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Background As reported previously by our group, medium-chain triglycerides can ameliorate atherosclerosis. Given that TLR4 is closely related to atherosclerosis, we hypothesized herein that caprylic acid (C8:0) would suppress inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB signaling and further promote the amelioration of atherosclerosis in apoE- deficient (apoE −/− ) mice. Methods Fifty 6-week male apoE −/− mice were randomly allocated into five diet groups: a high-fat diet (HFD) without or with 2% caprylic acid (C8:0), capric acid (C10:0), stearic acid (C18:0), or linolenic acid (C18:3). RAW246.7 cells were treated with caprylic acid (C8:0), docosahexenoic acid (DHA), palmitic acid (C16:0), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without TLR4 knock-down (TLR4-KD). The serum lipid profiles, inflammatory biomolecules, and mRNA and protein expression levels were measured. Atherosclerotic lesions that occurred in the aorta and aortic sinuses were evaluated and quantified. Results Our results indicated that C8:0 reduced body fat, improved the lipid profiles, suppressed inflammatory cytokine production, downregulated aortic TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, TNF-α, IKKα, and IKKβ mRNA expression, and alleviated atherosclerosis in the apoE −/− mice ( P  < 0.05). In RAW 264.7 cells, C8:0 diminished the inflammatory response and both mRNA and protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, and TNF-α compared to those in the LPS and C16:0 groups ( P  < 0.05). However, in the TLR4-KD RAW 264.7 cells, C8:0 significantly upregulated NF-κB mRNA and protein expression compared to those in the C16:0 and DHA groups. Conclusions These results suggest that C8:0 functions via TLR4/NF-κB signaling to improve the outcomes of apoE −/− mice through suppressing inflammation and ameliorating atherosclerosis. Thus, C8:0 may represent as a promising nutrient against chronic inflammatory diseases.

Background and Objectives: The effect of fiber, especially the effect of specific fiber in different food groups, on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has seldomly been investigated. This study aimed to examine the association between GDM risk and consumption of total fiber, fiber in specific food groups, and glycemic load (GL) in the second trimester in Chinese women. Methods and Study Design: A total 162 GDM cases were matched to 324 controls on women's age and pre-pregnancy BMI. Dietary survey was conducted twice to evaluate dietary factors between 13-16 gestational weeks (GW) and 21-24 GW respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to compute the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Intake of total fiber and fruit fiber in both 13-16 GW and in 21-24 GW were significantly correlated with decreased risk of GDM, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs): 0.06 (0.03-0.13) and 0.03 (0.01-0.08) for total fiber in the highest quartile, 0.003 (0.0002-0.02) and 0.01 (0.001-0.02) for fruit fiber in the highest quartile, respectively. In contrast, consumption of cereal fiber in 21-24 GW and daily average GL in 13-16 GW were positively associated with GDM risk, with adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of the highest quartile: 3.34 (1.45-7.92) and 3.88 (1.43-10.89) respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggested consumption of dietary fiber in various food groups in the second trimester might be associated with GDM risk. Particularly, diet rich in total fiber and fruit fiber may play a protective role.

Background Bile acids play a pivotal role in cholesterol metabolism via the enterohepatic circulation. This study investigated the effects of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)/medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on the reduction of bile acid absorption in the small intestine and the mechanisms of action in vivo and partially verified in vitro. Methods Thirty-six C57BL/6 J mice with hypercholesterolaemia were randomly divided into 3 groups: fed a cholesterol-rich diet (CR group), fed a cholesterol-rich and medium-chain triglyceride diet (CR-MCT group) and fed a cholesterol-rich and long-chain triglyceride diet (CR-LCT group). Body weights and blood lipid profiles were measured in all groups after 16 weeks of treatment. The concentrations of bile acids in bile and faeces were analysed using HPLC-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). Gene transcription and the expression levels associated with bile acid absorption in the small intestines were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot. Ileal bile acid binding protein (I-BABP) was analysed using immunofluorescence. The effects of MCFAs on the permeability of bile acid (cholic acid, CA) in Caco-2 cell monolayers and I-BABP expression levels in Caco-2 cells treated with caprylic acid (C8:0), capric acid (C10:0), stearic acid (C18:0) and oleic acid (C18:1) were determined. Results Mice in the CR-MCT group exhibited lower body weights and serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and a higher HDL-C/LDL-C ratio than the CR-LCT group ( P  < 0.05). The concentrations of primary bile acids (primarily CA) and secondary bile acids in faeces and secondary bile acids in bile in the CR-MCT group were significantly higher than in the CR-LCT group ( P  < 0.05). C8:0 and C10:0 decreased the permeability of CA in Caco-2 cell monolayers. MCT/MCFAs (C8:0 and C10:0) inhibited I-BABP gene expression in the small intestines and Caco-2 cells ( P  < 0.05). Conclusions MCT slowed the body weight increase and promoted the excretion of bile acids. MCT lowered serum cholesterol levels at least partially via reduction of bile acid absorption in the small intestine by inhibition of I-BABP expression. Our results provide the basis for clinical trials of MCT as a dietary supplement for lowering plasma cholesterol and reducing risk of CHD.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is rapidly increasing worldwide. Effective therapies, such as insulin and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), require injections, which are costly and result in less patient compliance. Here, we report the identification of a tripeptide with significant potential to treat T2D. The peptide, referred to as Diapin, is comprised of three natural L-amino acids, GlyGlyLeu. Glucose tolerance tests showed that oral administration of Diapin effectively lowered blood glucose after oral glucose loading in both normal C57BL/6J mice and T2D mouse models, including KKay, db/db, ob/ob mice, and high fat diet-induced obesity/T2D mice. In addition, Diapin treatment significantly reduced casual blood glucose in KKay diabetic mice in a time-dependent manner without causing hypoglycemia. Furthermore, we found that plasma GLP-1 and insulin levels in diabetic models were significantly increased with Diapin treatment compared to that in the controls. In summary, our findings establish that a peptide with minimum of three amino acids can improve glucose homeostasis and Diapin shows promise as a novel pharmaceutical agent to treat patients with T2D through its dual effects on GLP-1 and insulin secretion.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to investigate the effects of micronutrients supplementation on immunity and the incidence of common infections in type 2 diabetic outpatients. A total of 196 type 2 diabetic outpatients were randomized to receive tablets of micronutrients (n=97) or placebo (n=99) for 6 months. Individualized dietary energy intake and daily physical activity were recommended. Anthropometric measurements, blood biochemical variables and the incidence of common infections were measured at baseline and at 6 months. Data on diet, exercise and infection (upper respiratory tract infection, skin infection, urinary and genital tract infections, other infections) were recorded 1 month before the study and every month during the study. Blood concentrations of total protein, iron (Fe), folic acid and hemoglobin increased and unsaturated iron-binding capacity(UIBC) levels were decreased in the micronutrients supplementation group compared to the placebo group at 6 months. Moreover, at 6 months, compared to the placebo group, the blood concentrations of IgE, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, WBC, lymphocyte counts, basophilic leukocyte increased and CD8+ count decreased in the supplementation group, and the levels of IgA, IgM, IgG and complements C3 and C4 did not differ. The incidence of upper respiratory infection, whitlow, dermapostasis, vaginitis, urinary tract infection, gingivitis and dental ulcer were lower and body temperature and duration of fever greatly improved in the supplementation than the placebo group. These data indicated that supplementation of micronutrients might increase immune function and reduce the incidence of common infections in type 2 diabetic outpatients.

Our previous studies have found that caprylic acid (C8:0) can improve blood lipids and reduce inflammation levels and may be related to the upregulation of the p-JAK2/p-STAT3 pathway by ABCA1. This study aims to investigate the effects of C8:0 and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on lipids, inflammatory levels, and the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in ABCA1-deficient mice (ABCA1−/−) and ABCA1 knock-down (ABCA1-KD) RAW 264.7 cells. Twenty 6-week ABCA1−/− mice were randomly divided into four groups and fed a high-fat diet, or a diet of 2% C8:0, 2% palmitic acid (C16:0) or 2% EPA for 8 weeks, respectively. The RAW 264.7 cells were divided into the control or control + LPS group, and the ABCA1-KD RAW 264.7 cells were divided into ABCA1-KD with LPS (LPS group), ABCA1-KD with LPS + C8:0 (C8:0 group), and ABCA1-KD with LPS + EPA (EPA group). Serum lipid profiles and inflammatory levels were measured, and ABCA1 and JAK2/STAT3 mRNA and protein expressions were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, respectively. Our results showed that serum lipid and inflammatory levels increased in ABCA1−/− mice (p < 0.05). After the intervention of different fatty acids in ABCA1−/− mice, TG and TNF-α were significantly lower, while MCP-1 increased significantly in the C8:0 group (p < 0.05); however, LDL-C, TC, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 levels decreased significantly and IL-10 increased significantly in the EPA group (p < 0.05). In the aorta of ABCA1−/− mice, C8:0 significantly decreased p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 mRNA, while EPA significantly reduced TLR4 and NF-κBp65 mRNA. In the ABCA1-KD RAW 264.7 cells, TNF-α and MCP-1 were increased significantly and IL-10 and IL-1β were significantly decreased in the C8:0 group (p < 0.05). The protein expressions of ABCA1 and p-JAK2 were significantly higher, and the NF-κBp65 was significantly lower in the C8:0 and EPA groups (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, compared to the C8:0 group, the NF-κBp65 protein expression was significantly lower in the EPA group (p < 0.05). Our study showed that EPA had better effects than C8:0 on inhibiting inflammation and improving blood lipids in the absence of ABCA1. C8:0 may be involved mainly in inhibiting inflammation through upregulation of the ABCA1 and p-JAK2/p-STAT3 pathways, while EPA may be involved mainly in inhibiting inflammation through the TLR4/NF-κBp65 signaling pathway. The upregulation of the ABCA1 expression pathway by functional nutrients may provide research targets for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

A double blind clinical trial was carried out to clarify the effects of oil with medium- and long-chain triglyceride (MLCT) on body fat and blood lipid profiles in hypertriglyceridemic subjects. One-hundred-and-twelve subjects were enrolled and divided into two groups; those that consumed MLCT oil and those that consumed long-chain triglyceride (LCT) oil for 8 weeks. All subjects were requested to consume 25-30 g of the oils daily and maintain a fixed level of energy intake and exercise. Anthropometric and blood biochemical parameters were measured when the study was initiated and completed. The LCT group consisted of 50 subjects (34 men and 16 women), while the MLCT group consisted of 51 subjects (33 men and 18 women) who completed the study. Larger decreases in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat, total fat area and subcutaneous fat area in the abdomen and serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, C2, C3 and E were observed in male subjects in the MLCT group than those in the LCT group. However, no significant differences in these parameters between the female subjects in the two groups were observed. Data from this study indicate that consumption of medium-and long-chain triglycerides can reduce body weight and body fat and improve blood lipid profiles in male hypertriglyceridemic subjects.

In contrast to the consumption of long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT), consumption of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) reduces the body fat and blood triacylglycerols (TAG) level in hypertriacylglycerolemic Chinese individuals. These responses may be affected by BMI because of obesity-induced insulin resistance. We aimed to compare the effects of consuming MLCT or LCT on reducing body fat and blood TAG level in hypertriacylglycerolemic Chinese subjects with different ranges of BMI. Employing a double-blind, randomized and controlled protocol, 101 hypertriacylglycerolemic subjects (including 67 men and 34 women) were randomly allocated to ingest 25-30 g/day MLCT or LCT oil as the only cooking oil for 8 consecutive weeks. Anthropometric measurements of body weight, BMI, body fat, WC, HC, blood biochemical variables, and subcutaneous fat area and visceral fat area in the abdomen were measured at week 0 and 8. As compared to subjects with BMI 24-28 kg/m² in the LCT group, corresponding subjects in the MLCT group showed significantly greater decrease in body weight, BMI, body fat, WC, ratio of WC to HC, total fat area and subcutaneous fat area in the abdomen, as well as blood TAG and LDL-C levels at week 8. Based upon our results, consumption of MLCT oil may reduce body weight, body fat, and blood TAG and LDL-C levels in overweight hypertriacylglycerolemic Chinese subjects but may not induce these changes in normal or obese hypertriacylglycerolemic subjects.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to investigate the effects of micronutrients supplementation on immunity and the incidence of common infections in type 2 diabetic outpatients. A total of 196 type 2 diabetic outpatients were randomized to receive tablets of micronutrients (n=97) or placebo (n=99) for 6 months. Individualized dietary energy intake and daily physical activity were recommended. Anthropometric measurements, blood biochemical variables and the incidence of common infections were measured at baseline and at 6 months. Data on diet, exercise and infection (upper respiratory tract infection, skin infection, urinary and genital tract infections, other infections) were recorded 1 month before the study and every month during the study. Blood concentrations of total protein, iron (Fe), folic acid and hemoglobin increased and unsaturated iron-binding capacity(UIBC) levels were decreased in the micronutrients supplementation group compared to the placebo group at 6 months. Moreover, at 6 months, compared to the placebo group, the blood concentrations of IgE, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, WBC, lymphocyte counts, basophilic leukocyte increased and CD8+ count decreased in the supplementation group, and the levels of IgA, IgM, IgG and complements C3 and C4 did not differ. The incidence of upper respiratory infection, whitlow, dermapostasis, vaginitis, urinary tract infection, gingivitis and dental ulcer were lower and body temperature and duration of fever greatly improved in the supplementation than the placebo group. These data indicated that supplementation of micronutrients might increase immune function and reduce the incidence of common infections in type 2 diabetic outpatients.

In the traditional art pricing models, the variables that capture the painting's content are often missing. Recent research starts to apply the computer graphic techniques to extract the information from the painting content. Most of the research concentrates on the reading of the color information from the painting images and analyzes how different color compositions can affect the sales prices of paintings. This paper takes a different approach, and tries to abstract away from the interpretation of the content information, while only focus on measuring the quantity of information contained. We extend the concept of Shannon entropy in information theory to the painting's scenario, and suggest using the variances of a painting's composing elements, i.e., line, color, value, shape/form and space, to measure the amount of information in the painting. These measures are calculated at the pixel level based on a picture's digital image. We include them into the traditional hedonic regression model to test their significance based on the auction samples from two famous artists (Picasso and Renoir). We find that all the variance measurements can significantly explain the sales price either at 1% or 5% level. The adjusted R square is also increased by more than ten percent. Our method greatly improves the traditional pricing models, and may also find applications in other areas such as art valuation and authentication.