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Journal of Sleep Research Feb 2014Sleep symptoms are associated with weight gain and cardiometabolic disease. The potential role of diet has been largely unexplored. Data from the 2007-2008 National...
Sleep symptoms are associated with weight gain and cardiometabolic disease. The potential role of diet has been largely unexplored. Data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used (n = 4552) to determine which nutrients were associated with sleep symptoms in a nationally representative sample. Survey items assessed difficulty falling asleep, sleep maintenance difficulties, non-restorative sleep and daytime sleepiness. Analyses were adjusted for energy intake, other dietary factors, exercise, body mass index (BMI) and sociodemographics. Population-weighted, logistic regression, with backwards-stepwise selection, examined which nutrients were associated with sleep symptoms. Odds ratios (ORs) reflect the difference in odds of sleep symptoms associated with a doubling in nutrient. Nutrients that were associated independently with difficulty falling asleep included (in order): alpha-carotene (OR = 0.96), selenium (OR = 0.80), dodecanoic acid (OR = 0.91), calcium (OR = 0.83) and hexadecanoic acid (OR = 1.10). Nutrients that were associated independently with sleep maintenance difficulties included: salt (OR = 1.19), butanoic acid (0.81), carbohydrate (OR = 0.71), dodecanoic acid (OR = 0.90), vitamin D (OR = 0.84), lycopene (OR = 0.98), hexanoic acid (OR = 1.25) and moisture (OR = 1.27). Nutrients that were associated independently with non-restorative sleep included butanoic acid (OR = 1.09), calcium (OR = 0.81), vitamin C (OR = 0.92), water (OR = 0.98), moisture (OR = 1.41) and cholesterol (OR = 1.10). Nutrients that were associated independently with sleepiness included: moisture (OR = 1.20), theobromine (OR = 1.04), potassium (OR = 0.70) and water (OR = 0.97). These results suggest novel associations between sleep symptoms and diet/metabolism, potentially explaining associations between sleep and cardiometabolic diseases.
Topics: Adult; Body Mass Index; Butyric Acid; Calcium; Carotenoids; Cholesterol; Diet; Diet Surveys; Dietary Carbohydrates; Exercise; Female; Humans; Lauric Acids; Lycopene; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Odds Ratio; Palmitic Acid; Selenium; Sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sodium Chloride, Dietary; Vitamin D
PubMed: 23992533
DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12084 -
Immunity Oct 2015Growing empirical evidence suggests that nutrition and bacterial metabolites might impact the systemic immune response in the context of disease and autoimmunity. We... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Growing empirical evidence suggests that nutrition and bacterial metabolites might impact the systemic immune response in the context of disease and autoimmunity. We report that long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) enhanced differentiation and proliferation of T helper 1 (Th1) and/or Th17 cells and impaired their intestinal sequestration via p38-MAPK pathway. Alternatively, dietary short-chain FAs (SCFAs) expanded gut T regulatory (Treg) cells by suppression of the JNK1 and p38 pathway. We used experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model of T cell-mediated autoimmunity to show that LCFAs consistently decreased SCFAs in the gut and exacerbated disease by expanding pathogenic Th1 and/or Th17 cell populations in the small intestine. Treatment with SCFAs ameliorated EAE and reduced axonal damage via long-lasting imprinting on lamina-propria-derived Treg cells. These data demonstrate a direct dietary impact on intestinal-specific, and subsequently central nervous system-specific, Th cell responses in autoimmunity, and thus might have therapeutic implications for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Topics: Animals; Autoimmunity; Central Nervous System; Dietary Fats; Duodenum; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Fatty Acids; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gene Expression Regulation; Lauric Acids; Liver X Receptors; Lymphopoiesis; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Molecular Weight; Orphan Nuclear Receptors; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Spleen; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Th1 Cells; Th17 Cells; Transcriptome
PubMed: 26488817
DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.09.007 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Antibiotic misuse is greatly contributing to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals. Natural and synthetic alternative strategies are being... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic misuse is greatly contributing to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals. Natural and synthetic alternative strategies are being investigated in human and veterinary medicine, but little attention is paid to the antimicrobial effects of edible lipids, such as medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and monoglycerides. Among MCFAs, lauric acid (LA) and its monoglyceride derivative, glycerol monolaurate (GML), exhibit the strongest antimicrobial activity. Coconut and palm kernel oils are considered the main sources of LA. On the other hand, some edible insects (e.g., ) are gaining interest as novel feed ingredients, due to the high amount of LA they contain as well as their numerous bioactive components, which provide many additional benefits to animal health. Although the beneficial effect of both MCFAs and LA is gradually being recognized, their high content within insects and, consequently, their possible role as antimicrobials, has not been well-reported. This mini review focuses on the anti-infective effects of the insect-derived MCFAs LA and its derivatives. We emphasize the potential of insect lipids, compared to the other vegetable sources, in the current global scenario where a sustainable and circular economy is required. Finally, we critically discuss the use and the benefits of edible insects such as favorable options as feed and food from the perspective of animal and human nutrition.
PubMed: 33717009
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.620798 -
Bioinformation 2023It is of interest to develop potent and safer anti-inflammatory drugs from plants, as medicinal plants and herbs attained great attention in the medical world due to...
It is of interest to develop potent and safer anti-inflammatory drugs from plants, as medicinal plants and herbs attained great attention in the medical world due to their multifunctional activities. This article studied the anti-inflammatory effects of lauric acid (LA), thiocolchicoside (TC) and thiocolchicoside-lauric acid (TC-LA) formulation. The anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds were determined by following the methods of inhibition of protein denaturation and proteinase inhibition activity. This was assessed at different concentrations to determine the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of the compounds. The result indicated that the activity of LA, TC, TC-LA formulation, and reference drug increased with the increase in the concentration from 10-50 µg/ml, thus proving the activity of LA, TC, and TC-LA formulation against inflammation was in a dose-dependent manner. The percentage of inhibition of protein denaturation was 59.56%, 66.94%, 86.62%, and 60.34% for LA, TC, the combination of TC-LA and standard drug, and the IC50 values were found to be 44.78 µg/mL, 37.65 µg/mL, 27.15 µg/mL and 43.42 µg/mL, respectively. The percentage of proteinase inhibition activity of LA, TC, and a combination of TC-LA and the standard drug was 66.65%, 77.49%, 94.07%, and 69.83%, and IC50 of LA, TC, a combination of TC-LA and standard drug were35.5 µg/mL, 32.12 µg/mL, 24.35 µg/mL and 37.80 µg/mL, respectively. We found out that lauric acid, thiocolchicoside, and thiocolchicoside-lauric acid formulation exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity.
PubMed: 38046516
DOI: 10.6026/973206300191075 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2021The chain length of saturated fatty acids may dictate their impact on inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, two pivotal players in the pathogenesis of insulin...
The chain length of saturated fatty acids may dictate their impact on inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, two pivotal players in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. However, these paradigms have only been investigated in animal models and cell lines so far. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of palmitic (PA) (16:0) and lauric (LA) (12:0) acid on human primary myotubes mitochondrial health and metabolic inflammation. Human primary myotubes were challenged with either PA or LA (500 μM). After 24 h, the expression of was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas Western blot was used to quantify the abundance of the inhibitor of nuclear factor κB (IκBα), electron transport chain complex proteins and mitofusin-2 (MFN-2). Mitochondrial membrane potential and dynamics were evaluated using tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and immunocytochemistry, respectively. PA, contrarily to LA, triggered an inflammatory response marked by the upregulation of mRNA (11-fold; < 0.01) and a decrease in IκBα (32%; < 0.05). Furthermore, whereas PA and LA did not differently modulate the levels of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex proteins, PA induced mitochondrial fragmentation (37%; < 0.001), decreased MFN-2 (38%; < 0.05), and caused a drop in mitochondrial membrane potential (11%; < 0.01) compared to control, with this effect being absent in LA-treated cells. Thus, LA, as opposed to PA, did not trigger pathogenetic mechanisms proposed to be linked with insulin resistance and therefore represents a healthier saturated fatty acid choice to potentially preserve skeletal muscle metabolic health.
PubMed: 34136519
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.663838 -
Poultry Science Sep 2021Antibiotic overuse in poultry husbandry poses a potential threat to meat safety and human health. Lauric acid (LA) is a primary medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) with a...
Antibiotic overuse in poultry husbandry poses a potential threat to meat safety and human health. Lauric acid (LA) is a primary medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) with a strong antibacterial capacity. The goal of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of LA on the growth performance, immune responses, serum metabolism, and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. One-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into 4 groups: CON, fed a basal diet; ANT, a basal diet supplemented with 75 mg/kg antibiotic; LA, a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg LA; LA, a basal diet supplemented with 1000 mg/kg LA. The feeding period was 42 d. The results showed that LA significantly improved broiler growth and immune functions, as evidenced by increased body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), enhanced intestinal mucosal barrier, upregulated immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgY), and downregulated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-10) (P < 0.05). HPLC/MS-based metabolome analysis revealed that the serum metabolites in the LA group differed from those of CON and ANT groups. LA markedly decreased the abundance of phosphatidylcholines (PCs), increased lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPCs), and inhibited the sphingolipid metabolism pathway, indicating its capacity to modulate lipid metabolism. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that LA significantly altered cecal microbiota composition by reducing Phascolarctobacterium, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Bacteroides, and increasing Faecalibacterium and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis revealed that changes in metabolism and microbiota were highly correlated with the growth and immune indices; strong links were also found between lipid metabolism and microbial composition. Taken together, LA promotes broiler growth and immune functions by regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. The above findings highlight the substantial potential of LA as a supplement in poultry diets and provide a new strategy to reduce antibiotic usage and improve food safety.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Chickens; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Lauric Acids; Male; Metabolome; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 34280650
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101315 -
ACS Omega Sep 2021A phase change material (PCM) has the characteristics of latent heat storage, controllable phase transition temperature (PTT), and chemical stability. It can naturally...
A phase change material (PCM) has the characteristics of latent heat storage, controllable phase transition temperature (PTT), and chemical stability. It can naturally regulate the ambient temperature in a certain range and reduce the load of air conditioning operation. Therefore, it plays an important role in the field of energy-saving buildings, and the PTT of PCM is one of the decisive factors. In this paper, through analyzing PCM installed in solar buildings at various regions, a binary eutectic mixture (EM) was prepared from lauric acid (LA) and octadecanol (OD) by the method of mixed melting, and the PTT and enthalpy of the EM were 39.87 °C and 186.94 J/g, respectively. The PTT, latent heat, and EM ratio were determined by theoretical calculation, the step cooling curve, and DSC. FT-IR result shows that no chemical reaction occurs among the components of composites, and the molecular forces are uniform and stable. XRD results further proves that no other phases existed in the composites. Thermal cycles (500) and the TG test show that the EM has excellent thermal stability and heat resistance, which meets the engineering application. Due to the thermodynamic properties of the EM, it can be used in thermal cooling of electronic systems, building envelopes, and thermal storage in solar buildings to obtain a good energy-saving effect.
PubMed: 34549150
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03626 -
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical... Apr 2022Gemcitabine is a first-line drug for the treatment of bladder cancer. One of the most important mechanisms of gemcitabine resistance is the low expression of cellular...
OBJECTIVES
Gemcitabine is a first-line drug for the treatment of bladder cancer. One of the most important mechanisms of gemcitabine resistance is the low expression of cellular membrane transporter hENT1. Various derivatives containing fatty acid side chains have been developed in order to facilitate gemcitabine uptake and prolong its retention in cells, such as CP-4126. In this study, the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of a new derivative of gemcitabine named SZY-200 on bladder cancer cells were investigated. SZY-200 was assembled from the gemcitabine-lauric acid conjugate.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Antiproliferative activities of SZY-200 and lauric acid were evaluated using CCK-8 assay and clonogenic survival assay. The hENT1 inhibitor NBMPR was employed to determine the role of hENT1 in the apoptotic activity of GEM, CP-4126, and SZY-200. RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscope, western blotting, and wound healing assay were used to study the mechanisms of SZY-200. The target genes were predicted using the BATMAN-TCM database.
RESULTS
Our data showed that SZY-200 could inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The inhibitory effects were comparable to gemcitabine and CP-4126. SZY-200 does not rely on hENT1 to help it enter bladder cancer cells. Also, we found that lauric acid could inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer cells. SZY-200 could down-regulate the expressions of PPARG and PTGS2 which were related to the occurrence and development of bladder cancer.
CONCLUSION
SZY-200 has the same or more advantages as CP-4126 and could be an ideal candidate drug for further investigation.
PubMed: 35656081
DOI: 10.22038/IJBMS.2022.61118.13528 -
Journal of Lipids 2018The primary purpose of the epidermis of terrestrial vertebrates is to produce the stratum corneum, which serves as the interface between the organism and the... (Review)
Review
The primary purpose of the epidermis of terrestrial vertebrates is to produce the stratum corneum, which serves as the interface between the organism and the environment. As such, the stratum corneum provides a permeability barrier which both limits water loss through the skin and provides a relatively tough permeability barrier. This provides for a degree of resistance to mechanical trauma and prevents or limits penetration of potentially harmful substances from the environment. The stratum corneum consists of an array of keratinized cells embedded in a lipid matrix. It is this intercellular lipid that determines the permeability of the stratum corneum. The main lipids here are ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. In addition, the skin surface of mammals, including humans, is coated by a lipid film produced by sebaceous glands in the dermis and secreted through the follicles. Human sebum consists mainly of squalene, wax monoesters, and triglycerides with small proportions of cholesterol and cholesterol esters. As sebum passes through the follicles, some of the triglycerides are hydrolyzed by bacteria to liberate free fatty acids. Likewise, near the skin surface, where water becomes available, some of the ceramides are acted upon by an epithelial ceramidase to liberate sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, and 6-hydroxysphingosine. Some of the free fatty acids, specifically lauric acid and sapienic acid, have been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity. Also, the long-chain bases have broad spectrum antibacterial activity.
PubMed: 30245886
DOI: 10.1155/2018/5954034 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2022Co-contamination by organic solvents (e.g., toluene and tetrahydrofuran) and metal ions (e.g., Cu) is common in industrial wastewater and in industrial sites. This...
Co-contamination by organic solvents (e.g., toluene and tetrahydrofuran) and metal ions (e.g., Cu) is common in industrial wastewater and in industrial sites. This manuscript describes the separation of THF from water in the absence of copper ions, as well as the treatment of water co-polluted with either THF and copper, or toluene and copper. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water are freely miscible in the absence of lauric acid. Lauric acid separates the two solvents, as demonstrated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) and Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The purity of the water phase separated from 3:7 (v/v) THF:water mixtures using 1 M lauric acid is ≈87%v/v. Synchrotron small angle X-Ray scattering (SAXS) indicates that lauric acid forms reverse micelles in THF, which swell in the presence of water (to host water in their interior) and ultimately lead to two free phases: 1) THF-rich and 2) water-rich. Deprotonated lauric acid (laurate ions) also induces the migration of Cu ions in either THF (following separation from water) or in toluene (immiscible in water), enabling their removal from water. Laurate ions and copper ions likely interact through physical interactions (e.g., electrostatic interactions) rather than chemical bonds, as shown by ATR-FTIR. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) demonstrates up to 60% removal of Cu ions from water co-polluted by CuSO or CuCl and toluene. While lauric acid emulsifies water and toluene in the absence of copper ions, copper salts destabilize emulsions. This is beneficial, to avoid that copper ions are re-entrained in the water phase alongside with toluene, following their migration in the toluene phase. The effect of copper ions on emulsion stability is explained based on the decreased interfacial activity and compressional rigidity of interfacial films, probed using a Langmuir trough. In wastewater treatment, lauric acid (a powder) can be mixed directly in the polluted water. In the context of groundwater remediation, lauric acid can be solubilized in canola oil to enable its injection to treat aquifers co-polluted by organic solvents and Cu. In this application, injectable filters obtained by injecting cationic hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC +) would impede the flow of toluene and copper ions partitioned in it, protecting downstream receptors. Co-contaminants can be subsequently extracted upstream of the filters (using pumping wells), to enable their simultaneous removal from aquifers.
Topics: Copper; Decontamination; Emulsions; Furans; Ions; Laurates; Lauric Acids; Micelles; Powders; Protons; Rapeseed Oil; Salts; Scattering, Small Angle; Solvents; Toluene; Wastewater; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; X-Ray Diffraction
PubMed: 36138091
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20241-4