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Browsing by Author "Zhang, Yanqi"

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    Association between Dietary Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake and Metabolic Syndrome among US Females: An Analysis of National Health and Examination Surveys 2015-2018
    (Oxford University Press, 2021) Zhang, Yanqi; Knol, Linda L.; Tan, Libo; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is greater among US females than males, mainly due to higher risks of dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. Lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) are carotenoids that can alter the composition of lipoproteins, which may affect components of MetS. However, little is known about the association between L/Z intake and MetS, especially in females. The purpose of this study was to explore the relation between dietary L/Z or dietary plus supplemental L/Z intakes and MetS in women (n = 630), aged 20-50 y, participating in the NHANES 2015-2018. Compared with the lowest quartile, women in the highest quartile of dietary L/Z intake had significantly lower risk of MetS after adjusting for confounders (OR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.98). No significant relation was noted between dietary plus supplemental L/Z intake and MetS. Future cohort studies should investigate the effects of L/Z on MetS development in women.
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    Developing Biopolymer-Based Lutein Emulsion to Improve the in Vitro Bioaccessibility of Lutein and its in Vivo Bioavailability in Neonatal Rats
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2023) Zhang, Yanqi; Tan, Libo
    Oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor in many neonatal diseases. Immature tissues at birth, such as the retina and the brain, are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to their high metabolic rate. Lutein, a dietary antioxidant from leafy vegetables, acts as the macular pigment in the eye and protects the macula from light-initiated oxidative damage. However, the low bioavailability and stability of lutein limit its application as a nutritional intervention. The aim of this research was to develop a novel emulsion system for lutein using food-grade colloids as emulsifiers to improve its storage stability, in vitro bioaccessibility, and bioavailability in neonatal rats.Six types of biopolymers that are safe for infant foods, including three types of octenylsuccinated starches (CTA, HC, and PG) and three types of gum Arabic (TM, TAM, and PHGA), were chosen as emulsifier candidates to prepare biopolymer-based oil-in-water emulsions. The emulsions stabilized by CTA, HC, and TM possessed superior stability by forming gel-like emulsions and were used to prepare lutein emulsions. CTA-, HC-, and TM- stabilized lutein emulsions all exhibited a compact emulsion network and small droplet size. However, the CTA-stabilized lutein emulsion showed the overall best performance in enhancing the storage stability and in vitro bioaccessibility of lutein and was selected for the in vivo studies. In an acute dosing study, neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats received a single oral dose of free lutein or CTA-stabilized lutein emulsion. The emulsion group exhibited a significantly higher lutein bioavailability, as evidenced by pharmacokinetic parameters derived from the serum lutein kinetic curve. In two chronic dosing studies, compared to free lutein, daily consumption of lutein emulsion for 14 days in neonatal rats resulted in a significantly higher lutein concentration in the serum and several key organs, including the liver, eye, brain, and spleen.In conclusion, a safe and efficient delivery system for lutein, i.e., the biopolymer-based lutein emulsion, was successfully developed and was shown to improve the bioavailability and tissue status of lutein in neonatal rats. It has great potential to be considered as a carrier for lutein to benefit the health of newborns.
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    Lycopene supplementation of maternal and weanling high-fat diets influences adipose tissue development and metabolic outcomes of Sprague-Dawley offspring
    (Cambridge University Press, 2021) Senkus, Katelyn E.; Zhang, Yanqi; Wang, Hui; Tan, Libo; Crowe-White, Kristi M.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Dietary patterns high in fat contribute to the onset of cardiometabolic disease through the accrual of adipose tissue (AT). Lycopene, a carotenoid shown to exert multiple health benefits, may disrupt these metabolic perturbations. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate AT development and obesity-associated metabolic outcomes in the neonate and weanling offspring of Sprague-Dawley mothers fed a high-fat diet (HFD = 50 % fat) with and without lycopene supplementation. Sprague-Dawley rats consumed either a normal fat diet (NFD; 25 % fat) or HFD throughout gestation. Upon delivery, half of HFD mothers were transitioned to an HFD supplemented with 1 % lycopene (HFDL). At postnatal day 14 (P14), P25, and P35, pups were euthanised, body weight was recorded, and visceral white AT (WAT) and brown AT (BAT) mass were determined. Serum redox status, adipokines, glucose and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated, as well as BAT mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). The HFD was effective in inducing weight gain as evident by significantly greater BW and WAT in the HFD group compared to the NFD group across all time points. Compared to HFD, the HFDL group exhibited significantly greater BAT with concomitant reductions in WAT mass, serum lipid peroxides and serum glucose. No significant differences were observed in serum adipokines, inflammatory markers or UCP1 expression despite the aforementioned alterations in AT development. Results suggest that dietary lycopene supplementation may influence metabolic outcomes during the weaning and post-weaning periods. Additional research is warranted to elucidate molecular mechanisms by which lycopene influences AT biology.
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    Maternal High-Fat Diet Consumption in Sprague Dawley Rats Compromised the Availability and Altered the Tissue Distribution of Lutein in Neonatal Offspring
    (MDPI, 2023) Zhang, Yanqi; Tan, Libo; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Lutein, the most abundant carotenoid in the infant eye and brain, is critical for their visual and cognitive development. Due to its lipophilic nature, a high adiposity may affect the tissue distribution of lutein. The aim of the study was to determine the impacts of a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption on the status of lutein in the neonatal offspring. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6) were fed a normal fat diet (NFD) or a HFD for 8 weeks before mating, and they were switched to an NFD or an HFD containing the same concentration of lutein ester during gestation and lactation. Rat pups (n = 7/group/time) were euthanized on postnatal day 2 (P2), P6, P11, and P20 for measuring tissue lutein concentrations. No significant difference in maternal lutein intake was found between the two groups. At both P6 and P11, a significantly lower lutein concentration was noted in the milk samples separated from the stomach of HFD pups than the concentration in the samples from the NFD pups; the HFD group showed a significantly lower lutein concentration in the liver. At P11, the HFD pups exhibited a significantly lower lutein concentration in the eye, brain, and brown adipose tissue accompanied with a significantly higher lutein concentration and mass in the visceral white adipose tissue. The study was the first to provide evidence that maternal HFD consumption resulted in a compromised availability and altered distribution of lutein in the neonatal offspring.
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    Retinoic acid promotes tissue vitamin A status and modulates adipose tissue metabolism of neonatal rats exposed to maternal high-fat diet-induced obesity
    (Cambridge University Press, 2022) Tan, Libo; Zhang, Yanqi; Wang, Hui; Haberer, Heleena; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Maternal obesity may compromise the micronunient status of the offspring. Vitamin A (VA) is an essential micronutrient during neonatal development. Its active metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), is a key regulator of VA homeostasis, which also regulates adipose tissue (AT) development in obese adults. However, its role on VA status and AT metabolism in neonates was unknown and it was determined in the present study. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to a normal fat diet (NFD) or a high fat diet (HFD). From postnatal day 5 (P5) to P20, half of the HFD pups received oral RA every 3 d (HFDRA group). NFD pups and the remaining HFD pups (HFD group) received placebo. Six hours after dosing on P8, P14 and P20, n 4 pups per group were euthanised for different measures. It was found that total retinol concentration in neonatal liver and lung was significantly lower in the HFD group than the NFD group, while the concentrations were significantly increased in the HFDRA group. The HFD group exhibited significantly higher body weight (BW) gain, AT mass, serum leptin and adiponectin, and gene expression of these adipokines in white adipose tissue compared with the NFD group; these measures were significantly reduced in the HFDRA group. BAT UCP2 and UCP3 gene expression were significantly higher in pups receiving RA. In conclusion, repeated RA treatment during the suckling period improved the tissue VA status of neonates exposed to maternal obesity. RA also exerted a regulatory effect on neonatal obesity development by reducing BW gain and adiposity and modulating AT metabolism.
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    Vitamin A Status and Deposition in Neonatal and Weanling Rats Reared by Mothers Consuming Normal and High-Fat Diets with Adequate or Supplemented Vitamin A
    (MDPI, 2020-05-18) Zhang, Yanqi; Crowe-White, Kristi M.; Kong, Lingyan; Tan, Libo; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    The circulating level of vitamin A (VA; retinol) was reported to be lower in obese adults. It is unknown if maternal obesity influences the VA status of offspring. The objective of the study was to determine the VA status and deposition of neonatal and weanling rats reared by mothers consuming a normal or high-fat diet (NFD or HFD) with or without supplemented VA. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to an NFD or HFD with 2.6 mg/kg VA. Upon delivery, half of the rat mothers in the NFD or HFD cohort were switched to an NFD or HFD with supplemented VA at 129 mg/kg (NFD+VA and HFD+VA group). The other half remained on their original diet (NFD and HFD group). At postnatal day 14 (P14), P25, and P35, pups (n = 4 or 3/group/time) were euthanized. The total retinol concentration in the serum, liver, visceral white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT) was measured. At P14, the HFD+VA group showed a significantly lower serum VA than the NFD+VA group. At P25, both the VA concentration and total mass in the liver, WAT, and BAT were significantly higher in the HFD+VA than the NFD+VA group. At P35, the HFD group exhibited a significantly higher VA concentration and mass in the liver and BAT compared with the NFD group. In conclusion, maternal HFD consumption resulted in more VA accumulation in storage organs in neonatal and/or weanling rats, which potentially compromised the availability of VA in circulation, especially under the VA-supplemented condition.
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    Vitamin A Supplementation during Suckling and Postweaning Periods Attenuates the Adverse Metabolic Effects of Maternal High-Fat Diet Consumption in Sprague-Dawley Rats
    (Oxford University Press, 2020) Tan, Libo; Zhang, Yanqi; Crowe-White, Kristi M.; Senkus, Katelyn E.; Erwin, Maddy E.; Wang, Hui; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Background: Vitamin A (VA) has been demonstrated to be a regulator of adipose tissue (AT) development in adult obese models. However, little is known about the effect of VA on obesity-associated developmental and metabolic conditions in early life. Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of dietary VA supplementation during suckling and postweaning periods on the adiposity and metabolic health of neonatal and weanling rats from mothers consuming a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal-fat diet (NFD; 25% fat; n = 2) or an HFD (50% fat; n = 2), both with 2.6 mg VA/kg. Upon delivery, half of the rat mothers were switched to diets with supplemented VA at 129 mg/kg, whereas the other half remained at 2.6 mg VA/kg. Four groups of rat pups were designated as NFD, NFD + VA, HFD, and HFD + VA, respectively. At postnatal day (P)14, P25, and P35, pups (n = 4 or 3/group) were killed. Body weight (BW), visceral white AT (WAT) mass, brown AT (BAT) mass, uncoupling protein 1 mRNA expression in BAT, serum glucose, lipids, adipokines, and inflammatory biomarkers, as well as serum and AT redox status were assessed. Results: Rat pups in the HFD group exhibited significantly higher BW, WAT mass, and serum glucose and leptin but reduced BAT mass compared with the NFD group. Without affecting the dietary intake, supplementing the HFD with VA significantly reduced the BW and WAT mass of pups but increased the BAT mass, significantly lowered the systemic and WAT oxidative stress, and modulated serum adipokines and lipids to some extent. Conclusions: VA supplementation during suckling and postweaning periods attenuated metabolic perturbations caused by excessive fat intake. Supplementing maternal or infant obesogenic diets with VA or establishing a higher RDA of VA for specific populations should be studied further for managing overweight/obesity in early life.