Lyophilized maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) berry induces browning in the subcutaneous white adipose tissue and ameliorates the insulin resistance in high fat diet-induced obese mice

Maqui (Aristotelia Chilensis) berry features a unique profile of anthocyanidins that includes high amounts of delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside-5-O-glucoside and delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside and has shown positive effects on fasting glucose and insulin levels in humans and murine models of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of maqui on the onset and development of the obese phenotype and insulin resistance was investigated in high fat diet-induced obese mice supplemented with a lyophilized maqui berry. Maqui-dietary supplemented animals showed better insulin response and decreased weight gain but also a differential expression of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, multilocular lipid droplet formation and thermogenesis in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT). These changes correlated with an increased expression of the carbohydrate response element binding protein b (Chrebpb), the sterol regulatory binding protein 1c (Srebp1c) and Cellular repressor of adenovirus early region 1A\u2013stimulated genes 1 (Creg1) and an improvement in the fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) signaling. Our evidence suggests that maqui dietary supplementation activates the induction of fuel storage and thermogenesis characteristic of a brown-like phenotype in scWAT and counteracts the unhealthy metabolic impact of an HFD. This induction constitutes a putative strategy to prevent/treat diet-induced obesity and its associated comorbidities

Microbial Phenolic Metabolites in Urine Are Inversely Linked to Certain Features of Metabolic Syndrome in Spanish Adolescents

(1) Background: To explore the association between microbial phenolic metabolites (MPM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its clinical features in adolescents aged 12.02 ± 0.41 years. (2) Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in 560 participants at baseline in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial. The following MPM, coumaric acids (m-, o-, p-coumaric acids), dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid, dihydroresveratrol, enterolignans, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxyphenylacetic acid, hydroxytyrosol, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, urolithins (A, B), and vanillic acid, were analyzed by HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-HRMS. MetS and its clinical features were defined in accordance with the International Diabetes Federation. (3) Results: Out of all MPM, urolithin A was inversely associated with the diastolic blood pressure z-score. Urolithin B was inversely associated with the MetS score and waist circumference z-score. Additionally, higher levels of gallic acid were associated with lower odds of presenting MetS (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.77; 0.93) and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89; 0.98). Higher urolithin B levels were inversely associated with abdominal obesity (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89; 0.98) and high blood glucose (OR = 0.92, 95% CI:0.88; 0.96); (4) Conclusions: gallic acid, urolithin A and B were associated with lower odds of presenting MetS or some of its clinical features in adolescents. This is the first study that evaluates several MPM with MetS in adolescents, highlighting the importance of MPM on cardiometabolic health at early life stages