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Volume 57 (2011)
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Volume 57, Issue 2
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Taro HONMA, Miyuki YANAKA, Tsuyoshi TSUDUKI, Ikuo IKEDA2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 123-129
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe population of elderly persons has increased worldwide. However, few studies have examined age-dependent changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism related to age-related diseases. The number of cases of metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide and prevention of lifestyle diseases may lead to prolongation of lifespan. In this study, we examined age-dependent changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the senescence-accelerated (SAM) P10 mouse. Tissue weights and biochemical parameters in plasma and liver were examined in SAMP10 mice aged 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo. White adipose tissue weight and the levels of liver triacylglycerol, plasma free fatty acids, and plasma insulin all showed increases with aging of the mice. To examine this mechanism in detail, aging-related changes in mRNA expression of genes related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism were examined by DNA microarray analysis. The mRNA level for Hsd11b1 (hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase 1), which increases insulin secretion and resistance, was elevated with aging in the liver of SAMP10 mice. These results show that lipid accumulation in liver and white adipose tissue is promoted by aging in SAMP10 mice through an increase in plasma insulin levels.View full abstractDownload PDF (131K) -
Elevated Maternal Serum Folate in the Third Trimester and Reduced Fetal Growth: A Longitudinal StudyHidemi TAKIMOTO, Fumi HAYASHI, Kaoru KUSAMA, Noriko KATO, Nobuo YOSHII ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 130-137
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThis study aimed to examine the association of fetal growth and elevated third trimester maternal serum folate due to folic acid (FA) supplement intake. Dietary intake, use of FA supplements, weight, and blood biomarkers of B-vitamins (serum folate, pyridoxal, vitamin B12, and plasma total homocysteine) were observed in 33 healthy pregnant women at the third trimester (average gestational age 35 wk). Birth outcomes were assessed through hospital birth records. Infant anthropometry and maternal blood biomarkers were followed up at 1 mo postpartum. Fourteen women were taking FA supplements at the third trimester. Dietary intake was similar among FA users and non-users, but serum folate and pyridoxal were significantly higher in users (11.6±6.7 vs. 6.1±3.2 ng/mL, and 13.8±21.7 vs. 3.2±1.4 ng/mL, respectively). Plasma total homocystein (tHcy) was higher in non-users compared to users, but not significantly. Nine FA users and eight non-users had low serum vitamin B12 values (<203 pg/mL). Nine FA users and all non-users had low serum pyridoxal values (<7.0 ng/mL). Infant birthweight was significantly lower in users compared to non-users (2,894±318 vs. 3,154±230 g). At 1 mo postpartum, infant weight and length were similar between FA users and non-users, but infant weight gain was larger in users. Higher serum folate values due to FA use in the third trimester was related to reduced fetal size. Excess FA under low vitamin B6 and B12 status may affect fetal growth.View full abstractDownload PDF (130K) -
Masashi KUWAHATA, Hiroyo KUBOTA, Saki AMANO, Meiko YOKOYAMA, Yasuhiro ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 138-143
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on hepatic lipid accumulation in growing rats with protein malnutrition. Weaning rats were fed either a low-protein diet (3%, LP) or control protein diet (20%, CP), in combination with or without MCT. The four groups were as follows: CP-MCT, CP+MCT, LP−MCT, and LP+MCT. Rats in the CP−MCT, CP+MCT and LP+MCT groups were pair-fed their respective diets based on the amount of diet consumed by the LP−MCT group. Rats were fed each experimental diet for 30 d. Four weeks later, the respiratory quotient was higher in the LP−MCT group than those in the other groups during the fasting period. Hepatic triglyceride content increased in the LP groups compared with the CP groups. Hepatic triglyceride content in the LP+MCT group, however, was significantly decreased compared with that in the LP−MCT group. Levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) 1a mRNA and CPT2 mRNA were significantly decreased in the livers of the LP−MCT group, as compared with corresponding mRNA levels of the other groups. These results suggest that ingestion of a low-protein diet caused fatty liver in growing rats. However, when rats were fed the low-protein diet with MCT, hepatic triglyceride deposition was attenuated, and mRNA levels encoding CPT1a and CPT2 were preserved at the levels of rats fed control protein diets.View full abstractDownload PDF (671K) -
Nobuhiro FUKUDA, Ayako YOSHITAMA, Satomi SUGITA, Michiko FUJITA, Shige ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 144-149
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe investigated the fate of exogenous fatty acid in connection with decreased hepatic accumulation and secretion of cholesteryl esters in rats fed diets containing taurine. Providing taurine as 5% of the diet for 14 d significantly decreased concentrations of cholesterol, especially cholesteryl esters in both serum and liver. Ketone body production and incorporation of exogenous [1-14C]oleate into ketone bodies in liver perfusate were consistently higher during a 4-h perfusion period in taurine-fed rats than in control rats. The elevation was accompanied by increased activity of liver mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase, a rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acid oxidation. Dietary taurine significantly reduced hepatic secretion of cholesteryl ester and decreased incorporation of exogenous oleic acid substrate into this lipid molecule. Further, the extent of reduction in hepatic secretion of cholesteryl ester was closely related to its diminished accumulation in the liver. The conversion pattern of exogenous [1-14C]oleic acid substrate suggested a decreased esterification-to-oxidation ratio in the taurine group compared with the control. These results suggest that taurine-induced reduction in hepatic accumulation of cholesteryl ester was associated with reduced hepatic secretion of this lipid molecule, and was inversely related to enhanced ketone body production and fatty acid oxidation.View full abstractDownload PDF (89K) -
Siew-Choo CHEW, Geok-Lin KHOR, Su-Peng LOH2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 150-155
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSFolate is of prime interest among investigators in nutrition due to its multiple roles in maintaining health, especially in preventing neural tube defects and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the effect of dietary folate intake on blood folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and homocysteine status. One hundred subjects consisting of Chinese and Malay subjects volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study. Dietary folate intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recall and a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Serum and red blood cell folate were analyzed using a microbiological assay, while serum vitamin B12 was determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the determination of serum vitamin B6 and homocysteine. The mean folate intake, serum folate, RBC folate, serum vitamin B12, and B6, were higher in female subjects, with the exception of serum homocysteine. The Chinese tended to have higher folate intake, serum folate, RBC folate, and vitamin B12. A positive association was found between folate intake and serum folate while a negative association was found between folate intake and serum homocysteine. Stepwise linear regression of serum folate showed a significant positive coefficient for folate intake whilst a significant negative coefficient was found for serum homocysteine when controlling for age, gender, and ethnicity. In conclusion, high dietary folate intake helps to increase serum folate and to lower the homocysteine levels.View full abstractDownload PDF (106K) -
Akie SATO, Yoko NAKASHIMA2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 156-161
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSZinc (Zn)-deficiency causes a reduction in food intake and alters adipose metabolism. The effect of zinc restriction in rats on the selection of fish-oil and lard was studied during a period of reduced appetite. The reduction of appetite was caused by an experimentally induced Zn-deficiency. Four-week-old male rats were divided into three dietary treatment groups: Zn-adequate (ZnA, 30.9 mg Zn/kg), marginal Zn-deficient (ZnM, 5.9 mg Zn/kg) or Zn-deficient (ZnD, 0.9 mg Zn/kg). The three groups were placed on a self-selection regimen of the ZnA-fish-oil diet (ZnA-FD) and the ZnA-lard diet (ZnA-LD), the ZnM-FD and the ZnM-LD or the ZnD-FD and the ZnD-LD, respectively for 24 d. The amount of the FD intake in the ZnD group decreased to 0.5 g/d after day 4-6 of self-selecting on the LD and the FD and no significant increase in the FD intake in the group was observed during the self-selection period. However, after day 7-9 and 13-15, the FD intake of the ZnA and the ZnM groups increased, respectively, and at the end of the self-selection period the ZnM and the ZnA rats consumed about 2.0 g FD/d and 4.5 g FD/d, respectively. The FD intake ratio [FD intake (g)/total intake (g)] in the ZnD rats during the self-selection period was the lowest and that in the ZnA rats was the highest of three groups. In conclusion, we showed that zinc status alters fish-oil and lard selection patterns and ZnD rats did not show a preference for fish-oil.View full abstractDownload PDF (100K) -
Seiya INOUE, Kazuki MOCHIZUKI, Toshinao GODA2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 162-169
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe intestinal expression of genes involved in carbohydrate digestion and absorption, such as sucrase-isomaltase (SI) and sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter (SGLT1), is higher in rodents fed a high-starch/low-fat (HS) diet than in those fed a low-starch/high-fat (LS) diet. In the present study, we investigated whether the HS diet-induced induction of SI and SGLT1 in the rat jejunum is coordinately regulated by nuclear transcription factors, histone acetylation, or histone acetyltransferases. HS diet intake induced jejunal expression of a histone acetyltransferase, general control of amino acid synthesis (GCN5), concurrently with the SI and SGLT1 genes; however, gene expression of nuclear transcription factors such as hepatocyte nuclear factor-1, caudal type homeobox-2, and GATA-binding protein-4 was unaffected by the HS diet. Acetylation of histones H3/H4 and binding of acetyltransferase GCN5 on the promoter/enhancer and transcribed regions of SI and SGLT1 genes were significantly higher in HS diet-fed rats than in LS diet-fed rats, but transcription factor binding was not affected by the HS diet. Our results suggest that the concomitant induction of SI and SGLT1 genes in the jejunum by the HS diet is closely associated with the binding of GCN5 and acetylation of histones H3/H4 on these genes.View full abstractDownload PDF (566K) -
Kei INAGAKI, Kengo ISHIHARA, Mariko ISHIDA, Ai WATANABE, Mika FUJIWARA ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 170-176
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSEnzymatically synthesized glycogen (ESG) has high solubility and its solution has low osmotic pressure. Therefore ESG solution could be rapidly absorbed and could be adequate for water rehydration and carbohydrate supplementation during exercise. The object of this study was to evaluate the gastric emptying time and plasma glucose elevation after an administration of ESG solution in comparison with another carbohydrate solution by using a laboratory animal. Male BALB/c mice were administered 10% w/v solution of glucose, maltodextrin, starch, naturally synthesized glycogen (NSG) and ESG at a dose of 20 μL/g body weight for the measurement of gastric emptying rate (Experiment 1) and 10 μL/g body weight for the measurement of plasma glucose elevation (Experiment 2). The osmolarity of gastric content was lower in the ESG and maltodextrin group than the other carbohydrate group. Weight of gastric fluid was significantly lower in the ESG and water group than the glucose group (p<0.01). Plasma glucose level was significantly lower in the ESG group than the glucose group from 0 to 60 min after administration (p<0.01), whereas plasma glucose level was same from 60 to 120 min for the ESG and glucose group (p=0.948). In Experiment 3, BALB/c mice ran on a treadmill for 2 h and were administered 8% of ESG or glucose solution (1.75, 3.5 or 7.0 μL/g body weight) every 20 min during running. There was no difference in post-exercise muscle glycogen level. These data suggest that 1) ESG beverage does not disturb water absorption because of its short gastric emptying time and 2) ESG slowly elevates plasma glucose level and maintains it for a prolonged time compared to the glucose solution.View full abstractDownload PDF (531K) -
Selvaraj Milton PRABU, Kalist SHAGIRTHA, Jayapaul RENUGADEVI2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 177-185
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSCadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury is one of the major outcomes of chronic Cd toxicity, which can be ameliorated by numerous antioxidants. The present study was undertaken to find the therapeutic efficacy of naringenin (NGN) plus vitamins C and E on Cd-induced oxidative hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. It has been noticed that Cd intoxication significantly elevates the levels of serum hepatic marker enzymes such as alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, γ glutamyl transferase, total bilirubin, and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, conjugated dienes and protein carbonyls. In addition, Cd also decreases the activities of hepatic enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants total sulphydryl groups, reduced glutathione, vitamins C and E and histopathological changes in liver. Treatment with NGN and vitamins C and E in combination more significantly improved the altered biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver of Cd-intoxicated rats than the NGN or vitamins C and E treatment alone. Conclusion: The present data suggest that combined administration of NGN with vitamins C and E proved to be more beneficial in the treatment of Cd-hepatotoxicity than NGN treatment alone.View full abstractDownload PDF (3649K) -
Juen-Haur HWANG, I-Te LEE, Kee-Ching JENG, Ming-Fu WANG, Rolis Chien-W ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 186-191
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSSpirulina has proven to be effective in treating certain cancers, hyperlipidemia, immunodeficiency, and inflammatory processes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Spirulina on memory dysfunction, oxidative stress damage and antioxidant enzyme activity. Three-month-old male senescence-accelerated prone-8 (SAMP8) mice were randomly assigned to either a control group or to one of two experimental groups (one receiving daily dietary supplementation with 50 mg/kg BW and one with 200 mg/kg BW of Spirulina platensis water extract). Senescence-accelerated-resistant (SAMR1) mice were used as the external control. Results showed that the Spirulina-treated groups had better passive and avoidance scores than the control group. The amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposition was significantly reduced at the hippocampus and whole brain in both Spirulina groups. The levels of lipid peroxidation were significantly reduced at the hippocampus, striatum, and cortex in both Spirulina groups, while catalase activity was significantly higher only in the 200 mg/kg BW Spirulina group than in the control group. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher only in the cortex of the 200 mg/kg group than in that of the SAMP8 control group. However, superoxide dismutase activity in all parts of the brain did not significantly differ among all groups. In conclusion, Spirulina platensis may prevent the loss of memory possibly by lessening Aβ protein accumulation, reducing oxidative damage and mainly augmenting the catalase activity.View full abstractDownload PDF (230K)
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Takao TANAKA, Daisuke YAMAMOTO, Takaji SATO, Sunao TANAKA, Kazuya USUI ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 192-196
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSOveractivation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) has been demonstrated to result in various stress-related diseases, including diabetes mellitus. Deficiency of cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) content, consumed by PARP-1 to add ADP-ribose moieties onto target proteins, contributes to pathophysiological conditions. Adenosine thiamine triphosphate (AThTP) exists in small amounts in mammals; however, the function(s) of this metabolite remains unresolved. The structure of AThTP resembles NAD+. Recent experimental studies demonstrate beneficial impacts of high-dose thiamine treatment of diabetic complications. These findings have led us to hypothesize that AThTP may modulate the activity of PARP-1. We have chemically synthesized AThTP and evaluated the effect of AThTP on recombinant PARP-1 enzyme activity. AThTP inhibited the PARP-1 activity at 10 μM, and a structural model of the PARP-1-AThTP complex highlighted the AThTP binding site. The results provide new insights into the pharmacological importance of AThTP as an inhibitor of PARP-1.View full abstractDownload PDF (929K) -
Yuko SAKAKIBARA, Shogo SATO, Yu KAWASHIMA, Yui SOMEYA, Ken SHIRATO, Ka ...2011 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 197-201
Published: 2011
Released on J-STAGE: June 21, 2011
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of the recovery from dietary zinc-deficiency on the number of total white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils, and plasma zinc and corticosterone concentrations in weanling male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats (n=34) of the zinc-deficient diet (0.6 mg zinc/kg diet) and control diet (35.2 mg zinc/kg diet) groups were fed for 4 wk, and then rats of both groups were fed with the control diet for 3 wk. Zinc-deficiency increased duration-dependently and clearly the number of total WBCs, neutrophils and eosinophils, and the increased numbers of these cells recovered to the control levels in week 2 of the recovery. On the other hand, the number of basophils increased by the zinc-deficiency recovered to the control levels in week 1 of the recovery. Zinc-deficiency significantly decreased plasma zinc concentrations by 85%, and markedly increased plasma corticosterone concentrations by 317%, as compared with the control group. In the recovery period, plasma zinc and corticosterone concentrations recovered to the control levels in week 2 of the recovery. These results suggest that zinc-deficiency and its recovery responses in the number of granulocytes and total WBCs are reversible, and their recovery rates depend on the subsets of granulocytes in rats.View full abstractDownload PDF (280K)
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