There is increasing evidence that dietary saturated fatty acids (SAFA) have not only an indirect atherogenic effect due to increasing LDL-cholesterol concentration but also a direct effect by activating the inflammation process. This review summarizes several recent publications in this field. The effect of SAFA on the inflammation process mediated by Toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB pathway has been well documented in various in vitro culture studies of macrophages and adipocytes or in their co-culture. In contrast to these in vitro data, in vivo epidemiological studies or clinical experiments in men are less consistent. Well controlled cross-over studies in volunteers might enlighten the differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids dietary intake and proatherogenic inflammation effects., R. Poledne., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
We studied the diet of 10 species of grasshopper belonging to the family Pamphagidae over a period of 3 years at 6 localities in North Eastern Algeria. The species of plants consumed by the grasshoppers was determined by comparing slide mounted specimens of the pieces of plant epidermis in their faeces with those in a reference collection of identified plants collected from the same localities. The percentages of occurrence of the different species of plants in the faeces of the grasshoppers were not related to the abundance of the plants at the sites studied. All the grasshoppers were polyphagous but differed in the percentage of Poaceae in their diets. The diet of Tmethis and Ocneridia contained a higher percentage of Poaceae than the other species and are considered to be ambivores. The three species in the Pamphagus gr. djelfensis complex differ in their diets but all tend to avoid consuming Poaceae and are categorized as forbivores. We also compared the frequency of occurrence of Fabaceae in the faeces and in the field and O. volxemii is the only species that avoided consuming this plant family. The number of sensilla on the labrum was also studied in both sexes of each species. Once one corrects for differences in the size of the labrum, the forbivores have higher numbers of sensilla in groups A1, A2 and A3 (but not A10) than the ambivores. The numbers of sensilla in the A10 group on the labrum of species of Pamphagidae is greater than on that of species of Acrididae, which are mainly graminivores and adapted to semi-arid conditions., Naima Benkenana, Abboud Harrat, Daniel Petit., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Variants within the FTO gene are important determinants of body mass index (BMI), but their role in determination of BMI changes after combined dietary/physical ac tivity intervention is unclear. We have analyzed 107 unrelated overweight non-diabetic Czech females (BMI over 27.5 kg/m2 , age 49.2±12.3 years). FTO variants rs17817449 (first intron) and rs17818902 (third intron) were genotyped. The life style mo dification program (10 weeks) consisted of an age- matched reduction of energy intake and exercise program (aerobic exercise 4 times a week, 60 min each). The mean BMI before intervention was 32.8±4.2 kg/m2 and the mean achieved weight loss was 4.8±3.5 kg (5.3±3.5 %, max. -15.5 kg, min. +2.0 kg, p<0. 01). No significant association between BMI decrease and FTO variants was found. Also waist-to-hip ratio, body composition (body fat, water, active tissue), lipid parameters (total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) glucose and hsCRP change s were independent on FTO variants. FTO variants rs17817449 and rs17818902 are not associated with BMI changes after combined short time dietary/physical activity intervention in overweight females., D. Dlouhá ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Flavonoids, a group of phenolic compounds found naturally in fruit, vegetables, nuts, flowers, seeds and bark are an integral part of the human diet. They have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological effects, including anti-ischemic, antiplatelet, antineoplastic, antiinflammatory, antiallergic, antilipoperoxidant or gastroprotective actions. Furthermore, flavonoids are potent antioxidants, free radical scavengers and metal chelators, and inhibit lipid peroxidation. Oxidative modification of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) is believed to play a crucial role in atherogenesis. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of fruits and vegetables, and regular red wine consumption is related with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases., G. Mojžišová, M. Kuchta., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diet and 677 C®T mutation of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene on plasma homocyst(e)ine concentrations in an adolescent population (113 males, age: 14.2±2.4 years; 202 females, age: 14.9±2.1 years) from a region characterized by high cardiovascular mortality. Homocyst(e)ine levels did not differ between males and females (9.4±3.5 and 8.9±3.1 mmol/l, respectively). The homozygosity for the 677 C®T MTHFR mutation was found in 4.6 % of subjects. No differences in homocyst(e)ine levels were found between MTHFR genotypes. Analysis of the diet composition which was performed on a 24-hour daily recall basis and a food frequency questionnaire showed a low daily intake of vitamin B6 (males: 1.13 mg/66 % RDA; females: 0.92 mg/61 % RDA). Daily folic acid intake was 0.21 g/105 % RDA in males and 0.23 g/115 % RDA in females. The results of our study show that the high homocyst(e)ine levels in the adolescent population were not affected by the 677 C®T MTHFR mutation. We conclude that an insufficient dietary intake of vitamin B6 and folic acid is responsible for this finding. This is in accord with the recommendation that the dietary allowances for folate should be reset to the originally prescribed levels of 0.4 g/day which should be sufficient to control the homocysteine levels., K. Rašlová, A. Bederová, J. Gašparovič, P. Blažíček, B. Smolková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Replacing SAFAs (saturated fatty acids) for vegetable PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) has a well documented positive effect on the lipoprotein pattern while the direct effect of dietary fatty acids composition on systemic inflammation remains to be proven. In well controlled randomised cross-over study with 15 overweight/obese postmenopausal women, the effect of dietary switch on systemic inflammation was investigated. A two 3 weeks dietary period either with predominant animal fat (SAFA, 29 caloric % SAFA) or vegetable fat (PUFA 25 % caloric % PUFA) were interrupted by wash-out period. The expected increasing effect on SAFA diet to LDL-C (low density cholesterol) and opposite effect of PUFA diet was documented following changes in fatty acid spectrum in VLDL (very low density cholesterol) particles. The switch from SAFA diet to PUFA diet produced a significant change of CRP (C-reactive protein) concentration (p<0.01) whereas similar trend of IL-18 did not reach statistical significance. In this study, previous in vitro results of different SAFA and PUFA proinflammatory effects with well documented molecular mechanisms were first proven in a clinical study. It could be stated that the substantial change of dietary fatty acid composition might influence proinflammatory effect in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors., I. Králová Lesná, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue changes with weight loss. Palmitoleic acid as a possible marker of endogenous lipogenesis or its functions as a lipokine are under debate. Objective was to assess the predictive role of adipose triglycerides fatty acids in weight maintenance in participants of the DIOGENES dietary intervention study. After an 8-week low calorie diet (LCD) subjects with > 8 % weight loss were randomized to 5 ad libitum weight maintenance diets for 6 months: low protein (P)/low glycemic index (GI) (LP/LGI), low P/high GI (LP/HGI), high P/low GI (HP/LGI), high P/high GI (HP/HGI), and a control diet. Fatty acid composition in adipose tissue triglycerides was determined by gas chromatography in 195 subjects before the LCD (baseline), after LCD and weight maintenance. Weight change after the maintenance phase was positively correlated with baseline adipose palmitoleic (16:1n-7), myristoleic (14:1n-5) and trans-palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7t). Negative correlation was found with baseline oleic acid (18:1n-9). Lower baseline monounsaturated fatty acids (14:1n-5, 16:1n-7 and trans 16:1n-7) in adipose tissue triglycerides predict better weight maintenance. Lower oleic acid predicts lower weight decrease. These findings suggest a specific role of monounsaturated fatty acids in weight management and as weight change predictors., M. Kunešová, ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The relationship between obesity and renal lesions, especially in low estrogen levels, has been less documented. The aim of this study was to assess the renal changes in diet-induced obesity in ovariectomized rats. Wistar rats were ovariectomized or shamoperated and divided into four groups: sham-operated rats fed a standard diet (SSD); ovariectomized rats fed a standard diet (OSD); sham-operated rats fed a high-fat diet (SHFD); ovariectomized rats fed a high-fat diet (OHFD). Body weight and blood pressure were measured weekly. The rats were killed 24 weeks after initiation of standard or high-fat diet treatment, the kidneys were removed for immunohistochemical and histological studies. Blood and urine samples were collected to quantify sodium, potassium and creatinine. OHFD rats presented increases in visceral adipose tissue, serum insulin levels, blood pressure and proteinuria, and a decrease in fractional excretion of sodium as well. Histological and morphometric studies showed focal alterations in the renal cortex. Expression of macrophages, lymphocytes, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-B), Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), angiotensin II (ANG II) and vimentin was greater in OHFD rats than in control rats. Thus, these results demonstrate that the high-fat diet in ovariectomized rats promoted renal function and structure changes, renal interstitial infiltration of mononuclear cells and increased expression of ANG II and NF-κB., L. S: B. Amaral, J. A. Silva, T. M. Trindade, W. B. D. Ribas, C. L. Macedo, T. M. Coimbra, N. O. Belo, A. C. M. Magalhães, T. J. Soares., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Food webs are of crucial importance for understanding any ecosystem. The accuracy of food web and ecosystem models rests on the reliability of the information on the feeding habits of the species involved. Water boatmen (Corixoidea) is the most diverse superfamily of water bugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha), frequently the most abundant group of insects in a variety of freshwater habitats worldwide. In spite of their high biomass, the importance of water boatmen in aquatic ecosystems is frequently underestimated. The diet and feeding habits of Corixoidea are unclear as published data are frequently contradictory. We summarise information on the feeding habits of this taxon, which exemplify the difficulties in evaluating published data on feeding habits in an invertebrate taxon. It is concluded that Corixoidea are, unlike other true bugs, capable of digesting solid food, but their feeding habits are still insufficiently known. The dominant feeding strategy in this taxon is zoophagy, but several species consume other foods, particularly algae and detritus. Only members of the subfamily Cymatiainae seem to be exclusively predators. In other subfamilies, the diet of different species and different sexes or populations of a single species may vary depending on the food available or is still unknown. We conclude, that a multi-method approach is needed to elucidate the feeding habits of aquatic insects and invertebrates in general., Christian W. Hädicke, Dávid Rédei, Petr Kment., and Obsahuje bibliografii
To understand the pathogenesis of hypercholesterolemia in Prague hereditary hypercholesterolemic (PHHC) rat, we analyzed the response of hepatic transcriptome to dietary cholesterol in PHHC and control Wistar rats. Male PHHC and Wistar rats were fed chow (C), 5 % fat (palm kernel oil) (CF) or 1 % cholesterol + 5 % fat (CHOL) diet for three weeks. Hepatic transcriptome was analyzed using Affymetrix GeneChip arrays. No differences were found in the effect of both control diets (C and CF) on lipid metabolism and gene expression of 6500 genes. Therefore, these data were pooled for further analysis. Dietary cholesterol induced accumulation of cholesterol and triacylglycerols in the liver in both strains and hypercholesterolemia in PHHC rats. However, there were no differences in response of hepatic transcriptome to CHOL diet. On the other hand, several genes were found to be differently expressed between both strains independently of the diet. Two of those genes, Apof and Aldh1a7, were studied in more detail, and their role in pathogenesis of hypercholesterolemia in PHHC rats could not been corroborated. In conclusion, the hypercholesterolemia in PHHC rats is due to physiological response of hepatic transcriptome to dietary cholesterol in different genetic background., M. Vlachová, M. Heczková, M. Jirsa, R. Poledne, J. Kovář., and Obsahuje bibliografii