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• A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, involving 29 human volunteers with BMI >25 Kg/m2 along with high-normal or mild-hypertension. • Participants were requested to drink 250 ml of either Queen Garnet plum juice or raspberry cordial drink every morning. • Queen Garnet plum juice, which is a rich source of anthocyanins, decreased blood pressure, fasting plasma insulin, glucose, leptin and inflammatory cytokines. • This study suggests that daily consumption of QG could attenuate the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The anthocyanin, cyanidin 3-glucoside, in Queen Garnet (QG) plums reduced cardiovascular parameters, obesity and inflammation in diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. We have now assessed whether QG juice improves cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors and markers of inflammation in mildly hypertensive overweight or obese humans. The 32 subjects were randomly divided into two groups consuming either QG juice or Placebo (raspberry cordial) drinks for 12 weeks. QG juice decreased systolic blood pressure by 12 ± 3 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure by 9 ± 2 mmHg, insulin by 6 ± 3 pmol/L, and leptin by 4 ± 2.5 ng/ml, and increased adiponectin by 3.62 ± 0.28 µg/ml. Cyanidin 3-glucoside is the likely active component of the plum juice, with possible additive effects of other flavonoids such as quercetin glycosides. Thus, QG juice decreased blood pressure and attenuated some risk factors of metabolic syndrome after 12 weeks suggesting that daily consumption could attenuate the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of blueberry and fermented yoghurt and their bioactive components [Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside (C3G) and peptides with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity] on obesity and its related comorbidities in high-fat-high-carbohydrate-diet (HFHC) induced obese mice. All results in supplementation groups were compared with the HFHC control group. • Blueberry and yoghurt alone reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in mice. • Combined blueberry and yoghurt supplementation reduces systolic blood pressure. • Yoghurt reduces body weight and body fat, and improved glucose tolerance (ipGTT). • Combined peptides and C3G reduces blood pressure, body fat and improves ipGTT. It is widely acknowledged that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension. Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside (C3G), an anthocyanin in blueberry, and peptides with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity derived from yoghurt are potentially beneficial for numerous health conditions including improving insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. In this study, the synergistic/additive effects of combined supplementations with blueberry and yoghurt, and C3G and peptides were determined. Blueberry and yoghurt alone, and the combination of C3G and peptides significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in diet-induced obese mice. Yoghurt supplementation significantly reduced body weight, percentage body fat and improved intraperitoneal glucose tolerance. Furthermore, peptides and the combination of peptides and C3G resulted in a significant reduction of percentage body fat and improved intraperitoneal glucose tolerance. As widely available, safe and nutritious foods, blueberry and yoghurt showed therapeutic potential in the treatment of obesity, diabetes and hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overview: As obesity has reached epidemic proportions, the management of this global disease is of clinical importance. The availability and popularity of natural dietary supplements for the treatment of obesity has risen dramatically in recent years. Aims: The aim of this paper was to assess the current evidence of commonly available natural supplements used to suppress appetite for obesity control and management in humans using a systematic search of clinical trials meeting an acceptable standard of evidence. Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE with full text (via EBSCOHost) were accessed during late 2012 for randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) using natural plant extracts as interventions to treat obesity through appetite regulation. A quality analysis using a purpose-designed scale and an estimation of effect size, where data were available, was also calculated. The inclusion criteria included the following: sample participants classified as overweight or obese adults (aged 18-65 years), randomized, double blind, controlled design, suitable placebo/control intervention, sample size >20, duration of intervention >2 weeks, have measurable outcomes on appetite or food intake and anthropometry, and full paper in English. Results: There were 14 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The findings from published double blind RCTs revealed mostly inconclusive evidence that plant extracts are effective in reducing body weight through appetite suppression. Caralluma fimbriata extract and a combination supplement containing Garcinia cambogia plus Gymnema sylvestre were the only exceptions. Conclusion: According to the findings from this systematic review, the evidence is not convincing in demonstrating that most dietary supplements used as appetite suppressants for weight loss in the treatment of obesity are effective and safe. A balance between conclusive findings by double blind RCTs and advertisement is required to avoid safety concerns and dissatisfaction from consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Failure to provide omega 3 fatty acids in the perinatal period results in alterations in nerve growth factor levels, dopamine production and permanent elevations in blood pressure. The present study investigated whether changes in brain (i.e., hypothalamus) glycerophospholipid fatty acid profiles induced by a diet rich in omega 6 fatty acids and very low in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) during pregnancy and the perinatal period could be reversed by subsequent feeding of a diet containing ALA. Female rats (6 per group) were mated and fed either a low ALA diet or a control diet containing ALA throughout pregnancy and until weaning of the pups at 3 weeks. At weaning, the pups (20 per group) remained on the diet of their mothers until 9 weeks, when half the pups were switched onto the other diet, thus generating four groups of animals. At 33 weeks, pups were killed, the hypothalamus dissected from the male rats and analysed for glycerophospholipid fatty acids. In the animals fed the diet with very little ALA and then re-fed the control diet containing high levels of ALA for 24 weeks, the DHA levels were still significantly less than the control values in PE, PS and PI fractions, by 9%, 18% and 34%, respectively. In this group, but not in the other dietary groups, ALA was detected in all glycerophospholipid classes at 0.2–1.7% of the total fatty acids. The results suggest that omega 6–3 PUFA imbalance early in life leads to irreversible changes in hypothalamic composition. The increased ALA and reduced DHA proportions in the animals re-fed ALA in later life are consistent with a dysfunction or down-regulation of the conversion of ALA to 18:4n-3 by the delta-6 desaturase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thirst and resultant water drinking can arise in response to deficits in both the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments. Inhibitory influences mediating the satiation of thirst also are necessary to prevent overhydration. The brain regions that underpin the generation or inhibition of thirst in these circumstances can be categorized as sensory, integrative, or cortical effector sites. The anterior cingulate cortex and insula are activated in thirsty human beings as shown by functional brain-imaging techniques. It is postulated that these sites may be cortical effector regions for thirst. A major sensory site for generating thirst is the lamina terminalis in the forebrain. Osmoreceptors within the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and subfornical organ detect systemic hypertonicity. The subfornical organ mediates the dipsogenic actions of circulating angiotensin II and relaxin. Major integrative sites are the nucleus of the tractus solitarius, the lateral parabrachial nucleus, the midbrain raphé nuclei, the median preoptic nucleus, and the septum. Despite these advances, most of the neural pathways and neurochemical mechanisms subserving the genesis of thirst remain to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the perception and behaviour among parents of children with food allergy and anaphylaxis on precautionary food labelling. The study uses a self-administered questionnaire to determine the response of parents on precautionary food labels. Results show that parents avoid foods with precautionary labels depending on the statements appearing on the package.