Baseline diet modifies the effects of dietary change.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern has been shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) in previous clinical trials. In the PREMIER study, an established behavioural intervention, with or without DASH, promoted greater weight loss than an advice-only control group, but effects of the DASH intervention on BP were weaker. In these analyses, PREMIER data were used to evaluate whether change in dairy product or fruit and vegetable (FV) intake during the first six intervention months impacted changes in weight and/or BP. Study participants were classified as having low or high intakes of dairy products (<1·5 v. ≥1·5 servings/d) and FV (<5 v. ≥5 servings/d) at baseline and 6 months. For dairy products, in particular, participants with higher baseline intakes tended to decrease their intakes during the intervention. In these analyses, subjects consuming <1·5 dairy servings/d at baseline whose intake increased during the intervention lost more weight than those whose intake decreased or remained low throughout (10·6 v. 7·0 pounds (4·8 v. 3·2 kg) lost, respectively, P = 0·002). The same was true for FV intake (11·0 v. 5·9 pounds (5·0 v. 2·7 kg) lost, P < 0·001). We also found synergistic effects of dairy products and FV on weight loss and BP reduction. Specifically, subjects who increased their intakes of dairy products and also consumed ≥5 servings of FV/d lost more weight and had greater reductions in BP than other groups; in addition, higher FV intakes had the greatest benefit to BP among those consuming more dairy products. These results provide evidence that the DASH pattern was most beneficial to individuals whose baseline diet was less consistent with DASH.

Sterculic oil, a natural inhibitor of SCD1, improves the metabolic state of obese OLETF rats.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal lipid metabolism and excess accumulation of lipid in non-adipose tissues are defining characteristics of obesity and its comorbidities. Expression and/or activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), a major regulator of lipid metabolism, is increased with obesity and the reduction/ablation of this enzyme is associated with an improved metabolic profile. Sterculic oil (SO), obtained from the seeds of the Sterculia feotida tree, contains a high concentration of cyclopropenoic fatty acids which are known inhibitors of SCD1. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of SO supplementation on the development of obesity and insulin resistance in hyperphagic, obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. DESIGN & METHODS: Rats received either an AIN-93G diet (control) or an AIN-93G diet containing 0.5% SO for 10 weeks. RESULTS: SO did not alter body weight or body composition. Importantly, the desaturase indices, a proxy for the activity of SCD1, were reduced in the liver and adipose tissue of SO supplemented animals. This reduction in SCD1 activity was associated with a reduction in fasting blood glucose concentrations and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, SO reduced intra-abdominal fat mass and adipocyte size and resulted in a ∼3-fold increase in GLUT1 gene expression in intra-abdominal fat. Liver triglyceride content and lipogenic gene expression were reduced by SO. Consistent with an improved metabolic phenotype, SO also improved plasma cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations. CONCLUSION: Overall, our data demonstrate an improved metabolic phenotype with SO supplementation and suggest further studies are required to better understand the therapeutic potential of SO.