Nutritional manipulations in the neonatal period are associated with the development of negative or positive health outcomes later in life. Excessive fructose consumption has been attributed to the ...increase in the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the development of oxidative stress. Oleanolic acid (OA) has anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. We investigated the protective potential of orally administering OA in the neonatal period, to prevent fructose-induced oxidative stress, adverse health outcomes and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in suckling rats. Seven-day old Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 30) were gavaged daily with 10 mL/kg of: distilled water (DW), oleanolic acid (OA; 60 mg/kg), high fructose solution (HF; 20%
/
), or OAHF for 7 days. On day 14, tissue samples were collected to determine clinical health profiles, hepatic lipid content, and activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. Furthermore, biomarkers of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant capacity in the skeletal muscles were assessed. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) morphometry was measured. Rats in all groups grew over the 7-day treatment period. There were no significant differences in the terminal body masses, GIT morphometry, surrogate markers of general health, liver lipid content across all treatment groups (
< 0.05). Neonatal fructose administration decreased the activity of catalase, depleted GSH and increased lipid peroxidation. However, the level of GSH and catalase activity were improved by neonatal OA treatment. Short-term oral OA administration during the critical developmental period protects against fructose-induced oxidative stress without adverse effects on health outcomes associated with MetS or precocious development of the GIT in suckling male and female rats.
The current study aimed to investigate the impact of high-fat diets composed of different animal and vegetable fat sources on serum metabolic health markers in Japanese quail, as well as the overall ...lipid content and fatty acid profiles of the edible bird tissues following significantly increased dietary lipid supplementation.
Fifty seven male quail were divided into six groups and fed either a standard diet or a diet enriched with one of five different fats (22% coconut oil, lard, palm oil, soybean oil, or sunflower oil) for 12 weeks. The birds were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test following the feeding period, after which they were euthanized and blood, liver, breast, and thigh muscle samples collected. Total fat content and fatty acid profiles of the tissue samples, as well as serum uric acid, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, aspartate transaminase, and total bilirubin concentrations were assessed.
High-fat diet feeding had no significant effects on the glucose tolerance of the birds. Dietary fatty acid profiles of the added fats were reflected in the lipid profiles of both the liver and breast and thigh muscle tissues, indicating successful transfer of dietary fatty acids to the edible bird tissues. The significantly increased level of lipid inclusion in the diets of the quail used in the present study was unsuccessful in increasing the overall lipid content of the edible bird tissues. Serum metabolic health markers in birds on the high-fat diets were not significantly different from those observed in birds on the standard diet.
Thus, despite the various high-fat diets modifying the fatty acid profile of the birds' tissues, unlike in most mammals, the birds maintained a normal health status following consumption of the various high-fat diets.
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the first point of contact for ingested substances and thus represents a direct interface with the external environment. Apart from food processing, this interface ...plays a significant role in immunity and contributes to the wellbeing of individuals through the brain-gut-microbiota axis. The transition of life from the
environment, to suckling and subsequent weaning has to be matched by phased development and maturation of the GIT; from an amniotic fluid occupancy during gestation, to the milk in the suckling state and ultimately solid food ingestion at weaning. This phased maturation of the GIT can be affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including diet. Despite the increasing dietary inclusion of medicinal plants and phytochemicals for health benefits, a dearth of studies addresses their impact on gut maturation. In this review we focus on some recent findings mainly on the positive impact of medicinal plants and phytochemicals in inducing precocious maturation of the GIT, not only in humans but in pertinent animals. We also discuss Paneth cells as mediators and potential markers of GIT maturation.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a widespread global epidemic that affects individuals across all age groups and presents a significant public health challenge. Comprising various cardio-metabolic risk ...factors, MetS contributes to morbidity and, when inadequately addressed, can lead to mortality. Current therapeutic approaches involve lifestyle changes and the prolonged use of pharmacological agents targeting the individual components of MetS, posing challenges related to cost, compliance with medications, and cumulative side effects. To overcome the challenges associated with these conventional treatments, herbal medicines and phytochemicals have been explored and proven to be holistic complements/alternatives in the management of MetS. Thymoquinone (TQ), a prominent bicyclic aromatic compound derived from Nigella sativa emerges as a promising candidate that has demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of the different components of MetS, with a good safety profile. For methodology, literature searches were conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant studies until December 2023. Using Boolean Operators, TQ and the individual components of MetS were queried against the databases. The retrieved articles were screened for eligibility. As a result, we provide a comprehensive overview of the anti-obesity, anti-dyslipidaemic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-diabetic effects of TQ including some underlying mechanisms of action such as modulating the expression of several metabolic target genes to promote metabolic health. The review advocates for a paradigm shift in MetS management, it contributes valuable insights into the multifaceted aspects of the application of TQ, fostering an understanding of its role in mitigating the global burden of MetS.
Background
Fructose-rich diets are linked to the epidemic of metabolic syndrome and co-morbidities including nephropathy. Phytochemicals are increasingly being used for medicinal purposes due to ...their perceived safety compared to conventional drugs. Although previously shown to beneficially programme metabolism, these phytochemicals might have a negative impact on metabolic health when introduced early in life. We investigated whether neonatal administration of curcumin to rats would impact their response in adolescence to a high-fructose diet. Sprague-Dawley pups (
n
= 128) were administered either 0.5% dimethyl sulphoxide, curcumin (500 mg kg
−1
), fructose (20%, w/v) or a combination of curcumin and fructose from post-natal day 6 to 21. Each group was then subdivided into two; one had tap water, while the other had fructose (20%, w/v) to drink for 6 weeks.
Results
There were no differences (
p
> 0.05) in the fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, plasma insulin and adiponectin concentrations across the groups. The renal corpuscular, glomerular tuft and Bowman capsular areas were similar (
p
> 0.05) across the treatment groups, in both sexes. Post-weaning fructose alone induced tubular secretions and mesangial proliferation in the kidneys which were prevented by curcumin.
Conclusions
Despite the observed benefits in adolescence, the impact of curcumin on renal health beyond adolescence needs to be explored.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has an estimated annual population growth rate of 2.7% making it the highest globally. More than two thirds of the over 800 million people in the region stay in rural areas ...where they depend on subsistence agriculture. Socio-economic instability, poor soil fertility and unreliable rainfall result in poor crop yields. This exposes the vulnerable to food insecurity and inadequate nutrient intake. Malnutrition is not restricted to undernutrition as in the urban areas the adoption of diets rich in carbohydrates and fats also poses health problems associated with obesity. Malnutrition causes derangements in the immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to and severity of infections among the affected population. In SSA, indigenous fruit bearing trees (IFBTs) are treasured sources of macro- and micro-nutrients, and health promoting phytochemicals. The phytochemicals have biological and pharmacological activities that mitigate some of the physiological effects of malnutrition. In this paper, the contribution of IFBTs such as Uapaca kirkiana and Adansonia digitata to household food security, rural economy and community health are highlighted. Examples of community-based projects dependent on fruit from IFBTs are given. Using this evidence the need for unlocking the seemingly hidden potential contribution of the genetically diverse IFBTs to food security is highlighted. In this regard, research should focus on how to tap into health benefits of oils from IFBTs seeds. Residual cakes from oil extraction could be developed into biofuels, bio-fertilisers and animal feed ingredients. Fruit pulp could be exploited to produce more health-promoting natural sweeteners and pectins for industrial use. This beneficiation and value addition of products from IFBTs over and above contributing to the enhancement of household food security and the rural economy would translate into increased community-based sustainable utilisation and conservation of IFBTs.
•Current contribution of indigenous fruit trees to regional food security•IFBTs provide fruit, ethnomedicines, macro- and micro-nutrients.•Value addition by processing the fruit and seeds•Exploring the commercial potential of IFBTs for biofuels, biofertilisers, oils, and pectins
Although the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that predispose to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, is ...increasing globally, there is no broad-spectrum agent for its holistic treatment. Natural plant-derived products with a wide spectrum of biological activities are currently being explored as alternatives in the management of diseases. Artemisia species are a heterozygous group of plants of the Compositae family that possess several health benefits. Here we highlight their antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidaemic, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective properties among others. These activities have been linked to the presence of phytochemicals that act on several molecular targets to exert their effects and the species of Artemisia are considered to be relatively safe. Artemisia species offer significant anti-MetS activity and thus are strong therapeutic candidates for the effective management of MetS.
Abstract only
The early postnatal period is a critical “window” of developmental plasticity. Dietary manipulations in this phase are associated with the long‐term effects on the development of ...metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adulthood. High fructose diets have been implicated in the rise of the incidence and prevalence of MetS and NAFLD. Current research is exploring the potential use of phytochemicals such as oleanolic acid (OA) to promote neonatal metabolic programming that will impart positive health benefits later in life. Oleanolic acid, a biologically active phytochemical compound, has anti‐diabetic and anti‐obesity effects. We investigated the effects of early postnatal administration of OA on the subsequent development of dietary fructose‐induced metabolic dysfunction and NAFLD in female Sprague Dawley rats.
Seven‐day old Sprague‐Dawley suckling female rats (N=94) were gavaged daily with 10 ml/kg of either; 0.5% Dimethylsulphoxide (vehicle control), OA (60mg/kg), metformin (MET; 500mg/kg), high‐fructose diet (HFD; 20% w/v fructose solution), MET+HFD or OA+HFD for 7 days. The rats were weaned onto normal rat chow and plain drinking water on day 21. In adulthood (day 56), half of the rats in each treatment group were either continued on plain drinking water or received a 20% fructose solution (w/v) as drinking fluid for eight weeks. Body mass gain, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and oral glucose tolerance test were measured before termination. At termination (day 112) serum and liver tissue samples were collected to determine the effect of OA on: surrogate biomarkers of liver function, alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), cholesterol, hepatic lipid storage and hepatic histomorphometry. Livers were formalin fixed, automatically processed, paraffin embedded and sectioned at 4μm with a rotary microtome. Representative sections from each animal were stained with H&E (for hepatocellular changes), Masson's Trichome (for connective tissue) and Periodic Schiff's (for glycogen).
Fructose consumption in adulthood following treatment with fructose in the early postnatal period resulted in an increase in body mass, cholesterol and serum triglycerides (
P
<0.05). Unlike OA and OA+HFD, fructose consumption both neonatally and in adulthood increased hepatic lipid storage and plasma concentrations of liver biomarkers, ALT and ALKP (
P
<0.05). Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease activity scores (NAS) for inflammation, steatosis and area fractions for fibrosis were significantly higher in the HFD‐treated group compared to other treatment groups (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences among OA, OA+HFD, Control and MET+HFD (P>0.05). All treatments did not have a significant effect on glucose tolerance (
P
>0.05). Neonatal administration of OA reduced excessive fructose‐induced hepatic lipid accumulation in the rats (
P
<0.05).
Although fructose administration had adverse effects on hepatic function in female rats, neonatal interventional treatment with OA was found to program hepatic function so as to protect against impaired hepatic lipid metabolism in adulthood. Therefore, OA is a phytochemical that exhibit great potential in the prevention of dysfunctional hepatic lipid metabolism and NAFLD.
Support or Funding Information
University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Health Science Research Grant and the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa
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