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The escalating prices of conventional plant protein sources like soyabean and groundnut cake in Nigeria have prompted exploration into alternative feed ingredients for poultry nutrition. Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) presents a promising substitute due to its nutrient-rich composition and cost-effective cultivation. This study investigated the effects of substituting soyabean meal (SBM) with MOLM on growth performance indices, carcass characteristics, and organ weights in broiler finishers on an equal-protein basis. Five diets were formulated, wherein SBM protein was replaced with that of MOLM at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% levels. 200 four-week-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to these diets in a completely randomized design, with each treatment having four replicates. Analysis of MOLM's proximate composition suggested its suitability as a substitute for SBM. Up to 50% inclusion of MOLM resulted in weight gain and feed conversion ratio similar to the control (p>0.05). However, higher inclusion levels led to decreased feed intake, weight gain, and poorer feed conversion efficiency, likely due to increased fibre content. Carcass traits were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by MOLM inclusion up to 50% level. Organ weights were largely unaffected except for the liver, spleen, and bursa, which showed variations with different levels of MOLM inclusion. Substituting SBM with MOLM at up to 50% did not negatively impact broiler growth performance or carcass characteristics. However, further research is needed to optimize MOLM inclusion levels and address the effects of high fibre content in poultry diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body composition and body fat distribution are important predictors of cardiometabolic diseases. The etiology of cardiometabolic diseases is heterogenous, and partly driven by inter-individual differences in tissue-specific insulin sensitivity. Objectives: To investigate (1) the associations between body composition and whole-body, liver and muscle insulin sensitivity, and (2) changes in body composition and insulin sensitivity and their relationship after a 12-week isocaloric diet high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids (HMUFA) or a low-fat, high-protein, high-fiber (LFHP) diet. Methods: This subcohort analysis of the PERSON study includes 93 individuals (53% women, BMI 25–40 kg/m2, 40–75 years) who participated in this randomized intervention study. At baseline and after 12 weeks of following the LFHP, or HMUFA diet, we performed a 7-point oral glucose tolerance test to assess whole-body, liver, and muscle insulin sensitivity, and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging to determine body composition and body fat distribution. Both diets are within the guidelines of healthy nutrition. Results: At baseline, liver fat content was associated with worse liver insulin sensitivity (β [95%CI]; 0.12 [0.01; 0.22]). Only in women, thigh muscle fat content was inversely related to muscle insulin sensitivity (-0.27 [-0.48; -0.05]). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was inversely associated with whole-body, liver, and muscle insulin sensitivity. Both diets decreased VAT, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (aSAT), and liver fat, but not whole-body and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity with no differences between diets. Waist circumference, however, decreased more following the LFHP diet as compared to the HMUFA diet (-3.0 vs. -0.5 cm, respectively). After the LFHP but not HMUFA diet, improvements in body composition were positively associated with improvements in whole-body and liver insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: Liver and muscle insulin sensitivity are distinctly associated with liver and muscle fat accumulation. Although both LFHP and HMUFA diets improved in body fat, VAT, aSAT, and liver fat, only LFHP-induced improvements in body composition are associated with improved insulin sensitivity. Trial registration: NCT03708419 (clinicaltrials.gov). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ketogenic diet (KD) is known to have beneficial health effects. Various types of KD interventions have been applied to manage metabolic syndrome based on modification of diet parameters such as duration of intervention, macronutrient components, and total calories. Nevertheless, the beneficial health impact of isocaloric KD is largely unknown, especially in healthy subjects. The present study investigated the acute effects of a 3-day isocaloric KD. In this non-randomized intervention study, we recruited 15 healthy volunteers aged 24-38 years (7 men and 8 women) and placed them on an isocaloric KD restricting intake of carbohydrates but not energy (75% fat, 20% protein, 5% carbohydrate) for 3 days. Biochemical profiles and laboratory measurements were performed. Peripheral blood monocular cells were cultured, and measured cell stimulated cytokines. After short-term isocaloric KD, subjects lost body weight and serum free fatty acid levels were increased. These results accompanied elevated serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels and improved insulin sensitivity. Regarding the direct effect of BHB on inflammasome activation, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion in response to adenosine triphosphate or palmitate stimulation in human macrophages decreased significantly after isocaloric KD. In ex-vivo experiments with macrophages, both FGF21 and BHB further reduced IL-1β secretion compared to either BHB or FGF21 alone. The inhibitory effect of FGF21 on IL-1β secretion was blunted with bafilomycin treatment, which blocked autophagy flux. In conclusion, isocaloric KD for 3 days is a promising approach to improve metabolic and inflammatory status. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02964572). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess nutrition causes loss of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and reduces odour discrimination and odour perception in mice. To separate diet‐induced obesity from the consumption of dietary fat, we designed pair‐feeding experiments whereby mice were maintained on isocaloric diets for 5 months, which prevented increased fat storage. To test our hypothesis that adiposity was not a prerequisite for loss of OSNs and bulbar projections, we used male and female mice with an odorant receptor‐linked genetic reporter (M72tauLacZ; Olfr160) to visualize neural circuitry changes resulting from elevated fat in the diet. Simultaneously we monitored glucose clearance (diagnostic for prediabetes), body fat deposition, ingestive behaviours, select inflammatory markers and energy metabolism. Axonal projections to defined olfactory glomeruli were visualized in whole‐mount brains, and the number of OSNs was manually counted across whole olfactory epithelia. After being pair fed a moderately high‐fat (MHF) diet, mice of both sexes had body weight, adipose deposits, energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratios and locomotor activity that were unchanged from control‐fed mice. Despite this, they were still found to lose OSNs and associated bulbar projections. Even with unchanged adipocyte storage, pair‐fed animals had an elevation in TNF cytokines and an intermediate ability for glucose clearance. Albeit improving health metrics, access to voluntary running while consuming an ad libitum fatty diet still precipitated a loss of OSNs and associated axonal projections for male mice. Our results support that long‐term macronutrient imbalance can drive anatomical loss in the olfactory system regardless of total energy expenditure. Key points: Obesity can disrupt the structure and function of organ systems, including the olfactory system that is important for food selection and satiety.We designed dietary treatments in mice such that mice received fat, but the total calories provided were the same as in control diets so that they would not gain weight or increase adipose tissue.Mice that were not obese but consumed isocaloric fatty diets still lost olfactory neuronal circuits, had fewer numbers of olfactory neurons, had an elevation in inflammatory signals and had an intermediate ability to clear glucose (prediabetes).Mice were allowed access to running wheels while consuming fatty diets, yet still lost olfactory structures.We conclude that a long‐term imbalance in nutrition that favours fat in the diet disrupts the olfactory system of mice in the absence of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid rise in obesity has been linked to altered food consumption patterns. There is increasing evidence that, in addition to total energy intake, the macronutrient composition of the diet may influence the development of obesity. The present study aimed to examine the impact of high dietary fat content, under both isocaloric and hypercaloric conditions, compared with a low fat diet, on adiposity, glucose and lipid metabolism, and brain appetite regulators in rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to one of three diets: control (14% fat), ad lib high-fat palatable (HFD, 35% fat) or high-fat palatable restricted (HFD-R, matched to the energy intake of control) and were killed in the fasting state 11 weeks later. Body weight was increased by 28% in unrestricted HFD fed rats, with an almost tripling of caloric intake and fat mass (P < 0.001) and double the plasma triglycerides of controls. Glucose intolerance and increased insulin levels were observed. HFD-R animals calorie matched to control had double their fat mass, plasma insulin and triglycerides (P < 0.05). Only ad lib consumption of the HFD increased the hypothalamic mRNA expression of the appetite-regulating peptides, neuropeptide Y and pro-opiomelanocortin. Although restricted consumption of palatable HFD had no significant impact on hypothalamic appetite regulators or body weight, it increased adiposity and circulating triglycerides, suggesting that the proportion of dietary fat, independent of caloric intake, affects fat deposition and the metabolic profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylitol has been suggested as a potentially useful sweetener in the diabetic diet. In 14 insulin-dependent diabetics a standard diabetic diet regimen was compared with diets in which starch was isocalorically exchanged in the breakfast meal by either 30 g xylitol or 30 g sucrose. Insulin requirement and blood glucose were measured using a glucose-controlled insulin infusion system. The results following breakfast with xylitol were similar to those after starch breakfasts. Sucrose, in contrast, induced a greater post-prandial rise in blood glucose levels despite counter-regulation by the glucose-controlled i infusion system. InsuUn requirement after sucrose significantly exceeded ( p<0.01) that after xylitol or starch during the first 60 min and 2 h respectively. No short-term side effects of xylitol were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate behavioral and stress responses to feeding frequency in pregnant sows under isocaloric conditions. Eighteen sows (Landrace × Yorkshire); BW 226.10 ± 1.29 kg; parity 3.1 ± 0.42); were blocked by parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 feeding frequency regimes. Sows were fed corn-soybean meal-based diet 1× [0730 (Control, T1), 2× "[half ration at 0730 and 1530 h (T2)]" and then "[one-third portion at 0730, 1130, and 1530 h (T3)]". On average, sows received 7190 kcal ME d−1 during gestation from 2.25 kg of diet formulated to contain SID Lys/ME of 1.71 g/Mcal. Saliva samples were collected from 0630 to 1830 h, 2 hrs apart and assayed for cortisol using ELISA technique. Behavior data were collected for 7 d from d 53 of gestation by affixing a Remote Insights ear tag to each sow. Each sow had 120,960 data points categorized into: "Active," "Feed" or "Dormant". The data were analyzed using GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4 with treatment as fixed effect and sow as random effect. Results were considered statistically significant when P < 0·05 and were considered as trends when P ≤ 0·10. Sow was the experimental unit. A 24 h area under the curve (AUC) was calculated by trapezoidal method. The P-values were adjusted for multiplicity based on Tukey Kramer's method. A 24 h total activity and total feeding activity AUC were reduced in sows fed 2× daily compared with sows fed 1× and 3× daily (P < 0.01). A 12 h cortisol AUC was lower for sows fed 2× daily relative to treatment groups fed 1× and 3× daily (P < 0.02). In conclusion, feeding pregnant sows twice daily may improve sow welfare by reducing feeding activity, total activity, and the activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity impairs both macro- and microvascular endothelial function due to decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide. Current evidence on the effect of low-carbohydrate (LC) diet on endothelial function is conflicting and confounded by the provision of caloric restriction (CR). We tested the hypothesis that LC without CR diet, but not LC with CR diet, would improve macro- and microvascular endothelial function in women with obesity. Twenty-one healthy women with obesity (age: 33 ± 2 years, body mass index: 33.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2; mean ± SEM) were randomly assigned to receive either a LC diet (~10% carbohydrate calories) with CR (n = 12; 500 calorie/day deficit) or a LC diet without CR (n = 9) and completed the 6-week diet intervention. After the intervention, macrovascular endothelial function, measured as brachial artery flow-mediated dilation did not change (7.3 ± 0.9% to 8.0 ± 1.1%, p = 0.7). On the other hand, following the LC diet intervention, regardless of CR, blocking nitric oxide production decreased microvascular endothelial function, measured by arteriolar flow-induced dilation (p ≤ 0.02 for both diets) and the magnitude was more than baseline (p ≤ 0.04). These data suggest improved NO contributions following the intervention. In conclusion, a 6-week LC diet, regardless of CR, may improve microvascular, but not macrovascular endothelial function, via increasing bioavailability of nitric oxide in women with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigated the effect of feeding time on behavior and stress responses in pregnant sows under isocaloric conditions. Eighteen sows (Landrace × Yorkshire); BW 248.6 ± 2.8 kg; parity 3.30 ± 0.39); were blocked by parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 feeding times. Corn-soybean meal-based diet was fed once at: 0730 (Control, T1), 1130 (T2), and 1530 h (T3). On average, sows received 7190 kcal ME d−1 during gestation from 2.25 kg of diet formulated to contain SID Lys/ME of 1.71 g/Mcal. Saliva samples were collected every 2 h for 12 h in stalls on d 52 of pregnancy and assayed for cortisol using ELISA technique. Behavior data were collected 24 h for 7 d from d 53 of gestation by affixing a Remote Insights ear tag to each sow after 21 d adaptation period. Each sow had 120,960 data points categorized into: "Active," "Feed" or "Dormant". Data were analyzed using GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05, and a trend as 0.05 < P ≤ 0.10. Sow was the experimental unit. A 24 h area under the curve (AUC) was estimated by trapezoidal summation method. Adjustment for multiple comparisons was based on Tukey Kramer's method. Sows fed daily at 0730 had both lower feeding and total activity compared with sows fed at 1130 h (P < 0.02) but similar to sows fed at 1530 h (P > 0.05). Feeding sows at 1130 h daily resulted in reduced cortisol AUC compared with 1530 h fed sows (P < 0.04) but similar to sows fed at 0730 h (P > 0.05). In conclusion, feeding sows daily at 1130 resulted in increased feed and total activity but reduced cortisol concentration, suggesting that elevated sow activity might not necessary indicate activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is associated with microvascular dysfunction. While low-fat diet improves cardiovascular risk, its contributions on microvascular function, independent of weight loss, is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation in microvessels is improved by low-fat diets designed for weight loss (LFWL) compared to low-fat weight maintenance (LFWM) diet. Obese adults were randomly assigned to either a LFWL diet (n = 11) or LFWM diet (n = 10) for six weeks. Microvessels were obtained from gluteal subcutaneous fat biopsies before and after the intervention for vascular reactivity measurements to acetylcholine (Ach) and flow, with and without L-NAME or indomethacin. Vascular and serum NO and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured. LFWL diet increased flow-induced (FID) and ACh-induced dilation (AChID); an effect that was inhibited by L-NAME. Conversely, LFWM diet did not affect FID or AChID. Indomethacin improved FID and AChID in the baseline and this effect was minimized in response to both diets. Serum NO or CRP did not change in response to either diet. In conclusion, LFWL diet improves microvascular reactivity compared to LFWM diet and increased vascular NO contribution to the improved microvascular dilation. These data suggest that weight reduction on low fat diet is critical for microvascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]