Effects of calorie restriction plus fish oil supplementation on abnormal metabolic characteristics and the iron status of middle-aged obese women

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles has led to a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) worldwide as well as in Taiwan. Middle-aged women are at a greater risk of MetS, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease than men because they have more subcutaneous fat and larger waist circumferences compared with men with equal visceral fat levels. In this study, we investigated the effects of calorie restriction (CR) and fish oil supplementation (CRF) on middle-aged Taiwanese women with MetS. An open-label, parallel-arm, controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks. A total of 75 eligible participants were randomly assigned to the CR or CRF group. Both the dietary intervention groups were further divided into two age groups: ≤45 and >45 years. Changes in MetS severity, inflammatory status, iron status, and red blood cell fatty acid profile were evaluated. A total of 71 participants completed the trial. Both dietary interventions significantly ameliorated MetS and improved the participants' inflammatory status. CR significantly increased the total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) whereas CRF increased hepcidin levels in women aged >45 years. Furthermore, CRF significantly increased the n-6/n-3 and arachidonic acid/docosahexaenoic acid ratios. Both interventions improved the anthropometric and MetS characteristics, including body weight, blood glucose and triglyceride levels, and the score of the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. In conclusion, the 12-week dietary interventions improved the abnormal metabolic status of middle-aged obese women. CRF was demonstrated to be more effective in ameliorating postprandial glucose level and TIBC in women aged >45 years than in those aged ≤45 years.

Fecal Microbiota Changes in Patients With Postpartum Depressive Disorder

“…In another study that involved patients with bipolar disorders, Holdemania at the genus level was also found to be negatively correlated with BMI (Hu et al, 2019 ). Another study showed that the abundance of Ruminococcaceae increased in obesity patients (Chávez-Carbajal et al, 2019 ), and Ruminococcaceae was associated with antidepressant effects in rats under chronic mild stress (Tung et al, 2019 ). Moreover, the increased levels of Ruminococcaceae would decrease after weight reduction (Kang et al, 2017 ).…”

Sex differences in the response to dietary restriction in rodents

“…In humans, DR studies tend to focus on improvements in health outcomes rather than lifespan extension due to the obvious limitations in assessing this metric. As with preclinical models, studies of DR in humans either find no sex differences, do not include sex differences as an experimental outcome [5,6], or include only one sex seeking an answer to a specific experimental question [7]. A recent study in non-obese humans suggests that a two-year 25% CR regimen is feasible in non-obese humans; the only sex differences observed were a slightly lower BMI in the cohort that was predominantly women (69.7%) [6].…”

A Moderate Interleukin‐6 Reduction, Not a Moderate Weight Reduction, Improves the Serum Iron Status in Diet‐Induced Weight Loss with Fish Oil Supplementation

“…The relationship between IL‐6 and hepcidin is well established. The literature showed that IL‐6 triggers hepcidin synthesis via signal transducer and activator of transcription 3‐dependent pathways, and downregulation of hepcidin by treatment with an anti‐IL‐6 receptor antibody improved anemia of inflammation . FO or the n‐3/n‐6 fatty acid ratio has potent anti‐inflammation effects, and a human study showed that the addition of FO suppressed IL‐6 synthesis by white blood cells .…”

“…Fish oil (FO) or n‐3 long chain PUFA supplementation was shown to reduce inflammation and the risk of MetS . However, the effects of FO on weight loss and the body composition are still uncertain .…”