The Influence of Prebiotic Arabinoxylan Oligosaccharides on Microbiota Derived Uremic Retention Solutes in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The colonic microbial metabolism is a key contributor to uremic retention solutes accumulating in patients with CKD, relating to adverse outcomes and insulin resistance. Whether prebiotics can reduce intestinal generation of these microbial metabolites and improve insulin resistance in CKD patients not yet on dialysis remains unknown. We performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study in 40 patients with eGFR between 15 and 45 ml/min/1.73 m². Patients were randomized to sequential treatment with prebiotic arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS) (10 g twice daily) and maltodextrin for 4 weeks, or vice versa, with a 4-week wash-out period between both intervention periods. Serum levels and 24h urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate, p-cresyl glucuronide, indoxyl sulfate, trimethylamine N-oxide and phenylacetylglutamine were determined at each time point using liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR). A total of 39 patients completed the study. We observed no significant effect of AXOS on serum p-cresyl sulfate (P 0.42), p-cresyl glucuronide (P 0.59), indoxyl sulfate (P 0.70) and phenylacetylglutamine (P 0.41) and a small, albeit significant decreasing effect on serum trimethylamine N-oxide (P 0.04). There were neither effect of AXOS on 24h urinary excretion of p-cresyl sulfate (P 0.31), p-cresyl glucuronide (P 0.23), indoxyl sulfate (P 0.87) and phenylacetylglutamine (P 0.43), nor on 24h urinary excretion of trimethylamine N-oxide (P 0.97). In addition, we observed no significant change in HOMA-IR (P 0.93). In conclusion, we could not demonstrate an influence of prebiotic AXOS on microbiota derived uremic retention solutes and insulin resistance in patients with CKD not yet on dialysis. Further study is necessary to elucidate whether prebiotic therapy with other characteristics, higher cumulative exposure or in different patient populations may be of benefit.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT02141815","term_id":"NCT02141815"}}NCT02141815     

Expression of “brown-in-white” adipocyte biomarkers shows gender differences and the influence of early dietary exposure

Fish oil supplementation provides an inconsistent degree of protection from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be attributed to genetic variation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the elongation-of-very-long-chain-fatty-acids-2 (ELOVL2) gene have been strongly associated with plasma proportions of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). We investigated the effect of genotype interaction with fish oil dosage on plasma n-3 LC-PUFA proportions in a parallel double-blind controlled trial, involving 367 subjects randomised to treatment with 0.45, 0.9 and 1.8 g/day eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (1.51:1) or olive oil placebo for 6 months. We genotyped 310 subjects for ELOVL2 gene SNPs rs3734398, rs2236212 and rs953413. At baseline, carriers of all minor alleles had lower proportions of plasma DHA than non-carriers (P = 0.021–0.030). Interaction between genotype and treatment was a significant determinant of plasma EPA (P < 0.0001) and DHA (P = 0.004–0.032). After the 1.8 g/day dose, carriers of ELOVL2 SNP minor alleles had approximately 30 % higher proportions of EPA (P = 0.002–0.004) and 9 % higher DHA (P = 0.013–0.017) than non-carriers. Minor allele carriers could therefore particularly benefit from a high intake of EPA and DHA in maintaining high levels of plasma n-3 PUFA conducive to protection from CVD.     

Modulation of Protein Fermentation Does Not Affect Fecal Water Toxicity: A Randomized Cross-Over Study in Healthy Subjects

Objective

Protein fermentation results in production of metabolites such as ammonia, amines and indolic, phenolic and sulfur-containing compounds. In vitro studies suggest that these metabolites might be toxic. However, human and animal studies do not consistently support these findings. We modified protein fermentation in healthy subjects to assess the effects on colonic metabolism and parameters of gut health, and to identify metabolites associated with toxicity.

Design

After a 2-week run-in period with normal protein intake (NP), 20 healthy subjects followed an isocaloric high protein (HP) and low protein (LP) diet for 2 weeks in a cross-over design. Protein fermentation was estimated from urinary p-cresol excretion. Fecal metabolite profiles were analyzed using GC-MS and compared using cluster analysis. DGGE was used to analyze microbiota composition. Fecal water genotoxicity and cytotoxicity were determined using the Comet assay and the WST-1-assay, respectively, and were related to the metabolite profiles.

Results

Dietary protein intake was significantly higher during the HP diet compared to the NP and LP diet. Urinary p-cresol excretion correlated positively with protein intake. Fecal water cytotoxicity correlated negatively with protein fermentation, while fecal water genotoxicity was not correlated with protein fermentation. Heptanal, 3-methyl-2-butanone, dimethyl disulfide and 2-propenyl ester of acetic acid are associated with genotoxicity and indole, 1-octanol, heptanal, 2,4-dithiapentane, allyl-isothiocyanate, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-benzene, propionic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid and decanoic acid with cytotoxicity.

Conclusion

This study does not support a role of protein fermentation in gut toxicity. The identified metabolites can provide new insight into colonic health.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrial.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01280513","term_id":"NCT01280513"}}NCT01280513     

The metabolism of [2-14C]indole in the rat

1. [2-¹⁴C]Indole has been synthesized from [¹⁴C]formate and o-toluidine via N[¹⁴C]-formyltoluidine. 2. When fed to rats, the ¹⁴C of [¹⁴C]indole (dose 70–80mg./kg. body wt.) is fairly rapidly excreted, and in 2 days an average of 81% appears in the urine, 11% in the faeces and 2·4% as carbon dioxide in the expired air. 3. Radioactivity is excreted in the urine as indoxyl sulphate (50% of the dose), indoxyl glucuronide (11%), oxindole (1·4%), isatin (5·8%), 5-hydroxyoxindole conjugates (3·1%), N-formylanthranilic acid (0·5%) and unchanged indole (0·07%). The faeces contain indoxyl sulphate (0·4% of the dose) and indole (0·2%), but the major metabolites have not been identified. 4. Fed to rats with biliary cannulae an average of 5·6% of a dose of [¹⁴C]indole (20–60mg./kg. body wt.) is excreted in the bile in 2 days. Radioactivity is present as indoxyl sulphate (0·8% dose) and 5-hydroxyoxindole conjugates (0·6%). 5. Rats further metabolize indoxyl into N-formylanthranilic acid and anthranilic acid, and oxindole into 5-hydroxyoxindole. 6. With rat-liver microsomes plus supernatant under aerobic conditions, indole gives indoxyl, oxindole, possibly isatin, N-formylanthranilic acid and anthranilic acid, but under anaerobic conditions gives only oxindole. Similarly, under aerobic conditions, oxindole gives 5-hydroxyoxindole, anthranilic acid and o-aminophenylacetic acid. 7. Indole is metabolized by two pathways, one via indoxyl to isatin, N-formylanthranilic acid and anthranilic acid, and the other via oxindole to 5-hydroxyoxindole and possibly to o-aminophenylacetic and anthranilic acid. 8. The following new compounds are described: 4-hydroxy-2-nitrophenylacetic acid, 3-, 4- and 5-benzyloxy-2-nitrophenylacetic acid, 5- and 7-hydroxyoxindole and 5-aminoacridine indoxyl sulphate.     

Enalapril decreases rat plasma concentration of TMAO,a gut bacteria-derived cardiovascular marker

Introduction: Increased plasma level of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a bacterial metabolite of choline, is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Indoxyl sulfate, a bacterial metabolite of tryptophan, is thought to be associated with higher mortality in cardiorenal syndrome. We hypothesized that enalapril, a well-established drug reducing cardiovascular mortality, may affect the plasma level of gut bacteria-derived metabolites and gut bacteria composition.

Materials and methods: 14–16-week-old Wistar rats were maintained either on water (controls) or water solution of enalapril for two weeks (5.3 or 12.6?mg/kg b.w.). Blood plasma and urine were analyzed for the concentration of TMAO and indoxyl sulfate using liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Gut bacteria composition was analyzed with 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Results: Rats treated with enalapril showed a significantly lower plasma TMAO level and a trend towards higher 24?h urine excretion of TMA and TMAO. Plasma indoxyl level was similar between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in gut bacteria composition.

Conclusions: Enalapril decreases rat plasma TMAO, but does not affect the plasma level of indoxyl sulfate and gut bacteria composition. The enalapril-induced decrease in plasma TMAO level may be of therapeutic and diagnostic importance.     

Acute tryptophan depletion does not improve endurance cycling capacity in a warm environment

Newsholme’s theory of central fatigue suggests that acute tryptophan depletion should improve endurance exercise capacity in a warm environment by reducing serotonergic activity in the brain. Eight males cycled to volitional exhaustion at 55 % $ \dot{V}{\rm O}_{2} $ peak in 30.1 ± 0.5 °C and 30 ± 7 % relative humidity on two separate occasions, after consuming either an amino acid load to deplete their circulating tryptophan concentration (TD), or a control amino acid load (CON). Blood samples were taken before ingesting the amino acids, before the start of exercise, every 15 min during exercise and at the point of exhaustion. Heart rate (HR), core (Tc) and skin (Tsk) temperatures and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and thermal comfort (TC) were also monitored every 10 min during exercise. Plasma tryptophan (P = 0.003) and free tryptophan (P < 0.001) concentrations, and the free tryptophan to branched-chain amino acid ratio (P = 0.004) were all lower on the TD trial than on the CON trial. There was no difference in endurance exercise capacity (TD 99.2 ± 24.4 min as compared to CON 108.4 ± 21.6 min; P = 0.088). There was a tendency for HR (P = 0.053) and Tc (P = 0.069) to be higher on the TD trials. There were no differences for any of the other parameters. Endurance cycling capacity in a warm environment is not improved by acute tryptophan depletion, suggesting tryptophan availability is not a significant factor in the development of fatigue in such situations.     

ELOVL2 gene polymorphisms are associated with increases in plasma eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid proportions after fish oil supplement

Fish oil supplementation provides an inconsistent degree of protection from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be attributed to genetic variation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the elongation-of-very-long-chain-fatty-acids-2 (ELOVL2) gene have been strongly associated with plasma proportions of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). We investigated the effect of genotype interaction with fish oil dosage on plasma n-3 LC-PUFA proportions in a parallel double-blind controlled trial, involving 367 subjects randomised to treatment with 0.45, 0.9 and 1.8 g/day eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (1.51:1) or olive oil placebo for 6 months. We genotyped 310 subjects for ELOVL2 gene SNPs rs3734398, rs2236212 and rs953413. At baseline, carriers of all minor alleles had lower proportions of plasma DHA than non-carriers (P = 0.021–0.030). Interaction between genotype and treatment was a significant determinant of plasma EPA (P < 0.0001) and DHA (P = 0.004–0.032). After the 1.8 g/day dose, carriers of ELOVL2 SNP minor alleles had approximately 30 % higher proportions of EPA (P = 0.002–0.004) and 9 % higher DHA (P = 0.013–0.017) than non-carriers. Minor allele carriers could therefore particularly benefit from a high intake of EPA and DHA in maintaining high levels of plasma n-3 PUFA conducive to protection from CVD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-013-0362-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Differential impact of hepatic deficiency and total body inhibition of MTP on cholesterol metabolism and RCT in mice

Because apoB-containing lipoproteins are pro-atherogenic and their secretion by liver and intestine largely depends on microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) activity, MTP inhibition strategies are actively pursued. How decreasing the secretion of apoB-containing lipoproteins affects intracellular rerouting of cholesterol is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effects of reducing either systemic or liver-specific MTP activity on cholesterol metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) using a pharmacological MTP inhibitor or a genetic model, respectively. Plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were decreased in both MTP inhibitor-treated and liver-specific MTP knockout (L-Mttp^−/−) mice (each P < 0.001). With both inhibition approaches, hepatic cholesterol as well as triglyceride content was consistently increased (each P < 0.001), while biliary cholesterol and bile acid secretion remained unchanged. A small but significant decrease in fecal bile acid excretion was observed in inhibitor-treated mice (P < 0.05), whereas fecal neutral sterol excretion was substantially increased by 75% (P < 0.001), conceivably due to decreased intestinal absorption. In contrast, in L-Mttp^−/− mice both fecal neutral sterol and bile acid excretion remained unchanged. However, while total RCT increased in inhibitor-treated mice (P < 0.01), it surprisingly decreased in L-Mttp^−/− mice (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that: i) pharmacological MTP inhibition increases RCT, an effect that might provide additional clinical benefit of MTP inhibitors; and ii) decreasing hepatic MTP decreases RCT, pointing toward a potential contribution of hepatocyte-derived VLDLs to RCT.     

Preliminary Determination of a Molecular Basis to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) is a debilitating fatigue illness that has an unknown etiology. We studied 20 chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, who complied with the Oxford and American CDC definitions, and 45 non-CFS subjects. Participants completed questionnaires, were clinically examined, and had first morning urine specimens collected, which were screened by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for changes in metabolite excretion. Multivariate analysis of the urinary metabolite profiles differed significantly in the CFS patients compared to the non-CFS patients (P< 0.004). The CFS patients had increases in aminohydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidine (P< 0.00003, referred to as chronic fatigue symptom urinary marker 1, or CFSUM1), tyrosine (P< 0.02), β-alanine (P< 0.02), aconitic acid (P< 0.05), and succinic acid (P< 0.05) and reductions in an unidentified urinary metabolite, CFSUM2 (P< 0.0007), alanine (P< 0.005), and glutamic acid (P< 0.02). CFSUM1, β-alanine, and CFSUM2 were found by discriminant function analysis to be the first, second, and third most important metabolites, respectively, for discriminating between CFS and non-CFS subjects. The abundances of CFSUM1 and β-alanine were positively correlated with symptom incidence (P< 0.01 andP< 0.001, respectively), symptom severity, core CFS symptoms, and SCL-90-R somatization (P< 0.00001), suggesting a molecular basis for CFS.     

Bioavailability of chlorogenic acids following acute ingestion of coffee by humans with an ileostomy

The intestinal absorption and metabolism of 385 μmol chlorogenic acids following a single intake of 200 mL of instant coffee by human volunteers with an ileostomy was investigated. HPLC-MS³ analysis of 0-24 h post-ingestion ileal effluent revealed the presence of 274 ± 28 μmol of chlorogenic acids and their metabolites accounting for 71 ± 7% of intake. Of the compounds recovered, 78% comprised parent compounds initially present in the coffee, and 22% were metabolites including free and sulfated caffeic and ferulic acids. Over a 24 h period after ingestion of the coffee, excretion of chlorogenic acid metabolites in urine accounted for 8 ± 1% of intake, the main compounds being ferulic acid-4-O-sulfate, caffeic acid-3-O-sulfate, isoferulic acid-3-O-glucuronide and dihydrocaffeic acid-3-O-sulfate. In contrast, after drinking a similar coffee, urinary excretion by humans with an intact colon corresponded to 29 ± 4% of chlorogenic acid intake [23]. This difference was due to the excretion of higher levels of dihydroferulic acid and feruloylglycine together with sulfate and glucuronide conjugates of dihydrocaffeic and dihydroferulic acids. This highlights the importance of colonic metabolism. Comparison of the data obtained in the current study with that of Stalmach et al. [23] facilitated elucidation of the pathways involved in post-ingestion metabolism of chlorogenic acids and also helped distinguish between compounds absorbed in the small and the large intestine.     

Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) polyphenols: From chemical characterization to targeted analysis of phenolic metabolites in humans

In this paper, a survey of our studies on almond polyphenols including their chemical characterization and further bioavailability in humans is reported. Combination of analytical techniques (LC-DAD/fluorescence, LC/ESI-MS and MALDI-TOF-MS) allowed us, for the first time, the identification of A- and B-type procyanidin, propelargonidin and prodelphinidin polymers in almond skins. Glucuronide, O-methyl glucuronide, sulfate and O-methyl sulfate derivatives of (epi)catechin, as well as the glucuronide conjugates of naringenin and isorhamnetin, and sulfate conjugates of isorhamnetin, together with conjugates of hydroxyphenylvalerolactones were detected in plasma and urine samples after the intake of almond skin polyphenols. In addition, numerous microbial-derived metabolites, including hydroxyphenylpropionic, hydroxyphenylacetic, hydroxycinnamic, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxyhippuric acids were also identified. Depending of the type of metabolite, maximum urinary excretion was attained at different time in comparison to the control group in the course of the 24-h period of urine excretion, allowing us to establish the onset of microbial metabolism.     

Oxidation of Indole and Indole Derivatives Catalyzed by Nonheme Chloroperoxidases

Indole, indolylacetic acid, and tryptophan were oxidized by chloroperoxidases isolated from strains of Streptomyces lividansand Pseudomonas pyrrocinia. Indigo (indoxyl), isatin, and anthranilic acid (intermediate products of oxidative degradation of indole and indole derivatives) were isolated from the reaction medium.     

Improved method for identifying and quantifying olive oil phenolic compounds and their metabolites in human plasma by microelution solid-phase extraction plate and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Two methods based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) using traditional cartridges and microelution SPE plates (μSPE) as the sample pre-treatment, and an improved liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) were developed and compared to determine the phenolic compounds in virgin oil olive from plasma samples. The phenolic compounds studied were hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, homovanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, 3,4-DHPEA-EDA, p-HPEA-EDA, luteolin, apigenin, pinoresinol and acetoxypinoresinol. Good recoveries were obtained in both methods, and the LOQs and LODs were similar, in the range of low μM. The advantage of μSPE, in comparison with SPE cartridges, was the lack of the evaporation step to pre-concentrate the analytes. The μSPE-UPLC–ESI-MS/MS method developed was then applied to determine the phenolic compounds and their metabolites, in glucuronide, sulphate and methylated forms, in human plasma after the ingestion of virgin olive oil.     

The metabolism of 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene in the rat and in man

1. The major metabolites of 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT) in the rat are 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (BHT-acid), both free (9% of the dose) and as a glucuronide (15%), and S-(3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-N-acetylcysteine. 2. The mercapturic acid does not appear to derive from the usually accepted enzyme mechanism, and may involve a non-enzymic reaction between BHT free radical and cysteine. 3. The ester glucuronide and mercapturic acid found in rat urine are also the major metabolites in rat bile and must be responsible for the enterohepatic circulation. 4. Free BHT-acid is the main component in rat faeces. 5. In man, BHT-acid, free and conjugated, is a minor component in urine, and the mercapturic acid is virtually absent. The bulk of the radioactivity is excreted as the ether-insoluble glucuronide of a metabolite in which the ring methyl group and one tert.-butyl methyl group are oxidized to carboxyl groups, and a methyl group on the other tert.-butyl group is also oxidized, probably to an aldehyde group. 6. These differences in metabolism by the rat and by man are sufficient to account for the difference in excretion by the two species.     

Direct analysis of salicylic acid,salicyl acyl glucuronide,salicyluric acid and gentisic acid in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous direct determination of salicylate (SA), its labile, reactive metabolite, salicyl acyl glucuronide (SAG), and two other major metabolites, salicyluric acid and gentisic acid in plasma and urine is described. Isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employed a 15-cm C₁₈ column using methanol-acetonitrile-25 mM acetic acid as the mobile phase, resulting in HPLC analysis time of less than 20 min. Ultraviolet detection at 310 nm permitted analysis of SAG in plasma, but did not provide sensitivity for measurement of salicyl phenol glucuronide. Plasma or urine samples are stabilized immediately upon collection by adjustment of pH to 3–4 to prevent degradation of the labile acyl glucuronide metabolite. Plasma is then deproteinated with acetonitrile, dried and reconstituted for injection, whereas urine samples are simply diluted prior to injection on HPLC. m-Hydroxybenzoic acid served as the internal standard. Recoveries from plasma were greater than 85% for all four compounds over a range of 0.2–20 μg/ml and linearity was observed from 0.1–200 μg/ml and 5–2000 μg/ml for SA in plasma and urine, respectively. The method was validated to 0.2 μg/ml, thus allowing accurate measurement of SA, and three major metabolites in plasma and urine of subjects and small animals administered salicylates. The method is unique by allowing quantitation of reactive SAG in plasma at levels well below 1% that of the parent compound, SA, as is observed in patients administered salicylates.     

Plasma total antioxidant capacity is associated with dietary intake and plasma level of antioxidants in postmenopausal women

Increased plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has been associated with a high consumption of fruits and vegetables. However, limited information is available on whether plasma TAC reflects the dietary intake of antioxidants and the levels of individual antioxidants in plasma. By using three different assays, the study aimed to determine if plasma TAC can effectively predict dietary intake of antioxidants and plasma antioxidant status. Forty overweight and apparently healthy postmenopausal women were recruited. Seven-day food records and 12-h fasting blood samples were collected for dietary and plasma antioxidant assessments. Plasma TAC was determined by vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. TAC values determined by VCEAC were highly correlated with FRAP (r=0.79, P<.01) and moderately correlated with ORAC (r=0.34, P<.05). Pearson correlation analyses showed that plasma TAC values by VCEAC and ORAC had positive correlation with plasma uric acid (r=0.56 for VCEAC; r=0.49 for ORAC) and total phenolics (r=0.63 for VCEAC; r=0.36 for ORAC). However, TAC measured by FRAP was correlated only with uric acid (r=0.69). After multivariate adjustment, plasma TAC determined by VCEAC was positively associated with dietary intakes of γ-tocopherol (P<.001), β-carotene (P<.05), anthocyanidins (P<.05), flavones (P<.05), proanthocyanidins (P<.01) and TAC (P<.05), as well as with plasma total phenolics (P<.05), α-tocopherol (P<.001), β-cryptoxanthin (P<.05) and uric acid (P<.05). The findings indicate that plasma TAC measured by VCEAC reflects both dietary and plasma antioxidants and represents more closely the plasma antioxidant levels than ORAC and FRAP.     

Increased Hepatic Lipogenesis Elevates Liver Cholesterol Content

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of death in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and dyslipidemia is considered at least partially responsible for the increased CVD risk in NAFLD patients. The aim of the present study is to understand how hepatic de novo lipogenesis influences hepatic cholesterol content as well as its effects on the plasma lipid levels. Hepatic lipogenesis was induced in mice by feeding a fat-free/high-sucrose (FF/HS) diet and the metabolic pathways associated with cholesterol were then analyzed. Both liver triglyceride and cholesterol contents were significantly increased in mice fed an FF/HS diet. Activation of fatty acid synthesis driven by the activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c resulted in the increased liver triglycerides. The augmented cholesterol content in the liver could not be explained by an increased cholesterol synthesis, which was decreased by the FF/HS diet. HMG-CoA reductase protein level was decreased in mice fed an FF/HS diet. We found that the liver retained more cholesterol through a reduced excretion of bile acids, a reduced fecal cholesterol excretion, and an increased cholesterol uptake from plasma lipoproteins. Very low-density lipoprotein-triglyceride and -cholesterol secretion were increased in mice fed an FF/HS diet, which led to hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in Ldlr^-/- mice, a model that exhibits a more human like lipoprotein profile. These findings suggest that dietary cholesterol intake and cholesterol synthesis rates cannot only explain the hypercholesterolemia associated with NAFLD, and that the control of fatty acid synthesis should be considered for the management of dyslipidemia.     

The Ileal Lipid Binding Protein Is Required for Efficient Absorption and Transport of Bile Acids in the Distal Portion of the Murine Small Intestine

The ileal lipid binding protein (ilbp) is a cytoplasmic protein that binds bile acids with high affinity. However evidence demonstrating the role of this protein in bile acid transport and homeostasis is missing. We created a mouse strain lacking ilbp (Fabp6^−/− mice) and assessed the impact of ilbp deficiency on bile acid homeostasis and transport in vivo. Elimination of ilbp increased fecal bile acid excretion (54.2%, P<0.05) in female but not male Fabp6^−/− mice. The activity of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (cyp7a1), the rate-controlling enzyme of the classical bile acid biosynthetic pathway, was significantly increased in female (63.5%, P<0.05) but not in male Fabp6^−/− mice. The amount of [³H]taurocholic acid (TCA) excreted by 24 h after oral administration was 102% (P<0.025) higher for female Fabp6^−/− mice whereas it was 57.3% (P<0.01) lower for male Fabp6^−/− mice, compared to wild-type mice. The retained fraction of the [³H]TCA localized in the small and large intestines was increased by 22% (P<0.02) and decreased by 62.7% (P<0.01), respectively, in male Fabp6^−/− mice relative wild-type mice, whereas no changes were seen in female Fabp6^−/− mice. Mucosal to serosal bile acid transport using everted distal gut sacs was decreased by 74% (P<0.03) in both sexes of Fabp6^−/− mice as compared to wild-type mice. The results demonstrate that ilbp is involved in the apical to basolateral transport of bile acids in ileal enterocytes, and is vital for the maintenance of bile acid homeostasis in the enterohepatic circulation (EHC) in mice.     

New insights into the bioavailability of red raspberry anthocyanins and ellagitannins

Red raspberries, containing ellagitannins and cyanidin-based anthocyanins, were fed to volunteers and metabolites appearing in plasma and urine were analysed by UHPLC-MS. Anthocyanins were not absorbed to any extent with sub nmol/L concentrations of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and a cyanidin-O-glucuronide appearing transiently in plasma. Anthocyanins excreted in urine corresponded to 0.007% of intake. More substantial amounts of phase II metabolites of ferulic acid and isoferulic acid, along with 4′-hydroxyhippuric acid, potentially originating from pH-mediated degradation of cyanidin in the proximal gastrointestinal tract, appeared in urine and also plasma where peak concentrations were attained 1–1.5 h after raspberry intake. Excretion of 18 anthocyanin-derived metabolites corresponded to 15.0% of intake, a figure substantially higher than obtained in other anthocyanin feeding studies. Ellagitannins pass from the small to the large intestine where the colonic microbiota mediate their conversion to urolithins A and B which appeared in plasma and were excreted almost exclusively as sulfate and glucuronide metabolites. The urolithin metabolites persisted in the circulatory system and were excreted in urine for much longer periods of time than the anthocyanin metabolites although their overall urinary recovery was lower at 7.0% of intake. It is events originating in the proximal and distal gastrointestinal tract, and subsequent phase II metabolism, that play an important role in the bioavailability of both anthocyanins and ellagitannins and it is their metabolites which appear in the circulatory system, that are key to elucidating the mode of action(s) underlying the protective effects of these compounds on human health.     

Calcium,magnesium, and zinc status of young adult females on an adequate protein and calorie intake

Calcium, magnesium, and zinc balances were determined in eleven young adult college females (mean age, 24.9±2.35) during a 39-d metabolic study when the subjects were fed an adequate calorie and protein diet based on habitually consumed foods. Analysis showed that the dietary contribution of calcium, magnesium, and zinc to the RDA were 53.6, 26.4, and 57.9%, respectively. Mean fecal losses of calcium and magnesium were low, while fecal zinc losses were higher than the daily intake. Mean urinary excretion of calcium was within the normal range, but was low for magnesium whereas urinary zinc was higher than normal. Mean daily apparent retentions of calcium and magnesium were positive, whereas positive apparent retention for zinc were observed in four of the subjects. Plasma calcium and magnesium remained normal, but mean plasma zinc declined at the end of the study. Significant correlations were observed between the fecal losses of calcium and magnesium and calcium and zinc. Urinary calcium also correlated significantly (P<0.05) with urinary magnesium, but not with zinc. It appears that adequate protein and calorie intake in the presence of low dietary intake of calcium, magnesium, and zinc has no significant effect on calcium and magnesium status whereas a lowering effect on plasma zinc and apparent zinc retention was observed in the subjects studied.