1.
Menopause-Associated Lipid Metabolic Disorders and Foods Beneficial for Postmenopausal Women.
Ko, SH, Kim, HS
Nutrients. 2020;12(1)
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Menopause is the absence of menstruation due to the loss of ovarian activity with ageing. During this transition period, changes in hormones, primarily the decline in the oestrogen estradiol, give rise to altered lipid metabolism. An unfavourable lipid profile presents a risk for metabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Post-menopausal changes also lead to shifts in body fat and fat distribution, resulting in an increased tendency for central fat accumulation and obesity. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance. This susceptibility for weight accumulation is possibly also driven by the age-associated decline in skeletal muscle, which reduces metabolic energy expenditure. This review summarizes the physiology of menopause and postmenopause and the consequential impact on lipid metabolism. In addition, there is a discussion of dietary recommendations, nutritional and plant-derived compounds that could support the management of menopause associated changes in lipid levels, metabolic risk factors and obesity. The recommendations discussed include traditional healthy diets and low-calorie diets, with attention drawn to adequate protein intake. Furthermore, the role of probiotics, nutritional and plant-sourced constituents are considered, including Vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants like Vitamin A, β-carotene, Vitamin C and E, genistein, resveratrol, flavonoids, indoles and capsaicin. The authors advocate sourcing these compounds from a varied whole-foods diet, which would minimize nutrient interactions and absorption issues that can occur with supplementation. This review may be of interest to those supporting the nutritional needs of menopausal and post-menopausal women, that are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing metabolic disorders.
Abstract
Menopause is clinically diagnosed as a condition when a woman has not menstruated for one year. During the menopausal transition period, there is an emergence of various lipid metabolic disorders due to hormonal changes, such as decreased levels of estrogens and increased levels of circulating androgens; these may lead to the development of metabolic syndromes including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism affects the body fat mass, fat-free mass, fatty acid metabolism, and various aspects of energy metabolism, such as basal metabolic ratio, adiposity, and obesity. Moreover, menopause is also associated with alterations in the levels of various lipids circulating in the blood, such as lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and triacylglycerol (TG). Alterations in lipid metabolism and excessive adipose tissue play a key role in the synthesis of excess fatty acids, adipocytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species, which cause lipid peroxidation and result in the development of insulin resistance, abdominal adiposity, and dyslipidemia. This review discusses dietary recommendations and beneficial compounds, such as vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, phytochemicals-and their food sources-to aid the management of abnormal lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women.
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Diet to Reduce the Metabolic Syndrome Associated with Menopause. The Logic for Olive Oil.
Hidalgo-Mora, JJ, Cortés-Sierra, L, García-Pérez, MÁ, Tarín, JJ, Cano, A
Nutrients. 2020;12(10)
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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of risk factors that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The rates of MetS are increasing worldwide. Obesity, particularly central obesity is a major determinant of insulin resistance. It is believed that insulin resistance is the driver for MetS. This is a particular concern for women as central obesity is more likely to occur during the menopause, due in part to the hormonal changes. Physical activity and nutrition have been recommended as the first line of defence against MetS with the Mediterranean diet (MD) being one of the healthiest options. Olive oil (OO) is a main component of the MD and contains certain fats and polyphenols which impact inflammation, oxidative stress and support the gut microbiome. This review provides an overview of these benefits most relevant to menopause-associated MetS. A healthy lifestyle, with nutrition as a vital component, needs to be implemented as a primary measure. The healthy diet needs to be easy to follow and effective, two conditions successfully met by the MD. OO may prove especially helpful for women, particularly during this life stage. The clinical evidence, however, is limited by the observational nature of most studies.
Abstract
The rates of metabolic syndrome are increasing in parallel with the increasing prevalence of obesity, primarily due to its concomitant insulin resistance. This is particularly concerning for women, as the years around menopause are accompanied by an increase in visceral obesity, a strong determinant of insulin resistance. A fall in estrogens and increase in the androgen/estrogen ratio is attributed a determining role in this process, which has been confirmed in other physiological models, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. A healthy lifestyle, with special emphasis on nutrition, has been recommended as a first-line strategy in consensuses and guidelines. A consistent body of evidence has accumulated suggesting that the Mediterranean diet, with olive oil as a vital component, has both health benefits and acceptable adherence. Herein, we provide an updated overview of current knowledge on the benefits of olive oil most relevant to menopause-associated metabolic syndrome, including an analysis of the components with the greatest health impact, their effect on basic mechanisms of disease, and the state of the art regarding their action on the main features of metabolic syndrome.
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Mechanisms Underlying Metabolic Syndrome-Related Sarcopenia and Possible Therapeutic Measures.
Rubio-Ruiz, ME, Guarner-Lans, V, Pérez-Torres, I, Soto, ME
International journal of molecular sciences. 2019;20(3)
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Sarcopenia is a multifactorial process in which losses occur in both muscle mass and function. Although several studies indicate an association between sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome (MetS), the connection has not been extensively reviewed. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and MetS to better understand the mechanisms underlying disease and assess current therapeutic options. According to the existing literature, this study found insulin resistance, inflammation and obesity to be major underlying factors of MetS-related sarcopenia. Based on this information, the authors suggest the best option for managing MetS-related sarcopenia is preventative lifestyle change around diet and exercise until a consensus on a therapeutic treatment can be established.
Abstract
Although there are several reviews that report the interrelationship between sarcopenia and obesity and insulin resistance, the relation between sarcopenia and the other signs that compose the metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been extensively revised. Here, we review the mechanisms underlying MetS-related sarcopenia and discuss the possible therapeutic measures proposed. A vicious cycle between the loss of muscle and the accumulation of intramuscular fat might be associated with MetS via a complex interplay of factors including nutritional intake, physical activity, body fat, oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, hormonal changes, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The enormous differences in lipid storage capacities between the two genders and elevated amounts of endogenous fat having lipotoxic effects that lead to the loss of muscle mass are discussed. The important repercussions of MetS-related sarcopenia on other illnesses that lead to increased disability, morbidity, and mortality are also addressed. Additional research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of MetS-related sarcopenia and its consequences. Although there is currently no consensus on the treatment, lifestyle changes including diet and power exercise seem to be the best options.
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Anti-Obesity Effects of Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms.
Ganesan, K, Xu, B
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2018;23(11)
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Medicinal mushrooms have long been considered healthful due to of their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, such as high-quality proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols etc. More recently they have been analysed for their anti-obesity effects. The health implications of obesity are extensive, often affecting all bodily systems. The purpose of this review was to analyse previous animal studies to determine whether consuming edible mushrooms has a positive effect on obesity related illnesses, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease etc. The authors explore and summarise the different methods used to treat obesity including pharmacotherapy (weight loss drugs), natural products such as Ayurveda medicine and exercise. They present promising results that suggest the therapeutic properties of edible mushrooms have anti-obesity potentials and propose that the findings from animal studies could likely be mirrored in humans and recommend consuming mushrooms to aid weight loss and therefore improve health.
Abstract
Obesity is a group of metabolic disorders caused by multiple factors, including heredity, diet, lifestyle, societal determinants, environment, and infectious agents, which can all lead to the enhancement of storage body fat. Excess visceral fat mass in adipose tissue generate several metabolic disorders, including cardiovascular diseases with chronic inflammation based pathophysiology. The objective of the current review is to summarize the cellular mechanisms of obesity that attenuate by antioxidant potentials of medicinal and edible mushrooms. Studies have showed that mushrooms potentially have antioxidant capacities, which increase the antioxidant defense systems in cells. They boost anti-inflammatory actions and thereby protect against obesity-related hypertension and dyslipidemia. The practice of regular consumption of mushrooms is effective in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, and thus could be a good candidate for use in future pharmaceutical or nutraceutical applications.