The Potential Effects of Caffeinated Beverages on Insulin Sensitivity

Caffeinated beverages, most commonly tea and coffee, may have important effects on insulin regulation that may give their consumption an important role among nutritional factors in the development of diseases of glucose and insulin metabolism, such as diabetes and atherosclerotic vascular diseases. These beverages include compounds that may have contradictory effects on insulin and glucose: Caffeine impairs insulin sensitivity, but polyphenolic molecules within tea, coffee, and cocoa augment the effects of insulin. In addition, epidemiologic associations exist between greater consumption of such beverages and lower risk of diabetes. The beneficial effects of such beverages might be enhanced by changing the process of their preparation and substitution of other substances commonly added to caffeinated beverages that impair the effect of insulin, such as sugar or milk.     

The Effect of Normally Consumed Amounts of Sucrose or High Fructose Corn Syrup on Lipid Profiles,Body Composition and Related Parameters in Overweight/Obese Subjects

The American Heart Association (AHA) has advocated that women and men not consume more than 100 and 150 kcal/day, respectively, from added sugars. These levels are currently exceeded by over 90% of the adult population in the United States. Few data exist on longer-term metabolic effects when sucrose and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), the principal sources of added dietary sugars, are consumed at levels typical of the general population. Sixty five overweight and obese individuals were placed on a eucaloric (weight stable) diet for 10-weeks, which incorporated sucrose- or HFCS-sweetened, low-fat milk at 10% or 20% of calories in a randomized, double-blinded study. All groups responded similarly (interaction p > 0.05). There was no change in body weight in any of the groups over the 10-week study, or in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Likewise, there were no changes in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or apolipoprotein B (Apo B). We conclude that (1) when consumed as part of a eucaloric diet fructose—when given with glucose (as normally consumed) does not promote weight gain or an atherogenic lipid profile even when consumed at two to four times the level recently recommended by the AHA. (2) There were no differences between HFCS and sucrose on these parameters.     

Effects of Consuming Sugar-Sweetened Beverages for 2 Weeks on 24-h Circulating Leptin Profiles,Ad Libitum Food Intake and Body Weight in Young Adults

Sugar-sweetened beverage (sugar-SB) consumption is associated with body weight gain. We investigated whether the changes of (Δ) circulating leptin contribute to weight gain and ad libitum food intake in young adults consuming sugar-SB for two weeks. In a parallel, double-blinded, intervention study, participants (n = 131; BMI 18–35 kg/m²; 18–40 years) consumed three beverages/day containing aspartame or 25% energy requirement as glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or sucrose (n = 23–28/group). Body weight, ad libitum food intake and 24-h leptin area under the curve (AUC) were assessed at Week 0 and at the end of Week 2. The Δbody weight was not different among groups (p = 0.092), but the increases in subjects consuming HFCS- (p = 0.0008) and glucose-SB (p = 0.018) were significant compared with Week 0. Subjects consuming sucrose- (+14%, p < 0.0015), fructose- (+9%, p = 0.015) and HFCS-SB (+8%, p = 0.017) increased energy intake during the ad libitum food intake trial compared with subjects consuming aspartame-SB (−4%, p = 0.0037, effect of SB). Fructose-SB decreased (−14 ng/mL × 24 h, p = 0.0006) and sucrose-SB increased (+25 ng/mL × 24 h, p = 0.025 vs. Week 0; p = 0.0008 vs. fructose-SB) 24-h leptin AUC. The Δad libitum food intake and Δbody weight were not influenced by circulating leptin in young adults consuming sugar-SB for 2 weeks. Studies are needed to determine the mechanisms mediating increased energy intake in subjects consuming sugar-SB.     

Effects of Isocaloric Fructose Restriction on Ceramide Levels in Children with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk: Relation to Hepatic De Novo Lipogenesis and Insulin Sensitivity

Sugar intake, particularly fructose, is implicated as a factor contributing to insulin resistance via hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL). A nine-day fructose reduction trial, controlling for other dietary factors and weight, in children with obesity and metabolic syndrome, decreased DNL and mitigated cardiometabolic risk (CMR) biomarkers. Ceramides are bioactive sphingolipids whose dysregulated metabolism contribute to lipotoxicity, insulin resistance, and CMR. We evaluated the effect of fructose reduction on ceramides and correlations between changes observed and changes in traditional CMR biomarkers in this cohort. Analyses were completed on data from 43 participants. Mean weight decreased (−0.9 ± 1.1 kg). The majority of total and subspecies ceramide levels also decreased significantly, including dihydroceramides, deoxyceramides and ceramide-1-phoshates. Change in each primary ceramide species correlated negatively with composite insulin sensitivity index (CISI). Change in deoxyceramides positively correlated with change in DNL. These results suggest that ceramides decrease in response to dietary fructose restriction, negatively correlate with insulin sensitivity, and may represent an intermediary link between hepatic DNL, insulin resistance, and CMR.     

Prolonged Changes in Hepatic Mitochondrial Activity and Insulin Sensitivity by High Fructose Intake in Adolescent Rats

Persistence of damage induced by unhealthy diets during youth has been little addressed. Therefore, we investigated the impact of a short-term fructose-rich diet on liver metabolic activity in adolescent rats and the putative persistence of alterations after removing fructose from the diet. Adolescent rats were fed a fructose-rich diet for three weeks and then switched to a control diet for further three weeks. Body composition and energy balance were not affected by fructose-rich diet, while increased body lipids and lipid gain were found after the rescue period. Switching to a control diet reversed the upregulation of plasma fructose, uric acid, lipocalin, and haptoglobin, while plasma triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, lipopolysaccharide, and tumor necrosis factor alpha remained higher. Hepatic steatosis and ceramide were increased by fructose-rich diet, but reversed by returning to a control diet, while altered hepatic response to insulin persisted. Liver fatty acid synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activities were upregulated by fructose-rich diet, and SCD activity remained higher after returning to the control diet. Fructose-induced upregulation of complex II-driven mitochondrial respiration, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α also persisted after switching to control diet. In conclusion, our results show prolonged fructose-induced dysregulation of liver metabolic activity.     

Effects of Coffee Consumption on Insulin Resistance and Sensitivity: A Meta-Analysis

Coffee is widely consumed worldwide and impacts glucose metabolism. After a previous meta-analysis that evaluated the effects of coffee consumption on insulin resistance and sensitivity, additional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of coffee consumption on insulin resistance or sensitivity. We selected RCTs that evaluated the effects of coffee consumption for seven days or more on insulin sensitivity or resistance using surrogate indices (homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda index). The fixed-effects or random-effects model was used according to heterogeneity. Four studies with 268 participants were analyzed in this meta-analysis. Coffee consumption significantly decreased HOMA-IR compared to control (mean difference (MD) = −0.13; 95% CI = −0.24–−0.03; p-value = 0.01). However, the significance was not maintained in the sensitivity analysis (MD = −0.04; 95% CI = −0.18–0.10; p-value = 0.55) after excluding data from the healthy, young, normal-weight group. Matsuda index was not significantly different between coffee and control groups (standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.33; 95% CI = −0.70–0.03; p-value = 0.08). In conclusion, long-term coffee consumption has a nonsignificant effect on insulin resistance and sensitivity. More studies evaluating the effects of coffee consumption in the healthy, young, and normal-weight individuals are needed.     

Association of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Cardiovascular Diseases Mortality in a Large Young Cohort of Nearly 300,000 Adults (Age 20–39)

(1) Background: The association of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in younger adults (age 20–39) is rarely mentioned in the literature. Younger adults are less vulnerable to CVDs, but they tend to consume more SSBs. This prospective study aimed to assess the association between CVD mortality and SSBs in younger adults between 1994 and 2017. (2) Methods: The cohort enrolled 288,747 participants consisting of 139,413 men and 148,355 women, with a mean age 30.6 ± 4.8 years, from a health surveillance program. SSBs referred to any drink with real sugar added, such as fructose corn syrup or sucrose. One serving of SSB contains about 150 Kcal of sugar in 12 oz of drink. Cox models were used to estimate the mortality risk. (3) Results: There were 391 deaths from CVDs in the younger adults, and the positive association with CVD mortality started when SSB intake was ≥2 servings/day (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.16–2.17). With mortalities from diabetes and kidney disease added to CVDs, the so-called expanded CVD mortality risk was 1.49 (95% CI: 1.11–2.01). By excluding CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, and smoking), the CVD mortality risk increased to 2.48 (95% CI: 1.33–4.62). The dose–response relationship persisted (p < 0.05 for trend) in every model above. (4) Conclusions: Higher intake of SSBs (≥2 servings/day) was associated with increased CVD mortality in younger adults. The younger adults (age 20–39) with SSB intake ≥2 servings/day had a 50% increase in CVD mortality in our study, and the mortality risk increased up to 2.5 times for those without CVD risk factors. The dose–response relationship between the quantity of SSB intake and the mortality risk of CVD in younger adults discourages SSB intake for the prevention of CVD mortality.     

A Pilot Study Comparing the Effects of Consuming 100% Orange Juice or Sucrose-Sweetened Beverage on Risk Factors for Cardiometabolic Disease in Women

Overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases risk factors associated with cardiometabolic disease, in part due to hepatic fructose overload. However, it is not clear whether consumption of beverages containing fructose as naturally occurring sugar produces equivalent metabolic dysregulation as beverages containing added sugars. We compared the effects of consuming naturally-sweetened orange juice (OJ) or sucrose-sweetened beverages (sucrose-SB) for two weeks on risk factors for cardiometabolic disease. Healthy, overweight women (n = 20) were assigned to consume either 3 servings of 100% orange juice or sucrose-SB/day. We conducted 16-hour serial blood collections and 3-h oral glucose tolerance tests during a 30-h inpatient visit at baseline and after the 2-week diet intervention. The 16-h area under the curve (AUC) for uric acid increased in subjects consuming sucrose-SB compared with subjects consuming OJ. Unlike sucrose-SB, OJ did not significantly increase fasting or postprandial lipoproteins. Consumption of both beverages resulted in reductions in the Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (OJ: −0.40 ± 0.18, p = 0.04 within group; sucrose-SB: −1.0 ± 0.38, p = 0.006 within group; p = 0.53 between groups). Findings from this pilot study suggest that consumption of OJ at levels above the current dietary guidelines for sugar intake does not increase plasma uric acid concentrations compared with sucrose-SB, but appears to lead to comparable decreases of insulin sensitivity.     

The Potential Impact of Different Taxation Scenarios towards Sugar-Sweetened Beverages on Overweight and Obesity in Brazil: A Modeling Study

The adoption of fiscal policies based on the specific taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been recommended by international health agencies, as they are measures that potentially reduce consumption. This study is an ex ante risk comparison that estimates the impact of three tax scenarios (20, 25, and 30%) with a 100% pass-on rate to SSBs on the prevalence of high weight and obesity in the Brazilian population. Data on the consumption habits, weight, and height of 46,164 adults aged 20 years or over from Brazilian recent national surveys were used. The shift in consumption after taxation was estimated based on the price elasticity of the demand. The percentage changes in overweight for 20, 25, and 30% taxation were 1.84% (95%CI: 1.82; 1.86), 1.89% (95%CI: 1.87; 1.90), and 2.25% (95%CI: 2.24; 2.27), respectively. The change in the prevalence of obesity was 1.93% (95%CI: 1.87; 2.00), 2.90% (95%CI: 2.80; 3.02), and 4.16% (95%CI: 4.01; 4.32), respectively. Taxes on SSBs may have a more favorable result among the heaviest consumers, who are young adults (20–29 years), especially men, thereby promoting a greater reduction in the prevalence of high weight and obesity.     

Effect of 2 Liquid Nutritional Supplements for Diabetes Patients on Postprandial Glucose,Insulin Secretion,and Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Individuals

Aim: To compare the effect of 2 liquid nutritional supplements (Enterex Diabetic and Glucerna SR) designed for the patient with diabetes mellitus on postprandial glucose, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals. Patients and Methods: A randomized, double‐blind, crossover clinical trial was carried out in 14 healthy, young (average age 21.7 ± 2.8 years) volunteers. Each individual received a single administration of 232 kcal in 232 mL of Enterex Diabetic or in 237 mL of Glucerna SR. Three days later, the intervention was crossed using the opposite supplement. At the beginning of each administration and later at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes, glucose and insulin concentrations were measured. Triglyceride concentrations were measured at the beginning and at 120 minutes. Area under the curve of glucose and insulin was calculated. First‐phase and total insulin secretion, as well as insulin sensitivity, were assessed. Results: Glucose concentration at 120 minutes was significantly lower after the administration of Enterex Diabetic in comparison with Glucerna SR (4.3 ± 0.6 vs 4.7 ± 0.4 mmol/L; P = .012). Enterex Diabetic compared with Glucerna SR showed a greater change of the glucose concentration from 0 to 120 minutes (–0.7 ± 0.6 vs –0.0± 0.4 mmol/L; P = .002). Administration of Enterex Diabetic decreased insulin concentrations at 120 minutes (60 ± 18 vs 48 ± 19 pmol/L; P = .013). Administration of Glucerna SR increased triglyceride concentration at 120 minutes (1.0 ± 0.3 vs 1.1 ± 0.4 mmol/L; P = .026). Conclusion: A single administration of Enterex Diabetic in healthy individuals decreased glucose and insulin concentrations at 120 minutes without any modification in triglyceride levels.     

单纯性肥胖儿童葡萄糖脂肪代谢特点及胰岛素敏感性研究

目的探讨单纯性肥胖儿童血糖、脂肪代谢特点,胰岛素敏感性及胰岛β-细胞功能状况。方法对33名单纯性肥胖儿童和26例非肥胖儿童进行口服葡萄糖耐量试验及胰岛素释放试验,测定空腹及糖负荷后60、120、180min血糖,血清胰岛素,C肽水平及空腹血脂水平,计算胰岛素敏感指数及胰岛素分泌指数。结果单纯性肥胖儿童葡萄糖负荷后血糖水平明显升高(P<0.05),空腹及葡萄糖负荷后血清胰岛素、C肽水平高于对照组(P<0.05),胰岛素敏感指数及胰岛素分泌指数低于对照组(P<0.05)。空腹甘油三酯、总胆固醇升高及高密度脂蛋白降低(P<0.05)。结论单纯性肥胖儿童有糖耐量异常,高胰岛素血症、胰岛素抵抗、胰岛β-细胞功能受损及脂代谢紊乱。     

n-3、n-6PUFA高脂饮食对大鼠血脂及胰岛素敏感性的影响

<正>脂肪肝、肥胖、胰岛素抵抗的产生与脂肪摄入过量及n-6PUFA/n-3PUFA比增大密切相关[1]。研究证实长期脂肪(尤其是饱和脂肪)能量摄入过量可作为独立的诱发因素导致胰岛素抵抗及肥胖[2]。大量研究表明不同类型脂肪酸对血脂代谢及胰岛素敏感性的影响存在差异[3],适量摄入PUFA能改善血脂异常及胰岛素抵抗[4]。亚油酸     

The Effect of a Low Fructose and Low Glycemic Index/Load (FRAGILE) Dietary Intervention on Indices of Liver Function,Cardiometabolic Risk Factors,and Body Composition in Children and Adolescents With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disease in obese children. Diets high in added fructose (high fructose corn syrup; HFCS) and glycemic index (GI)/glycemic load (GL) are associated with increased risk of NAFLD. Lifestyle modification is the main treatment, but no guidelines regarding specific dietary interventions for childhood NAFLD exist. We hypothesized that reductions in dietary fructose (total, free, and HFCS)/GI/GL over 6 months would result in improvements in body composition and markers of liver dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk in childhood NAFLD. Methods: Children and adolescents with NAFLD (n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 14) 7–18 years were studied at baseline and 3 and 6 months post–dietary intervention. Plasma markers of liver dysfunction (ALT, AST, γGT), cardiometabolic risk (TG, total cholesterol, LDL‐HDL cholesterol, Apo‐B100, Apo‐B48, Apo‐CIII, insulin, homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA‐IR]), inflammation (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10), anthropometric, and blood pressure (BP) were studied using validated methodologies. Results: Significant reductions in systolic BP (SBP), percentage body fat (BF), and plasma concentrations of ALT (P = .04), Apo‐B100 (P < .001), and HOMA‐IR were observed in children with NAFLD at 3 and 6 months (P < .05). Dietary reductions in total/free fructose/HFCS and GL were related to reductions in SBP (P = .01), ALT (P = .004), HOMA‐IR (P = .03), and percentage BF in children with NAFLD. Reductions in dietary GI were associated with reduced plasma Apo‐B100 (P = .02) in both groups. With the exception of Apo‐B100, no changes in laboratory variables were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Modest reductions in fructose (total/free, HFCS) and GI/GL intake result in improvements of plasma markers of liver dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk in childhood NAFLD.     

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Insulin Resistance in Adults: A before and after Pandemic Lockdown Longitudinal Study

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a chronic disease caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver related to overweight and obesity, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and high levels of triglycerides and leads to an increased cardiovascular risk. It is considered a global pandemic, coinciding with the pandemic in 2020 caused by the “coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19). Due to COVID-19, the population was placed under lockdown. The aim of our study was to evaluate how these unhealthy lifestyle modifications influenced the appearance of metabolic alterations and the increase in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 6236 workers in a Spanish population between March 2019 and March 2021. Results: Differences in the mean values of anthropometric and clinical parameters before and after lockdown were revealed. There was a statistically significant worsening in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and in the insulin resistance scales, with increased body weight, BMI, cholesterol levels with higher LDL levels, and glucose and a reduction in HDL levels. Conclusions: Lockdown caused a worsening of cardiovascular risk factors due to an increase in liver fat estimation scales and an increased risk of presenting with NAFLD and changes in insulin resistance.     

The Use and Effectiveness of Selected Alternative Markers for Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion Compared with Gold Standard Markers in Dietary Intervention Studies in Individuals without Diabetes: Results of a Systematic Review

Background: The gold-standard techniques for measuring insulin sensitivity and secretion are well established. However, they may be perceived as invasive and expensive for use in dietary intervention studies. Thus, surrogate markers have been proposed as alternative markers for insulin sensitivity and secretion. This systematic review aimed to identify markers of insulin sensitivity and secretion in response to dietary intervention and assess their suitability as surrogates for the gold-standard methodology. Methods: Three databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane were searched, intervention studies and randomised controlled trials reporting data on dietary intake, a gold standard of analysis of insulin sensitivity (either euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp or intravenous glucose tolerance test and secretion (acute insulin response to glucose), as well as surrogate markers for insulin sensitivity (either fasting insulin, area under the curve oral glucose tolerance tests and HOMA-IR) and insulin secretion (disposition index), were selected. Results: We identified thirty-five studies that were eligible for inclusion. We found insufficient evidence to predict insulin sensitivity and secretion with surrogate markers when compared to gold standards in nutritional intervention studies. Conclusions: Future research is needed to investigate if surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity and secretion can be repeatable and reproducible in the same way as gold standards.     

Effects of Ingesting Both Catechins and Chlorogenic Acids on Glucose,Incretin, and Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Men: A Randomized,Double-Blinded,Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial

Epidemiologic studies have revealed that consuming green tea or coffee reduces diabetes risk. We evaluated the effects of the combined consumption of green tea catechins and coffee chlorogenic acids (GTC+CCA) on postprandial glucose, the insulin incretin response, and insulin sensitivity. Eleven healthy men were recruited for this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial. The participants consumed a GTC+CCA-enriched beverage (620 mg GTC, 373 mg CCA, and 119 mg caffeine/day) for three weeks; the placebo beverages (PLA) contained no GTC or CCA (PLA: 0 mg GTC, 0 mg CCA, and 119 mg caffeine/day). Postprandial glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) responses were measured at baseline and after treatments. GTC+CCA consumption for three weeks showed a significant treatment-by-time interaction on glucose changes after the ingestion of high-fat and high-carbohydrate meals, however, it did not affect fasting glucose levels. Insulin sensitivity was enhanced by GCT+CCA compared with PLA. GTC+CCA consumption resulted in a significant increase in postprandial GLP-1 and a decrease in GIP compared to PLA. Consuming a combination of GTC and CCA for three weeks significantly improved postprandial glycemic control, GLP-1 response, and postprandial insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals and may be effective in preventing diabetes.     

Effects of Dietary Fat and Saturated Fat Content on Liver Fat and Markers of Oxidative Stress in Overweight/Obese Men and Women under Weight-Stable Conditions

Dietary fat and oxidative stress are hypothesized to contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and progression to steatohepatitis. To determine the effects of dietary fat content on hepatic triglyceride, body fat distribution and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, overweight/obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance consumed a control diet (CONT: 35% fat/12% saturated fat/47% carbohydrate) for ten days, followed by four weeks on a low fat (LFD (n = 10): 20% fat/8% saturated fat/62% carbohydrate) or high fat diet (HFD (n = 10): 55% fat/25% saturated fat/27% carbohydrate). Hepatic triglyceride content was quantified by MRS and abdominal fat distribution by MRI. Fasting biomarkers of inflammation (plasma hsCRP, IL-6, IL-12, TNFα, IFN-γ) and oxidative stress (urinary F2-α isoprostanes) were measured. Body weight remained stable. Compared to the CONT, hepatic triglyceride decreased on the LFD (mean (95% CI): change −2.13% (−3.74%, −0.52%)), but did not change on the HFD and there was no significant difference between the LFD and HFD. Intra-abdominal fat did not change significantly on either diet, but subcutaneous abdominal fat increased on the HFD. There were no significant changes in fasting metabolic markers, inflammatory markers and urinary F2-α isoprostanes. We conclude that in otherwise healthy overweight/obese adults under weight-neutral conditions, a diet low in fat and saturated fat has modest effects to decrease liver fat and may be beneficial. On the other hand, a diet very high in fat and saturated fat had no effect on hepatic triglyceride or markers of metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress.     

短期脂肪酸干预对人群血清FFA、脂联素及其胰岛素抵抗的影响

<正>脂联素是由脂肪组织分泌的细胞因子,可调控糖脂代谢和能量平衡,调节胰岛素敏感性。游离脂肪酸不仅参与2型糖尿病(T2DM)和胰岛素抵抗的发生,还可损害β细胞的功能。但不同脂肪酸饮食对脂联素和游离脂肪酸的动态影响,目前国内研究甚少。本实验旨在探讨不同脂肪酸饮食对糖耐量正常人群脂联素、游离脂肪酸的影响及其与胰岛素敏感性间的关系,为预防和治疗糖尿     

Prenatal Exposure to BPA: The Effects on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Male and Female Rat Fetuses

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic chemical compound widely used for manufacturing plastics. BPA exposure originates principally from the diet, but it can also originate from dermal contact. In over 90% of individuals, including pregnant women, BPA is detectable in several body fluids. The effects of this exposure on the fetus are under active investigation in several research laboratories. The aim of our work was to study the impact of prenatal exposure to BPA in the liver of rat fetuses from a sex-dependent point of view. We particularly investigated the effects of prenatal BPA exposure on hepatic lipids because of their crucial role, not only for the liver, but also for the whole-body functions. Our results demonstrate that the liver of rat fetuses, in utero exposed to a very low dose of BPA (2.5 µg/kg/day), displays significant modulations with regard to proteins involved in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis and trafficking. Moreover, an impact on inflammatory process has been observed. All these effects are dependent on sex, being observable only in female rat fetuses. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that maternal exposure to BPA compromises hepatic lipid metabolism in female offspring, and it also reveals the perspective impact of BPA on human health at doses currently considered safe.     

Impact of Short Term Consumption of Diets High in Either Non-Starch Polysaccharides or Resistant Starch in Comparison with Moderate Weight Loss on Indices of Insulin Sensitivity in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome

This study investigated if additional non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) or resistant starch (RS), above that currently recommended, leads to better improvement in insulin sensitivity (IS) than observed with modest weight loss (WL). Obese male volunteers (n = 14) were given an energy-maintenance (M) diet containing 27 g NSP and 5 g RS daily for one week. They then received, in a cross-over design, energy-maintenance intakes of either an NSP-enriched diet (42 g NSP, 2.5 g RS) or an RS-enriched diet (16 g NSP, 25 g RS), each for three weeks. Finally, a high protein (30% calories) WL diet was provided at 8 MJ/day for three weeks. During each dietary intervention, endogenous glucose production (EGP) and IS were assessed. Fasting glycaemia was unaltered by diet, but plasma insulin and C-peptide both decreased with the WL diet (p < 0.001), as did EGP (−11%, p = 0.006). Homeostatis model assessment of insulin resistance improved following both WL (p < 0.001) and RS (p < 0.05) diets. Peripheral tissue IS improved only with WL (57%–83%, p < 0.005). Inclusion of additional RS or NSP above amounts currently recommended resulted in little or no improvement in glycaemic control, whereas moderate WL (approximately 3 kg fat) improved IS.