ILC2s Improve Glucose Metabolism Through the Control of Saturated Fatty Acid Absorption Within Visceral Fat

Background and aimsGroup 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been implicated in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis in mice.MethodsIn this study, the role of ILC2s in white adipose tissue (WAT) was investigated using ST2, an IL-33 receptor that is expressed on ILC2 knockout mice.ResultsThe deficiency of ST2 decreased ILC2s in WAT, whereas ex-ILC2, which acquired group 1 innate lymphoid cell (ILC1)-like traits, was increased. This led to significant metabolic disorders such as visceral fat obesity, decreased browning in WAT, reduction of energy metabolism, and impaired glucose tolerance, compared to wild type (WT) mice. Those metabolic abnormalities of ST2-knockout (ST2KO) mice were not ameliorated by IL-33 administration, but impaired glucose tolerance and visceral fat obesity were significantly improved by transplantation of ILCs from the bone marrow of WT mice. The relative expression of Cd36 in WAT increased due to the deficiency of ST2, and the storage of saturated fatty acids in WAT of ST2KO mice was significantly higher than that of WT mice. Moreover, saturated fatty acids aggravated the chronic inflammation in adipocytes, promoted the differentiation of M1-like macrophages, and inhibited that of M2-like macrophages.ConclusionsOur results indicated that ILC2 regulates diet-induced obesity and chronic inflammation through the regulation of saturated fatty acid absorption in visceral adipose tissue.

The Effects of Food on Cannabidiol Bioaccessibility

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a hydrophobic non-psychoactive compound with therapeutic characteristics. Animal and human studies have shown its poor oral bioavailability in vivo, and the impact of consuming lipid-soluble CBD with and without food on gut bioaccessibility has not been explored. The purpose of this research was to study the bioaccessibility of CBD after a three-phase upper digestion experiment with and without food, and to test lipase activity with different substrate concentrations. Our results showed that lipase enzyme activity and fatty acid absorption increased in the presence of bile salts, which may also contribute to an increase in CBD bioaccessibility. The food matrix used was a mixture of olive oil and baby food. Overall, the fed-state digestion revealed significantly higher micellarization efficiency for CBD (14.15 ± 0.6% for 10 mg and 22.67 ± 2.1% for 100 mg CBD ingested) than the fasted state digestion of CBD (0.65 ± 0.7% for 10 mg and 0.14 ± 0.1% for 100 mg CBD ingested). The increase in bioaccessibility of CBD with food could be explained by the fact that micelle formation from hydrolyzed lipids aid in bioaccessibility of hydrophobic molecules. In conclusion, the bioaccessibility of CBD depends on the food matrix and the presence of lipase and bile salts.

Piperine Improves Obesity By Repairing Intestinal Barrier Function And Inhibiting Fatty Acid Absorption

BackgroundCurrently, the weight loss effects of piperine have gained considerable attention; however, the underlying mechanism needs to be comprehensively elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the weight loss effects of piperine and intestinal function. Methods Eight-week-old Sprague Dawley male rats were provided standard diet or HFD diet for 16 weeks. After, rats from the HFD group were divided into four group, including HFD, HFD with daily gavage with 2.7mg/kg body weight of piperine (PIP-L), 13.5mg/kg body weight of piperine (PIP-M), 27mg/kg body weight of piperine (PIP-H) for another 8 weeks. The fecal fat content, serum TG, FAA levels, jejunum structure and gene expression levels related to fatty acid absorption and barrier function in intestinal were detected. Then the Caco-2 cell was cultured to explore the effects of piperine on cell proliferation, differentiation, barrier function and fatty acid absorption.ResultsIn our study, piperine repaired the tight junction damage induced by obesity by downregulating jejunal tumor necrosis factor-α and reducing lipopolysaccharide-induced damage on intestinal cell proliferation, thus enhancing intestinal barrier function, which is beneficial in reducing chronic inflammation associated with obesity. In addition, piperine inhibited intestinal fatty acid absorption in both cellular and animal models. The underlying mechanism may be related to the downregulation of fatty acid absorption-related genes, fatty acid-binding protein 2 and cluster of differentiation 36, but not fatty acid transport protein 4.Conclusion The anti-obesity effect of piperine is related to the enhancement of intestinal barrier function and inhibition of intestinal fatty acid absorption.

Effects of a Myrciaria jaboticaba peel extract on starch and triglyceride absorption and the role of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside

Inhibition of triglyceride absorption by Myrciaria jaboticaba is strongly dependent on the participation of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, which inhibits free fatty acid absorption.

Effects of African Bentonite on Feed Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Growth of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus

Feed and feed ingredients in the tropics are prone to attacks of mycotoxigenic fungi (myco-fungi) infestation during storage or from the field. The heat applied in feed production destroys only the myco-fungi leaving mycotoxins that eventually end up in the fish. Mycotoxins have negative effects on the growth of fish. It is plausible to reduce or totally eliminate the mycotoxins and myco-fungi by the inclusion of special African bentonite supplement called “Uro’. Five iso nitrogenous and iso energetic feed were made with soybean meal of 12% moisture stored at relative humidity of 78% and temperature 29.45±0.87oC for 30 days. The feed was labelled as F1 to F5 and varied in inclusion levels of bentonite supplement as follows, F1, 34%, F2, 25%, F3, 15%, F4, 5% and F5, 0%. The protein supplement and basal ingredients in the diets were same. Feed ingredients were weighed, mixed, conditioned and pelleted. The feed was dried at 40oC for 24 hours and subjected to mycological analysis. African catfish fingerlings of average weight 6.5±0.36 g were stocked at 15 fish per three replicate aquaria per feed type. Fish were fed to satiation twice daily for 140 days. The catfish fed with F1(35% bentonite) had the best food conversion ratio, 1.63±0.15, highest SGR 5.7±0.05% day1 , weight gain 45.7±3.65g, protein efficiency ratio 1.19±0.10 and highest gut weight 3.46±0.45g. All growth and nutritional parameters were increasing with increasing inclusion of bentonite. Mycological analyses showed that three myco-fungi, namely Aspergilus flavus, Mucor mucedo and Cladosporium cladosporioides were prevalent in the feed. However, feed 1 to feed 3, were completely free from myco-fungi, while feed 4 had traces of M. mucedo and C. Cladosporioides but all myco-fungi were prevalent in F5. African bentonite is calcinated and sequestered feed ANF, myco-fungi and mycotoxins. Bentonite increased digesta viscosity which enabled better digestion of feed, lower FCR, enhanced alkaline intestine for protein and fatty acid absorption. Bentonite increased catfish total glycerides and cholesterol but reduced AST and ALT of the catfish.