Adipose tissue dysfunction is a key mechanism that leads to adiposity-based chronic disease. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the adiponectin/leptin ratio (AdipoQ/Lep) as an adipose tissue and metabolic function biomarker in adults with obesity, without diabetes. Data were collected from a clinical trial conducted in 28 adults with obesity (mean body mass index: 35.4±3.7 kg/m²) (NCT02169778). Using a forward stepwise multiple linear regression model to explore the relationship between AdipoQ/Lep and HOMA-IR, it was observed that 48.6% of HOMA-IR variance was explained by triacylglycerols, AdipoQ/Lep and waist-to-hip ratio (P<0.001), being AdipoQ/Lep the strongest independent predictor (Beta = -0.449, P<0.001). A lower AdipoQ/Lep was correlated with a higher body mass index (R_s = -0.490, P<0.001), body fat mass (R_s = -0.486, P<0.001), waist-to-height ratio (R_S = -0.290, P=0.037), and plasma resistin (R_s = -0.365, P=0.009). These data highlight the central role of adipocyte dysfunction in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and emphasize that AdipoQ/Lep may be a promising early marker of insulin resistance development in adults with obesity.

Low energy availability (LEA) causes impaired physiological functioning. Cross-country running is a weight-sensitive sport, making athletes more prone to LEA. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of elite European cross-country athletes at risk of LEA using the LEA in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) and to analyze demographic and physical characteristics that are associated with LEA. Athletes ≥ 18 years competing at the 26th European Cross-Country Championships (n = 602) were invited to complete a questionnaire (sociodemographic, training, anthropometric characteristics, and LEAF-Q). A total of 207 valid surveys were collected (83 females, 22.1 (4.0) years, and 124 males, 22.3 (4.1) years), and 16 surveys were excluded. A high prevalence of athletes at risk of LEA (64.3%) was observed, being higher in females than in males (79.5 and 54.0% respectively, p < 0.001). More than half of athletes (54.1%, n = 112) reported bowel movements once a week or more rarely, while 33 female athletes (41.3%) did not report normal menstruation. Overall, cross-country athletes are at high risk of LEA. Moreover, a high prevalence of gastrointestinal and menstrual impairments was reported. Hence, athletes should be followed by multidisciplinary teams to inform, prevent, and treat LEA and its effects.

Ismael S, et al. Nutr Res Pract. 2023 Aug;17(4):616-630. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2023.17.4.616

This study is the first to explore the association between fetal adiponectin/leptin (AdipoQ/Lep) ratio and maternal and neonatal anthropometrics and early alterations in cardiac structure. Although maternal and neonatal weight metrics impact infant heart development, this occurs independently of the AdipoQ/Lep. However, lower levels of AdipoQ/Lep ratio were associated with reduced Z-score of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, offering insights into fetal programming mechanisms linked to maternal metabolic status during pregnancy.

Background: The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a key modulator in obesity management, influencing host energy balance, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory pathways. With obesity prevalence continuing to rise globally, dietary interventions that promote beneficial microbial shifts are essential for enhancing weight loss outcomes and long-term health. Objective: This study investigated the effects of the multicomponent Weight Loss Maintenance 3 Phases Program (WLM3P), which integrates caloric restriction, a high-protein low-carbohydrate diet, time-restricted eating (10h TRE), dietary supplementation (prebiotics and phytochemicals), and digital app-based support on gut microbiota composition compared to a standard low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) in adults with obesity. The analysis focused exclusively on the 6-month weight loss period corresponding to Phases 1 and 2 of the WLM3P intervention. Methods: In this sub-analysis of a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04192357), 58 adults with obesity (BMI 30.0–39.9 kg/m²) were randomized to the WLM3P (n = 29) or LCD (n = 29) groups. Stool samples were collected at baseline and 6 months for 16S rRNA sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity were assessed, and genus-level differential abundance was determined using EdgeR and LEfSe. Associations between microbial taxa and clinical outcomes were evaluated using regression models. Results: After 6-month, the WLM3P group showed a significant increase in alpha diversity (p = 0.03) and a significant change in beta diversity (p < 0.01), while no significant changes were observed in the LCD group. Differential abundance analysis revealed specific microbial signatures in WLM3P participants, including increased levels of Faecalibacterium. Notably, higher Faecalibacterium abundance was associated with greater reductions in fat mass (kg, %) and visceral adiposity (cm²) in the WLM3P group compared to LCD (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These findings suggest a potential microbiota-mediated mechanism in weight loss, where Faecalibacterium may enhance fat reduction effectiveness in the context of the WLM3P intervention.

Countless environmental pollutants and xenobiotics, are widespread and linked to hazardous effects, including breast cancer. Due to their lipophilic properties, these accumulate in fat tissue, such as breast adipose tissue. However, little is still known about their combined effects and distribution within the breast microenvironment. Alterations in fatty acid metabolism can be a biomarker for cancer progression and a potential bioindicator of pollutant exposure. In this study, the fatty acid profile and levels of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides (OCPs and OPPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and synthetic musks (SMs) were measured in 48 breast adipose tissue samples from breast cancer and healthy patients (controls). Twelve xenobiotics were detected at high frequency rates, and the distribution profile of these pollutants differed between cohorts. In total, 163 correlations were identified between specific fatty acids and breast cancer patients’ data, with distinct correlation patterns between cohorts. Fatty acids show the potential to be biomarkers of the presence of lipophilic xenobiotics in the breast microenvironment; however, more studies are needed. This preliminary study is the first to analyze OPPs, OPEs, and PAHs in breast adipose tissue and report associations between xenobiotics and specific fatty acids.