Objective: To investigate whether or not berberine could improve metabolic status of high-fat-fed rats through modulation of microbiota-gut-brain axis. Methods: Berberine was administered on high-fat-fed Sprague-Dawley rats. Brain-gut hormones were detected, and changes of gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Berberine could reduce weight gain and lipolysis in the high-fat diet-fed group. Moreover, trends of ameliorated insulin resistance and decreased endogenous glucose production were observed. In addition, the microbiota-gut-brain axis was found to be modulated, including structural and diversity changes of microbiota, elevated serum glucagon-like peptide-1 and neuropeptide Y level, decreased orexin A level, up-regulated glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor mRNA level as well as ultra-structural improvement of the hypothalamus. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that berberine improved metabolic disorders induced by high-fat diet through modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Background The interrelation between thyroid autoimmunity and cardiovascular risks is complex and has not been confirmed. This study aimed at evaluating whether there exists a relationship between thyroid autoimmune diseases (AITDs) and cardiometabolic risks in a large population with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. Methods The data was obtained from a cross-sectional study (SPECT-China study). This study enrolled 9082 subjects (3948 males and 5134 females) above 18 years with normal TSH levels. AITD was defined according to the positivity of TPOAb and TgAb as well as thyroid ultrasonography (US) findings. Results After full adjustment, TPOAb and/or TgAb positivity (TPO/TgAb (+)) was significantly associated with higher BMI, waist circumference (WC), and HbA1c only in women (P = 0.004, 0.026 and 0.032, respectively), while both TPO/TgAb positivity and US positivity (TPO/TgAb (+) and US (+)) were positively associated with BMI and WC in both genders (P = 0.002 and 0.020 in men; P < 0.001and <0.001 in women). TPO/TgAb (+) and US (+) were positively associated with HOMA-IR in women (P = 0.021) as well. Binary logistic analysis showed that AITDs had increased risks of central obesity, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome only in women (all P < 0.05). Moreover, TPO/TgAb (+) and US (+) were associated with an increased risk of obesity for both genders (P = 0.014 in men and P = 0.006 in women). Conclusions Thyroid autoimmunity was positively associated with HbA1c, HOMA-IR, obesity, central obesity, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, especially in women. This highlighted that AITDs may be potential risk factors for cardiometabolic disorders even if one's TSH was within the reference range.

We aimed to report environmental and blood lead level (BLL) in China, and investigate the relationship of BLL with body mass index (BMI) and obesity. 5558 subjects were enrolled from 16 sites in China. BLL was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Median (interquartile range) of BLL was 44.00 μg/L (29.00–62.16) for men and 37.79 μg/L (25.13–54.35) for women, about twice higher than in U.S. population. Subjects in rural and high-economic-status areas had significantly greater BLL (P < 0.001). However, in these areas, the lead levels in drinking water, river water and rice were comparable to or significantly lower than those in urban and low-economic-status areas. After adjustment for age, urbanization, economic status and metabolic factors, BLL was independently associated with BMI in women (P for trend < 0.001), but not in men. In fully adjusted model, increased quartiles of BLL were associated with significantly increased odds ratios of obesity (P for trend < 0.01) in women. In conclusion, BLLs in Chinese adults were much higher than in developed countries. There was a sex-specific association between BLL and BMI. Elevated BLL does not appear to be associated with lead levels in drinking water or rice, suggesting some other exposure source.

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the association of thyroid nodules (TNs) and their ultrasound (US) characteristics related to malignancy with metabolic status. Methods The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study (SPECT-China, 2014-2015). The study included 9898 participants older than 18 years. Participants underwent several checkups, which included the measurement of anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, TSH levels, glucose, and lipid profiles. TN and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were diagnosed by US. TN US characteristics, including microcalcification and a taller-than-wide shape, were recorded. Results Participants with TN [TN(+)] had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Met-S), obesity, central obesity, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, hypertension, and NAFLD, especially women (all P ≤ 0.001). After full adjustment, logistic regression analysis indicated that metabolic syndrome, obesity, central obesity, and hyperlipidaemia were all independent risk factors for the increased prevalence of TN in both genders (P < 0.05). In terms of TN US imaging characteristics associated with malignancy, being female with obesity, central obesity, and NAFLD had 1.91-fold, 2.09-fold, and 1.75-fold increased risks of developing a taller-than-wide nodule (P = 0.014, 0.004, and 0.027, resp.). Conclusions The status of metabolic disorders might be associated with higher risks of TN in both genders. In women, obesity, central obesity, and NAFLD might contribute to the development of a taller-than-wide nodule. The potential role of metabolic status in the pathogenesis of the thyroid nodule and thyroid cancer remains to be elucidated.

BackgroundChinese population are experiencing remarkably changes of economic and cultural environments. The present study was to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) by age between genders and to investigate the current characteristics of MetS and its components in China.MethodsSPECT-China is a population-based cross-sectional survey on Chinese adults aged ≥18 years in East China. A total of 10,441 Chinese residents participated in anthropometric and laboratory measurements. Of these, 9969 subjects (females, 5868) were eligible for the data analysis reported here. Estimates of the prevalence of MetS and its components were calculated. Presence of MetS was defined based on the IDF/AHA harmonized criteria. MetS z-score was calculated to evaluate the degree of total metabolic disorder.ResultsThe age-standardized prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 22.0% (21.9% in men and 22.0% in women). Unlike the continuous MetS rise with age in females, the MetS prevalence in males remained stable among 46–55, 56–65 and > 65 yrs. age groups (31.2%, 31.4%, 32.5%, p = 0.538). In the five components of MetS, contrary to the elevated BP and BG disorders, the frequency of TG disorders decreased with age in males (46.6%(46–55 yrs), 37.2% (56–65 yrs), 27.7%(> 65 yrs), p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression showed that in males, more TG disorders were associated with higher BMI, higher educational level and current nonsmoker. In the MetS subjects, the 3-factor combinations which included TG disorders decreased with age in both genders. The whole metabolic profile became better in older male MetS subjects, which was opposite to the female.ConclusionOur results showed a distinct age-related prevalence of MetS between genders in dramatically changed China, in which the TG disorders played an important role. More targeted measures need to be taken to meet the serious challenges of metabolic diseases.Trial registrationChiCTR-ECS-14005052, Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12944-018-0747-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recent studies have suggested an association between vitamin D and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, some results are subject to debate. This study was carried out to evaluate the correlation between NAFLD and vitamin D in men and women in East China. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study that focused on the health and metabolic status of adults in sixteen areas of East China. According to ultrasonic assessments, the patients were divided into normal and NAFLD groups. Demographic characteristics and biochemical measurements were obtained. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association. In total, 5066 subjects were enrolled, and 2193 (43·3 %) were diagnosed with NAFLD; 84·56 % of the subjects showed vitamin D deficiency. Subjects with high vitamin D levels had a lower prevalence of NAFLD, particularly male subjects. Within the highest quartile of vitamin D levels, the prevalence of NAFLD was 40·8 %, whereas the lowest quartile of vitamin D levels showed a prevalence of 62·2 %, which was unchanged in women across the vitamin D levels. Binary logistic analysis showed that decreased vitamin D levels were associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (OR 1·54; 95 % CI 1·26, 1·88). This study suggests that vitamin D levels are significantly associated with NAFLD and that vitamin D acts as an independent factor for NAFLD prevalence, particularly in males in East China. Vitamin D interventional treatment might be a new target for controlling NAFLD; elucidating the mechanism requires further research.Key words: Vitamin D: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: BMI: Homoeostasis model assessment: Insulin resistance Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alternatively known as metabolic fatty liver disease, is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, obesity and the metabolic syndrome (1) . In parallel with the obesity epidemic, NAFLD has become one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the world. Up to 30 % of adults are affected by NAFLD in America (2) . A study from China reported that the prevalence of NAFLD was as high as 20 % (3) . Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) can be a result of inadequate or limited exposure to sunlight, improper diet or problems related to absorption of vitamin D. Certain diseases can impair vitamin D conversion into its active form. Some of these conditions include kidney disease, liver disease or some hereditary diseases. VDD usually results in bad mineralisation of bones, leading to bone softening, osteomalacia, rickets and osteoporosis. As VDD is a risk factor for developing these metabolic deficiencies and has been linked to disorders in bone metabolism, more recent studies have suggested that obesity and visceral obesity occur with VDD. The potential association between VDD and NAFLD has been examined in recent studies. Mohamed et al. (4) reported that VDD is an important risk factor for NAFLD, and Kong et al.(5) observed that VDD might up-regulate endogenous fatty acid synthesis in non-alcoholic steatohep...

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We aimed to evaluate trends in bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis/osteopenia in U.S. adults with prediabetes and normal glucose regulation (NGR) and further investigate the association among prediabetes, osteopenia/osteoporosis, and fracture. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe collected and analyzed data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys during the period from 2005 to 2014. Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD data were available for 5,310 adults with prediabetes and 5,162 adults with NGR >40 years old. RESULTSA shift was observed toward a lower BMD and a higher prevalence of osteopenia/ osteoporosis at the femoral neck and lumbar spine in U.S. adults >40 years old with prediabetes since 2005, especially in men <60 and women ‡60 years old. A shift toward a higher prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis at the femoral neck was also observed in adults >40 years old with NGR. Moreover, prediabetes was associated with a higher prevalence of hip fracture, although participants with prediabetes had higher BMD and a lower prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis at the femoral neck. CONCLUSIONSThere was a declining trend in BMD from 2005 to 2014 in U.S. adults >40 years old with prediabetes and NGR, and this trend was more significant in men <60 years old. Populations with prediabetes may be exposed to relatively higher BMD but a higher prevalence of fracture.Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of the skeleton, with a consequently increasing rate of bone fragility and predisposition to fracture (1). According to the literature, ;54 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from osteoporosis or low bone mass at the femoral neck and lumbar spine (2). The high prevalence of osteoporosis and the associated fractures poses a major medical burden, emerging as an important public health issue (3).