Novel Human Milk Fat Substitutes Based on Medium- and Long-Chain Triacylglycerol Regulate Thermogenesis, Lipid Metabolism, and Gut Microbiota Diversity in C57BL/6J Mice.

Human milk is naturally rich in medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT), accounting for approximately 30% of the total fat. However, infant formula fat is prepared using a physical blend of vegetable oils, which rarely contains MLCT, similar to human milk. The differences in MLCT between human milk and infant formulas may cause different lipid metabolisms and physiological effects on infants, which are unknown.

Medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols and di-unsaturated fatty acyl-palmitoyl-glycerols in Chinese human milk: Association with region during the lactation.

The triacylglycerols (TAGs) of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) and di-unsaturated fatty acyl-palmitoyl-glycerols (UPU) in human milk provide better nutritional effects, and should be prioritized as crucial focuses on neonatal nutrition research. However, little has been done on the influences of the lactation stage and regional diversity on MLCT and UPU. In this study, we collected 204 human milk samples during colostrum, 1st and 4th month from the north (Baotou), central (Beijing), east (Jinan), southwest (Kunming), southeast (Shenzhen), and northwest (Xining) regions of China.

[Seasonal dynamics of the physicochemical properties of biological crusts exopolysaccharides and the microbial community structure].

Exopolysaccharides (EPS), an important substance of cyanobacteria in resisting stresses, are the main form of carbon storage in biocrusts and play an important role in material cycling and stability of biocrusts. In this study, the biocrusts in different seasons (January, April, July, October) were collected from Gurbantunggut Desert, and the dynamics of EPS content, composition, morphological characteristics and microbial community structures were analyzed. The results showed that: 1) The excretion of EPS showed obvious seasonal dynamics.

Nitrogen concentration acting as an environmental signal regulates cyanobacterial EPS excretion.

As an important carbon (C) storage in biological soil crusts (BSCs), exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are not only a part of the desert C cycle, but also the key materials for cyanobacteria to resist desert stress. In this study, the influence of initial N concentrations (10, 25 and 50 mg L designated as N10, N25 and N50 respectively) on Microcoleus vaginatusis growth and the excretion of EPSs including RPS (released exopolysaccharides) and CPS (capsule exopolysaccharides) were evaluated at different growth periods. In logarithmic period, higher ratio of biomass to EPSs indicated by (DW-CPS)/EPSs was observed in the N50 group with the highest N concentration (about 40 mg L) in the medium, while no difference was observed among the three groups in stationary period when the N concentrations of medium were lower than 25 mg L.

Correction to: Age at menarche and age at natural menopause in East Asian women: a genome-wide association study.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.

Combined effects of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids on protecting ambient PM-induced cardiovascular injury in rats.

Objective: This study aims to observe whether the combined treatment with vitamin E (vit E) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3 FA) could prevent the fine particulate matter (PM)-induced cardiovascular injury through alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress. At the same time, the appropriate combination dosage of vit E and Ω-3 FA was explored to find an optimized protective dose to protect the injury induced by PM.

Methods: The SD rats were pretreated with different concentration of vit E and Ω-3 FA separately or jointly.

Elevated plasma tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2 and resistin are associated with increased incidence of kidney function decline in Chinese adults.

Adipokines and inflammatory markers have been linked to kidney disease in animal models; however, evidence from prospective human studies is sparse. Recruited from Beijing and Shanghai in 2005, a total number of 2220 non-institutionalized Chinese individuals aged 50-70 years with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were prospectively followed for 6 years.

Trans-ancestry genome-wide association study identifies 12 genetic loci influencing blood pressure and implicates a role for DNA methylation.

We carried out a trans-ancestry genome-wide association and replication study of blood pressure phenotypes among up to 320,251 individuals of East Asian, European and South Asian ancestry. We find genetic variants at 12 new loci to be associated with blood pressure (P = 3.9 × 10(-11) to 5.

The development and validation of new equations for estimating body fat percentage among Chinese men and women.

Equations based on simple anthropometric measurements to predict body fat percentage (BF%) are lacking in Chinese population with increasing prevalence of obesity and related abnormalities. We aimed to develop and validate BF% equations in two independent population-based samples of Chinese men and women. The equations were developed among 960 Chinese Hans living in Shanghai (age 46.

A dose-response study of vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy Chinese: a 5-arm randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Purpose: To determine the dose-response of vitamin D3 supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] among Chinese adults.

Methods: In this 5-arm, randomized, double-blinded controlled trial, 76 healthy participants were assigned to orally administrate 0, 400, 800, 1200 or 2000 IU/d of vitamin D3 for 16 weeks. Serum 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, biomarkers of liver and renal function were measured at multiple time points.

Nickel exposure is associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults.

Background: Nickel exposure can induce hyperglycaemia in rodents, but little is known about its association with abnormal glucose metabolism in humans. We aimed to investigate the association of nickel exposure with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults.

Methods: A total of 2115 non-institutionalized men and women aged 55 to 76 years from Beijing and Shanghai were included, and urinary nickel concentration was assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy.

Poor vitamin D status is prospectively associated with greater muscle mass loss in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals.

Background: Poor vitamin D status can increase age-related muscle mass loss. However, existing prospective evidence is limited and controversial.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with muscle mass loss in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals over 6 years.

Association of genetic predisposition to obesity with type 2 diabetes risk in Han Chinese individuals.

Aims/hypothesis: Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but little is known about the contribution of BMI-associated loci to type 2 diabetes risk in East Asian populations.

Methods: In this study, 30 known BMI-associated variants and a genetic risk score (GRS) calculated by summing the BMI-increasing alleles of these variants were tested for associations with type 2 diabetes and related glycaemic traits in 1,873 cases of type 2 diabetes and 1,839 controls in Han Chinese individuals. Logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association with type 2 diabetes risk or related glycaemic traits, respectively, under an additive model with or without adjustment for BMI.

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein, obesity status and incidence of metabolic syndrome: a prospective study among middle-aged and older Chinese.

Aims/hypothesis: Although microbiota-derived endotoxaemia has previously been shown to induce metabolic disorders, data from population-based longitudinal studies are scarce. This study therefore investigated the associations between lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) levels and 6 year incident metabolic syndrome (MetS), as well as the potentially modifying effects of obesity status in middle-aged and older Chinese men and women.

Methods: A total of 2,529 men and women aged 50-70 years from Beijing and Shanghai, China, were followed for 6 years.

Development of a new risk score for incident type 2 diabetes using updated diagnostic criteria in middle-aged and older chinese.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) reaches an epidemic proportion among adults in China. However, no simple score has been created for the prediction of T2DM incidence diagnosed by updated criteria with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5% included in Chinese.

Multiple nonglycemic genomic loci are newly associated with blood level of glycated hemoglobin in East Asians.

Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is used as a measure of glycemic control and also as a diagnostic criterion for diabetes. To discover novel loci harboring common variants associated with HbA1c in East Asians, we conducted a meta-analysis of 13 genome-wide association studies (GWAS; N = 21,026). We replicated our findings in three additional studies comprising 11,576 individuals of East Asian ancestry.

Elevated plasma retinol-binding protein 4 is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.

The association between circulating retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and risk of type 2 diabetes has been inconsistent in cross-sectional studies, but prospective evidence is limited. We aimed to investigate whether plasma RBP4 is associated with future development of type 2 diabetes and whether the association could be explained by iron or other risk factors. A total of 2091 Chinese adults aged 50-70 y were followed up for 6 y.

Associations of genetic risk score with obesity and related traits and the modifying effect of physical activity in a Chinese Han population.

Background/objectives: Recent large-scale genome-wide association studies have identified multiple loci robustly associated with BMI, predominantly in European ancestry (EA) populations. However, associations of these loci with obesity and related traits have not been well described in Chinese Hans. This study aimed to investigate whether BMI-associated loci are, individually and collectively, associated with adiposity-related traits and obesity in Chinese Hans and whether these associations are modified by physical activity (PA).

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for adiponectin levels in East Asians identifies a novel locus near WDR11-FGFR2.

Blood levels of adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted protein correlated with metabolic and cardiovascular risks, are highly heritable. Genome-wide association (GWA) studies for adiponectin levels have identified 14 loci harboring variants associated with blood levels of adiponectin. To identify novel adiponectin-associated loci, particularly those of importance in East Asians, we conducted a meta-analysis of GWA studies for adiponectin in 7827 individuals, followed by two stages of replications in 4298 and 5954 additional individuals.

Dairy consumption, type 2 diabetes, and changes in cardiometabolic traits: a prospective cohort study of middle-aged and older Chinese in Beijing and Shanghai.

OBJECTIVE To prospectively investigate associations of dairy consumption with risk of type 2 diabetes and changes of cardiometabolic traits. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In 2005, 2,091 middle-aged and older Chinese men and women were recruited and followed for 6 years. Baseline dairy consumption was assessed by a 74-item food frequency questionnaire.

Elevated plasma ferritin is associated with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.

Epidemiological studies suggest that elevated circulating ferritin is associated with heightened incident diabetes in mainly Western populations, although the results were not entirely consistent. We aimed to prospectively investigate the ferritin-diabetes association in an Asian population for the first time, to our knowledge, and also to examine this association with an updated meta-analysis. Our prospective study included 2198 community-living Chinese between 50 and 70 y of age in 2005.