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Background: Obesity is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, disrupted intestinal barrier and chronic inflammation. Given the high and increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, anti-obesity treatments that are safe, effective and widely available would be beneficial. We examined whether the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea may reduce obesity in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD)., Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks to induce obesity and chronic inflammation. The mice were treated with a water extract of A. cinnamomea (WEAC), and body weight, fat accumulation, inflammation markers, insulin sensitivity and the gut microbiota were monitored., Results: After 8 weeks, the mean body weight of HFD-fed mice was 39.8±1.2 g compared with 35.8±1.3 g for the HFD+1% WEAC group, corresponding to a reduction of 4 g or 10% of body weight (P<0.0001). WEAC supplementation reduced fat accumulation and serum triglycerides in a statistically significant manner in HFD-fed mice. WEAC also reversed the effects of HFD on inflammation markers (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), insulin resistance and adipokine production (leptin and adiponectin). Notably, WEAC increased the expression of intestinal tight junctions (zonula occludens-1 and occludin) and antimicrobial proteins (Reg3g and lysozyme C) in the small intestine, leading to reduced blood endotoxemia. Finally, WEAC modulated the composition of the gut microbiota, reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing the level of Akkermansia muciniphila and other bacterial species associated with anti-inflammatory properties., Conclusions: Supplementation with A. cinnamomea produces anti-obesogenic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects in HFD-fed mice by maintaining intestinal integrity and modulating the gut microbiota.

Background: Little is known about the altered cardiac autonomic function (CAF) across different levels of body mass index (BMI), including underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity. This study provides a thorough analysis to clarify the CAF change in subjects with underweight, overweight and obesity., Methods: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Asia-Pacific BMI cutoffs, a total of 1437 participants were classified as underweight (n=74), normal weight (n=588), overweight (n=313), obesity I (n=390) and obesity II (n=72). CAF was determined by standard deviation of normal-to-normal (SDNN) intervals or RR intervals, power spectrum in low (LF) and high frequency (HF) (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz; HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz), and LF/HF ratio at supine for 5 min, the ratio between the 30th and the 15th RR interval after standing from the supine position (30/15 ratio) and the average heart-rate change while taking six deep breaths in 1 min (HR(DB))., Results: There were significant differences in age, gender, socioeconomic status, blood pressure, HOMA insulin resistance index, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C, and the prevalence of hypertension, ischemic/left bundle branch block (LBBB) electrocardiography (EKG) pattern, current smoking and alcohol use among subjects with underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity I and II. Univariate analysis showed that SDNN, HR(DB), HF power and the square root of the LF/HF ratio differed among these five groups. Multivariate analysis showed that obesity I and II were inverse correlates of HR(DB) and HF power. Overweight, obesity I and II were positively associated with the square root of the LF/HF ratio. No BMI status was related to SDNN, 30/15 ratio or LF power. Underweight was not the independent correlate of any CAF indices., Conclusions: The risk for altered CAF is significant in overweight and obese subjects, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Underweight is not apparently associated with CAF change.

Objectives: To compare the different correlations of body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (BF%) with other ethnic groups and to evaluate the appropriateness of Asia-Pacific redefining obesity criteria in the Taiwanese population. The corresponding BF% to BMI cutoffs of overweight and obesity will also be studied., Design: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey., Subjects: A total of 509 male and 570 female Taiwanese subjects aged > or =20 y sampled by the systematic stratified clustering sampling method were analyzed., Measurements: BMI was obtained by body weight (kg) divided by squared body height (m(2)). The estimated BMI (BMIe) was deduced from the Caucasian-based four-compartment equation (4C). BF% measured by the methods of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or Caucasian-based 4C were used and abbreviated as DXA-BF and 4C-BF, respectively., Results: The curvilinear relationship between age and BMI or DXA-BF was established. When compared by age-stratified groups, Taiwanese subjects had a higher BF% (4C-BF) in any given BMI than Caucasians. That is, the level of 4C-BF for BMI> or =25 kg/m(2) in Taiwanese subjects was similar to BMI> or =30 kg/m(2) in Caucasians. The BMIe values of 25 and 30 kg/m(2) were nearly equal to the BMIs of 23.6 and 25.3 kg/m(2) in males, and 22.7 and 24.8 kg/m(2) in females, respectively. The 4C-BF of 25% was nearly equal to a BMI of 26.2 kg/m(2) in males, and 35% was equal to a BMI of 24.4 kg/m(2) in females. Consequently, the DXA-BF cutoffs for BMIs of 23 and 25 kg/m(2) were compatible to 23 and 25% in males, and 35 and 38% in females, respectively., Conclusion: It was demonstrated that Taiwanese subjects had a relatively lower BMI but a higher BF% than Caucasians. In general, the newly proposed Asia-Pacific BMI cutoffs for overweight (> or =23 kg/m(2)) and obesity (> or =25 kg/m(2)) may be acceptable to both male and female Taiwanese subjects. The corresponding BF% (DXA-BF) cutoffs for obesity would be 25% in male and 38% in female Taiwanese subjects, respectively.

Objective: To evaluate the inter-relationships of age- and menopause- related changes of general obesity and body fat distribution and their independent effects on cardiovascular risk factors., Design: Cross-sectional study., Subjects: One-hundred and thirty-six premenopausal and 193 postmenopausal Chinese women with body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2., Measurements: Anthropometric surrogates of general obesity (BMI, total body fat percentage) and central obesity (waist-to-hip ratio, centrality index) were measured. Blood pressure, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c and lipid profiles were also measured., Results: Significant correlation coefficients between age, general obesity, central obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors were noted. Through the menopausal transition, the BMI and total body fat percentage were increased significantly. After adjustments for age and BMI, the postmenopausal women showed higher android fat percentage, centrality index, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and atherogenic indices than the premenopausal women. In multiple stepwise regression models, age exerted independent effects on oral glucose tolerance test 2 h plasma glucose level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol level, and LDL cholesterol. Menopause was an independent variable in relation to the changes of glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, total and LDL cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and atherogenic indices. The centrality index was the major independent variable of all the cardiovascular disease risk factors, except total and LDL cholesterol level. However, the variation of total body fat percentage had no independent effect on any cardiovascular disease risk factors., Conclusion: Through the aging and menopausal effects, women will increase total body fat content, favoring the central body fat distribution. Age, menopause and central obesity were all independent and significant factors to the cardiovascular disease risk factors in Chinese women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association of the prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) with central obesity, obesity, and family history of diabetes. This survey consisted of 1590 subjects (646 men, 944 women) aged 30 years or more from the Sun-Ming district of Kaoshiung city. Glucose tolerance status was ascertained by both medical history and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test according to World Health Organization criteria. In men and women with central obesity (WHR > or = 0.92 in men and > or = 0.85 in women) or obesity (BMI > or = 27.6 kg/m2 in men and > or = 28.3 kg/m2 in women) (WHR: waist-hip ratio; BMI: body mass index), the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes was significantly higher, except the prevalence of diabetes in both sexes with obesity and the prevalence of IGT in women with central obesity were not statistically different, as compared with nonobese subjects. The prevalence of diabetes in men significantly increased from the first quartile to the fourth quartile of BMI and the waist-hip ratio (WHR) (4.48% to 9.21% in BMI, 3.67% to 13.61% in WHR), while the prevalence in women also significantly increased from the first to fourth quartile (2.45% to 11.76% in BMI, 2.04% to 13.49% in WHR). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed similar increase in the prevalence of diabetes among both men and women for every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI and every 0.05 increase in WHR (1.07-fold and 1.09-fold in BMI, 1.34-fold and 1.32-fold in WHR, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abstract: The study was conducted to delineate fundamental mechanisms that initiate the deleterious effect of fuel overloading on reproductive efficacy of broiler breeder hens. Sixty hens at age 26 wk were fed recommended amounts of feed (160 g/d per hen) or allowed voluntary feeding (approximately 30% more than restriction). At age 35 and 50 wk, hens were sampled for further analyzes. Voluntary feeding resulted in poor egg production, high rate of mortality, and abnormal ovarian structure (mainly overt hierarchical follicle atresia at age 35 wk and ovarian involution at age 50 wk). In contrast to feed-restricted hens, voluntary feeding also induced metabolic dysregulations that comprised enhanced adiposity; hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation; and elevated concentrations of plasma glucose, NEFAs, very low density lipoprotein, triacylglycerol, phospholipids, and sphingomyelin (P < 0.05). Furthermore, hepatic and circulating ceramide and sphingomyelin accumulation, and up-regulation of proinflammatory IL-1β expression in liver and adipose tissues (P < 0.05) systemically manifested the development of lipotoxicity in feed-satiated hens. Lipotoxicity leading to impaired ovarian dysfunctions, including follicle atresia, ovarian regression, and a decline of circulating estradiol levels (P < 0.05) in feed-satiated hens, was further exemplified by ceramide accumulation and up-regulation of IL-1β, serine palmitoyltransferase, and sphingomyelinase transcript abundance, but suppressed protein kinase Akt activation (P < 0.1 to 0.05) within the hierarchical follicles. This study provides the first in vivo evidence of the actions of ceramide and IL-1β in mediating overfeeding-induced follicle atresia and progression of ovarian involution in broiler hens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]