Effect of body fat distribution on the transcription response to dietary fat interventions

Combination of decreased energy expenditure and increased food intake results in fat accumulation either in the abdominal site (upper body obesity, UBO) or on the hips (lower body obesity, LBO). In this study, we used microarray gene expression profiling of adipose tissue biopsies to investigate the effect of body fat distribution on the physiological response to two dietary fat interventions. Mildly obese UBO and LBO male subjects (n = 12, waist-to-hip ratio range 0.93–1.12) were subjected to consumption of diets containing predominantly either long-chain fatty acids (PUFA) or medium-chain fatty acids (MCT). The results revealed (1) a large variation in transcription response to MCT and PUFA diets between UBO and LBO subjects, (2) higher sensitivity of UBO subjects to MCT/PUFA dietary intervention and (3) the upregulation of immune and apoptotic pathways and downregulation of metabolic pathways (oxidative, lipid, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism) in UBO subjects when consuming MCT compared with PUFA diet. In conclusion, we report that despite the recommendation of MCT-based diet for improving obesity phenotype, this diet may have adverse effect on inflammatory and metabolic status of UBO subjects. The body fat distribution is, therefore, an important parameter to consider when providing personalized dietary recommendation

Short-term fatty acid intervention elicits differential gene expression responses in adipose tissue from lean and overweight men

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of a short-term nutritional intervention on gene expression in adipose tissue from lean and overweight subjects. Gene expression profiles were measured after consumption of an intervention spread (increased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid and medium chain triglycerides) and a control spread (40 g of fat daily) for 9 days. Adipose tissue gene expression profiles of lean and overweight subjects were distinctly different, mainly with respect to defense response and metabolism. The intervention resulted in lower expression of genes related to energy metabolism in lean subjects, whereas expression of inflammatory genes was down-regulated and expression of lipid metabolism genes was up-regulated in the majority of overweight subjects. Individual responses in overweight subjects were variable and these correlated better to waist–hip ratio and fat percentage than BMI

EFFECT OF PERSONALISED LIFESTYLE ADVICE ON MUSCLE AND METABOLIC HEALTH AMONG ACTIVE SENIORS - A PILOT STUDY

Worldwide, seniors make up the fastest-growing age group which is associated with a gradual loss of muscle health as well as metabolic health. Previous studies have shown that personalised feedback and advice is more effective than general information in improving health behaviour. The primary focus of the current pilot-study was to demonstrate that personalisation of lifestyle advice improves muscle and metabolic health in a population of active seniors.Therefore, a total of 59 seniors aged 60 years or older with a sedentary lifestyle were recruited. The study was designed as a 9-week single-blind randomised controlled trial. At baseline and end, biological, genetic and socio-psychological measurements were performed. Food intake and compliance were monitored at three moments during the study. The intervention group (n=30) received personalised dietary and lifestyle advice (PA), based on their dietary intake, phenotype and genotype, whereas the control group (n=29) received generic advice (GA) based on the Dutch dietary guidelines.Both groups showed a significantly improved muscle as well as metabolic health. Interestingly, the PA group showed a significantly greater reduction in body fat percentage and hip circumference as compared to the GA group. In terms of dietary intake both groups showed a significant improvement, but only the PA group showed increased plasma vitamin D levels as well as higher EPA and DHA levels. Although protein intake decreased in both groups, plasma levels of several amino acids increased in the PA group, including essential and aromatic amino acids.In conclusion, this study indicates that personalised lifestyle advice results in additional health benefits as well as improved nutritional status in a population of active seniors as compared to general lifestyle advice.Acknowledgements: TNO, Wageningen Universit

The possibilities of the use of N-of-1 and do-it-yourself trials in nutritional research.

BACKGROUND:N-of-1 designs gain popularity in nutritional research because of the improving technological possibilities, practical applicability and promise of increased accuracy and sensitivity, especially in the field of personalized nutrition. This move asks for a search of applicable statistical methods. OBJECTIVE:To demonstrate the differences of three popular statistical methods in analyzing treatment effects of data obtained in N-of-1 designs. METHOD:We compare Individual-participant data meta-analysis, frequentist and Bayesian linear mixed effect models using a simulation experiment. Furthermore, we demonstrate the merits of the Bayesian model including prior information by analyzing data of an empirical study on weight loss. RESULTS:The linear mixed effect models are to be preferred over the meta-analysis method, since the individual effects are estimated more accurately as evidenced by the lower errors, especially with lower sample sizes. Differences between Bayesian and frequentist mixed models were found to be small, indicating that they will lead to the same results without including an informative prior. CONCLUSION:For empirical data, the Bayesian mixed model allows the inclusion of prior knowledge and gives potential for population based and personalized inference

Obese older type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with muscle insulin resistance benefit from an enriched protein drink during combined lifestyle intervention: The probe study

(1) Background: Recent research showed that subtypes of patients with type 2 diabetes may differ in response to lifestyle interventions based on their organ-specific insulin resistance (IR). (2) Methods: 123 Subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomized into 13-week lifestyle intervention, receiving either an enriched protein drink (protein+) or an isocaloric control drink (control). Before and after the intervention, anthropometrical and physiological data was collected. An oral glucose tolerance test was used to calculate indices representing organ insulin resistance (muscle, liver, and adipose tissue) and β-cell functioning. In 82 study-compliant subjects (per-protocol), we retrospectively examined the intervention effect in patients with muscle IR (MIR, n = 42) and without MIR (no-MIR, n = 40). (3) Results: Only in patients from the MIR subgroup that received protein+ drink, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, whole body, liver and adipose IR, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass improved versus control. Lifestyle intervention improved body weight and fat mass in both subgroups. Furthermore, for the MIR subgroup decreased systolic blood pressure and increased VO2 peak and for the no-MIR subgroup, a decreased 2-h glucose concentration was found. (4) Conclusions: Enriched protein drink during combined lifestyle intervention seems to be especially effective on increasing muscle mass and improving insulin resistance in obese older, type 2 diabetes patients with muscle IR

Obese older Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients with muscle insulin resistance benefit from an enriched protein drink during combined lifestyle intervention: the PROBE study

(1) Background: Recent research showed that subtypes of patients with type 2 diabetes may differ in response to lifestyle interventions based on their organ-specific insulin resistance (IR). (2) Methods: 123 Subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomized into 13-week lifestyle intervention, receiving either an enriched protein drink (protein+) or an isocaloric control drink (control). Before and after the intervention, anthropometrical and physiological data was collected. An oral glucose tolerance test was used to calculate indices representing organ insulin resistance (muscle, liver, and adipose tissue) and β-cell functioning. In 82 study-compliant subjects (per-protocol), we retrospectively examined the intervention effect in patients with muscle IR (MIR, n = 42) and without MIR (no-MIR, n = 40). (3) Results: Only in patients from the MIR subgroup that received protein+ drink, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, whole body, liver and adipose IR, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass improved versus control. Lifestyle intervention improved body weight and fat mass in both subgroups. Furthermore, for the MIR subgroup decreased systolic blood pressure and increased VO2peak and for the no-MIR subgroup, a decreased 2-h glucose concentration was found. (4) Conclusions: Enriched protein drink during combined lifestyle intervention seems to be especially effective on increasing muscle mass and improving insulin resistance in obese older, type 2 diabetes patients with muscle IR