- Obesity is a serious problem worldwide, with the United States having one of the highest rates of obesity in the world.
- Low-grade chronic inflammation, often caused by dysfunction of white blood cells called monocytes, increases the risk of many health conditions in obese people.
- Small studies have found that several dietary interventions can boost monocyte mitochondrial function, reduce inflammation, and alter gut bacteria.
- Further studies are needed to assess whether these findings could be useful in treating obesity.
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Globally, 16% of adults suffer from obesity. Previously, it was only a problem in high-income countries such as the United States.
According to current guidelines, obese people
Obesity is
Chronic low-grade
Now, a small clinical trial in Mexico has found that some dietary interventions improve the energy utilization of these monocytes, leading to increased weight loss.
This study Clinical Nutrition.
“These findings suggest that the body is more likely to be able to tolerate high levels of vitamin C than low levels of vitamin D,” said Dr Eamon Laird, an associate professor of nutrition at Sligo Institute of Technology in Ireland, who was not involved in the study. Today’s Medical News that:
“These findings are very exciting as a new pilot study for larger, more in-depth studies. They suggest that dietary changes such as calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, and ketogenic diets may have profound benefits for both metabolic health and the microbiome. However, this is based on early pilot data.”
The 44 participants who completed the study were between 18 and 60 years old and had a BMI between 30 and 50 kilograms per square meter (kg/m2None had any chronic illness or psychiatric disorder.
The researchers divided the subjects into four treatment groups and had each group follow a different diet for two months.
- Group 1 was placed on a calorie-restricted diet (500 kcal less than their usual diet).
- Group 2 followed the same calorie-restricted diet but used an intermittent fasting pattern with 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating.
- Group 3 followed the same calorie-restricted ketogenic diet.
- Group 4 followed their usual “ad libitum” diet.
At four follow-up visits, participants provided fasting blood samples for analysis, were weighed, and had their body composition analyzed.
The researchers isolated monocytes from the samples and assessed mitochondrial function, and also analyzed the gut microbiota from stool samples.
“This clinical trial was very small, and there have been no studies to date that specifically looked at how these dietary changes affected mitochondrial function in human monocytes to support these findings. However, calorie restriction and
Costa explained the importance of mitochondria: MNT.
“Mitochondrial bioenergetic health refers to the efficiency and function of mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses responsible for energy production,” she said.
“This is an important aspect of considering obesity.
In this study, the researchers found that mitochondrial function in monocytes was significantly improved in people who followed a calorie-restricted, intermittent fasting, or ketogenic diet.
The diet also had a positive effect on gut bacteria.
Laird acknowledged that these were intriguing findings, but stressed that more research is needed to verify them.
“[This study used a] This is a very strict and unique population group, and requires the absence of other chronic diseases or conditions. Individuals in this BMI range often suffer from other conditions related to obesity, such as high blood pressure and COPD. [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]”It preselects a ‘healthy’ obese group who are already atypical of the population because they have a range of health problems, including diabetes and high cholesterol,” he noted.
“To really establish its clinical relevance, we would like to replicate and power this study with a larger number of participants, including a 50:50 ratio of men and women, older adults, and obese adults with any disease or condition. [which would be] Closer [a] “It’s a real-world scenario,” Laird said.
Mir Ali, M.D., a board-certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, who was not involved in the study, also shared his thoughts on the findings: MNT
He said:[t]”This is new research that illustrates the complex nature of obesity and indicates that there is still much to learn to prevent and effectively manage this growing health problem.”
Despite being a short-term, small study, participants showed some health benefits, suggesting that this intervention is worth investigating further.
In addition to improving mitochondrial function, people on the restricted diet lost weight, Visceral fat Compared to people who eat a normal diet, they have less fat that can accumulate in their abdomen and cause health problems.
The diversity of the intestinal flora is also increasing.
“This study highlights the importance of considering not only weight loss but also changes in metabolic health when it comes to dietary interventions for obesity. It also highlights the potential role that gut bacteria play in regulating cellular function and how diet influences this relationship.”
– Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN
