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IntroductionObesity is associated with impairment of wound healing and tissue regeneration. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood capillaries, plays a key role in regenerative lung growth after unilateral pneumonectomy (PNX). We have reported that obesity inhibits angiogenesis. The effects of obesity on post-PNX lung vascular and alveolar regeneration remain unclear.MethodsUnilateral PNX is performed on Lepob/ob obese mice to examine vascular and alveolar regeneration.ResultsRegenerative lung growth and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR2 induced after PNX are inhibited in Lepob/ob obese mice. The levels of adiponectin that exhibits pro-angiogenic and vascular protective properties increase after unilateral PNX, while the effects are attenuated in Lepob/ob obese mice. Post-PNX regenerative lung growth and increases in the levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 are inhibited in adiponectin knockout mice. Adiponectin stimulates angiogenic activities in human lung endothelial cells (ECs), which is inhibited by decreasing the levels of transcription factor Twist1. Adiponectin agonist, AdipoRon restores post-PNX lung growth and vascular and alveolar regeneration in Lepob/ob obese mice.DiscussionThese findings suggest that obesity impairs lung vascular and alveolar regeneration and adiponectin is one of the key factors to improve lung regeneration in obese people.

This systematic review investigates the potential of bergamot, a polyphenol-rich citrus fruit, in improving osteosarcopenic obesity, a condition characterized by the simultaneous presence of osteoporosis, obesity, and sarcopenia. Bergamot extracts have been suggested to possess several pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which could be useful in the management of age-related diseases and neuromuscular health. The review highlights the promising effects of bergamot extracts on skeletal muscle mass and function, particularly in the context of obesity, metabolic syndrome, osteosarcopenic obesity, and osteoporosis. Furthermore, some studies have shown that bergamot extracts can improve the metabolic balance, endothelial function, and maximal oxygen uptake in athletes, highlighting their potential benefits for skeletal muscle health. Taken together, these results suggest that bergamot extracts, especially those rich in polyphenols, may be a valuable adjunct in the management of osteosarcopenic obesity and other associated clinical conditions involving pro-inflammatory effects on organs and tissues.

IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to assess the dropout rate at 2, 6, and 12 months after an inpatient multidisciplinary residential program (MRP) for the treatment of obesity. Furthermore, this study assessed anthropometric and biochemical predictors associated with the dropout.MethodsAdult and elderly patients (age 59 ± 14 years) with obesity had undergone an MRP, were followed up from 2 to 12 months. Biochemical and anthropometric markers have been assessed at the beginning of the follow-up period after the MRP.ResultsThe study enrolled 178 subjects, 117 women and 61 men. The overall dropout rate at 2 months was 21.3%, after 6 months was 44.4%, and after 1 year was 68.5%. There was no difference by gender recorded. Furthermore, patients under medical treatment with psychiatric disorders did not show an association with the dropout rate. Patients with a higher level of body mass index (BMI) at the discharge of MRP showed +48% of dropout at 6 months. After the MRP, the baseline values of uricemia and white blood cells (WBCs) resulted as predictors of dropout at 2 months (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the excess percentage of fat mass lost during the MRP was associated with the risk of dropout at 2, 6, and 12 months (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe MRP for obesity is an opportunity for losing weight for patients with established criteria. The future challenge will be addressing the best strategic plans in order to reduce the dropout rate after this intervention. Investigating deeply the main predictors could be an opportunity to improve the long-term efficacy of MRP.

Abstract Background A study has been performed in overweight and obese subjects to assess the effects of adiposity and inflammation indicators on dysmetabolic biomarkers via red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), taking into account pro-antioxidant balance. Methods Data from 166 overweight subjects were analyzed by a path analysis model using structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the direct and indirect pathway effects of adiposity, measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and inflammation status, measured by pro-antioxidant balance [reactive oxygen species (ROS)], lag-time and slope and C-reactive protein (CRP) values on dysmetabolic biomarkers, via RDW and MCV. Results BMI was strongly linked to CRP and ROS levels. Moreover, there was a significant negative decrease of MCV (1.546 femtoliters) linked to BMI indirectly via high CRP levels. Furthermore, WC affected RDW, indicating a possible mediatory role for RDW in relation to the relationship between WC and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA), insulin and high density lipoprotein (HDL), respectively. This was evident by the elevated HOMA and insulin levels and the decreased levels of HDL. Finally, ROS-related markers did not affect directly RDW and MCV. Conclusion The reported outcomes suggest that RDW might play a mediatory role in the relationship between WC and the dysmetabolic outcomes in overweight and obese individuals. CRP seems to modulate the linkage between BMI and MCV. This study provides the backbone structure for future scenarios and lays the foundation for further research on the role of RDW and MCV as suitable biomarkers for the assessment of cardiovascular disease (HDL-cholesterol), inflammatory bowels and insulin resistance.

Several studies have described a strong correlation between diet, weight loss, and gut microbiota composition. The aim of this review was to evaluate the potential effects of energy-restricted diets, namely very low calorie diets (VLCDs), very low calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKDs), and very low carbohydrate diets (VLCarbDs), on the composition of the gut microbiota in humans. We performed a literature search using the following terms (with their abbreviations or acronyms): “very low calorie diet”, “very low calorie ketogenic diet”, “very low carbohydrate diet”, and “gut microbiota”. Our search strategy retrieved nine eligible studies. Overall, VLCDs and VLCarbDs affected the Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes ratio in obese patients, leading to a reduction in short-chain fatty acid production by fecal microbiota associated with Clostridial cluster XIVa. This reduction particularly affected Roseburia and Eubacterium rectale, the two most abundant butyrate-producing bacteria in human feces. VLCKDs preserved the core fecal microbiome, but altered the composition of fecal microbial populations in relation to the plasma metabolome and fecal bile acid composition. In particular, VLCKD-induced weight loss resulted in a reduction in E. rectale and Roseburia, an increase in Christensenellaceae and Akkermansia while not all studies show a decrease in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Although very few studies have analyzed the effects of VLCarbDs and VLCDs on gut microbiota, significant diet-induced changes in fecal microbiota composition have been observed. Further studies are needed.

It has recently been demonstrated that chronic supplementation with nonanimal chondroitin sulfate (nonanimal CS) in overweight subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) improves the function, pain and inflammation, but there are no studies of its effectiveness in an acute setting. In 48 obese subjects with moderate knee OA, we investigated the effectiveness of nonanimal CS supplementation for eight weeks on the inflammation, functional status, oxidative stress, cartilage catabolism markers, metabolic profile and body composition, by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) at the baseline, after 15 days and at the end of the eight-week study. To evaluate the acute effectiveness on inflammation, 15-min cycle training sessions were done 15 days after the start of the study and at the end. C-reactive protein (CRP) was assayed in blood samples collected before and after the two cycling exercises. The 48 obese subjects (M and F, 20–50 years, body mass index (BMI) 30–35 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (N = 24, 600-mg tablet of nonanimal CS/day) or the control group (N = 24, placebo). The between-groups analysis of covariance showed a significant effect on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis index (WOMAC) scale (p = 0.000) and CRP (p = 0.022). For intra-group differences, the result was significant in the CS group for BMI, WOMAC, CRP, total cholesterol and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). In these obese adults with OA, nonanimal CS improved the inflammation, knee function, metabolic profile and body composition.

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a recognized risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been recently validated for the quantification of VAT. This study aims to explore VAT prediction by utilizing bioimpedance analysis (BIA), anthropometric measures and biochemical markers. Data from BIA, anthropometric measures, biochemical markers and DXA scans were collected in 1064 older adults participants (761 F, 303 M) with a mean age of 82 ± 6 years old. DXA-VAT was quantified at the android region (DXA-VAT – volume cm3) using the enCore software. Multifactorial linear regression analysis was used to establish the proposed predicting equations and define the values more associated with VAT. In our multivariate model, the main VAT predictable markers were in both genders, weight (kg), Triglycerides (mmol/L) and height (m). These models (stratified for gender) included the BIA outcomes as regressor factors. The VAT calculation equation formula was VAT = 148.89 + (weight (kg)∗33.81) + (Trg (mmol/L)∗1.41) + (height (m)∗−8.99) for females and VAT = 1481.22 + (weight (kg)∗43.94) + (Trg (mmol/L)∗−21.27) + (height (m)∗3.57) for males. In both equations, the r2 was 0.76. The Network analysis showed a strong link network between weight and resistance (Rz). The independent and combined use of anthropometric measures and biochemical markers could accurately predict VAT in the older adults' population. Because of the strong link between Rz and weight, BIA might be included in future equations predicting VAT but different data pools and populations are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]