Cocoa Phytochemicals: Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanisms on Health

Recent reports on cocoa are appealing in that a food commonly consumed for pure pleasure might also bring tangible benefits for human health. Cocoa consumption is correlated with reduced health risks of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer, and the health-promoting effects of cocoa are mediated by cocoa-driven phytochemicals. Cocoa is rich in procyanidins, theobromine, (?)-epicatechin, catechins, and caffeine. Among the phytochemicals present in consumed cocoa, theobromine is most available in human plasma, followed by caffeine, (?)-epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidins. It has been reported that cocoa phytochemicals specifically modulate or interact with specific molecular targets linked to the pathogenesis of chronic human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, diabetes, and skin aging. This review summarizes comprehensive recent findings on the beneficial actions of cocoa-driven phytochemicals in molecular mechanisms of human health.     

浒苔对营养性肥胖小鼠减肥功能的研究

目的:研究浒苔对营养性肥胖小鼠的减肥作用。方法:用营养饲料建立肥胖模型,造模成功小鼠分为模型组,浒苔高、中、低剂量组和阳性对照组。模型组小鼠喂以基础饲料并灌胃清水,浒苔高、中、低剂量组分别喂以添加质量分数30%、20%、10%浒苔的基础饲料并灌胃清水,阳性对照组喂以基础饲料并灌胃50mg/(100g.d)(以体质量计)的左旋肉碱。49d后眼球取血,测定小鼠体质量、Lee,s指数、脂肪系数及血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)含量和丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)活性。结果:高、中、低剂量浒苔及左旋肉碱均能有效降低雌性与雄性营养性肥胖小鼠体质量、Lee,s指数、脂肪系数及血清TC、TG、LDL-C含量和ALT、AST活性,升高HDL-C含量和HDL-C含量/T C含量。结论:浒苔具有良好的减肥功能,其机理可能是抑制脂肪生成、调节血脂、保护肝功能。     

Modification of appetite by bread consumption: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

The inclusion of different ingredients or the use of different baking technologies may modify the satiety response to bread, and aid in the control of food intake. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic search of randomized clinical trials on the effect of bread consumption on appetite ratings in humans. The search equation was (“Bread”[MeSH]) AND (“Satiation”[MeSH] OR “Satiety response”[MeSH]), and the filter “clinical trials.” As a result of this procedure, 37 publications were selected. The satiety response was considered as the primary outcome. The studies were classified as follows: breads differing in their flour composition, breads differing in ingredients other than flours, breads with added organic acids, or breads made using different baking technologies. In addition, we have revised the data related to the influence of bread on glycemic index, insulinemic index and postprandial gastrointestinal hormones responses. The inclusion of appropriate ingredients such as fiber, proteins, legumes, seaweeds and acids into breads and the use of specific technologies may result in the development of healthier breads that increase satiety and satiation, which may aid in the control of weight gain and benefit postprandial glycemia. However, more well-designed randomized control trials are required to reach final conclusions.     

鮟鱇鱼骨多糖对去卵巢肥胖大鼠血脂的作用

目的:研究鮟鱇鱼骨多糖对去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松的作用,以确定鮟鱇鱼加工下脚料的使用价值,为进一步利用这一资源奠定基础。方法:通过切除大鼠双侧卵巢,建立去卵巢肥胖的动物模型;灌胃鮟鱇鱼骨多糖后处死大鼠,检测大鼠体重及脏器系数的变化情况,测定血清总胆固醇,甘油三酯,高密度脂蛋白,低密度脂蛋白的水平。结果:各给药组大鼠体重增长缓慢。总胆固醇,甘油三酯,低密度脂蛋白及动脉硬化指数手术组明显高于假手术组,鱼骨多糖组明显低于模型组。高密度脂蛋白和抗动脉硬化指数手术组显著低于假手术组,鱼骨多糖组显著高于模型组。各给药组大鼠肝脏、脂肪系数在不同程度上均低于模型组。结论:鮟鱇鱼骨多糖能明显抑制去卵巢大鼠体重的增加,降低血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白,增加高密度脂蛋白,是一种很好的保健材料。     

Procyanidin effects on adipocyte-related pathologies

Procyanidins, a class of flavonoids, have clear and well-defined beneficial effects against several pathologies including cardiovascular heart disease. Now, studies in vivo are revealing the effects of procyanidins against obesity, where they prevent weight gain and adipose tissue mass increase, and against diabetes and insulin resistance, where they act as antihiperglycemic agents. Several mechanisms may be responsible for these effects. One of these, due to the key role of adipose tissue in the development of obesity and insulin resistance, is their effect on adipocytes. In this review we compile the studies that indicate a protective role for procyanidins in obesity and insulin resistance, focusing on their effects on the adipocyte, where procyanidins modify lipid synthesis, lipid degradation, glucose uptake, and adipose differentiation.     

茶树花对大鼠肥胖病和高脂血症预防作用研究

目的:研究茶树花对大鼠肥胖病和高脂血症的预防作用.方法:将40只大鼠分为5组,即:基础饲料组、高脂饲料组、茶树花2.5％、5％、7.5％3个剂量组.每两天测量体重和摄食量1次,24d后断头取血,测定总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C).取体脂(肾及睾丸周围脂肪)称重.结果:与基础饲料组相比,高脂饲料组大鼠体重、脂肪系数、TC、TG、LDL-C、动脉粥样硬化指数(AI)显著增加;3个剂量茶树花添加组大鼠体重、脂肪系数、TC、TG、LDL-C、AI均低于高脂饲料组,且呈显著或极显著差异;中、高剂量组大鼠体重、脂肪系数、TC、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C、AI与基础饲料组无明显差异.结论:茶树花对大鼠肥胖病和高脂血症有一定的预防作用,3个剂量组中添加5％茶树花效果最好,可开发为降脂减肥的纯天然保健食品.     

Low-glycemic-load diets: impact on obesity and chronic diseases

Historically, carbohydrates have been thought to play only a minor role in promoting weight gain and in predicting the risk of development of chronic disease. Most of the focus had been on reducing total dietary fat. During the last 20 years, fat intake decreased, while the number of individuals who were overweight or developed a chronic conditions have dramatically increased. Simultaneously, the calories coming from carbohydrate have also increased. Carbohydrates can be classified by their post-prandial glycemic effect, called the glycemic index or glycemic load. Carbohydrates with high glycemic indexes and high glycemic loads produce substantial increases in blood glucose and insulin levels after ingestion. Within a few hours after their consumption, blood sugar levels begin to decline rapidly due to an exaggerated increase in insulin secretion. A profound state of hunger is created. The continued intake of high-glycemic load meals is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. In this review, the terms glycemic index and glycemic load are defined, coupled with an overview of short- and long-term changes that occur from eating diets of different glycemic indexes and glycemic loads. Finally, practical strategies for how to design low-glycemic-load diets consisting primarily of low-glycemic carbohydrates are provided.     

Conjugated fatty acids in food and their health benefits

Conjugated fatty acids (CFAs) are a mixture of positional and geometric isomers of polyunsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Reports indicate that CFAs have potent beneficial effects, including antitumor, antiobese, antiatherogenic and antidiabetic activities. The molecules have also been shown to prevent the onset of hypertension. Recent reports suggest that each CFA isomer has different functions, for example the 10trans,12cis isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has anticarcinogenic, antiobese and antidiabetic effects, whereas the 9cis,11trans-CLA isomer exerts an anticancer effect. Although it would be interesting to know the effects of CFAs on humans, there are only few reports concerning the anticancer and antiobese effects of CLA in humans. More detailed evaluations of the physiological bioactivities of CFA isomers on lifestyle-related diseases in humans and animals will be of great interest in future studies.     

L-阿拉伯糖对营养性肥胖大鼠的减肥作用研究

通过高脂饮食诱导建立营养性肥胖大鼠模型,研究L-阿拉伯糖(LA)对其的减肥作用。通过高脂饮食诱导60 d建立肥胖模型,灌胃给予治疗80 d,检测体重、血糖、肥胖指数(Lee’s指数)、脂肪湿重、脂肪系数和肝指数的变化情况。结果发现,灌胃治疗80 d后,与肥胖模型组相比,L-阿拉伯糖给药组能明显减轻肥胖大鼠体重,明显抑制血糖升高,明显降低Lee’s指数、脂肪湿重、脂肪系数和肝指数。L-阿拉伯糖对营养性肥胖大鼠有较好的减肥和降血糖效果。