Obesity risk is associated with altered cerebral glucose metabolism and decreased μ-opioid and CB1 receptor availability

BackgroundObesity is a pressing public health concern worldwide. Novel pharmacological means are urgently needed to combat the increase of obesity and accompanying type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although fully established obesity is associated with neuromolecular alterations and insulin resistance in the brain, potential obesity-promoting mechanisms in the central nervous system have remained elusive. In this triple-tracer positron emission tomography study, we investigated whether brain insulin signaling, μ-opioid receptors (MORs) and cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) are associated with risk for developing obesity.MethodsSubjects were 41 young non-obese males with variable obesity risk profiles. Obesity risk was assessed by subjects’ physical exercise habits, body mass index and familial risk factors, including parental obesity and T2D. Brain glucose uptake was quantified with [18F]FDG during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, MORs were quantified with [11C]carfentanil and CB1Rs with [18F]FMPEP-d2.ResultsSubjects with higher obesity risk had globally increased insulin-stimulated brain glucose uptake (19 high-risk subjects versus 19 low-risk subjects), and familial obesity risk factors were associated with increased brain glucose uptake (38 subjects) but decreased availability of MORs (41 subjects) and CB1Rs (36 subjects).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the hereditary mechanisms promoting obesity may be partly mediated via insulin, opioid and endocannabinoid messaging systems in the brain.</p

Functional compounds present in garlic cloves stored under refrigeration from crops in Brazil and China

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar o teor de compostos funcionais presentes em bulbilhos de alho das cultivares 'Caçador' e 'Peruano', originárias do Brasil, e da cultivar 'Jinxiang', proveniente da China, durante o armazenamento pós-colheita até sessenta dias. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3x5 (três cultivares de alho x 5 períodos de armazenagem), com três repetições, sendo a unidade experimental composta por 10 bulbos de alho. Os bulbos foram armazenados à temperatura de 22&plusmn;1&deg;C e umidade relativa de 70&plusmn;2% e analisados quinzenalmente para teores de alicina, compostos fenólicos e atividade antioxidante pelo sistema -caroteno/ácido linoléio. De maneira geral, verificou-se que as propriedades funcionais das cultivares de alho estudadas foram alteradas durante o armazenamento. O perfil dos teores de alicina não foi alterado no período de armazenamento para a cultivar 'Caçador'. Entretanto, o perfil foi de degradação do bioativo aos 45 e 15 dias de armazenamento para as cultivares 'Peruano' e 'Jinxiang', respectivamente. O potencial antioxidante, medido pelo sistema -caroteno/ácido linoléico para as cultivares 'Caçador' e 'Jinxiang', foi superior em relação à cultivar 'Peruano', no início da avaliação. O perfil para todas as cultivares foi de redução do potencial, sendo que, a partir dos 30 dias de avaliação, deixou-se de observar essas diferenças. Quanto ao conteúdo de compostos fenólicos totais, observaram-se maiores teores para a cultivar 'Jinxiang' em relação às cultivares 'Caçador' e 'Peruano' no início da avaliação. Todas as cultivares apresentaram aumento significativo a partir dos 15 dias de avaliação. Portanto, as cultivares de alho avaliadas possuem atividade antioxidante, proveniente dos compostos organossulfurados e compostos fenólicos, a qual foi alterada com o armazenamento refrigerado.The objective of the present research was to determine the content of functional compounds in garlic cloves of two Brazilian cultivars ('Caçador' and 'Peruano') one Chinese cultivar ('Jinxiang'), during the postharvest storage up to 60 days. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme 3x5 (3 cultivars; 5 samplings times) with 3 replicates. Experimental unit was comprised by 10 garlic bulbs. Garlic bulbs were stored at 22&plusmn;1&deg;C and 70&plusmn;2% RH and analyzed, every 15 days for allicin, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity using the -carotene/linoleic acid method. In general, it was observed that functional compounds were altered in the garlic cultivars studied. The profile of the levels of allicin was not changed during the period of storage for the variety 'Caçador'. However, the profile was of bioactive degradation at 45 and 15 days of storage for 'Peruano' and 'Jinxiang' cultivars, respectively. The antioxidant potential measured by the system ?-carotene/ linoleic acid for cultivars 'Caçador' and 'Jinxiang' were higher than the 'Peruano' cultivar, at the beginning of the evaluation. The profile for all cultivars was of reduction of potential, and after 30 days these differences were no observed. Regarding the content of phenolic compounds it was observed that 'Jinxiang' showed higher levels than in the cultivars 'Peruano' and 'Caçador', at the beginning of the evaluation. All cultivars showed a significant increase from 15 days evaluation. Therefore, the garlic cultivars evaluated had antioxidant activity of compounds derived from organosulfur and phenolic compounds, which was modified with storage under refrigeration