Asli Akyol

Obesity induced by cafeteria feeding and pregnancy outcome in the rat

Obesity during pregnancy has major consequences for maternal and neonatal health, but the long-term effects on the offspring are less clear. It is not known whether the effects observed in animal models are a result of maternal obesity per se or of the high-fat diets used to induce obesity. This investigation aimed to develop a model for the evaluation of the independent effects of cafeteria feeding and maternal obesity, considering their impact on plasma volume expansion, circulating metabolites, and fetal and placental growth. Wistar rats were fed a control or cafeteria diet from weaning. After 8 weeks, all animals were mated and half of the animals within each group were crossed-over to the alternative diet. This generated four treatment groups, differing in their pre-gestational and gestational diets. Half of the animals were culled at day 5 of gestation and the remainder at day 20. Maternal body composition, blood volume and circulating glucose, TAG and cholesterol were determined. Cafeteria feeding was effective in inducing obesity, as demonstrated by increased fat depot weights and total body fat, without impacting upon reproductive success or circulating lipid concentrations. The study successfully demonstrated that there were differential effects of maternal body fatness and diet upon fetal and placental growth, with pre-gestational obesity leading to lower fetal weight at day 20 of gestation (P < 0.001). The model will provide a useful vehicle for the investigation of the complex interactions between dietary- and obesity-related factors during pregnancy in their effects on fetal development and postnatal metabolic function.

Glucose intolerance associated with early-life exposure to maternal cafeteria feeding is dependent upon post-weaning diet

In addition to being a risk factor for adverse outcomes of pregnancy, maternal obesity may play a role in determining the long-term disease patterns observed in the resulting offspring, with metabolic and dietary factors directly programming fetal development. The present study evaluated the potential for feeding rats an obesogenic cafeteria diet (O) pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, during lactation and for the offspring post-weaning, to programme glucose tolerance. Early-life exposure to an O diet had no significant effect on offspring food intake. Early-life programming associated with O feeding to induce maternal obesity was associated with reduced adiposity in offspring weaned onto low-fat chow. Adult offspring exposed to an O diet in early life and weaned on a chow diet had low fasting glucose and insulin concentrations and appeared to be more sensitive to insulin during an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. When weaned on an O diet, male offspring were more prone to glucose intolerance than females. On the basis of the area under the glucose curve, maternal O feeding at any point from pre-mating to lactation was associated with impaired glucose tolerance. The mechanism for this was not identified, although increased hepatic expression of Akt2 may have indicated disturbance of insulin signalling pathways. The observations in the present study confirm that maternal overnutrition and obesity during pregnancy are risk factors for metabolic disturbance in the resulting offspring. Although the effects on glucose homeostasis were independent of offspring adiposity, the programming of a glucose-intolerant phenotype was only observed when offspring were weaned on a diet that induced greater fat deposition.

β-Glucan and Dark Chocolate: A Randomized Crossover Study on Short-Term Satiety and Energy Intake

Aim: The aims of this study were to adapt a traditional recipe into a healthier form by adding 3 g of oat β-glucan, substituting milk chocolate to dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, and to examine the effect of these alterations on short-term satiety and energy intake. Materials and Methods: Study subjects (n = 25) were tested in a randomized, crossover design with four products closely matched for energy content. Four different versions of a traditional recipe including milk chocolate-control (CON), oat β-glucan (B-GLU), dark chocolate (DARK) or oat β-glucan and dark chocolate (B-GLU + DARK) were given to subjects on different test days. After subjects were asked to report visual analog scale (VAS) scores on sensory outcomes and related satiety for four hours ad libitum, lunch was served and energy intake of individuals was measured. Results: VAS scores indicated that none of the test foods exerted an improved effect on satiety feelings. However, energy intake of individuals during ad libitum lunch was significantly lower in dark chocolate groups (CON: 849.46 ± 47.45 kcal versus DARK: 677.69 ± 48.45 kcal and B-GLU + DARK: 691.08 ± 47.45 kcal, p = 0.014). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that substituting dark chocolate for milk chocolate is more effective in inducing satiety during subsequent food intake in healthy subjects.

Maternal Low Quality Protein Diet Alters Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations of Weaning Rats

Several studies have indicated the influence of a maternal low protein diet on the fetus. However, the effect of a maternal low quality protein diet on fetal growth and development is largely unknown. Wistar rats (11 weeks old) were mated and maintained on either a chow diet with 20% casein (n = 6) as the control group (C), or a low quality protein diet with 20% wheat gluten (n = 7) as the experimental group (WG) through gestation and lactation. Maternal body weights were similar in both groups throughout the study. Birth weights were not influenced by maternal diet and offspring body weights during lactation were similar between the groups. Offspring’s plasma amino acid profiles showed that plasma methionine, glutamine and lysine were significantly lower and aspartic acid, ornithine and glycine-proline were significantly higher in the WG. Plant based protein comprises an important part of protein intake in developing countries. It is well-known that these diets can be inadequate in terms of essential amino acids. The current study shows differential effects of a maternal low quality protein diet on the offspring’s plasma amino acids. Future studies will examine further aspects of the influence of maternal low quality protein diets on fetal growth and development.

Effect of plate size on meal energy intake in normal weight women

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Use of smaller plates to control food intake is a commonly recommended strategy for restricting energy intake, despite conflicting results. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether or not three different sizes of plates influence energy intake during a multi-itemed buffet meal in normal weight women. SUBJECTS/METHODS This was a cross-over study conducted on 37 female participants aged 19-25 years with normal BMI levels. Participants were recruited from Hacettepe University and the surrounding community. On experimental days, participants ate a standard breakfast and were then randomly assigned to eat lunch using a small (19 cm), medium (23 cm), or large (28 cm) diameter plate. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores on sensory and satiety outcomes were measured for all meals. Energy and macronutrient intakes during lunch were recorded. RESULTS There was no evidence that use of a smaller plate size reduced energy or specific macronutrient intake during the free choice lunch meal. Multiple visits to the serving table were not associated with energy or macronutrient intake. Plate size did not affect VAS scores during the test days. CONCLUSIONS Plate size did not influence energy intake, meal composition, or palatability in normal weight women during a multi-itemed open buffet lunch. Studies in natural settings at the population level are needed to clarify current outcomes.

Chia seed (Salvia Hispanica L.) added yogurt reduces short-term food intake and increases satiety: randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Several studies have reported that consumption of Salvia Hispanica L.,commonly known as chia seed, may exert beneficial effects on health outcomes. The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of chia seed consumption as a mid-morning snack on short-term satiety. SUBJECTS/METHODS Subjects (n = 24) were tested using a randomized, cross-over design consisting of three mid-morning snacks. Yogurt with no chia seed, yogurt with 7 g chia seed, and yogurt with 14 g chia seed were given to subjects on different test days. After subjects were asked to report visual analog scale (VAS) scores on sensory outcomes, ad libitum lunch was served, and energy intake of individuals was measured. RESULTS VAS scores indicated that participants reported significantly lower scores for hunger (P = 0.033), prospective food consumption (P = 0.031), amounts of food that could be consumed (P = 0.017), desire for sugary foods (P = 0.015), and higher scores for satiety (P = 0.031) on the test days with 7 g and 14 g chia seed. Energy intake of individuals during ad libitum lunch was significantly lower when they consumed yogurt with 7 g or 14 g chia seed (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that chia seed consumption as a mid-morning snack may induce short-term satiety in healthy individuals.

The effect of cafeteria diet feeding on maternal body composition and plasma volume expansion during early gestation

The prevalence of obesity is increasing dramatically worldwide. The high rates of overweight and obesity among women of child-bearing age is of major concern as obesity is associated with complications during pregnancy. A large body of evidence shows the programming effect of the fetal environment encountered during critical stages of gestation on the developmental pathway of the fetus and risk of disease in later life. In this context, the adverse effects of mother being overweight and obese remain unclear. It has been shown that feeding a cafeteria diet in rat pregnancy can induce altered food preferences and greater weight gain in the resulting offspring. The aim of the present pilot study was to examine the effect of diet-induced obesity on maternal body composition, food intake and plasma volume expansion during preand early-gestation periods. As obesity is often associated with reduced fertility, an important aim of the study was to establish whether fetal programming studies could be performed in cafeteria-fed rats. Wistar rats (4 weeks old) were fed either chow diet alone (n 4), as a control group (CO), or chow with cafeteria diet (n 4), as the experimental group (CF), for 6 weeks before mating and through to day 5 of gestation. The cafeteria diet consisted of highlypalatable human foods (cheese, chocolate, biscuits, pork pie, sausages, pate, peanuts, crisps, golden syrup cake and jam). The CF group was given four of these junk foods daily and the same food was not given for >2 d in order to maintain an attractive variety. Food intakes and body weights were measured in both groups daily. After 6 weeks all rats were mated and maintained on the same diets until day 5 of gestation. At this point the maternal plasma volume was determined through the intravenous infusion of Evans blue dye under terminal anaesthesia. Gonadal and perirenal fat pads were weighed after each animal was killed.