Effect of Pyridoxamine Supplementation on Vascular Function and Insulin Sensitivity
Abdominal Obesity Metabolic SyndromeA growing body of evidence demonstrates that increased adipose mass, especially visceral adipose tissue, contributes directly towards an increase in systemic inflammation, (micro-)vascular dysfunction and the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Advanced glycation/lipoxidation endproducts (AGEs/ALEs) are a heterogeneous family of unavoidable by-products, which are formed by reactive metabolic intermediates derived from glucose and lipid oxidation. In addition to the overwhelming amount of data demonstrating the role of AGEs/ALEs in the development of (micro-)vascular dysfunction and disease, accumulation of AGEs/ALEs in the expanding adipose tissue contributes to the dysregulation of adipokines and the development of insulin resistance. The investigators want to examine, in a double-blind randomized placebo controlled parallel study, the physiological effect of a dietary intervention with pyridoxamine in abdominally obese persons. A sub-study is implemented next to the clinical trial. The objective of the sub-study is to measure the metabolization and kinetics of pyridoxamine in plasma and urine with UPLC-MS/MS. The sub-study comprises of 5 additional healthy volunteers, with pyridoxamine as an oral supplement.
Metformin Effect on Brain Function in Insulin Resistant Elderly People
Insulin ResistanceObesity2 moreAlzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia are rapidly increasing with the aging of the population, and show a clear preponderance among people with insulin resistance. Metformin, an insulin sensitizer, is being examined in clinical trials as an anti-aging drug. However, very little objective data is available regarding metformin's effect on the brain, a major organ affected by aging.
Obesity-related Health Benefits of Apples
ObesityAbdominal3 moreObesity is characterized by an underlying inflammatory state in which various inflammatory signaling molecules, termed cytokines, affect metabolic processes central to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease; leading causes of disability and death in Ontario. Such obesity-associated inflammation is partly due to the movement of endotoxin (i.e. lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria) from the gut microbiota to the blood, resulting in elevated blood levels of LPS (a condition termed metabolic endotoxemia) that stimulates inflammation. Digestion of a high-fat meal increases blood LPS and is subsequently associated with inflammation and metabolic impairments. However, in this context, little is known about how the consumption of bioactive-rich foods, such as whole apples, can improve impaired inflammatory and metabolic responses in overweight and obese individuals. Apples are a key commodity to study given that they are Ontario's predominant fruit crop with the apple industry valued at approximately $400 million, they require little food preparation, and they are common in the diet year-round. There are some, but limited, reports of potential apple-induced health benefits related to reductions in inflammation and improved metabolic responses in lean/healthy individuals, but work in overweight and obese individuals is especially lacking. Thus, to address the gap in our understanding of how daily apple intake may improve the health consequences of obesity, we will conduct a randomized clinical trial in which overweight and obese adults will consume three Ontario-grown Gala apples (approximately 300 g) as part of their typical diet in one sitting (i.e. acute consumption) and/or daily for six weeks (i.e. chronic consumption). The Acute Apple Consumption phase of the study will follow a randomized crossover design in which participants' rate of gastric emptying, efficacy of dietary lipid digestion and absorption, and production of inflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of metabolism will be assessed before and after consuming a high-fat meal (designed to provide 1 g fat/kg body weight) with or without three apples in one sitting. The Chronic Apple Consumption phase of the study will follow a randomized, controlled, parallel-arm design in which participants' (fasting) production of inflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of metabolism, as well as their gut microbiota profile, will be assessed before and after consuming three apples (or no apples) daily for six weeks. We hypothesize that the consumption of three whole apples in one sitting and daily for six weeks will improve these parameters in overweight and obese individuals at risk of developing chronic metabolic diseases.
The Effects of a Jump Rope Exercise Program on Vascular Health, Inflammatory Markers in Prehypertensive...
PrehypertensionBlood Pressure2 moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a 12-week jump rope exercise program on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, vasodilating and vasoconstricting factors, inflammatory markers, and body composition in prehypertensive adolescent girls. Forty prehypertensive adolescent girls participated in this study. The girls were randomly divided into the jump rope exercise intervention group (EX, n=20) and control group (CON, n=20). The EX group performed a jump rope training program at 40-70% of their heart rate reserve (HRR) 5 days/week for 12 weeks (sessions 50 minutes in duration). The CON group did not participate in any structured or unstructured exercise protocol. Blood pressure, arterial stiffness, plasma nitrate/nitrite levels, endothelin-1, C-reactive protein, and body composition were measured before and after the 12-weeks study.
Protein Bioavailability of Wolffia Globosa (Mankai); Acute Test Meal Effects
Men With Mild Abdominal ObesityThe investigators aim to test the protein bioavailability of new specific developed strain of duckweed [Wolffia globose, Mankai] , an aquatic plant, which might serve as a protein source and contains all the 9 essential and the 6 conditional amino acids. The investigators will randomize 36 participants to consume equivalent protein (30gr) content of 3 whole foods items: 1. White cheese (animal protein source, as a reference); 2. Green peas, intact, cooked (plant protein source); 3. Wolffia globosa (Mankai), intact, cooked (plant protein source). The foods will be consumed in the morning, following 12h fasting. The foods will be provided with 250ml mineral water and the blood follow-up frame will be for 3 hours. Primary outcome: Blood amino acid profile.
Genomic Outcomes of Metformin
Coronary Artery DiseaseMild Cognitive Impairment3 moreMedical scientists have found that people with diabetes who take the drug Metformin have less age-related disease than those taking other treatments and researchers believe it may prevent numerous diseases and conditions that effect older people. In addition, metformin extends lifespan in some animal models of human disease. The purpose of this study is to see if taking Metformin causes changes in blood cells consistent with improved health and longevity in people who do not have diabetes. In this study Metformin will be compared to placebo. A placebo is a substance, like a sugar pill, that is not thought to have any effect on a participants disease or condition. In this study participants will either receive the active study medication, Metformin or placebo which is not active. Placebos are used in research studies to see if the drug being studied really does have an effect.
Synergistic Innovative Functional Food Concepts to Neutralize Inflammation for Cardiometabolic Risk...
Cardiometabolic RiskAbdominal ObesityThe aim of the study is to evaluate the synergistic effects of daily consumption of food products fortified with bioactive components (fibres, polyphenols, omega-3, Slow Digestible Starch) for 9 weeks, compared to the daily intake of standard food products on low-grade inflammation in cardiometabolic risk subject. The inflammatory parameters will be assessed in fasting and in postprandial period after the consumption of a hyper-carbohydrate and hyper-lipidic test meal called Flexmeal. A metabolic stress will be induced by a fructose ingestion challenge during the last 6 days of interventional period.
Imaging on Core Muscles Function in Patients With Visceral Adiposity
ObesityAbdominalThe purpose of this study is to determine the effect of cavitation ultrasonic lipolysis, RUSI guided core muscle exercise and their combination (cavitation ultrasonic lipolysis and RUSI guided core muscles exercise) on diaphragmatic excursion, transverse abdominis activation ratio, visceral fat thickness and waist circumference in patients with visceral adiposity patients with visceral adiposity will be recognized by nutrition specialist. 45 patients were distributed randomly into three groups. The first group will be treated with Cavitation lipolysis twice weekly. The second group was treated with rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) guided core muscle exercise. The third group was treated with combination of cavitation and RUSI. patients will be examined with medical ultrasound imaging and tape measurement.
Grape and Pomegranate Polyphenols in Postprandial Glucose and Related Parameters
Subjects With Abdominal ObesityThe aim of this is study is to evaluate the acute effect of grape and pomegranate polyphenols in the modulation of markers of metabolic syndrome. Most of the previous works about polyphenols have only considered a fraction of polyphenols, i.e., extractable polyphenols. As a consequence, an important amount of dietary polyphenols, the so-called non-extractable polyphenols are ignored. In contrast, the effect of both extractable and non-extractable polyphenols will be considered in this study. Furthermore, the effect of both polyphenols as present in the food matrix and metabolites derived from microbial fermentation will be evaluated.
Metabolic and Appetite Responses to a Whey Protein Preload Following Prior Exercise in Overweight...
ObesityAbdominalConsuming whey protein may have beneficial effects on health, principally by having an impact on blood glucose metabolism, but also by affecting appetite. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of consuming whey protein preload prior to breakfast, following a bout of low/moderate intensity exercise (brisk walking), on glucose and lipids in the blood as well as on appetite. It is hypothesised that the consumption of whey protein before a meal after prior low/moderate intensity exercise may positively affect postprandial handling as well as appetite sensations and consequently reduce intake at a subsequent meal.