galactomannan and Body-Weight

The treatment response in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is usually assessed based on the improvement in clinical and imaging findings. Herein, we evaluate serum Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgG, serum galactomannan, weight change, and lung function for assessing treatment response in subjects with CPA.. We categorized treatment response as favourable (improved or stable clinical response with radiologically improved or stable disease) or unfavourable (worsening of symptoms or radiological progression) after 6 months of treatment with antifungal azoles. We measured A. fumigatus-specific IgG, serum galactomannan, weight, and lung function at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months in those with favourable and unfavourable treatment response.. One hundred and twenty-six consecutive treatment-naïve subjects (53.2% (67/126) males; mean ± SD age, 42.3 ± 14.7 years) with CPA were included. One hundred and six and 20 were classified as having favourable and unfavourable response, respectively. After 6 months of treatment, the decline in serum A. fumigatus-specific IgG (n = 119) was similar in those with favourable or unfavourable response (mean ± SD, -26.3 ± 45.5 mgA/L vs. -3.4 ± 65.6 mgA/L; p 0.20). There was no significant change in the serum galactomannan (favourable vs. unfavourable: mean ± SD, -0.11 ± 2.8 vs. -0.62 ± 2; p 0.92) or FEV1 (favourable vs. unfavourable: mean ± SD, 24 ± 250 mL vs. -62 ± 154 mL; p 0.19) after 6 months of treatment. There was significant loss of weight (mean ± SD, -2.5 ± 4.5 kg) in subjects with unfavourable response.. Serum A. fumigatus-specific IgG and serum galactomannan inconsistently decrease following treatment and may not be useful indicators for monitoring treatment response in CPA. Similarly, there is little change in pulmonary function following treatment. A gain in body weight is seen in those with favourable response.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Fungal; Antifungal Agents; Azoles; Body Weight; Chronic Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Galactose; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Lung; Male; Mannans; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Treatment Outcome

Galactomannan and citrus pectin are considered 'super fibers' known for altering gut microbiota composition and improving glucose and lipid metabolism. The study aims to investigate the fiber's effect on a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model.. Two feeding experiments are carried out using groups of 7-8 week-old male C57BL/6J mice. The diets used are based on a high cholesterol/cholate diet (HCD), such as a nutritional NASH model. Mice are fed a diet with or without 15% fiber-citrus pectin (HCD-CP) or galactomannan (HCD-G) together with the HCD (first experiment), which commenced 3 weeks prior to the HCD (second experiment). Liver damage is evaluated by histological and biochemical parameters. Galactomannan leads to lesser weight gain and improved glucose tolerance, but increased liver damage. This is shown by elevated levels of liver enzymes compared to that with HCD alone. Fibers induce higher steatosis, as evaluated by liver histology. This intriguing result is linked to various changes in the gut microbiota, such as elevated Proteobacteria levels in the galactomannan group, which are correlated with disturbed metabolism and dysbiosis.. In a NASH mouse model, galactomannan increases liver damage but improves glucose metabolism. Changes in the microbiota composition may answer this enigmatic observation.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Diet, High-Fat; Dietary Fiber; Disease Models, Animal; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Galactose; Gastrointestinal Contents; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Glucose Tolerance Test; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Male; Mannans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Pectins

Galactomannan, a soluble fiber, has been reported to reduce postprandial blood glucose response. Using this fiber, extracted from Canadian-grown fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum graecum L), we conducted an in vitro study to determine if galactomannan affects intestinal glucose uptake in genetically determined lean and obese rats. The segments of jejunum and ileum from these animals were incubated with labeled glucose (2 or 32 mmol/L) in the presence of different concentrations of galactomannan ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% (wt/wt). The uptake of low or high concentration of glucose was significantly and progressively reduced by increasing concentrations of galactomannan in both lean and obese rats. No significant difference was observed in the uptake of glucose between the 2 groups. The viscosity of various concentrations of galactomannan solutions was determined after stirring for 60 minutes at a temperature-controlled (37 degrees C) fixed sheer rate of 1.29 (1/s). The inhibitory effect of galactomannan on glucose uptake was found to be in parallel with the degree of viscosity of the fiber solutions. These results suggest that the galactomannan, because of its viscous property, has the potential to reduce intestinal absorption of low or high concentrations of glucose and hence for the benefit of blood glucose management.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Galactose; Glucose; Intestinal Absorption; Intestine, Small; Mannans; Metabolic Syndrome; Obesity; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Seeds; Trigonella; Viscosity

We compared the effects of dietary polydextrose with those of dietary fibers on the luminal pH and morphology of the large intestine in rats. In Experiment 1, animals were fed diets supplemented with two levels (5 and 10 g/100 g) of polydextrose or dietary fiber (cellulose or galactomannan derivatives) for 52 d. Polydextrose and galactomannan derivatives significantly lowered large intestinal pH and increased the cecal weight and surface area compared with cellulose. However, the thickness of the cecal muscular layer was significantly less in the polydextrose-fed groups than in the cellulose-fed groups. In Experiment 2, rats were fed either a fiber-free diet or a diet containing 5, 10 or 20 g/100 g polydextrose for 92 d. Dietary polydextrose significantly acidified the cecal contents and promoted cecal mucosal growth but thinned the cecal muscular layer. The shape of colonic mucosa of the group fed the 20 g/100 g polydextrose diet was clearly different from that of the group fed the fiber-free diet. These findings indicate that the effect of polydextrose on the morphology of the large intestine is different from the effect of dietary fibers.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cecum; Cellulose; Colon; Dietary Fiber; Galactose; Glucans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestine, Large; Male; Mannans; Organ Size; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley