Kim MK, et al. Diabetes Metab J. 2020 Jan;44:e47. https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2020.0146

Gut derived bacterial endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are involved in one of the important mechanisms that lead to inflammation associated with various liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease. Kahweol is a coffee-specific diterpene present in coffee bean and exhibits anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, to date, the effect of kahweol on liver inflammation remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether kahweol exhibits a protective effect by inhibiting liver inflammation in primary Kupffer cells and primary hepatocytes cultures as well as their co-cultures. Kahweol decreased the LPS-induced production of interleukin 1 alpha, interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The inhibitory effect of kahweol on the liver inflammation was associated with the down regulation of LPS-stimulated phospho-nuclear factor kappa B and -signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression. These results suggest that kahweol might be a novel potent agent to treat liver inflammation induced by LPS.

Previous studies have shown that low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), visceral obesity and low muscle mass may share pathophysiological mechanisms, such as insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. In this study, we investigated whether low CRF is associated with low muscle mass, visceral obesity, and visceral obesity combined with low muscle mass. The associations between CRF and low muscle mass and combined low muscle mass and visceral obesity were examined in 298 apparently healthy adults aged 20–70 years. Low muscle mass was defined using a skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) that was calculated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Visceral obesity was defined as a visceral fat area (VFA) exceeding 100 cm² in women and 130 cm² in men. We classified the participants into 4 low muscle mass/visceral obesity groups according to SMI and VFA. CRF was measured using a cycle ergometer test. CRF level correlated positively with SMI and negatively with VFA. Individuals with low muscle mass had lower CRF values than those without low muscle mass. After adjustment for age, sex, lifestyle factors, and markers for insulin resistance and inflammation, participants in the lowest quartile of CRF had an odds ratio (OR) for low muscle mass of 4.98 compared with those in the highest quartile (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–12.99; P for trend = 0.001) and an OR for combined low muscle mass and visceral obesity of 31.46 (95% CI = 4.31–229.68; P for trend = 0.001). Individuals with lower CRF exhibited increased risk of low muscle mass and combined low muscle mass and visceral obesity. These results suggest that low CRF may be a potential indicator for low muscle mass and combined low muscle mass and visceral obesity in Korean adults.