phytosterols and Metabolic-Diseases

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that produce numerous bioactive molecules that can be used as food supplement to prevent chronic disease installation. Indeed, they produce phycobiliproteins, polysaccharides, lipids, carotenoids and sterolic compounds. The use of microalgae in human nutrition provide a mixture of these molecules with synergistic effect. The aim of this review is to present the specific roles played by the xanthophylls, and specifically astaxanthin and fucoxanthin, two high added value carotenoids, and by microalgal phytosterols such as β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol on several cell mechanisms involved in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases and cancers. This review explains how these microalgal molecules modulate cell signaling pathways involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms, inflammation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis. Xanthophylls and phytosterols are involved in the reduction of inflammatory markers in relation with the regulation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinases and nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways, and suppression of production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Xanthophylls act on glucose and lipid metabolisms via both the upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and glucose transporters and its effects on the expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism. Their anti-cancer effects are related to the induction of intrinsic apoptosis due to down-regulation of key regulatory kinases. The anti-angiogenesis, anti-proliferative and anti-invasive effects are correlated with decreased production of endothelial growth factors and of matrix metalloproteinases. Phytosterols have a major role on cholesterol absorption via modification of the activities of Niemann-Pick C1 like 1 and ATP-binding cassette transporters and on cholesterol esterification. Their action are also related with the modulation of PPARs and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 activities.

Topics: Apoptosis; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Metabolic Diseases; Microalgae; Neoplasms; Phytosterols; Signal Transduction; Sitosterols; Xanthophylls

Non-cholesterol sterols are validated biomarkers for intestinal cholesterol absorption and endogenous cholesterol synthesis. However, their use in metabolic disturbances has not been systematically explored. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of non-cholesterol sterols as markers for cholesterol metabolism in different metabolic disorders. Potentially relevant studies were retrieved by a systematic search of three databases in July 2018 and ninety-four human studies were included. Cholesterol-standardized levels of campesterol, sitosterol and cholestanol were collected to reflect cholesterol absorption and those of lathosterol and desmosterol to reflect cholesterol synthesis. Their use as biomarkers was examined in the following metabolic disorders: overweight/obesity (

Topics: Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Desmosterol; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Liver Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Obesity; Overweight; Phytosterols; Sitosterols; Sterols

This review summarizes recent developments in the activity, regulation, and physiology of the ABCG5 ABCG8 (G5G8) transporter and the use of its xenobiotic substrates, phytosterols, as cholesterol lowering agents in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Recent progress has significant implications for the role of G5G8 and its substrates in complications associated with features of the metabolic syndrome.. Recent reports expand the clinical presentation of sitosterolemia to include platelet and adrenal dysfunction. The G5G8 sterol transporter is critical to hepatobiliary excretion of cholesterol under nonpathological conditions and has been linked to the cholesterol gallstone susceptibility. Finally, the cardiovascular benefits of cholesterol lowering through the use of phytosterol supplements were offset by vascular dysfunction, suggesting that alternative strategies to reduced cholesterol absorption offer greater benefit.. Insulin resistance elevates G5G8 and increases susceptibility to cholesterol gallstones. However, this transporter is critical for the exclusion of phytosterols from the absorptive pathways in the intestine. Challenging the limits of this protective mechanism through phytosterol supplementation diminishes the cardioprotective benefits of cholesterol lowering in mouse models of cardiovascular disease.

Topics: Animals; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 5; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Heart Diseases; Humans; Lipoproteins; Metabolic Diseases; Phytosterols; Sterols

The use of non-cholesterol sterols as biomarkers for cholesterol metabolism is well established in health-related topics [...].

Topics: Biomarkers; Cholesterol; Humans; Metabolic Diseases; Phytosterols; Sterols

(1) Background: Modern dietary patterns with a high intake of fat and fructose, as well as refined carbohydrates, closely relate to lipid/glucose metabolic disorders. The main objective of this study is to provide new thoughts in designing functional food with some lipid/glucose metabolism regulating effects for obese people. (2) Methods: The alleviating abilities of γ-oryzanol, phytosterol or ferulic acid-enriched wheat flour on lipid/glucose metabolic dysfunction were evaluated in male SD rats induced by a high-fat-fructose diet. The underlying mechanisms were clarified using western blot. (3) Results: In an in vitro cell model, γ-oryzanol, phytosterol and ferulic acid regulate lipid/glucose metabolism by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt, and PI3K expression, as well as decreasing expressions of DGAT1 and SCD. The in vivo study shows that ferulic acid and γ-oryzanol-enriched flours are beneficial for managing body weight, improving glucose metabolism, hyperlipidemia and hepatic lipid accumulation. Phytosterol-enriched flour exerted remarkable effects in regulating hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and hyperuricemia. Western blot analysis of proteins from liver samples reveals that these enriched flours alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance through their elevation in the phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt. (4) Conclusions: Our study indicates that these enriched flours can serve as a health-promoting functional food to regulate obesity-related lipid/glucose metabolic dysfunction in rats.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Biomarkers; Blood Glucose; Coumaric Acids; Dietary Sugars; Disease Models, Animal; Flour; Food, Fortified; Fructose; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Lipids; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Obesity; Phenylpropionates; Phytosterols; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Triticum

We investigated the effects of the oral administration of lophenol (Lo) and cycloartanol (Cy), two kinds of antidiabetic phytosterol isolated from Aloe vera , on glucose and lipid metabolism in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. We demonstrated that the administrations of Lo and Cy suppressed random and fasting glucose levels and reduced visceral fat weights significantly. It was also observed that treatments with Lo and Cy decreased serum and hepatic lipid concentrations (triglyceride, nonesterified fatty acid, and total cholesterol). Additionally, Lo and Cy treatments resulted in a tendency for reduction in serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) level and an elevation in serum adiponectin level. Furthermore, the expression levels of hepatic genes encoding gluconeogenic enzymes (G6 Pase, PEPCK), lipogenic enzymes (ACC, FAS), and SREBP-1 were decreased significantly by the administrations of aloe sterols. In contrast, Lo and Cy administration increased mRNA levels of glycolysis enzyme (GK) in the liver. It was also observed that the hepatic β-oxidation enzymes (ACO, CPT1) and PPARα expressions tended to increase in the livers of the Lo- and Cy-treated rats compared with those in ZDF-control rats. We therefore conclude that orally ingested aloe sterols altered the expressions of genes related to glucose and lipid metabolism, and ameliorated obesity-associated metabolic disorders in ZDF rats. These findings suggest that aloe sterols could be beneficial in preventing and improving metabolic disorders with obesity and diabetes in rats.

Topics: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; Acyl-CoA Oxidase; Administration, Oral; Aloe; Animals; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Liver; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Obesity; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP); Phytosterols; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Zucker

Topics: Adult; Anticholesteremic Agents; Child; Cholestyramine Resin; Finland; Humans; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Pedigree; Phytosterols