Synergistic effect of synthetic conjugated linoleic acid & non fat milk on fat deposition & lipid metabolism in mice.

Background & objectives: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces fat deposition in the body, but the mechanism of action is not clear. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of CLA on body fat metabolism. Since milk fat is the best natural source of dietary CLA, intervention of non-fat milk constituents on CLA treatment was also investigated. Methods: Diets containing CLA (1%) with or without skim milk powder (SMP) was fed to male Swiss albino mice for 60 days. Adipose depots weight, faecal fat and the activities of selected enzymes of lipid metabolism were determined. Results: The mice on CLA and CLA+SMP diets gained weight similar to those on control diet, despite higher feed intake in the former two groups. Total fat pad mass was significantly (P<0.05) less in CLA group than in control group, and inclusion of SMP in the diet enhanced the fat reducing effect of CLA. Adiposity index was also less on CLA and CLA+SMP diets than on control diet, and CLA+SMP was more efficacious in reducing adiposity index. The weight of liver and spleen was increased by CLA, and this effect was eliminated by inclusion of SMP in the diet. The fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity in liver and retroperitoneal adipose tissue decreased substantially on CLA and CLA+SMP diets compared to that on control diet. Interpretation & conclusions: Our preliminary data show that dietary CLA reduces body fat mass by decreasing fatty acid biosynthesis, and the effect is enhanced by inclusion of SMP in the diet.

The Effect of Green Coffee Bean Extract Supplementation on Body Fat Reduction in Overweight/Obese Women

This study was performed to examine the diet effect of green coffee bean extract on body fat reduction. Overweight/obese women (body mass index > 23 kg/m2 or body fat > 27%) who were not diagnosed any type of disease were included in this study and subjects were randomly assigned to green coffee bean extract group (n = 23) or placebo group (n = 20). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computed tomography and blood components before and after the 8-weeks intervention period. After supplementation, green coffee bean extract group showed a significant reduction of body weight (p < 0.01), body fat percent (p < 0.01), total fat area at L1 vertebra (-4.8%, p < 0.05) and visceral fat area at L4 vertebra was(-4.7%, p < 0.05). In addition, total fat area and visceral fat area at L1 vertebra decreased significantly in green coffee bean extract group compared with placebo group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 respectively). The result of present study demonstrated that the supplementation of green coffee bean extract for 8 weeks can give beneficial effects on body fat reduction and visceral fat accumulation.

THE EFFECT OF WALKING 10,000 STEPS/DAY ON THE CORONARY RISK FACTOR PROFILES IN MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN / 体力科学

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of walking 10,000 steps/day on the body composition, blood pressure, blood biochemical parameters and physical fitness. Sixty-one women, aged 56.0±5.3 yrs (mean±SD), participated in a hyperlipemia prevention program. The length of the program was 90-min and it was performed one time per week for 3 months. The program consisted of stretching and aerobic exercise (cycle exercise, walking or aerobic rhythmic gymnastics). The participants were asked to walk 10,000 steps/day or more during the program. The number of steps and physical activity (PA) were monitored using a single-axis accelerometer during the program. PA was categorized into three activity levels, namely light (L), moderate (M) and vigorous (V) PA. After 3 months in the program, the participants were divided into two groups according to the average number of steps taken daily during the program : one group (GA) walked more than 10,000 steps/day, while the other (GB) walked below 10,000 steps/day. The time spent in LPA, MPA and VPA in GA were significantly longer than in GB (LPA : 79.4±19.2 min VS 58.2±10.0 min, MPA : 38.5±9.6 min VS 21.6±6.1 min, VPA : 6.3±4.9 min VS 2.6±2.0 min, p<0.001). Decreases in the percent body fat (p<0.001), body fat mass (p<0.001), fasting glucose (p<0.001), hemoglobin A1c (p=0.026), and triglyceride (p=0.036) and an improved performance when balancing on one leg while standing with eyes closed (p=0.027) were found respectively after the program for GA. These findings indicated that GA affected the percent body fat (p=0.036), body fat mass (p=0.040) and fasting glucose (p=0.009). According to a stepwise multiple regression analysis, the time spent in MPA showed a significantly negative correlation with the change in the body fat mass (p=0.025), and the change in the body fat mass showed a significantly positive correlation with the change in the fasting glucose (p<0.001), hemoglobin A1c (p=0.002) and triglyceride (p<0.001). We thus concluded that walking 10,000 steps/day resulted in an increased amount of time spent in MPA, and thus leading to decrease in the amount of body fat. This decrease in body fat is also considered to contribute to improvement in the coronary risk factor profiles.