Effects of rose hip intake on risk markers of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: a randomized, double-blind, cross-over investigation in obese persons.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In studies performed in mice, rose hip powder has been shown to both prevent and reverse high-fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance as well as reduce plasma levels of cholesterol. The aim of this study was to investigate whether daily intake of rose hip powder over 6 weeks exerts beneficial metabolic effects in obese individuals. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 31 obese individuals with normal or impaired glucose tolerance were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study in which metabolic effects of daily intake of a rose hip powder drink over 6 weeks was compared with a control drink. Body weight, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, blood lipids and markers of inflammation were assessed in the subjects. RESULTS: In comparison with the control drink, 6 weeks of daily consumption of the rose hip drink resulted in a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure (-3.4%; P=0.021), total plasma cholesterol (-4.9%; P=0.0018), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (-6.0%; P=0.012) and LDL/HDL ratio (-6.5%; P=0.041). The Reynolds risk assessment score for cardiovascular disease was decreased in the rose hip group compared with the control group (-17%; P=0.007). Body weight, diastolic blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, incretins and markers of inflammation did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of 40 g of rose hip powder for 6 weeks can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk in obese people through lowering of systolic blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels.

Fatty acid transfer from sow to piglet differs for different polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for the development of the nervous system in animals. It is known that pigs are good models for human in many aspects. The aim of the study was to investigate how fat content and FA composition in sows' diet influence FA composition in brain of newborn and in liver and brain of one-day-old piglets, respectively. High fat (6 %) feeds were designed with regard to saturated or polyunsaturated fat content and n-6/n-3 ratio by adding either oats rich in linoleic acid (LA) or linseed oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA was 11 in all three diets (the low fat (3 %), high fat saturated and high fat oats diet), while the ratio in the linseed oil diet was 2. Increased proportion of ALA in the diet increased ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in piglets' neutral and polar liver lipids and the long chain PUFA, EPA, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid in piglet brain. The results suggest that transport of n-3 PUFA from sow to piglet was higher via milk than via bloodstream in the uterus and that increased content of ALA in sows' feed led to an increased accumulation of n-3 FA in piglets' liver and brain.

Fatty acid composition and tocopherol concentrations in muscle of entire male, castrated male and female pigs, reared in an indoor or outdoor housing system.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of outdoor rearing on the fatty acid (FA) composition and contents of tocopherols of M. longissimus dorsi polar (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) in entire males, castrated males and female pigs. Fat content did not differ between genders or rearing conditions. In PL of the indoor pig muscle the level of n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) was higher in females and entire males compared with castrated males. The outdoor environment resulted in a slightly higher level of n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) in muscle PL and NL of entire males compared with females and castrated males. We also found an increased level of 18:2 n-6 in the muscle PL of outdoor reared females compared with the indoor females. The higher levels of PUFA in the entire male muscle, in both PL and NL, were not accompanied by a higher level of vitamin E.

Muscle lipids, vitamins E and A, and lipid oxidation as affected by diet and RN genotype in female and castrated male Hampshire crossbreed pigs.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the polar and neutral lipid fatty acid composition, content of retinol, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and level of oxidation of the pig muscle (M. longissimus dorsi). Female and castrated male Hampshire crossbreeds were produced in two systems. One group was raised indoors with a more polyunsaturated diet and the other raised outdoors with a more saturated diet. The level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in muscle was higher in the indoor females compared with the outdoor females, indoor castrated males and outdoor castrated males. The increased level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscle, which was accompanied by a relatively low content of α-tocopherol, increased the susceptibility to lipid oxidation in the form of MDA (malondialdehyde) in the indoor female pigs. Finally, the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the polar lipids was affected by the RN genotype, and this difference was dependent on sex. In conclusion, diet has a major effect on the fatty acid composition and oxidation stability in pork muscle, but additional factors such as sex and RN genotype might also contribute.

Influence of ileo-caecal cannulation and oxytetracycline on ileo-caecal and rectal coliform populations in pigs.

The effect of surgery (insertion of an ileo-caecal cannula) and a subsequent parenteral treatment with oxytetracycline on the ileo-caecal and rectal coliform populations in 7 Swedish Yorkshire castrates were studied. Samples were collected during surgery as well as 3, 7, 14 and 20 days post surgery. The diversity of the enteric coliform flora was initially high both in the ileo-caecal ostium and in rectum. No alteration in the diversity of the enteric coliform flora was observed following surgery and treatment with oxytetracycline. As the insertion of ileo-caecal cannulas did not affect the intestinal coliform flora this study gives support to the use of this technique to mirror processes in the small intestine of pigs. Further, the diversity of the enteric coliform flora was unaffected by the parenteral treatment with oxytetracycline.

Effect of rearing system on muscle lipids of gilts and castrated male pigs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the polar and neutral lipid fatty acid composition of pig muscle as influenced by rearing conditions and sex. A total of 120 Hampshire crossbreeds were divided in two groups, one reared free-range in a strip grazing fashion and one reared indoors in a large pen (120 m(2)). Free-range rearing produced a more unsaturated fatty acid composition (M. biceps femoris) in the neutral lipids, although the effect was small. In the polar lipids the effect of rearing condition was sex dependent. In the muscle of free-range gilts, there was a higher level of C18:2 n-6, compared with indoor gilts, indoor castrates, and free-range castrates. Moreover, muscle of gilts irrespective of rearing condition, had a higher level of the C⩾20 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the polar lipids (16.75 and 14.60, respectively). Thus, we suggest that the difference between castrates and gilts with respect to fatty acid composition in the polar lipids, might be affected by rearing condition.