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Aims/hypothesisIncreased levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are associated with type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. However, most metabolomic studies are limited to an analysis of plasma metabolites under fasting conditions, rather than the dynamic shift in response to a metabolic challenge. Moreover, metabolomic profiles of peripheral tissues involved in glucose homeostasis are scarce and the transcriptomic regulation of genes involved in BCAA catabolism is partially unknown. This study aimed to identify differences in circulating and skeletal muscle BCAA levels in response to an OGTT in individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) or type 2 diabetes. Additionally, transcription factors involved in the regulation of the BCAA gene set were identified.MethodsPlasma and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained from individuals with NGT or type 2 diabetes before and after an OGTT. Plasma and quadriceps muscles were harvested from skeletal muscle-specific PGC-1α knockout and transgenic mice. BCAA-related metabolites and genes were assessed by LC-MS/MS and RT-PCR, respectively. Small interfering RNA and adenovirus-mediated overexpression techniques were used in primary human skeletal muscle cells to study the role of PGC-1A and ESRRA in the expression of the BCAA gene set. Radiolabeled leucine was used to analyze the impact of ERRα knockdown on leucine oxidation.ResultsImpairments in BCAA catabolism in people with type 2 diabetes under fasting conditions were exacerbated after a glucose load. Branched-chain keto acids were reduced 37–56% after an OGTT in the NGT group, whereas no changes were detected in individuals with T2D. These changes were concomitant with a stronger correlation with glucose homeostasis biomarkers and downregulated expression of BCAT2, BCKDH complex subunits and 69% of downstream BCAA-related genes in skeletal muscle. In primary human myotubes overexpressing PGC-1α, 61% of the analyzed BCAA genes were upregulated, while 67% were downregulated in the quadriceps of skeletal muscle-specific PGC-1α knockout mice. ESRRA (encoding estrogen-related receptor α, ERRα) silencing completely abrogated the PGC-1α-induced upregulation of BCAA-related genes in primary human myotubes.Conclusions/interpretationMetabolic inflexibility in type 2 diabetes impacts BCAA homeostasis and attenuates the decrease of circulating and skeletal muscle BCAA-related metabolites after a glucose challenge. Transcriptional regulation of BCAA genes in primary human myotubes via a PGC-1α is ERRα-dependent.Research in contextWhat is already known about this subject?Circulating levels of BCAA are elevated in type 2 diabetes.PGC-1α is involved in the transcription of the BCAA gene set.What is the key question?Does metabolic inflexibility associated with type 2 diabetes encompass BCAA homeostasis and PGC-1α mediated transcription of the BCAA gene set?What are the new findings?BCAA homeostasis is further compromised by a glucose challenge in type 2 diabetes.An OGTT reveals coordinated regulation between BCAA metabolites, blood glucose, and HbA1c levels.ERRα is essential for PGC-1α-mediated BCAA gene expression in primary human myotubes.How might this impact on clinical practice in the foreseeable future?An OGTT can be used to underscore impairments in BCAA metabolism. These findings suggest that interventions targeting the PGC-1α/ ERRα axis may improve BCAA homeostasis.

Purpose Genetic differences in desaturase genes and consequently fatty acid metabolism have been reported. The aims were to examine ethnic differences in serum fatty acid composition and desaturase indices, and assess the ethnic-specific associations with insulin sensitivity (IS) and liver fat in black and white South African (SA) women. Methods In this cross-sectional study including 92 premenopausal black (n = 46) and white (n = 46) SA women, serum fatty acid composition was measured in cholesteryl ester (CE) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) fractions. Desaturase activities were estimated as product-to-precursor ratios: stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1-16, 16:1n-7/16:0); δ-5 desaturase (D5D, 20:4n-6/20:3n-6), and δ-6 desaturase (D6D, 18:3n-6/18:2n-6). Whole-body IS was estimated from an oral glucose tolerance test using the Matsuda index. In a subsample (n = 30), liver fat and hepatic IS were measured by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, respectively. Results Despite lower whole-body IS (P = .006), black women had higher CE D5D and lower D6D and SCD1-16 indices than white women (P Conclusions Ethnic differences in fatty acid–derived desaturation indices were observed, with insulin-resistant black SA women paradoxically showing a fatty acid pattern typical for higher insulin sensitivity in European populations.

Objective To investigate how weight loss by different diets impacts postprandial levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon. Methods In this single-centre, parallel group 2-year trial, 70 healthy postmenopausal obese women were randomised to the Paleolithic diet or a healthy control diet based on Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. Both diets were without calorie restriction. The primary outcome was the change in fat mass. Here, secondary analyses on GLP-1, GIP and glucagon measured during an OGTT are described. Results In the Paleolithic diet group, mean weight loss compared to baseline was 11% at 6 months and 10% at 24 months. In the control diet group, mean weight loss was 6% after 6 and 24 months (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.049 for the comparison between groups at 6 and 24 months respectively). Compared to baseline, the mean incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for GLP-1 increased by 34 and 45% after 6 and 24 months in the Paleolithic diet group and increased by 59% after 24 months in the control diet group. The mean iAUC for GIP increased only in the Paleolithic diet group. The area under the curve (AUC) for glucagon increased during the first 6 months in both groups. The fasting glucagon increase correlated with the β-hydroxybutyrate increase. Conclusions Weight loss caused an increase in postprandial GLP-1 levels and a further rise occurred during weight maintenance. Postprandial GIP levels increased only after the Paleolithic diet. Reduced postprandial glucagon suppression may be caused by a catabolic state.

Patients at a high risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) without previous history of cardiovascular disease remain a challenge to identify. Atherosclerosis and prothrombotic states involve inflammation and non-cardiac tissue damage that may play active roles in SCD development. Therefore, we hypothesized that circulating proteins implicated in inflammation and tissue damage are linked to the future risk of SCD. We conducted a prospective nested case–control study of SCD cases with verified myocardial infarction (N = 224) and matched controls without myocardial infarction (N = 224), aged 60 ± 10 years time and median time to event was 8 years. Protein concentrations (N = 122) were measured using a proximity extension immunoassay. The analyses revealed 14 proteins significantly associated with an increased risk of SCD, from which two remained significant after adjusting for smoking status, systolic blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, and glucose levels. We identified leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H, odds ratio 1.80, corrected confidence interval (CIcorr) 1.02–3.17) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF; odds ratio 1.81, CIcorr 1.06–3.11) as independent risk markers of SCD. Elevated LTA4H may reflect increased systemic and pulmonary neutrophilic inflammatory processes that can contribute to atherosclerotic plaque instability. Increased HGF levels are linked to obesity-related metabolic disturbances that are more prevalent in SCD cases than the controls.

Aims/hypothesis We sought to determine putative relationships among improved mitochondrial respiration, insulin sensitivity and altered skeletal muscle lipids and metabolite signature in response to combined aerobic and resistance training in women with obesity. Methods This study reports a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial including additional measures of mitochondrial respiration, skeletal muscle lipidomics, metabolomics and protein content. Women with obesity were randomised into 12 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training (n = 20) or control (n = 15) groups. Pre- and post-intervention testing included peak oxygen consumption, whole-body insulin sensitivity (intravenous glucose tolerance test), skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration (high-resolution respirometry), lipidomics and metabolomics (mass spectrometry) and lipid content (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy). Proteins involved in glucose transport (i.e. GLUT4) and lipid turnover (i.e. sphingomyelin synthase 1 and 2) were assessed by western blotting. Results The original randomised controlled trial showed that exercise training increased insulin sensitivity (median [IQR]; 3.4 [2.0–4.6] to 3.6 [2.4–6.2] x10−5 pmol l−1 min−1), peak oxygen consumption (mean ± SD; 24.9 ± 2.4 to 27.6 ± 3.4 ml kg−1 min−1), and decreased body weight (84.1 ± 8.7 to 83.3 ± 9.7 kg), with an increase in weight (pre intervention, 87.8± 10.9 to post intervention 88.8 ± 11.0 kg) in the control group (interaction p p p p p Conclusions/interpretation The major findings of our study were that exercise training altered specific intramuscular lipid intermediates, associated with content-driven increases in mitochondrial respiration but not whole-body insulin sensitivity. This highlights the benefits of exercise training and presents putative target pathways for preventing lipotoxicity in skeletal muscle, which is typically associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. Graphical abstract

The present study explored patterns of circulating metabolites and proteins that can predict future risk for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). We conducted a prospective nested case-control study in northern Sweden in individuals who developed STEMI (N = 50) and NSTEMI (N = 50) within 5 years and individually matched controls (N = 100). Fasted plasma samples were subjected to multiplatform mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and multiplex protein analyses. Multivariate analyses were used to elucidate infarction-specific metabolite and protein risk profiles associated with future incident STEMI and NSTEMI. We found that altered lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) ratio predicted STEMI and NSTEMI events in different ways. In STEMI, lysophospholipids (mainly LPEs) were lower, whereas in NSTEMI, lysophospholipids (mainly LPEs) were higher. We found a similar response for all detected lysophospholipids but significant alterations only for those containing linoleic acid (C18:2, p &lt, 0.05). Patients with STEMI had higher secretoglobin family 3A member 2 and tartrate-resistant acid phosphate type 5 and lower platelet-derived growth factor subunit A, which are proteins associated with atherosclerosis severity and plaque development mediated via altered phospholipid metabolism. In contrast, patients with NSTEMI had higher levels of proteins associated with inflammation and macrophage activation, including interleukin 6, C-reactive protein, chemerin, and cathepsin X and D. The STEMI risk marker profile includes factors closely related to the development of unstable plaque, including a higher LPC:LPE ratio, whereas NSTEMI is characterized by a lower LPC:LPE ratio and increased inflammation.

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.

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.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal fat accumulation after menopause is associated with low-grade inflammation and increased risk of metabolic disorders. Effective long-term lifestyle treatment is therefore neede ...

Background Cross-sectional studies in South Africa (SA) have shown that black SA women, despite being more insulin resistant, have less visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and more subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) than white women. This study aimed to investigate whether baseline and/or change in body fat and its distribution predict type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in middle-aged black SA women, 13 years later. Methods We studied 142 black SA women who are the caregivers of the Birth-to-Twenty plus cohort, and who had normal glucose tolerance (NGT) at baseline. At baseline and follow-up, fasting blood samples, basic anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived body composition were measured. At follow-up, an oral glucose tolerance test was completed. The WHO diabetes diagnostic criteria were used to define NGT, impaired fasting glucose (IFG)/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) and T2D. Results At follow-up, 64% of participants remained NGT, whereas 25% developed IGM, and 11% developed T2D. The IGM and the T2D groups were combined for statistical analyses. At baseline, trunk fat mass (FM), VAT but not SAT (measures of central FM) were higher in the IGM/T2D group than the NGT group (p p 2 increase, 1.25 (1.10–1.42)), and the change in VAT (1.12 (1.03–1.23)) were associated with greater odds of developing IGM/T2D, whereas baseline leg FM (OR per 1 kg increase, 0.55 (0.41–0.73)) were associated with reduced IGM/T2D risk at follow-up (p Conclusions Relative fat redistribution, with VAT accumulation, predicted the development of IGM/T2D 13 years before its onset. Prevention of central obesity is a key factor to reduce the risk of developing T2D among middle-aged urban black SA women.

In type 2 diabetes, high blood glucose levels are associated with increased glucagon levels and insufficient suppression of endogenous glucose production (EGP). Notably, glutamine, a gluconeogenic amino acid, is decreased compared to healthy individuals. We randomized 32 overweight patients with type 2 diabetes to either a Paleolithic diet (PD) or a Paleolithic diet combined with supervised exercise (PD-EX). Study duration was 12 weeks. Subjects conducted a solid mixed meal test: glucagon, insulin and glucose were measured at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min with calculation of the total area under the curve for the response. On another study day, fasting glutamine was measured with GC-MS and suppression of EGP was examined with the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique with [6,6-2H2]glucose as a tracer and with an insulin infusion of 40 mIU/m2/min. Median weight loss was 7 kg in both study groups. Fasting glucose and fasting insulin decrease significantly only in the PD-EX group. Postprandial glucose decreased by 13% in the PD group (P We conclude that glucagon, an activator of EGP, decreases in concert with improved suppression of EGP during weight loss in type 2 diabetes patients. An increase in plasma glutamine may be due to decreased gluconeogenesis. Disclosure J. Otten: None. A. Stomby: None. M. Waling: None. E. Chorell: None. M. Ryberg: None. M.B. Svensson: None. J.J. Holst: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Board Member; Self; Zealand Pharma A/S. Speaker's Bureau; Self; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., AstraZeneca. Research Support; Self; Danish Diabetes Academy, Novo Nordisk Foundation. Other Relationship; Self; Antag Therapeutics. Other Relationship; Spouse/Partner; Antag Therapeutics. T. Olsson: None.

Background The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in black African women is complex and differs from that in their white counterparts. However, earlier studies have been cross-sectional and provide little insight into the causal pathways. Exercise training is consistently used as a model to examine the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and risk for T2D. Objective The objective of the study was to examine the mechanisms underlying the changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion in response to a 12-week exercise intervention in obese black South African (SA) women. Methods A total of 45 obese (body mass index, BMI: 30-40 kg/m2) black SA women were randomized into a control (n=22) or experimental (exercise; n=23) group. The exercise group completed 12 weeks of supervised combined aerobic and resistance training (40-60 min, 4 days/week), while the control group maintained their typical physical activity patterns, and both groups were requested not to change their dietary patterns. Before and following the 12-week intervention period, insulin sensitivity and secretion (frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test) and its primary and secondary determinants were measured. Dietary intake, sleep quality and quantity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors were measured every 4 weeks. Results The final sample included 20 exercise and 15 control participants. Baseline sociodemographics, cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometry, cardiometabolic risk factors, physical activity, and diet did not differ between the groups (P>.05). Conclusions The study describes a research protocol for an exercise intervention to understand the mechanisms underlying insulin sensitivity and secretion in obese black SA women and aims to identify causal pathways underlying the high prevalence of insulin resistance and risk for T2D in black SA women, targeting specific areas for therapeutic intervention. Trial Registration Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR201711002789113; http://www.pactr.org/ATMWeb/ appmanager/atm/atmregistry?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=portals_app_atmregistry_portal_page_13 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xLEFqKr0)

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in black African women is complex and differs from that in their white counterparts. However, earlier studies have been cross-sectional and provide little insight into the causal pathways. Exercise training is consistently used as a model to examine the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and risk for T2D. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to examine the mechanisms underlying the changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion in response to a 12-week exercise intervention in obese black South African (SA) women. METHODS A total of 45 obese (body mass index, BMI: 30-40 kg/m2) black SA women were randomized into a control (n=22) or experimental (exercise; n=23) group. The exercise group completed 12 weeks of supervised combined aerobic and resistance training (40-60 min, 4 days/week), while the control group maintained their typical physical activity patterns, and both groups were requested not to change their dietary patterns. Before and following the 12-week intervention period, insulin sensitivity and secretion (frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test) and its primary and secondary determinants were measured. Dietary intake, sleep quality and quantity, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors were measured every 4 weeks. RESULTS The final sample included 20 exercise and 15 control participants. Baseline sociodemographics, cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometry, cardiometabolic risk factors, physical activity, and diet did not differ between the groups (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS The study describes a research protocol for an exercise intervention to understand the mechanisms underlying insulin sensitivity and secretion in obese black SA women and aims to identify causal pathways underlying the high prevalence of insulin resistance and risk for T2D in black SA women, targeting specific areas for therapeutic intervention. CLINICALTRIAL Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR201711002789113; http://www.pactr.org/ATMWeb/ appmanager/atm/atmregistry?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=portals_app_atmregistry_portal_page_13 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xLEFqKr0)

Context Gestational diabetes is commonly linked to development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There is a need to characterize metabolic changes associated with gestational diabetes in order to find novel biomarkers for T2DM. Objective To find potential pathophysiological mechanisms and markers for progression from gestational diabetes mellitus to T2DM by studying the metabolic transition from pregnancy to postpartum. Design The metabolic transition profile from pregnancy to postpartum was characterized in 56 women by mass spectrometry-based metabolomics; 11 women had gestational diabetes mellitus, 24 had normal glucose tolerance, and 21 were normoglycaemic but at increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus. Fasting serum samples collected during trimester 3 (gestational week 32 ± 0.6) and postpartum (10.5 ± 0.4 months) were compared in diagnosis-specific multivariate models (orthogonal partial least squares analysis). Clinical measurements (e.g., insulin, glucose, lipid levels) were compared and models of insulin sensitivity and resistance were calculated for the same time period. Results Women with gestational diabetes had significantly increased postpartum levels of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, and valine, and their circulating lipids did not return to normal levels after pregnancy. The increase in BCAAs occurred postpartum since the BCAAs did not differ during pregnancy, as compared to normoglycemic women. Conclusions Postpartum levels of specific BCAAs, notably valine, are related to gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

In developed countries, specific metabolites have been associated with obesity and metabolic diseases, e.g. type 2 diabetes. It is unknown whether a similar profile persists across populations of African-origin, at increased risk for obesity and related diseases. In a cross-sectional study of normal-weight and obese black women (33.3 ± 6.3 years) from the US (N = 69, 65 % obese), South Africa (SA, N = 97, 49 % obese) and Ghana (N = 82, 33 % obese) serum metabolite profiles were characterized via gas chromatography-time of flight/mass spectrometry. In US and SA women, BMI correlated with branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, as well as dopamine and aminoadipic acid. The relationship between BMI and lipid metabolites differed by site; BMI correlated positively with palmitoleic acid (16:1) in the US; negatively with stearic acid (18:0) in SA, and positively with arachidonic acid (20:4) in Ghana. BMI was also positively associated with sugar-related metabolites in the US; i.e. uric acid, and mannitol, and with glucosamine, glucoronic acid and mannitol in SA. While we identified a common amino acid metabolite profile associated with obesity in black women from the US and SA, we also found site-specific obesity-related metabolites suggesting that the local environment is a key moderator of obesity.

The dietary inflammatory index (DII&reg, ), a validated tool used to measure the inflammatory potential of the diet, has been associated with metabolic disorders in various settings, but not in African populations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the DII is associated with markers of type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk, and if this association is mediated by adiposity and/or low-grade inflammation, in black South Africa women. Energy-adjusted-DII (E-DII) scores were calculated in 190 women (median age, 53 years) from the Birth-to-Twenty plus cohort using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and inflammatory cytokines were measured, and an oral glucose tolerance test performed. Basic anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived body fat, including estimate of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, were measured. E-DII scores were associated with all markers of T2D risk, namely, fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1c, HOMA2-IR, two-hour glucose and Matsuda index (all p &lt, 0.05). After adjusting for age, measures of adiposity, but not inflammatory cytokines, mediated the association between E-DII and markers of T2D risk (p &lt, 0.05). Measures of central obesity had proportionally higher (range: 23.5&ndash, 100%) mediation effects than total obesity (range: 10&ndash, 60%). The E-DII is associated with T2D risk through obesity, in particular central obesity, among black middle-aged South African women.

Abdominal fat accumulation after menopause is associated with low-grade inflammation and increased risk of metabolic disorders. Effective long-term lifestyle treatment is therefore needed.Seventy healthy postmenopausal women (age 60 ± 5.6 years) with BMI 32.5 ± 5.5 were randomized to a Paleolithic-type diet (PD) or a prudent control diet (CD) for 24 months. Blood samples and fat biopsies were collected at baseline, 6 months, and 24 months to analyze inflammation-related parameters.Android fat decreased significantly more in the PD group (P = 0.009) during the first 6 months with weight maintenance at 24 months in both groups. Long-term significant effects (P 0.001) on adipose gene expression were found for toll-like receptor 4 (decreased at 24 months) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (increased at 24 months) in both groups. Serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α levels were decreased at 24 months in both groups (P 0.001) with a significant diet-by-time interaction for serum IL-6 (P = 0.022). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was decreased in the PD group at 24 months (P = 0.001).A reduction of abdominal obesity in postmenopausal women is linked to specific changes in inflammation-related adipose gene expression.

Purpose: We studied effects of diet-induced postmenopausal weight loss on gene expression and activity of proteins involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipose tissue. Methods: Fifty-eight postmenopausal women with overweight (BMI 32.5 ± 5.5) were randomized to eat an ad libitum Paleolithic-type diet (PD) aiming for a high intake of protein and unsaturated fatty acids or a prudent control diet (CD) for 24 months. Anthropometry, plasma adipokines, gene expression of proteins involved in fat metabolism in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and mass in SAT were measured at baseline and after 6 months. LPL mass and activity were also measured after 24 months. Results: The PD led to improved insulin sensitivity (P

Black women have lower visceral adipose tissue (VAT) but are less insulin sensitive than white women; the mechanisms responsible are unknown.The study aimed to test the hypothesis that variation in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) sensitivity to glucocorticoids might underlie these differences.Body fatness (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and distribution (computerized tomography), insulin sensitivity (SI, intravenous and oral glucose tolerance tests), and expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11HSD1), hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucocorticoid receptor-α (GRα), as well as genes involved in adipogenesis and inflammation were measured in abdominal deep SAT, superficial SAT and gluteal SAT (GLUT) depots of 56 normal-weight or obese black and white premenopausal South African (SA) women. We used a combination of univariate and multivariate statistics to evaluate ethnic-specific patterns in adipose gene expression and related body composition and insulin sensitivity measures.Although 11HSD1 activity and mRNA did not differ by ethnicity, GRα mRNA levels were significantly lower in SAT of black compared with white women, particularly in the GLUT depot (0.52±0.21 vs 0.91±0.26 AU, respectively, P0.01). In black women, lower SAT GRα mRNA levels were associated with increased inflammatory gene transcript levels and abdominal SAT area, and reduced adipogenic gene transcript levels, VAT/SAT ratio and SI. Abdominal SAT 11HSD1 activity associated with increased VAT area and decreased SI in white, but not in black women.In black SA women, downregulation of GRα mRNA levels with obesity and reduced insulin sensitivity, possibly via increased SAT inflammation, is associated with reduced VAT accumulation.

The gut microbiome interacts with the host in the metabolic response to diet, and early microbial aberrancies may be linked to the development of obesity and metabolic disorders later in life. Probiotics have been proposed to affect metabolic programming and blood lipid levels, although studies are lacking in infants. Here, we report on the lipid profile and global metabolic response following daily feeding of probiotics during weaning. A total of 179 healthy, term infants were randomised to daily intake of cereals with (n89) or without (n90) the addition ofLactobacillus paracaseissp.paracaseiF19 (LF19) 108colony-forming units per serving from 4 to 13 months of age. Weight, length and skinfold thickness were monitored. Venous blood was drawn at 5·5 and 13 months of age for analysis of the serum lipid profile. In a subsample, randomly selected from each group, GC-time-of-flight/MS was used to metabolically characterise plasma samples from thirty-seven infants. A combination of multi- and univariate analysis was applied to reveal differences related to LF19 treatment based on 228 putative metabolites, of which ninety-nine were identified or classified. We observed no effects of probiotic feeding on anthropometrics or the serum lipid profile. However, we detected significantly lower levels of palmitoleic acid (16 : 1) (PP

The suggested approach makes it feasible to screen large metabolomics data, sample sets with retained data quality or to retrieve significant metabolic information from small sample sets that can be verified over multiple studies. Hierarchical multivariate curve resolution (H-MCR), followed by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used for processing and classification of gas chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS) data characterizing human serum samples collected in a study of strenuous physical exercise. The efficiency of predictive H-MCR processing of representative sample subsets, selected by chemometric approaches, for generating high quality data was proven. Extensive model validation by means of cross-validation and external predictions verified the robustness of the extracted metabolite patterns in the data. Comparisons of extracted metabolite patterns between models emphasized the reliability of the methodology in a biological information context. Furthermore, the high predictive power in longitudinal data provided proof for the potential use in clinical diagnosis. Finally, the predictive metabolite pattern was interpreted physiologically, highlighting the biological relevance of the diagnostic pattern. The suggested approach makes it feasible to screen large metabolomics data, sample sets with retained data quality or to retrieve significant metabolic information from small sample sets that can be verified over multiple studies. Hierarchical multivariate curve resolution (H-MCR), followed by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used for processing and classification of gas chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS) data characterizing human serum samples collected in a study of strenuous physical exercise. The efficiency of predictive H-MCR processing of representative sample subsets, selected by chemometric approaches, for generating high quality data was proven. Extensive model validation by means of cross-validation and external predictions verified the robustness of the extracted metabolite patterns in the data. Comparisons of extracted metabolite patterns between models emphasized the reliability of the methodology in a biological information context. Furthermore, the high predictive power in longitudinal data provided proof for the potential use in clinical diagnosis. Finally, the predictive metabolite pattern was interpreted physiologically, highlighting the biological relevance of the diagnostic pattern.