BACKGROUND
Obesity is associated with elevated levels of inflammation and metabolic abnormalities, with increased risk of developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, stroke and CVD. Nutrients that can assist in weight loss may also reduce the risk of obesity related co-morbidities.


AIM
The aim of this study was to investigate whether LCn-3PUFA, combined with a reduced energy diet, facilitated weight loss and improvements in blood lipids and inflammatory mediators.


DESIGN
A double blind randomised controlled trial with two parallel groups. Both groups followed a low energy diet for 12 weeks, one group consumed 6 × 1 g capsules/d monounsaturated oil (Placebo) (n = 18), the other 6 × 1 g capsules/d LCn-3PUFA (fish oil) (n = 17). Fasting blood samples, anthropometric measurements and 3-day food diaries were collected at baseline and post intervention.


RESULTS
There was a two-fold increase in plasma levels of EPA and DHA in the fish oil group (p < 0.001). There were no significant difference within and between the placebo and the fish oil groups for weight reduction (3.37% and 4.35% respectively), fat mass reduction (8.95% and 9.76% respectively), or changes in inflammatory biomarkers and blood lipids apart from triglycerides, reduced by 27% in fish oil group (p < 0.05). For fish oil group there were significant correlations between leptin and weight loss (p = 0.01) and leptin and EPA and DHA (p < 0.05 for both).


CONCLUSION
Dietary LCn-3PUFA supplementation during a weight loss program does not appear to assist weight loss. Poor dietary compliance may be a contributing factor in accurate assessment of the role of these fatty acids in weight loss.

Dietary supplementation with long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and weight loss in obese adults | NOVA. The University of Newcastle's Digital Repository

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and muscle amino-acid profile of different rabbits breeds and their crosses.

Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ: Adipose brain communication

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of one week of intensive feed restriction (50 g and 65 g per rabbit per day for R50 and R65, respectively) on carcase traits, meat quality c...

The effect of limited feed intake on carcase yield and meat quality in early weaned rabbits

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of bromelain produced from pineapple crowns on the quality of beef round cuts. The beef was treated with bromelain at the following condition; the pH of beef was 5.6, the immersion temperature was 60oC, the concentration of bromelain solution was 0.17% and the immersion time was 10 minutes. Bromelain decreased the hardness, water holding capacity (WHC), moisture content and a* value of beef. On the other hand, bromelain increased the pH, cooking loss, and L* and b* values of beef. Bromelain treatment to beef cut samples significantly (P <0.05) increased the essential and non-essential amino acids content of beef. This indicated that beef treated with bromelain had a desirable effect on the beef quality.

Application of bromelain powder produced from pineapple crowns in tenderising beef round cuts

Summary Bivolarski, B, E Vachkova, S Ribarski, K Uzunova & D Pavlov, 2011 Amino acid content and biological value of rabbit meat proteins, depending on weaning age Bulg J Vet Med, 14, No 2, 94−102 The amino acid content and biological value of rabbit meat proteins, expressed as essential amino acid index (EAAI) depending on weaning period were studied For this purpose, 15 White New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups: group A (n=7) – weaned at the age of 21 days, and group B (n=8) – weaned at the age of 35 days The rabbits were slaughtered at the age of 90 days, in accordance with the requirements of humane treatment of animals It was established that the weaning age of rabbits had an influence on the amino acid content and biological value of meat proteins In rabbits weaned at the age of 35 days, the biological value of the proteins was higher due to the higher content of basic amino acids (lysine, histidine, arginine), leucines (leucine and isoleucine), and monoamino carboxylic acids (valine) Along with that, the biological value of m Longissimus Lumborum meat proteins was higher than that of m Semimembranosus meat With regard to the amino acid content and biological value of proteins in meat, weaning of rabbits at the age of 35 days is recommended

http://www.uni-sz.bg/bjvm/BJVM%20June%202011%20p.94-102.pdf

Amino acid content and biological value of rabbit meat proteins, depending on weaning age

Effect of fish oil supplementation and restricted feeding on body fat distribution and blood lipid profile in a rabbit model of castration-induced obesity.

The effect of the weaning age of rabbits on slaughter traits and physicochemical properties of meat was investigated. Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used, divided in two groups: group А (n = 8) weaned at the age of 21 days (early weaned) and group В (n = 8) weaned at the age of 35 days (normally weaned). The animals were fed with two categories of pelleted feed: for weaned rabbits up to 50 days of age and for growing rabbits older than 50 days of age. It was established that the early weaning of rabbits resulted in a statistically signifi cantly lower body mass, dressed carcass weight and dressing percentage as compared to normally weaned animals. Also, the pH of meat by the 24th hour after slaughtering and the dry matter of m. longissimus lumborum (LL) were signifi cantly lower in group A. Simultaneously, a statistically signifi cantly higher water-holding capacity, water content and lightness were established in the meat of early weaned compared to normally weaned rabbits. The protein and fat contents of LL and m. semimembranosus (SМ) in rabbits from group A correlated negatively and signifi cantly with water content, and positively with the dry matter. In group B, water content also correlated signifi cantly and negatively with protein content. Fat and ash in SM meat was in a positive statistically signifi cant relationship for both experimental groups. The results from the present study showed that the weaning age infl uenced both the slaughter traits and physicochemical properties of rabbit meat.

/pdf/effect-of-weaning-age-upon-the-slaughter-and-physicochemical-52mzk6k8ec.pdf

Effect of weaning age upon the slaughter and physicochemical traits of rabbit meat.

ZH. IVANOVA, G. PENCHEV, S. RIBARSKI, E. VACHKOVA, N. GRIGOROVA, A. ROUSSENOV, P. YONKOVA, D. KOSTOV, T. M. GEORGIEVA, A. MILANOVA & I. PENCHEV GEORGIEV Department of Pharmacology, Animal Physiology and Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Morphology, Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture; Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

/pdf/effect-of-antioxidant-treatment-on-some-indicators-of-4dajfqd55w.pdf

Effect of antioxidant treatment on some indicators of obesity-induced changes in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in New Zealand white rabbits.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of obesity on some morphological features of periadventitial adipose tissue in the aortic arch region. Twelve male white New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups of 6 animals each: non-castrated non-obese and castrated-obese. Immediately after the rabbits were sacrificed samples from the aortic arch were collected, fixed in 10% neutral formalin for 24 hours, dehydrated and embedded in paraffin. Five μm sections were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Light microscopy of histological preparations from the aortic arch in the 2 groups showed that the periadventitial adipose tissue was represented of two fat depots. In the castrated and obese rabbits they were of bigger size compared with the lean animals. These greater fat depots were associated with hypertrophy of the adipocytes and increased number of blood vessels. The adipocytes of the fat depots from the two groups were unilocular and had the morphological characteristics of white adipose tissue. It may be concluded that obesity leads to increased mass of periadventitial adipose tissue, adipocytes hypertrophy and angiogenesis in the aortic arch.

/pdf/morphological-study-on-periadventitial-adipose-tissue-of-the-2m5o108bu1.pdf

S. Ribarski

Papers

Amino acid content and biological value of rabbit meat proteins, depending on weaning age

Effect of fish oil supplementation and restricted feeding on body fat distribution and blood lipid profile in a rabbit model of castration-induced obesity.

Effect of weaning age upon the slaughter and physicochemical traits of rabbit meat.

Effect of antioxidant treatment on some indicators of obesity-induced changes in insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in New Zealand white rabbits.

Morphological study on periadventitial adipose tissue of the aortic arch in a rabbit model of obesity: Preliminary results