Serum metabolomics reveals the mechanistic role of functional foods and exercise for obesity management in rats.

Obesity is one of the independent risk factors for several health problems, leading to metabolic perturbations and for which analytical approaches i.e., "metabolomics" is needed to monitor the underlying metabolic changes. In this study, obesity associated changes were assessed via serum metabolites analysis of obese rats fed on high fat diet. Obese rats were subsequently treated with different functional foods used for obesity management including pomegranate, grapefruit, and red cabbage in parallel to swimming exercise. Serum samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) followed by multivariate data analysis to classify samples and determine if such treatments can help revert obesity related metabolic changes back to normal status. Results led to the identification of several novel metabolites biomarkers for obesity related to lipids, amino acids and central tricarboxylic acid (TCA) pathways. Distinct variations in metabolite levels were recorded in obese rats compared to normal ones including l-aspartic, l-alanine, l-glutamine, l-glycine, phenylethanolamine, α-aminobutyric acid and ß-hydroxybutyric acid. Metabolomics approach developed herein provides novel insight onto the metabolic disturbances associated with obesity, which will assist in future drug design that can help mitigate against such changes.

L-arginine and L-glutamine as immunonutrients and modulating agents for oxidative stress and toxicity induced by sodium nitrite in rats.

Sodium nitrite (NaNO(2)) is a flavoring, coloring and preservative agent in meat and fish products. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of L-arginine and L-glutamine supplementation as a potentially novel and useful strategy for the modulation of oxidative stress and toxicity induced by NaNO(2) in male rats. Rats were divided into six groups each of 10 rats and treated for 6 weeks: group 1 as normal control; group 2 fed standard diet containing 0.2% NaNO(2); group 3 and 4 fed the previous diet supplemented with 1% and 2% arginine, respectively; group 5 and 6 fed NaNO(2) diet supplemented with 1% and 2% glutamine, respectively. NaNO(2) treatment induced a significant increase in serum malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, arginase, glutathione-S-transferase activities, urea and creatinine as well as differential leucocytes%. However, a significant decrease was recorded in reduced glutathione, catalase activity, total protein, albumin and some hematological parameters as well as immunoglobulin G. On the other hand, arginine or glutamine showed a remarkable modulation of these abnormalities as indicated by reduction of malondialdehyde and improvement of the investigated antioxidant and hematological parameters. It can be concluded that arginine or glutamine supplementation may reduce oxidative stress and improve the hazard effects of NaNO(2).