Length of residence and obesity risk among North African immigrant women in Italy

Obesity is one of the major risks for chronic health conditions. Immigrants from low- and middle-income to high-income countries show a tendency to weight gain, with the country of origin, lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status and length of residence as the main factors involved. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the association between fat distribution and obesity with length of residence and other socio-demographic variables in a sample of North African women migrated to Italy. Socio-demographic variables were collected by structured face-to-face interview. For the assessment of weight status and body composition, various anthropometric traits were directly measured by an expert anthropometrist. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA adjusted for age to test the differences between length of residence (divided into three groups) and logistic regression models adjusted for covariates to test the association between overweight and/or obesity and length of residence. Significant differences between the three groups were observed in waist circumference (p = 0.004), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.001), and upper arm muscularity (p = 0.025), with higher values in those with longer duration of residence. In the crude logistic regression model length of residence resulted positively associated with obesity with the odds of being obese increased by 2.4 times in long term immigrants [OR 2.364 (0.766; 7.296)]. After adjusting for covariate the association remained significant [OR 3.584 (0.779; 16.480)], and being poorly educated [OR 5.737 (0.641; 51.363)], unemployed [OR 6.892 (0.940; 50.528)] and not practicing regular physical activity [OR 17.736 (1.569; 200.418)] increased the odds ratio of being obese.In conclusion, length of residence, socioeconomic status, and physical activity were significantly correlated with obesity, with a longer duration of residence being positively associated with central fat adiposity and upper arm muscle area in North African migrant women.     

Obesity and Blood Pressure in children

Estimates of relationships between blood pressures and anthropometric structure or body composition were made on a total sample of 414 children, taking age and sex into account. A subsample of 250 children was formed from obese (or slightly obese) subjects. A different pattern in anthropometric structure and body composition resulted in relation to a different degree of obesity. A canonical correlation analysis was carried out for each sex, in which a multivariate measure of the linear association between heart-circulatory functionality parameters, on the one hand, and all the anthropometric traits and body composition parameters, on the other, was computed. This association resulted statistically significant in both sexes, also if a difference was observed as concerns the traits that most heavily contributed to the relation-ships between sets of variables, with an evident sexual dimorphism also in infancy. The necessity of preventive measures and sanitary screening also during infancy was pointed out.     

Conflicting effects of BMI and waist circumference on iron status

The association between obesity and iron status has a long history and is still receiving attention. However comparative analysis of the association between general obesity (BMI) and visceral obesity (waist circumference) with iron status has not been extensively researched. The aim of the present study is thus to determine if body mass index and waist circumference have the same correlation with iron status. One thousand one hundred and thirty people (225 men and 905 women) aged 30 years and above participated in this study. Anthropometric parameters, haemoglobin, iron and total iron binding capacity concentrations were measured using standard methods. Percentage transferrin saturation was calculated and ferritin concentrations were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Obese or overweight women had significantly lower iron and transferrin saturation concentration when compared to non-obese women. In contrast, women with high waist circumference had comparable plasma iron and transferrin saturation to women with normal waist circumference. Partial correlation analysis and linear regression analysis showed that BMI is negatively and significantly associated with plasma iron, transferrin saturation, Hb and ferritin concentration, whilst waist circumference is positively but insignificantly associated with plasma iron, transferrin saturation, Hb and ferritin concentration. Binary regression analysis showed that obese or overweight people are more likely to have iron deficiency, whilst those with raised waist circumference are more likely to have iron overload. Multivariate analysis showed that body mass index is negatively and significantly associated with low iron status, while waist circumference is positively and insignificantly associated with iron status. This is supported by a comparison of plasma iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin concentrations in participants with high body mass index and normal waist circumference and participants with normal body mass index and high waist circumference to those participants having normal body mass index and normal waist circumference. The present study suggests that in women body mass index is associated with low plasma iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin concentrations, while waist circumference is associated with high plasma iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin concentrations.     

Apolipoprotein A-V is a potential target for treating coronary artery disease: evidence from genetic and metabolomic analyses

Triglyceride (TG)-lowering LPL variants in combination with genetic LDL-C-lowering variants are associated with reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Genetic variation in the APOA5 gene encoding apolipoprotein A-V also strongly affects TG levels, but the potential clinical impact and underlying mechanisms are yet to be resolved. Here, we aimed to study the effects of APOA5 genetic variation on CAD risk and plasma lipoproteins through factorial genetic association analyses. Using data from 309,780 European-ancestry participants from the UK Biobank, we evaluated the effects of lower TG levels as a result of genetic variation in APOA5 and/or LPL on CAD risk with or without a background of reduced LDL-C. Next, we compared lower TG levels via APOA5 and LPL variation with over 100 lipoprotein measurements in a combined sample from the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study (N = 4,838) and the Oxford Biobank (N = 6,999). We found that lower TG levels due to combined APOA5 and LPL variation and genetically-influenced lower LDL-C levels afforded the largest reduction in CAD risk (odds ratio: 0.78 (0.73–0.82)). Compared to patients with genetically-influenced lower TG via LPL, genetically-influenced lower TG via APOA5 had similar and independent, but notably larger, effects on the lipoprotein profile. Our results suggest that lower TG levels as a result of APOA5 variation have strong beneficial effects on CAD risk and the lipoprotein profile, which suggest apo A-V may be a potential novel therapeutic target for CAD prevention.     

Does obesity influence labour market outcomes among working-age adults? Evidence from Canadian longitudinal data

Although a negative association between obesity and labour market outcomes is commonly reported in many studies, the causal nature of this relationship remains unclear. Using nationally representative longitudinal data from the last six confidential master files (2000/2001–2010/2011) of the National Population Health Survey, we examine the association between obesity and employment participation and earnings among working-age adults in Canada. After controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle factors and time-invariant individual heterogeneity, our results show that obesity is not significantly associated with employment participation but is associated with reduced hourly wage rate and annual income among women by about 4% and 4.5%, respectively. The corresponding results for men show that obesity is associated with about 2% reduction in wage rate and income, but significant at 10% level. However, after controlling for the potential reverse causality bias using the lagged measure of obesity, the effect of obesity on wage rate and income became positive or statistically non-significant. Our findings suggest that obesity is not causally associated with negative labour market outcomes among working-age men in Canada. For working-age women, we find limited evidence of negative labour market outcomes.     

Metabolic syndrome in relation to Barrett⿿s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma: Results from a large population-based case-control study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes local chronic inflammation that increases risks of Barrett⿿s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA), yet symptomatic GERD is absent in approximately half of all such patients. Obesity exacerbates GERD and is also a component of metabolic syndrome (MetS). We evaluated the hypothesis that MetS is a GERD-independent mechanism by which obesity is associated with increased risks of BE and EA using data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. BE cases (n = 10,215) and EA cases (n = 592) were each individually matched to five population controls based on age, sex, and general practice. MetS was defined as occurrence of at least three of the following: obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. MetS was marginally associated with BE (OR = 1.12, 95%CI 1.00⿿1.25). Similar effects were found for the individual component factors of obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol. History of GERD modified the association (P-_{effect modification} <1E⿿5), with the MetS-BE association confined to patients without a history of GERD (OR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.12⿿1.58). No association between MetS and risk of EA was detected in the main or stratified analyses. In this large population-based case-control study, individuals with MetS had a marginally increased risk of BE in the absence of GERD. The systemic inflammatory state (MetS) may represent a reflux-independent inflammatory pathway that increases the risk of BE. MetS did not increase risk of EA in this study population.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus onset in lupus-prone B6.MRL/lpr mice Is influenced by weight gain and Is preceded by an increase in neutrophil oxidative burst activity

In this study, we assessed whether weight gain influenced the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) onset and/or outcome, and examined the role that reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by neutrophils played in the SLE onset and/or outcome. Female control (C57BL/6) and lupus-prone B6.MRL/lpr mice (CM and LPM, respectively) at 4 weeks old were fed standard diet or standard diet plus cafeteria diet during 12 weeks. SLE diagnosis relied on the presence of both antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and renal abnormalities. We found that the percentage of weight gain in CM and LPM increased as a function of the length of cafeteria diet feeding period, but it was not associated with energy intake. Cafeteria diet-fed CM and LPM at 8 and 12 weeks old were overweight, while CM and LPM at 16 weeks old were obese. Compared with standard diet-fed CM and LPM, cafeteria diet-fed CM and LPM exhibited elevated glucose and total cholesterol levels, and diminished triglycerides levels. Standard diet-fed 16-week-old LPM and cafeteria diet-fed 12-week-old LPM had nephritis, characterized by the increased interstitial infiltration of leukocytes. Cafeteria diet-induced weight gain rose the frequency of homogeneous and speckled ANA staining patterns in the 12- and 16-week-old LPM groups. Together, these results indicated that weight gain anticipated the SLE onset. In addition, neutrophils from cafeteria diet-fed 8-week-old LPM exhibited augmented ROS production capacity; in standard diet-fed LPM, such rise occurred only in the 16-week-old group. Thus, the neutrophil ROS production capacity was increased before the SLE onset and during its outcome. Overweight and obese CM and LPM displayed elevated levels of kidney, liver, heart, and spleen lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, cafeteria diet-induced weight gain is associated with the increased production of ANA and neutrophil-derived ROS, which may contribute to accelerate the SLE onset.     

Cross talk between angiotensin-(1–7)/Mas axis and sirtuins in adipose tissue and metabolism of high-fat feed mice

Angiotensin-(1–7) and resveratrol have been described as new potential therapeutic tools on treating and preventing metabolic disorders. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the effect of an oral formulation of angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] included in HPB-cyclodextrin and resveratrol (RSV), in modulation of sirtuin and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in adipose tissue of mice treated with a high-fat diet (HFD). We observed that HFD + Ang-(1–7) and HFD + RSV groups presented marked decrease in the adipose tissue mass. Furthermore, these animals showed improved insulin-sensitivity and glucose tolerance as well as lower plasma levels of fasting glucose and lipids. The RT-PCR analysis revealed decreased expression of ACE and an increase of ACE2 [Ang-(1–7) marker] in group treated with resveratrol and also an increased expression of SIRT1 in groups that received Ang-(1–7). We showed for the first time that improved metabolic profile is associated with increased expression of GLUT4 and high expression of AMPK/FOXO1/PPAR-γ pathway in adipose-tissue. Finally, adipocyte primary cell-culture incubated with and without sirtuin and Ang-(1–7)/Mas antagonists pointed out for a cross-talking between RAS and sirtuins. We conclude that oral administration of Ang-(1–7) and RSV improved metabolic profile through a cross-modulation between RAS and Sirtuins.     

Effect of adenovirus and influenza virus infection on obesity

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the effects of adenovirus and influenza virus infections on obesity in various experimental models. We reviewed studies that were conducted within the past 10 years and were related to virus infection and obesity prevalence. Here, we discuss a different causal relationship between adenovirus and influenza infections with obesity. Adenovirus infection can cause obesity, whereas obesity can be a risk factor for increasing influenza virus infection and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of obesity due to adenovirus infections may be due to an increase in glucose uptake and reduction in lipolysis caused by an increase in corticosterone secretion. Adenovirus infections may lead to increases in appetite by decreasing norepinephrine and leptin levels and also cause immune dysfunction. The relationship between obesity and influenza virus infection could be summarized by the following features: decreases in memory T-cell functionality and interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, and IFN-γ mRNA expression, increases in viral titer and infiltration, and impaired dendritic cell function in obese individuals. Moreover, leptin resistance may play an important role in increasing influenza virus infections in obese individuals. In conclusion, prevention of adenovirus infections could be a good approach for reducing obesity prevalence, and prevention of obesity could reduce influenza virus infections from the point of view of viral infections and obesity.     

Pancreatic α-amylase and lipase inhibitory activity of polyphenolic compounds present in the extract of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) extract on the activity of porcine pancreatic α-amylase and lipase. An in vitro study demonstrated that three kinds of chokeberry extracts: methanolic, water and acetic caused inhibition of α-amylase and lipase. The methanolic and acetic extracts exhibited the highest inhibitory activities against α-amylase with the IC₅₀ values of 10.31 ± 0.04 mg/ml and pancreatic lipase 83.45 ± 0.50 mg/ml, respectively. In order to identify the compounds which may be the potential inhibitors of α-amylase and lipase, chokeberry extract was analyzed by preparative reverse phase chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS). These studies have shown that both anthocyanins and phenolic acids are compounds which inhibit the ability of the reaction catalyzed by α-amylase and lipase. The most effective inhibitor of pancreatic α-amylase was chlorogenic acid (IC₅₀ = 0.57 ± 0.16 mg/ml). In the group of anthocyanins the most potent inhibitor of α-amylase was cyanidin-3-glucoside (IC₅₀ = 1.74 ± 0.04 mg/ml), which also showed an ability to inhibit the reaction catalyzed by pancreatic lipase (IC₅₀ = 1.17 ± 0.05 mg/ml). These findings seem to indicate the use of chokeberry as a functional food component, contributing to its anti-obesity activities.