Monthly Archives: January 2012

Physiological Effects of Fat Droplet Size in The Duodenum

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The macronutrients carbohydrate, protein and fat are known to regulate digestive physiology via the release or suppression of a number of specific gut hormones. The physiological effects of the hormones include alterations to satiety, gastric emptying and gut motility, changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Fat, Fatty Acids, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols | Comments Off on Physiological Effects of Fat Droplet Size in The Duodenum

Antioxidant Synergism and Inflammation

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Robert Barrington

A number of nutrients from commonly eaten foods have important in vivo antioxidant activity in humans. Antioxidant nutrients are of interest because there appears to be a link between the aetiology of certain diseases and free radicals. Obesity is one … Continue reading →

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Sulfur Amino Acids and Immunity

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Methionine and cysteine are essential and conditionally essential amino acids, respectively. Both contain sulphur as part of their R group and are important nutritionally with regard immune function. Methionine can be converted in the body to cysteine via the intermediary … Continue reading →

Posted in Folate, Homocysteine, L-cysteine / L-cystine, L-methionine, Sulfur, Vitamin B | Comments Off on Sulfur Amino Acids and Immunity

Smoking and Free Radicals

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Cigarette smoke is known to drastically increase the oxidative and nitrosative stress placed on the human body through generation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). This oxidative stress results from free radicals present in the cigarette smoke in … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Radicals, Vitamin C, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Smoking and Free Radicals

Fibre and Adiponectin

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Adiponectin is a cytokine released from adipose tissue and its circulating levels are inversely associated with the body fat mass of the individual. Adiponectin acts via the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) secondary messenger systems to convert the  acetyl-Co A … Continue reading →

Posted in Adiponectin, Carbohydrate, Diabetes, Fat, Fatty Acids, Fibre, Obesity | Comments Off on Fibre and Adiponectin

α-Linolenic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The saturated fat and cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease dates back to a prospective epidemiological study called the seven countries study published by Ancel Keys in 19661. Data from this and subsequent papers was used to construct a theory based … Continue reading →

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More on Disease and Free Radicals

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Research has shown that the level of adiposity in humans is inversely associated with the plasma concentration of vitamin C.  However, supplementation with vitamin C does not decrease body fat because it appears that vitamin C is not the cause … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Vitamin C | Comments Off on More on Disease and Free Radicals

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and PPAR

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family are ligand-activated nuclear transcription factors involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism through gene expression of peroxisome number. It is thought that the PPAR are activated by C18 to C22 n-3 and n-6 fatty … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Cancer, Dihomo Gamma Linolenic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Inflammation, Linoleic Acid, Omega 3, Omega 6, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and PPAR

More on Diet Versus Exercise

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disorder, most probably caused by a serious metabolic dysfunction resulting from major diet induced hormonal and physiological changes. In spite of the mainstream belief that exercise causes long term weight loss, evidence for the successes … Continue reading →

Posted in Carbohydrate, Diabetes, GIP, Insulin, Obesity, Weight Loss | Comments Off on More on Diet Versus Exercise

Body Stores of Vitamin E

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Vitamin E deficiency is rare in humans and depletion of vitamin E can take some considerable time, perhaps months. There is no single tissue that stores vitamin E, but rather all tissues contain vitamin E in relation to their fat … Continue reading →

Posted in Adipose Tissue, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Body Stores of Vitamin E