KiB  
Article
Ginsenoside Rg3 Induces Browning of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes by Activating AMPK Signaling
by Kyungtae Kim, Ki Hong Nam, Sang Ah Yi, Jong Woo Park, Jeung-Whan Han and Jaecheol Lee
Nutrients 2020, 12(2), 427; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12020427 - 07 Feb 2020
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5020
Abstract
Ginsenoside Rg3, one of the major components in Panax ginseng, has been reported to possess several therapeutic effects including anti-obesity properties. However, its effect on the browning of mature white adipocytes as well as the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In this [...] Read more.
Ginsenoside Rg3, one of the major components in Panax ginseng, has been reported to possess several therapeutic effects including anti-obesity properties. However, its effect on the browning of mature white adipocytes as well as the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we suggested a novel role of Rg3 in the browning of mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes by upregulating browning-related gene expression. The browning effects of Rg3 on differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated by analyzing browning-related markers using quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, and immunostaining. In addition, the size and sum area of lipid droplets in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were measured using Oil-Red-O staining. In mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, Rg3 dose-dependently induced the expression of browning-related genes such as Ucp1, Prdm16, Pgc1α, Cidea, and Dio2. Moreover, Rg3 induced the expression of beige fat-specific genes (CD137 and TMEM26) and lipid metabolism-associated genes (FASN, SREBP1, and MCAD), which indicated the activation of lipid metabolism by Rg3. We also demonstrated that activation of 5’ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is required for Rg3-mediated up-regulation of browning gene expression. Moreover, Rg3 inhibited the accumulation of lipid droplets and reduced the droplet size in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, this study identifies a novel role of Rg3 in browning of white adipocytes, as well as suggesting a potential mechanism of an anti-obesity effect of Panax ginseng. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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10 pages, 249 KiB  
Article
Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet: A Safe and Effective Tool for Weight Loss in Patients with Obesity and Mild Kidney Failure
by Adriano Bruci, Dario Tuccinardi, Rossella Tozzi, Angela Balena, Silvia Santucci, Riccardo Frontani, Stefania Mariani, Sabrina Basciani, Giovanni Spera, Lucio Gnessi, Carla Lubrano and Mikiko Watanabe
Nutrients 2020, 12(2), 333; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12020333 - 27 Jan 2020
Cited by 113 | Viewed by 27992
Abstract
Very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD) are an effective and increasingly used tool for weight loss. Traditionally considered high protein, ketogenic diets are often looked at with concern by clinicians due to the potential harm they pose to kidney function. We herein evaluated the [...] Read more.
Very low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD) are an effective and increasingly used tool for weight loss. Traditionally considered high protein, ketogenic diets are often looked at with concern by clinicians due to the potential harm they pose to kidney function. We herein evaluated the efficacy and safety of a VLCKD in patients with obesity and mild kidney failure. A prospective observational real-life study was conducted on ninety-two patients following a VLCKD for approximately 3 months. Thirty-eight had mild kidney failure and fifty-four had no renal condition and were therefore designated as control. Anthropometric parameters, bioelectrical impedance and biochemistry data were collected before and at the end of the dietary intervention. The average weight loss was nearly 20% of initial weight, with a significant reduction in fat mass. We report an improvement of metabolic parameters and no clinically relevant variation regarding liver and kidney function. Upon stratification based on kidney function, no differences in the efficacy and safety outcomes were found. Interestingly, 27.7% of patients with mild renal failure reported normalization of glomerular filtrate after dietary intervention. We conclude that, when conducted under the supervision of healthcare professionals, a VLCKD is an effective and safe treatment for weight loss in patients with obesity, including those affected by mild kidney failure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
12 pages, 2016 KiB  
Article
Alpha-Linolenic Acid-Enriched Butter Promotes Fatty Acid Remodeling and Thermogenic Activation in the Brown Adipose Tissue
by Mikyoung You, Rong Fan, Judy Kim, Seung-Ho Shin and Soonkyu Chung
Nutrients 2020, 12(1), 136; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu12010136 - 03 Jan 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4444
Abstract
Supplementation with n-3 long-chain (LC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is known to promote thermogenesis via the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Agricultural products that are biofortified with α-linolenic acid (ALA), the precursor of n-3 LC PUFA, have been launched [...] Read more.
Supplementation with n-3 long-chain (LC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is known to promote thermogenesis via the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Agricultural products that are biofortified with α-linolenic acid (ALA), the precursor of n-3 LC PUFA, have been launched to the market, but their impact on BAT function is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ALA-biofortified butter on lipid metabolism and thermogenic functions in the BAT. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet containing ALA-biofortified butter (n3Bu, 45% calorie from fat) for ten weeks in comparison with the isocaloric high-fat diets prepared from conventional butter or margarine. The intake of n3Bu significantly reduced the whitening of BAT and increased the thermogenesis in response to acute-cold treatment. Also, n3Bu supplementation is linked with the remodeling of BAT by promoting bioconversion into n-3 LC PUFA, FA elongation and desaturation, and mitochondrial biogenesis. Taken together, our results support that ALA-biofortified butter is a novel source of n-3 PUFA, which potentiates the BAT thermogenic function. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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15 pages, 2625 KiB  
Article
Attenuation of Inflammation and Leptin Resistance by Pyrogallol-Phloroglucinol-6,6-Bieckol on in the Brain of Obese Animal Models
by Myeongjoo Son, Seyeon Oh, Junwon Choi, Ji Tae Jang, Chang Hu Choi, Kook Yang Park, Kuk Hui Son and Kyunghee Byun
Nutrients 2019, 11(11), 2773; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu11112773 - 14 Nov 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4408
Abstract
Obesity induces inflammation both in the adipose tissue and the brain. Activated macrophage infiltration, polarization of macrophages to a more inflammatory type (M1), and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are related to brain inflammation, which induces leptin resistance in the brain. Pyrogallol-phloroglucinol-6,6-bieckol (PPB), [...] Read more.
Obesity induces inflammation both in the adipose tissue and the brain. Activated macrophage infiltration, polarization of macrophages to a more inflammatory type (M1), and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are related to brain inflammation, which induces leptin resistance in the brain. Pyrogallol-phloroglucinol-6,6-bieckol (PPB), a compound from Ecklonia cava, has anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PPB effect M1 polarization and inflammation and its ability to restore the effects of leptin, such as a decrease in appetite and body weight. We administered PPB to diet-induced obesity (DIO) and leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice, evaluated macrophage activation, polarization, and changes of inflammatory cytokine level in adipose tissue and brain, and determined the effect of PPB on leptin resistance or leptin sensitivity in the brain. The levels of activated macrophage marker, M1/M2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines were increased in the adipose tissue and brain of DIO and ob/ob mice than control. TLR4 expression, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and NF-κB expression in the brain of DIO and ob/ob mice were also increased; this increase was related to the upregulation of SOCS3 and decreased phosphorylated STAT3, which decreased leptin sensitivity in the brain. PPB decreased inflammation in the brain, restored leptin sensitivity, and decreased food intake and weight gain in both DIO and ob/ob mice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Nutrition in Metabolic Dysfunction and Obesity)
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