Food & Function Blog

Scientists in Taiwan and the US have investigated the effects of garcinol and pterostilbene on cell proliferation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Antiadipogenic compounds are important compounds for the control of obesity as they inhibit the formation of fatty tissues. By controlling obesity this can also mediate other health problems associated with the condition, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

In this study, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, 3T3-L1 differentiation- phase adipocytes, and mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used to investigate antiproliferation and adipogenesis in vitro. It was found that garcinol, a benzophenone found in mangosteen, and pterostilbene commonly found in grapes, wines and berries, both inhibit cell proliferation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Garcinol also significantly up-regulated the gene expression of adiponectin as well as down-regulated the gene expressions of leptin and fatty acid synthase. This suggests that garcinol and pterostilbene have anti-adipogenic effects on fat cells.

To read the free article in full, click the link below:

Inhibitory effects of garcinol and pterostilbene on cell proliferation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, Chin-Lin Hsu, Yu-Jyun Lin, Chi-Tang Ho and Gow-Chin Yen, Food Funct., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c1fo10209e

Scientists from the US have investigated the relationship between the Taq1 A1 allele and percentage of body fat in overweight and obese subjects. Although there are many environmental factors which can reduce body fat, such as long-duration exercise, aerobic exercise and diet, it has been proposed that genetics may play a significant role in compulsive eating disorders.

In this study 122 obese/overweight Caucasian subjects and 30 non-obese Caucasian controls were genotyped and split into two independent groups; those with the Taq1 A1 allele and those without the A1 allele. It was found that the DRD2 Taq1 A1 allele was present in 67% of the obese/overweight subjects compared to 3.3% of super control group. Therefore it is proposed that, while obesity is a polygenic disorder and there are other factors involved,  the DRD2 gene plays a significant role in obesity, as measured by percent body fat.

To read the article in full for free, click the link below.

Correlation of the Taq1 dopamine D2 receptor gene and percent body fat in obese and screened control subjects: A preliminary report, Amanda L. C. Chen, Kenneth Blum, Thomas J. H. Chen, John Giordano, B. William Downs, David Han, Debmalya Barh and Eric R. Braverman, Food Funct., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c1fo10089k

Scientists from Ehime, Japan, have investigated the effects of (–)-secoisolariciresinol on obese rats. (–)-Secoisolariciresinol [(–)-SECO] is a pure stereoisomer of a lignan primarily found in flaxseed. It has previously been found to suppress triglyceride accumulation and therefore could be useful to decrease obesity by reducing fat accumulation.

In this study, male mice were fed a high fat diet for 28 days and different groups were administered with (–)-SECO at different concentrations. It was shown that oral administration of (–)-SECO stimulates adiponectin production in the mice and significantly suppressed weight gain in a dose dependant manner. When (–)-SECO is metabolised, it is converted into other compounds which were also tested by subcutaneous injections, however (–)-SECO still showed the highest activity amongst them.

Follow the link below to read the article for free:

(–)-Secoisolariciresinol attenuates high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice, Shiori Tominaga, Kosuke Nishi, Sogo Nishimoto, Koichi Akiyama, Satoshi Yamauchiad and Takuya Sugahara, Food Funct., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c1fo10166h

There is increasing evidence to show that dietary fatty acids play an important role in modulating hypertriglyceridemia in the postprandial state, which contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and stroke. In this review, by Francisco Muriana and colleagues, the potential of dietary monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and saturated fatty acids (SFA) to postprandially affect metabolic abnormalities related to chronic diseases is discussed.

It is highlighted that consuming a high fat diet rich in SFA could increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Consuming MUFA, primarily found in olive oil, leads to improved lipid tolerance and insulin action, whereas PUFA offers no additional benefits over MUFA.

To read the article in full for free, click the link below:

Dietary fatty acids linking postprandial metabolic response and chronic diseases, Almudena Ortega, Lourdes M. Varela, Beatriz Bermudez, Sergio Lopez, Rocio Abia and Francisco J. G. Muriana, Food Funct., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/c1fo10085h