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

Beneficial effect of personalized lifestyle advice compared to generic advice on wellbeing among Dutch seniors – An explorative study

The aim of this explorative study is to evaluate whether personalized compared to generic lifestyle advice improves wellbeing in a senior population. We conducted a nine-week single-blind randomized controlled trial including 59 participants (age 67.7 ± 4.8 years) from Wageningen and its surrounding areas in the Netherlands. Three times during the intervention period, participants received either personalized advice (PA), or generic advice (GA) to improve lifestyle behavior. Personalization was based on metabolic health measures and dietary intake resulting in an advice that highlighted food groups and physical activity types for which behavior change was most urgent. Before and after the intervention period self-perceived health was evaluated as parameter of wellbeing using a self-perceived health score (single-item) and two questionnaires (Vita-16 and Short Form-12). Additionally, anthropometry and physical functioning (short physical performance battery, SPPB) were assessed. Overall scores for self-perceived health did not change over time in any group. Resilience and motivation (Vita-16) slightly improved only in the PA group, whilst mental health (SF-12) and energy (Vita-16) showed slight improvement only in the GA group. SPPB scores improved over time in both the PA and GA group. PA participants also showed a reduction in body fat percentage and hip circumference, whereas these parameters increased in the GA group Our findings suggest that although no clear effects on wellbeing were found, still, at least on the short term, personalized advice may evoke health benefits in a population of seniors as compared to generic advice.</p

Beneficial effect of personalized lifestyle advice compared to generic advice on wellbeing among Dutch seniors – An explorative study

The aim of this explorative study is to evaluate whether personalized compared to generic lifestyle advice improves wellbeing in a senior population. We conducted a nine-week single-blind randomized controlled trial including 59 participants (age 67.7 ± 4.8 years) from Wageningen and its surrounding areas in the Netherlands. Three times during the intervention period, participants received either personalized advice (PA), or generic advice (GA) to improve lifestyle behavior. Personalization was based on metabolic health measures and dietary intake resulting in an advice that highlighted food groups and physical activity types for which behavior change was most urgent. Before and after the intervention period self-perceived health was evaluated as parameter of wellbeing using a self-perceived health score (single-item) and two questionnaires (Vita-16 and Short Form-12). Additionally, anthropometry and physical functioning (short physical performance battery, SPPB) were assessed. Overall scores for self-perceived health did not change over time in any group. Resilience and motivation (Vita-16) slightly improved only in the PA group, whilst mental health (SF-12) and energy (Vita-16) showed slight improvement only in the GA group. SPPB scores improved over time in both the PA and GA group. PA participants also showed a reduction in body fat percentage and hip circumference, whereas these parameters increased in the GA group Our findings suggest that although no clear effects on wellbeing were found, still, at least on the short term, personalized advice may evoke health benefits in a population of seniors as compared to generic advice.</p

Dietary Medium Chain Fatty Acid Supplementation Leads to Reduced VLDL Lipolysis and Uptake Rates in Comparison to Linoleic Acid Supplementation

<div><p>Dietary medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and linoleic acid follow different metabolic routes, and linoleic acid activates PPAR receptors. Both these mechanisms may modify lipoprotein and fatty acid metabolism after dietary intervention. Our objective was to investigate how dietary MCFA and linoleic acid supplementation and body fat distribution affect the fasting lipoprotein subclass profile, lipoprotein kinetics, and postprandial fatty acid kinetics. In a randomized double blind cross-over trial, 12 male subjects (age 51±7 years; BMI 28.5±0.8 kg/m²), were divided into 2 groups according to waist-hip ratio. They were supplemented with 60 grams/day MCFA (mainly C8:0, C10:0) or linoleic acid for three weeks, with a wash-out period of six weeks in between. Lipoprotein subclasses were measured using HPLC. Lipoprotein and fatty acid metabolism were studied using a combination of several stable isotope tracers. Lipoprotein and tracer data were analyzed using computational modeling. Lipoprotein subclass concentrations in the VLDL and LDL range were significantly higher after MCFA than after linoleic acid intervention. In addition, LDL subclass concentrations were higher in lower body obese individuals. Differences in VLDL metabolism were found to occur in lipoprotein lipolysis and uptake, not production; MCFAs were elongated intensively, in contrast to linoleic acid. Dietary MCFA supplementation led to a less favorable lipoprotein profile than linoleic acid supplementation. These differences were not due to elevated VLDL production, but rather to lower lipolysis and uptake rates.</p></div

Schematic model of the compartmental model used for apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB) kinetic analysis.

<p>The assembly of lipoprotein is modeled by 9-compartment delay for apoB. The plasma apoB kinetic is modeled by a single hydrolysis step. Only a single VLDL lipoprotein fraction is considered, consisting of the VLDL1 and VLDL2 fractions in Adiels et al <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0100376#pone.0100376-Adiels1" target="_blank">[29]</a>. The free leucine plasma kinetics is modeled by two pools (3 and 4) and a plasma compartment (1), which interchange materials with an intracellular compartment (2). Compartment 2 feeds the apoB synthetic machinery.</p

HPLC lipoprotein measurements after both treatments, analyzed by two-way ANOVA for treatment and waist-hip-ratio differences (mean ± sd).

<p>HPLC lipoprotein measurements after both treatments, analyzed by two-way ANOVA for treatment and waist-hip-ratio differences (mean ± sd).</p

Ratios between average VLDL metabolism parameters after dietary MCFA supplementation versus linoleic acid supplementation; values < 1 indicate a higher value after linoleic acid supplementation.

<p>Ratios are shown to allow comparing differences after dietary supplementation between parameters with different dimensions. * Indicates a significant difference in two-way ANOVA between MCFA and linoleic acid supplementation, with p<0.05. The first three parameters have dimensions <i>volume/# particles</i>, the uptake and lipolysis measure have the dimension <i>1/time</i>, and the production measure has dimension <i># particles/(volume * time)</i>. Differences in VLDL triglyceride and cholesterol pool size can be found in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0100376#pone-0100376-t002" target="_blank">table 2</a>. The p-values of the significant measures are: uptake/production in VLDL (p = 0.030); VLDL performance (p = 0.040); VLDL lipolysis (p = 0,0213); VLDL uptake (p = 0.0135).</p

Baseline characteristics of the 12 male subjects (mean ± sd).

<p>^*BMI  =  Body Mass Index: is the ratio between the body weight (kg) and the square of the height in meters of a person and is a (healthy) weight index.</p><p><i>^**</i>Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating behavior.</p