Search

Author(s): M Bohl [sup.1] , A Bjørnshave [sup.1] [sup.2] , M K Larsen [sup.3] , S Gregersen [sup.1] , K Hermansen [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Endocrinology and Internal [...], Background/Objectives: To investigate whether intake of whey protein and butter naturally enriched in medium-chain fatty acids (MC-SFAs) (C6-C12) affected body composition, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure (BP) and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Subjects/Methods: A 12-week randomised, double-blinded, intervention study was completed in 52 abdominally obese adults. Subjects were assigned to one of four dietary supplementations: 63 g per day of milk fat with either high- (8.5 g per day) or low-MC-SFA (6.9 g per day) content combined with 60 g per day of whey or casein. We examined changes in the body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorption scan, insulin sensitivity using homoeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda index, and diurnal BP and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Two-factor analysis of variance was used to examine the impact of MC-SFA content and protein type. Results: We observed that lean body mass increased by 981 g (95% confidence interval (CI): 248-1713; P=0.010) after high-MC-SFA compared with low-MC-SFA supplementation. Concomitantly, total body-fat percentage increased by 0.70 percentage points (95% CI: 0.10-1.31; P=0.024) after intake of low-MC-SFA butter compared with intake of high-MC-SFA butter. Both changes were independent of protein type (P=0.96 and P=0.99, respectively). We found no difference in HOMA-IR, Matsuda index, diurnal BP or plasma cholesterol concentrations related to MC-SFA content or protein type. Conclusions: Enhanced intake of MC-SFA increased the lean body mass and caused a significantly lower total body-fat percentage compared with lower intake of MC-SFA. Consequently, the composition of dairy fat should be considered when evaluating the impact of dairy products on body composition.

INTRODUCTION Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Also, nondiabetic first-degree relatives of subjects with T2D (REL) have a high risk of CVD. (1) [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their nondiabetic first-degree relatives (REL) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Postprandial triglyceridemia (PPL), influenced by diet, is an independent risk factor for CVD. Dietary fat elicits increased PPL in T2D compared with nondiabetic controls, but our knowledge of PPL responses to fat in REL is sparse. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that REL respond to a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) challenge with a higher PPL response compared with controls who have no family history of T2D (CON) and that MUFAs exert a differential impact on incretin responses and on the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in muscle and adipose tissues of REL and CON. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 17 REL and 17 CON consumed a meal with 72 energy percent derived from MUFAs (macadamia nut oil). Plasma triglycerides, free fatty acids, insulin, glucose, glucagon- like peptide 1, glucose-dependent insulintropic peptide and ghrelin were measured at baseline and regular intervals until 4 h postprandially. Muscle and adipose tissue biopsies were collected at baseline and at 210 min after the meal. RESULTS: The MUFA-rich meal did not elicit different responses (P > 0.05) in PPL, insulin, glucose, incretins or ghrelin in REL and CON. Several genes were differentially regulated in muscle and adipose tissues of REL and CON. CONCLUSIONS: A MUFA-rich meal elicits similar PPL, insulin and incretin responses in REL and CON. MUFAs have a differential impact on gene expression in muscle and adipose tissues in a pattern pointing toward early defects in lipid metabolism in REL. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 1022- 1028;doi:10.1038/ejcn.2014.64; published online 14 May 2014

INTRODUCTION The alarming rise in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the associated increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (1) call for preventive lifestyle interventions. [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Prospective studies have shown an inverse relationship between whole grain consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes, where short chain fatty acids (SCFA) may be involved. Our objective was to determine the effect of isolated arabinoxylan alone or in combination with whole grain rye kernels on postprandial glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), gut hormones, SCFA and appetite in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen subjects with MetS participated in this acute, randomised, cross-over study. The test meals each providing 50 g of digestible carbohydrate were as follows: semolina porridge added concentrated arabinoxylan (AX), rye kernels (RK) or concentrated arabinoxylan combined with rye kernels (AXRK) and semolina porridge as control (SE). A standard lunch was served 4h after the test meals. Blood samples were drawn during a 6-h period, and appetite scores and breath hydrogen were assessed every 30 min. RESULTS: The AXRK meal reduced the acute glucose (P = 0.005) and insulin responses (P < 0.001) and the feeling of hunger (P = 0.005; 0-360 min) compared with the control meal. The AX and AXRK meals increased butyrate and acetate concentrations after 6 h. No significant differences were found for the second meal responses of glucose, insulin, FFA, glucagon-like peptide-1 or ghrelin. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a stimulatory effect of arabinoxylan on butyrate and acetate production, however, with no detectable effect on the second meal glucose response. It remains to be tested in a long-term study if a beneficial effect on the glucose response of the isolated arabinoxylan will be related to the SCFA production. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 567-574; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.25; published online 5 March 2014

INTRODUCTION Whole-grain and cereal fiber consumption has been inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin sensitivity in observational studies, (1-5) but findings have been inconsistent in [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Few studies have used biomarkers of whole-grain intake to study its relation to glucose metabolism. We aimed to investigate the association between plasma alkylresorcinols (AR), a biomarker of whole-grain rye and wheat intake, and glucose metabolism in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Participants were 30-65 years of age, with body mass index 27-40 kg/[m.sup.2] and had MetS without diabetes. Individuals were recruited through six centers in the Nordic countries and randomized to a healthy Nordic diet (ND, n = 96), rich in whole-grain rye and wheat, or a control diet (n = 70), for 18-24 weeks. In addition, associations between total plasma AR concentration and C17:0/C21:0 homolog ratio as an indication of the relative whole-grain rye intake, and glucose metabolism measures from oral glucose tolerance tests were investigated in pooled (ND + control) regression analyses at 18/24 weeks. RESULTS: ND did not improve glucose metabolism compared with control diet, but the AR C17:0/C21:0 ratio was inversely associated with fasting insulin concentrations (P = 0.002) and positively associated with the insulin sensitivity indices Matsuda ISI (P = 0.026) and disposition index (P = 0.022) in pooled analyses at 18/24 weeks, even after adjustment for confounders. The AR C17:0/C21:0 ratio was not significantly associated with insulin secretion indices. Total plasma AR concentration was not related to fasting plasma glucose or fasting insulin at 18/24 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The AR C17:0/C21:0 ratio, an indicator of relative whole-grain rye intake, is associated with increased insulin sensitivity in a population with MetS. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 453-458; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.12; published online 19 February 2014 Keywords: alkylresorcinols; insulin sensitivity; whole grain; rye

INTRODUCTION The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is rapidly increasing globally, which calls for urgent preventive lifestyle interventions. Prospective studies have shown an inverse [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several studies emphasise that arabinoxylan and β-glucan have more beneficial effects on glucose metabolism than low-dietary fibre (DF) meals. Less attention has been paid to the effects of concentrated DF compared with whole grain. We compared the effects of DF and whole grain on glucose, hormone responses and appetite in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen subjects with MetS participated in this acute, randomised, cross-over intervention study. The test breads provided 50 g of digestible carbohydrate: wheat bread with concentrated arabinoxylan (AX) or β-glucan (BG), rye bread with kernels (RK) and wheat bread (WB) as control. Blood samples were drawn for 270 min to determine glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and ghrelin. Appetite score was addressed every 30 min. Ad libitum energy intake (EI) was measured 270 min after test meals. RESULTS: Compared with WB, BG and RK induced lower initial glycaemic responses (P CONCLUSION: BG and RK had beneficial impact on the glucose response, whereas AX had only effect on the postprandial glucose peak. The impact of the AX bread was influenced by higher protein content. Whether the metabolic effects of the breads are still present to mixed meals remains to be tested. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 84-90; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.236 ;published online 20 November 2013 Keywords: Arabinoxylan ;β-glucan; rye; glucose; appetite; metabolic syndrome

INTRODUCTION Blood pressure-related diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Elevated blood pressure (BP) appears to be accountable for about 54% of stroke and 47% of [...], BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary pattern is central in the prevention of hypertension and blood pressure (BP)-related diseases. A diet based on healthy Nordic foods may have a favourable impact on BP. The objective was to clarify whether a Nordic alternative for a healthy food pattern would have beneficial effects on ambulatory BP in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 37 subjects were randomized to either a healthy Nordic diet or a control diet. A healthy Nordic diet embraced whole grains, rapeseed oil, berries, fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and low-fat dairy products of Nordic origin. The mean nutrient intake in the Nordic countries formed the control diet, embracing wheat products, dairy fat-based spread and a lower intake of fruits, vegetables and fish. Diets were isoenergetic. Ambulatory BP was monitored and 24-h urine was collected before and after 12 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, ambulatory diastolic BP (-4.4mmHg; P = 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (-4.2mmHg; P = 0.006) were lowered by the healthy Nordic diet compared with the control diet, whereas changes in ambulatory systolic BP did not differ significantly between diets (-3.5 mm Hg;P = 0.122). Heart rate tended to be lower in those on the healthy Nordic diet (P = 0.057). Urinary sodium and potassium excretions were unaffected by diets and consequently not associated with the healthy Nordic diet-induced lowering of BP. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of Nordic varieties of health-enhancing foods for 12 weeks decreased diastolic ambulatory BP and mean arterial pressure in subjects with features of MetS during weight-stable condition, suggesting beneficial effects of a healthy Nordic dietary pattern on ambulatory BP. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 57-63; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.192; published online 16 October 2013 Keywords: healthy Nordic diet; Nordic foods; ambulatory blood pressure; mean arterial pressure; metabolic syndrome

Long-term exposure to fatty acids impairs [beta]-cell function in type 2 diabetes, but little is known about the chronic effects of fatty acids on [alpha]-cells. We therefore studied the prolonged impact of palmitate on [alpha]-cell function and on the expression of genes related to fuel metabolism. We also investigated whether the antihyperglycemic agent stevioside was able to counteract these effects of palmitate. Clonal [alpha]-TC1-6 cells were cultured with palmirate in the presence or absence of stevioside. After 72 h, we evaluated glucagon secretion, glucagon content, triglyceride (TG) content, and changes in gene expression. Glucagon secretion was dose-dependently increased after 72-h culture, with palmitate at concentrations [greater than or equal to]0.25 mM (P < 0.05). Palmitate (0.5 mM) enhanced TG content of [alpha]-cells by 73% (P < 0.01). Interestingly, stevioside ([10.sup.-8] and [10.sup.-6] M) reduced palmitate-stimulated glucagon release by 22 and 45%, respectively (P < 0.01). There was no significant change in glucagon content after 72-h culture with palmitate and/or stevioside. Palmitate increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) mRNA level, whereas stevioside enhanced CPT I, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-[gamma], and stearoyl-CoA desaturase gene expressions in the presence of palmitate (P < 0.05). In conclusion, long-term exposure to elevated fatty acids leads to a hypersecretion of glucagon and an accumulation of TG content in clonal [alpha]-TC1-6 cells. Stevioside was able to counteract the [alpha]-cell hypersecretion caused by palmitate and enhanced the expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. This indicates that stevioside may be a promising antidiabetic agent in treatment of type 2 diabetes. fatty acids; glucagon; gene expression; [alpha]-TC1-6 cells

Summary Extracts of leaves from the plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni have been used in the traditional treatment of diabetes in Paraguay and Brazil. Recently, we demonstrated a direct insulinotropic effect [...]