The emergence of the SARS-CoV virus in December 2019 saw the beginning of an unprecedented pandemic that represents the most significant public health problem in recent memory ...
Obesity, inflammation and the immune system de Heredia, Fátima Pérez; Gómez-Martínez, Sonia; Marcos, Ascensión
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society,
05/2012, Volume:
71, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Obesity shares with most chronic diseases the presence of an inflammatory component, which accounts for the development of metabolic disease and other associated health alterations. This inflammatory ...state is reflected in increased circulating levels of pro-inflammatory proteins, and it occurs not only in adults but also in adolescents and children. The chronic inflammatory response has its origin in the links existing between the adipose tissue and the immune system. Obesity, like other states of malnutrition, is known to impair the immune function, altering leucocyte counts as well as cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, evidence has arisen that an altered immune function contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity. This review attempts to briefly comment on the various plausible explanations that have been proposed for the phenomenon: (1) the obesity-associated increase in the production of leptin (pro-inflammatory) and the reduction in adiponectin (anti-inflammatory) seem to affect the activation of immune cells; (2) NEFA can induce inflammation through various mechanisms (such as modulation of adipokine production or activation of Toll-like receptors); (3) nutrient excess and adipocyte expansion trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress; and (4) hypoxia occurring in hypertrophied adipose tissue stimulates the expression of inflammatory genes and activates immune cells. Interestingly, data suggest a greater impact of visceral adipose tissue and central obesity, rather than total body fat, on the inflammatory process. In summary, there is a positive feedback loop between local inflammation in adipose tissue and altered immune response in obesity, both contributing to the development of related metabolic complications.
The current study investigates whether probiotic fermented milk (PFM) and yogurt consumption (YC) are related to both the ingested bacteria taxa and the overall gut microbiota (GM) composition in ...healthy adults. PFM and YC habits were analyzed in 260 subjects (51% male) by specific questionnaires, and the following groups were considered: (1) PFM groups: nonconsumers (PFM-NC, n = 175) and consumers (PFM, n = 85), divided as follows:
-containing PFM (Bif-PFM; n = 33),
-containing PFM (Lb-PFM; n = 14), and mixed
and
-containing PFM (Mixed-PFM; n = 38); (2) PFM-NC were classified as: yogurt nonconsumers (Y-NC; n = 40) and yogurt consumers (n = 135). GM was analyzed through 16S rRNA sequencing. PFM consumers showed higher Bifidobacteria taxa levels compared to NC, from phylum through to species. Specifically, Bif-PFM consumption was related to higher
levels (
< 0.001), whereas Lb-PFM consumption was associated to higher levels of
(
< 0.045) and
(
= 0.011). YC was related to higher levels of the yogurt starter
(
< 0.001). Lactobacilli and the overall GM were not related either to YC or PFM consumption. According to these results, healthy adults might benefit from PFM intake by increasing
levels.
Purpose
Obesity is associated with impaired immune defences and chronic low levels of inflammation and oxidation. In addition, this condition may lead to premature aging. The aim of the study was to ...evaluate the effects of a nutritional supplementation with monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on several functions and oxidative stress parameters in peritoneal immune cells of obese mice, as well as on the life span of these animals.
Methods
Obesity was induced in adult female ICR/CD1 by the administration of a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks. During the last 6 weeks of HFD feeding, one group of obese mice received the same HFD, supplemented with 1500 mg of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (2-OHOA) and another with 3000 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Several functions and oxidative stress parameters of peritoneal leukocytes were evaluated.
Results
The groups of obese mice treated with 2-OHOA or with EPA and DHA showed a significant improvement in several functions such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, digestion capacity, Natural killer activity and lymphoproliferation in response to mitogens. All of these functions, which were decreased in obese mice, increased reaching similar levels to those found in non-obese controls. Both treatments also improved oxidative stress parameters such as xanthine oxidase activity, which decreased, catalase activity and glutathione levels, which increased.
Conclusion
These data suggest that dietary supplementation with monounsaturated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could be an effective nutritional intervention to restore the immune response and oxidative stress state, which are impaired in obese mice.
The prevalence of overweight and the metabolic syndrome is increasing in young people. This review aims to summarize current research in children and adolescents on inflammatory markers related to ...components of the metabolic syndrome.
Obesity is characterized by a state of low-grade inflammation at all ages. Body fat has been shown to correlate with the various components of the metabolic syndrome. There is evidence to show that chronic subclinical inflammation in childhood and adolescence is associated with metabolic dysfunction, which can lead to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.
The results presented in this review highlight the underlying inflammatory mechanisms of the early stages of metabolic disorders related to obesity. The preclinical phases of diabetes and cardiovascular disease last many decades, and this feature of the diseases provides an opportunity for the early identification of target groups and the use of appropriate prevention strategies while the pathological processes are still completely reversible.
The scientific evidence available on the association between moderate alcohol intake and levels of blood cardiometabolic markers is still inconsistent and difficult to interpret for future disease ...prevention. However, we hypothesize that moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with lower levels of inflammation markers and higher levels of protective cardiometabolic markers. Thus, this work aimed to examine the associations of moderate alcohol intake and the type of alcoholic beverage with metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. An observational, cross-sectional study including 143 apparently healthy adults 55 years of age and older was performed. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect information on alcoholic beverage intake frequency, food frequency, physical activity, socioeconomic status, diseases and medications, and other health-related habits. Three groups were established prior to recruitment: (1) abstainers and occasional consumers (ABS, n = 54); (2) beer consumers (BEER ≥80% of total alcohol intake; n = 40), and (3) mixed beverage consumers (MIXED; n = 49). Univariate analysis of variance models, adjusted for confounding factors and covariables, were performed. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and sP-selectin were significantly higher in the MIXED group than in the ABS group, and adiponectin was higher in the MIXED group compared to the BEER group. All alcohol consumers also had higher mean platelet volume values compared to ABS. In linear regression analyses, HDL-c, sP-selectin, and adiponectin were positively associated with wine intake (g/d) (P < .001, P = .014, and P = .017, respectively); and mean platelet volume, with beer intake (P = .017). In conclusion, this cross-sectional study showed that moderate alcohol intake is associated with higher levels of HDL-c and adiponectin compared to those in abstainers, which are mainly explained by wine intake.
Abstract Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an atypical form of malnutrition with peculiar changes in the immune system. We hypothesized that different lymphocyte subsets are differentially affected by ...malnutrition in AN, and thus, our aim was to investigate the influence of body mass loss on the variability of lymphocyte subsets in AN patients. A group of 66 adolescent female patients, aged 12-17 years, referred for their first episode of either AN or feeding or eating disorders not elsewhere classified were studied upon admission (46 AN-restricting subtype, 11 AN-binge/purging subtype, and 9 feeding or eating disorders not elsewhere classified). Ninety healthy adolescents served as controls. White blood cells and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Relationships with the body mass index (BMI) z score were assessed in linear models adjusted by diagnostic subtype and age. Leukocyte numbers were lower in AN patients than in controls, and relative lymphocytosis was observed in AN-restricting subtype. Lower CD8+ , NK, and memory CD8+ counts were found in eating disorder patients compared with controls. No differences were found for CD4+ counts or naive and memory CD4+ subsets between the groups. Negative associations between lymphocyte percentage and the BMI z score, as well as between the B cell counts, naive CD4+ percentage and counts, and the BMI z score, were found. In conclusion, increased naive CD4+ and B lymphocyte subsets associated with body mass loss drive the relative lymphocytosis observed in AN patients, which reflects an adaptive mechanism to preserve the adaptive immune response.
Purpose
The role of polyphenol intake during adolescence to prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) is little explored. This study aimed to evaluate the association between intake of total polyphenols, ...polyphenol classes and the 10 most consumed individual polyphenols with MetS risk in European adolescents.
Methods
Of the cross-sectional HELENA study, 657 adolescents (54% girls; 14.8% overweight; 12.5–17.5 year) had a fasting blood sample and polyphenol intake data from two non-consecutive 24-h recalls matched with the Phenol-Explorer database. MetS was defined via the pediatric American Heart Association definition. Multilevel linear regressions examined the associations of polyphenol quartiles with MetS components, while logistic regression examined the associations with MetS risk.
Results
After adjusting for all potential confounders (socio-demographics and nine nutrients), total polyphenol intake, polyphenol classes and individual polyphenols were not associated with MetS risk. From all MetS components, only BMI
z
-score was modestly inversely associated with total polyphenol intake. Further sub analyses on polyphenol classes revealed that flavonoid intake was significantly associated with higher diastolic blood pressure and lower BMI, and phenolic acid intake was associated with higher low-density cholesterol. For individual polyphenols, the above BMI findings were often confirmed (not independent from dietary intake) and a few associations were found with insulin resistance.
Conclusion
Higher intakes of total polyphenols and flavonoids were inversely associated with BMI. No consistent associations were found for other MetS components.
Introduction
Few topics in nutrition generate more controversy and debate than the putative associations between added sugars and health. With this as background, a group of researchers in the area ...of sugars and health gathered at the European Nutrition Conference (FENS) in 2015 to discuss these controversies and provide evidence-based science. The purpose of the current article was to provide a brief summary of some of the highlights from each of the presenters and serve as an Introduction to the supplement which contains full articles based on their presentations.
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