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- All Subjects: Obesity
- Creators: School of Life Sciences
- Resource Type: Text
Over 40% of adults in the United States are considered obese. Obesity is known to cause abnormal metabolic effects and lead to other negative health consequences. Interestingly, differences in metabolism and contractile performance between obese and healthy weight individuals are associated with differences in skeletal muscle fiber type composition between these groups. Each fiber type is characterized by unique metabolic and contractile properties, which are largely determined by the myosin heavy chain isoform (MHC) or isoform combination that the fiber expresses. In previous studies, SDS-PAGE single fiber analysis has been utilized as a method to determine MHC isoform distribution and single fiber type distribution in skeletal muscle. Herein, a methodological approach to analyze MHC isoform and fiber type distribution in skeletal muscle was fine-tuned for use in human and rodent studies. In the future, this revised methodology will be implemented to evaluate the effects of obesity and exercise on the phenotypic fiber type composition of skeletal muscle.
In this project I explored the relationship between Qigong and Tai Chi Easy meditative practices and cardiometabolic risk factors, specifically looking at obesity and stress. The meditative focus of Qigong and Tai Chi Easy was expected to improve cardiac vagal tone which should lead to decreases in the inflammatory effects of stress. Additionally, due to the decreases in the harmful effects of stress, we expect to see a decrease in obesity through decreases in BMI and in waist circumference.
In 2017-2018, the results showed that 0.5% menthol (n=4) suppressed weight gain more effectively than both the baseline chow diet (n=4, p=0.022) and the HFD (n=4, p=0.027). Again in 2018-2020, the 0.5% menthol (n=6) showed promising results, showing significant suppression of weight gain when compared to chow (n=13, p=0.022). Unfortunately, the difference in weight gain in 1% menthol (n=6) was inconclusive when comparing to both chow and HFD. Although 1% menthol was inconclusive in its efficacy in suppressing weight regain, the promising results on 0.5% menthol show that menthol has the potential to be an effective treatment to both prevent rapid weight gain and maintain weight loss from caloric restriction.
body weight. Microarray analysis identified 53 probe sets significantly altered post- ω-3PUFA, with APOE being one of the most upregulated genes. High dose of long chain ω-3PUFA supplementation modulates significant changes in plasma fatty acid profile, AT and systemic inflammation. These findings associate with significant improvement of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Unbiased microarray analysis of Sc fat biopsy identified APOE as the most differentially regulated gene after ω-3PUFA 22 supplementation. We speculate that ω-3PUFA increases macrophage-derived APOE mRNA levels with anti-inflammatory properties.