Search Results (102)

Childhood obesity is a substantial health problem worldwide. The origin of obesity (increased adiposity) can be partly traced back to intrauterine life. However, the determinants of fetal fat deposition remain unclear. This study investigated the association between cord blood adipocytokines related to lipid metabolism (leptin, adiponectin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) and fetal adiposity during gestation. A prospective study was conducted in a cohort of 94 singleton pregnancies. Fetal ultrasonography was performed at 24, 30, and 36 weeks of gestation. Estimated fetal adiposity (EFA) was calculated by integrating measurements of cross-sectional arm and thigh fat area percentages and anterior abdominal wall thickness. Plasma cytokine levels and C-peptide immunoreactivity (as a proxy for fetal insulin resistance) were evaluated in cord blood samples obtained at delivery. The associations of cord blood leptin, adiponectin and IGF-1 levels with EFA at 24, 30, and 36 weeks were determined by multiple linear regression, adjusted for potential covariates. The multivariate analyses indicated that leptin was significantly correlated with EFA at 30 and 36 weeks. Leptin was also positively correlated with C-peptide immunoreactivity in the umbilical cord. Cord adiponectin levels were not associated with EFA across gestation. Cord IGF-1 levels were significantly correlated with EFA and estimated fetal body weight (EFW) at 36 weeks. In conclusion, cord leptin was associated with EFA at 30 and 36 weeks, and IGF-1 was associated with EFA at 36 and EFW at 36 weeks. In Conclusion, cord leptin was associated with EFA at 30 and 36 weeks, and IGF-1 was associated with EFA and EFW at 36 weeks. Considering the effects of leptin and IGF-1 on fetal insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, increased levels of leptin and IGF-1 are potential plasma biomarkers of increased fetal adiposity, which may predispose to infant obesity and metabolic dysfunction in later life. Full article

Background: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in post-intensive care unit (ICU) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during hospitalization and after hospital discharge. This paper presents prospective results from the NutriEcoMuscle study, a multicenter observational study. The study aimed to evaluate changes in nutritional and functional status in post-ICU COVID-19 patients following nutritional and physical rehabilitation interventions. Secondary aims included assessing adherence to and tolerance of the oral nutritional supplement (ONS) used in the nutritional intervention. Methods: The study enrolled adults who had been admitted to the ICU due to severe COVID-19. At hospital discharge, the patients underwent a nutritional intervention based on oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) with 100% serum lactoprotein enriched with leucine and vitamin D and a physical rehabilitation program. They were followed up during three months. Performed assessments included Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, Barthel index (BI), handgrip strength and Timed Up and Go test, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), nutritional ultrasound (US), and tolerance and adherence to ONS. Sample size was calculated based on handgrip strength, and parametric and non-parametric tests were used to assess differences between the baseline and three-month outcomes. Results: The study included 96 patients (71.9% male, mean age 58.8 years, mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.8 kg/m², 36.5% obese). A total of 85 patients (62 men and 23 women) completed the 90-day follow-up. The mean weight gain after the intervention was 6.8 (SD 5.2) kg (similar in men and women; p = 0.263). The proportion of patients with malnutrition according to the SGA or GLIM criteria decreased from 100% to 11.8% and 36.4%, respectively (p < 0.00001 in both cases). The proportion of patients with functional limitations by BI decreased from 66.7% to 27.0% (p < 0.0001). Handgrip strength increased more than 40% in both men and women (p < 0.00001). The time to perform the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test decreased more than 40% in both men and women (p < 0.00001). According to BIA, the mean fat mass did not increase significantly in either men or women. The mean fat-free mass index (FFMI) increased significantly in both men and women. There were also significant increases in body cell mass, skeletal muscle mass index, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. The phase angle (PhA) increased significantly in both men (26.5%) and women (17.4%). In a multivariate analysis, age and baseline PhA were related to the PhA increase (adjusted R² = 0.5573). The US study showed a significant increase in the mean measurements of muscle area, muscle circumference, X-axis, and Y-axis in the rectus femoris. Regarding abdominal fat, there were no significant increases in total, superficial, or preperitoneal adipose tissue by US. Participants engaged in a median interquartile range (IQR) of 70 (0–120) min/week of strength exercise and 60 (0–120) min/week of moderate physical exercise. The supplement was well tolerated, and poor adherence (less than 50%) was low (4% of the participants). Conclusions: A three-month intervention, including ONS and physical rehabilitation, is associated with a significant improvement in nutritional and functional status. Patients gained weight primarily by increasing their muscle mass. There was no significant increase in fat mass, as measured by BIA or US. The intervention was well tolerated and had good adherence. Full article

25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) regulates lipid metabolism, and its decrease is proposed as a pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and eventually fetal adiposity. Decreased 25(OH)D is also linked with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is associated with increased fetal adiposity. Fetuses are dependent on the supply of 25(OH)D from maternal circulation. However, the influence of maternal serum 25(OH)D on fetal adiposity remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal serum 25(OH)D and fetal adiposity. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a cohort of 89 (including 21 GDM) singleton pregnancies. Maternal blood samples were obtained at 10, 24, 30, and 36 weeks, and fetal ultrasonography was performed at 24, 30, and 36 weeks of gestation. Estimated fetal adiposity (EFA) was calculated as the average z-score of cross-sectional arm and thigh percentage fat area and anterior abdominal wall thickness as previously reported. The multiple linear regression analyses indicated that maternal 25(OH)D levels across gestation were not associated with EFA at 24 and 30 weeks, while maternal 25(OH)D at 24 weeks was inversely correlated with EFA at 36 weeks. Particularly, in the GDM group, maternal 25(OH)D levels at 10, 24, 30, and 36 weeks all showed a significant negative correlation with EFA at 36 weeks. Decreased maternal serum 25(OH)D level could be an early biomarker of increased fetal adiposity in late gestation, especially in diabetic pregnancies. Full article

Background: Malnutrition is a prevalent condition associated with adverse health outcomes, requiring the accurate assessment of muscle composition and fat distribution. Methods: This study presents a novel method for the automatic analysis of ultrasound images to estimate subcutaneous and visceral fat, as well as muscle, in patients with suspected malnutrition. The proposed system utilizes computer vision techniques to segment regions of interest (ROIs), calculate relevant variables, and store data for clinical evaluation. Unlike traditional segmentation methods that rely solely on thresholding or pre-defined masks, our method employs an iterative hierarchical approach to refine contour detection and improve localization accuracy. A dataset of abdominal and leg ultrasound images, captured in both longitudinal and transversal planes, was analyzed. Results: Results showed higher precision for longitudinal scans compared to transversal scans, particularly for length-related variables, with the Y-axis Vastus intermediate achieving a precision of 92.87%. However, area-based measurements demonstrated lower precision due to differences between manual adjustments by experts and automatic geometric approximations. Conclusions: These findings highlight the system’s potential for clinical use while emphasizing the need for further algorithmic refinements to improve precision in area calculations. Full article

Introduction: Lipomas are among the most encountered neoplasms in clinical practice, occurring mainly in adults between the fourth and sixth decades of life. Deep-seated lipomas in children are found in the thorax, chest wall, mediastinum, pleura, pelvis, retroperitoneum, and paratesticular area. Herein, we present a case of a three-year-old child with a giant mesenteric lipoma, along with a review of the literature on mesenteric lipomas in childhood. Case presentation: A three-year-old male toddler was referred to our hospital for severe, intermittent abdominal pain. Imaging studies at admission revealed a fat lesion occupying most of the peritoneal cavity and dislocating adjacent structures. An urgent laparotomy was performed. A giant lipoma arising from the mesentery and leading to the torsion of the mesenteric radix was confirmed and completely excised alongside an adherent small tract of jejunum. The child recovered uneventfully and is still being followed-up with no signs of recurrence. Discussion: Lipomas of the mesentery in children are very rare, and they are reported to be more common among children younger than three years of age. Mesenteric lipomas appeared to be more frequent in males than females. Even though they might be asymptomatic, voluminous lipomas can also create a lead point for intermittent torsion of the mass causing ischemia and infarction. Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom, and the ileum was the tract of bowel more frequently involved by the tumor. Laparotomy was reported to be the preferable approach to safely remove this abdominal mass, especially in case of huge dimensions. Full article

Background and Objectives: Various adiposity indicators have been used to predict metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive ability of known adiposity indicators, such as abdominal girth, girth/height and fat percentage, as well as less commonly used indicators, such as the conicity index (CI), body roundness index (BRI), visceral adiposity index (VAI) and body shape index (ABSI), to predict MetS. Materials and Methods: A total of 261 participants, including family members and graduates of a flagship school in the city of Trujillo, Peru, participated. Metabolic syndrome was assessed according to the harmonised ATP III criteria. ROC curves were analysed for each of the adiposity indicators using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Results: The prevalence of MetS was found to be 43.4%, with a higher proportion in men (25.8%). The area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction of MetS exceeded a value of 0.8 for VAI, abdominal circumference, circumference/height and relative fat mass in both men and women, with VAI showing the highest values of 0.858 and 0.875 in women and men, with cut-off points for MetS of 2.57 and 1.73, respectively. Conclusions: VAI can be used in the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome during lipid profile and anthropometric assessment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fat deposition traits in pigs directly influence pork flavor, tenderness, and juiciness and are closely linked to overall pork quality. The Tibetan pig, an indigenous breed in China, not only possesses a high intramuscular fat content but also exhibits a unique fat metabolism pattern due to long-term adaptation to harsh environments. This makes it an excellent genetic and physiological model for investigating fat deposition characteristics. Adipose tissue from different body regions displays varying morphologies, cytokines, and adipokines. This study aimed to examine adipose tissue deposition characteristics in different parts of Tibetan pigs and provide additional data to explore the underlying mechanisms of differential fat deposition. Methods: Our research identified significant differences in the morphology and gene expression patterns between subcutaneous fat (abdominal fat [AF] and back fat [BF]) and intramuscular fat (IMF) in Tibetan pigs. Results: Histological observations revealed that subcutaneous fat cells were significantly larger in area and diameter compared to IMF cells. The transcriptomic analysis further identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between subcutaneous fat and IMF, with a total of 65 DEGs in BF vs. IMF and 347 DEGs in AF vs. IMF, including 25 DEGs common to both comparisons. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that these genes were significantly associated with lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways, such as the Wnt, mTOR, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Several DEGs, including DDAH1, ADRA1B, SLCO3A1, and THBS3, may be linked to the differences in fat deposition in different parts of Tibetan pigs, thereby affecting meat quality and nutritional value. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into the unique fat distribution and deposition characteristics of Tibetan pigs and establish a foundation for breeding strategies aimed at improving pork quality. Full article

Dynamic digital radiography (DDR) is a recent imaging technique that allows for real-time visualization of thoracic and pulmonary movement in synchronization with the breathing cycle, providing useful clinical information. A 46-year-old male, a former smoker, was evaluated for unexplained dyspnea and reduced exercise tolerance. His medical history included a SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2021. On physical examination, decreased breath sounds were noted at the right-lung base. Spirometry showed results below predicted values. A standard chest radiograph revealed an elevated right hemidiaphragm, a finding not present in a previous CT scan performed during his SARS-CoV-2 infection. To better assess the diaphragmatic function, a posteroanterior DDR study was performed in the standing position with X-ray equipment (AeroDR TX, Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan) during forced breath, with the following acquisition parameters: tube voltage, 100 kV; tube current, 50 mA; pulse duration of pulsed X-ray, 1.6 ms; source-to-image distance, 2 m; additional filter, 0.5 mm Al + 0.1 mm Cu. The exposure time was 12 s. The pixel size was 388 × 388 μm, the matrix size was 1024 × 768, and the overall image area was 40 × 30 cm. The dynamic imaging, captured at 15 frames/s, was then assessed on a dedicated workstation (Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan). The dynamic acquisition showed a markedly reduced motion of the right diaphragm. The diagnosis of diaphragm dysfunction can be challenging due to its range of symptoms, which can vary from mild to severe dyspnea. The standard chest X-ray is usually the first exam to detect an elevated hemidiaphragm, which may suggest motion impairment or paralysis but fails to predict diaphragm function. Ultrasound (US) allows for the direct visualization of the diaphragm and its motion. Still, its effectiveness depends highly on the operator’s experience and could be limited by gas and abdominal fat. Moreover, ultrasound offers limited information regarding the lung parenchyma. On the other hand, high-resolution CT can be useful in identifying causes of diaphragmatic dysfunction, such as atrophy or eventration. However, it does not allow for the quantitative assessment of diaphragmatic movement and the differentiation between paralysis and dysfunction, especially in bilateral dysfunction, which is often overlooked due to the elevation of both hemidiaphragms. Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) has emerged as a valuable and innovative imaging technique due to its unique ability to evaluate diaphragm movement in real time, integrating dynamic functional information with static anatomical data. DDR provides both visual and quantitative analysis of the diaphragm’s motion, including excursion and speed, which leads to a definitive diagnosis. Additionally, DDR offers a range of post-processing techniques that provide information on lung movement and pulmonary ventilation. Based on these findings, the patient was referred to a thoracic surgeon and deemed a candidate for surgical plication of the right diaphragm. Full article

The dual-energy spectral CT (DEsCT) employs material decomposition (MD) technology, opening up novel avenues for the opportunistic assessment of bone status. Radiomics, a powerful tool for elucidating the structural and textural characteristics of bone, aids in the detection of mineral loss. Therefore, this study aims to compare the efficacy of bone status assessment using both bone density measurements and radiomics models derived from MD images and to further explore the clinical value of radiomics models. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from 307 patients who underwent both quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and full-abdomen DEsCT scans at our institution. Based on QCT measurements, patients were divided into three categories: normal bone mineral density (BMD), osteopenia, and osteoporosis. Using the abdominal DEsCT data, six types of MD images were reconstructed, including HAP (Water), HAP (Fat), Ca (Water), Ca (Fat), Fat (Ca), and Fat (HAP). Patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 214) and a validation cohort (n = 93) at a ratio of 7:3. Focusing on the L1 to L3 vertebrae, density values from the six MD images were measured. Six density value models and six radiomics models were constructed using a random forest (RF) classifier. The performance of these models in assessing bone status was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the DeLong test was employed to compare performance differences between the models. Results: The macro-area under the curve (AUC) values for the density value models based on HAP (Water), HAP (Fat), Ca (Water), and Ca (Fat) MD images were 0.870, 0.870, 0.847, and 0.765, respectively, which outperformed those of Fat (Ca) (AUC = 0.623) and Fat (HAP) (AUC = 0.618) density value models. In the comparison of radiomics models, the trends of model performance were consistent with the density value models across the six MD images. However, the models based on HAP (Water), Ca (Water), HAP (Fat), Ca (Fat), Fat (Ca), and Fat (HAP) images exhibited superior performance than those of the density value models with the corresponding MD images, with values of 0.946, 0.941, 0.934, 0.926, 0.831, and 0.824, respectively. Conclusions: Bone status assessment can be accurately conducted using density values from HAP (Water), HAP (Fat), Ca (Water), and Ca (Fat) MD images. However, radiomics models derived from MD images surpass traditional density measurement methods in evaluating bone status, highlighting their superior diagnostic potential. Full article

Summary: Anti PD1/PD-L1 agents, including pembrolizumab, have revolutionized the oncological treatment of different types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer. The most frequent complications associated with this type of treatment are mild and are located at the thyroid, pulmonary or hepatic level. Sarcoid like reaction and mesenteric panniculitis secondary to pembrolizumab treatment are two very rare adverse effects. We present the case of a patient with these complications. Purpose: the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer has undergone a major change in the last 10 years, largely due to the advent of immunotherapy. Anti PD1 agents such as pembrolizumab have increased the median survival of these patients from 13 to 26 months. Most frequent immunorelated side effects are hypothyroidism, pneumonitis or elevated liver enzymes. However, there are other adverse effects, including sarcoid-like reaction and mesenteric panniculitis, which should be known by the professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this type of patient. We present the case of a 62-year-old man with a history of unresectable and non-irradiable stage IIIB epidermoid lung carcinoma with a PD-L1 expression of 30% in whom pembrolizumab was discontinued after 4 cycles due to immunorelated arthritis. One year later he consulted for severe abdominal pain. A PET-CT scan was performed, showing hilar lymphadenopathy and inflammation of abdominal mesenteric fat. A biopsy of lesions in both areas showed non-necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis in hilar adenopathy and patchy fibrosis of mesenteric fat. The picture was classified as sarcoidosis-like reaction and mesenteric panniculitis secondary to pembrolizumab. Anti-PD1 agents cause hyperactivation of the immune system through T-cell proliferation. Sarcoid-like reaction is a very rare complication that can mask progressive tumor disease. Awareness of immunorelated complications by oncologists, internists, and radiologists is important for an appropriate diagnostic approach and targeted test ordering. Full article

The objective of the present research was the examination of how varying proportions of an acorn diet affects the deposition of subcutaneous fat and the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in Yuxi black pigs. Ninety pigs (with a balanced sex ratio and a similar weight 99.60 ± 2.32 kg) were stochastically assigned to the control group (CON) and the dietary acorn experimental groups (AEG). The CON was fed basal diets and the AEG1, AEG2, AEG3, and AEG4 groups were provided with dietary regimens comprising twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty per cent acorns, respectively. Each group consisted of six pigs, with three replicates. The breeding cycle was four months. The results demonstrated that, in comparison with the CON group, the lean meat rate was significantly increased in all test groups (p < 0.05), while in backfat thickness, loin eye area, carcass weight and slaughter rate was no significant difference (p > 0.05). The serum TC/HDL (total cholesterol divided by high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) and TG/HDL (Triglyceride divided by high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) levels in the AEG1 and AEG2 groups were significantly lower than the CON group (p < 0.05). There was no significant effect on the composition of FAs (p > 0.05). The number of fat cells in subcutaneous back fat and subcutaneous abdominal fat was significantly increased, and the area of fat cells was decreased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of ATGL and HSL expression in the subcutaneous back fat, as well as ACC, FAS, ATGL, PPARγ, and HSL expression in the subcutaneous abdominal fat, were significantly increased in the AEG2 group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of ACC, FAS, FABP4, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS/HSL in the subcutaneous back fat, as well as FABP4, C/EBPα, and FAS/HSL in the subcutaneous abdominal fat, were significantly lower in the AEG2 group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it has been found that a 30% acorn diet can inhibit subcutaneous fat deposition and enhance the nutritional value of pork and the health of Yuxi black pigs. Full article

Background: Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF) is a novel indicator for estimating intra-abdominal fat, yet its connection with coronary artery calcification (CAC) remains uncharted. Our research aims to explore the novel METS-VF indicator’s link to CAC while comparing its performance against relevant anthropometric indices. Methods: This study enrolled participants who underwent health checkups and computed tomography scans for categorizing severity of CAC using the coronary artery calcium score. The METS-VF was calculated and compared with anthropometric indices in estimating the presence of CAC and different CAC severity using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Overall, 1217 participants (mean age 50.7 ± 9.9, 53.8% male) were included. METS-VF (odds ratio [OR], 1.506; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.181–1.921; p = 0.001) was positively associated with the presence of CAC, even after accounting for cardiometabolic factors. Notably, METS-VF was positively associated with mild (OR, 1.450; 95% CI, 1.115–1.886; p = 0.006), moderate (OR, 1.865; 95% CI, 1.137–3.062; p = 0.014), and severe (OR, 2.316; 95% CI, 1.090–4.923; p = 0.029) CAC. Moreover, METS-VF yielded the highest area under curve (AUC) value in the estimation of the CAC presence (AUC = 0.710), mild (AUC = 0.682), moderate (AUC = 0.757), and severe (AUC = 0.807) CAC when compared with body mass index, waist circumference, visceral adiposity index, triglyceride–glucose index, and metabolic score for insulin resistance. The optimal METS-VF cut-off value was 6.4 for predicting CAC. Conclusions: METS-VF emerged as a strong independent marker for detecting CAC presence across mild, moderate, and severe CAC categories, outperforming major anthropometric indices in accurately estimating the presence of CAC and different severity of CAC. Full article

Background/Objectives: Body composition (BC) affects the risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hypertension (HTN). Currently, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is considered the gold standard for assessing BC, even though it has some limitations, including immobility, ionizing radiation, and patient weight restrictions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlations of BC parameters measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with those measured by DEXA in patients with MASLD and HTN. Methods: Overall, 78 patients with MASLD and HTN underwent the following study procedures: compilation of an anamnesis, physical examination of a patient, laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound, BIA, DEXA, and anthropometric measurements. Results: The agreement between BIA and DEXA in diagnosing reduced skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in patients with MASLD and HTN was moderate (kappa values were 0.440 and 0.404 in males and females, respectively). Significant strong direct correlations were found between fat mass (FM) and body fat percentage measured by BIA with corresponding measurements by DEXA (p < 0.001 for both). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of SMM to body weight ratios calculated using BIA data were 0.834 and 0.929 for reduced appendicular SMM determined by DEXA in males and females with MASLD and HTN, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, BIA is an easy-to-use and widely available tool for assessing SMM and FM in patients with MASLD and HTN, demonstrating reliable agreement with DEXA measurement results and completely free of its limitations. Full article

Low or insufficient testosterone levels caused by caponization promote fat deposition in animals. However, the molecular mechanism of fat deposition in caponized animals remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the metabolomics and transcriptomic profiles of adipose tissues and study the effect of testosterone and leptin on the proliferation of adipocytes. We observed a significant enlargement in the areas of adipocytes in the abdominal fat tissues in capon, as well as increased luciferase activity of the serum leptin and a sharp decrease in the serum testosterone in caponized gander. Metabolomics and transcriptomic results revealed differentially expressed genes and differentially expressed metabolites with enhanced PARR signal pathway. The mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ, fatty acid synthase, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in goose primary pre-adipocytes were significantly upregulated with high leptin treatment and decreased significantly with increasing testosterone dose. Hence, reduced testosterone and increased leptin levels after caponization possibly promoted adipocytes proliferation and abdominal fat deposition by altering the expression of PPAR pathway related genes in caponized ganders. This study provides a new direction for the mechanism through which testosterone regulates the biological function of leptin and fat deposition in male animals. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a cluster of metabolic risk factors, which include obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of laurate-bioconjugated fructans on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in Wistar rats with MetS induced by a high-fat diet. Laurate-bioconjugated fructans were synthesized with agave fructans, immobilized lipase B, and vinyl laureate as the acylant. Groups were fed a standard diet (NORMAL), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a high-fat diet plus laurate-bioconjugated fructans (FL PREV) for 9 weeks. A fourth group received a high-fat diet for 6 weeks, followed by simultaneous exposure to a high-fat diet and laurate-bioconjugated fructans for 3 additional weeks (FL REV). The dose of laurate-bioconjugated fructans was 130 mg/kg. Laurate-bioconjugated fructans reduced food and energy intake, body weight, body mass index, abdominal circumference, adipose tissue, adipocyte area, serum triglycerides, insulin, insulin resistance, and C-reactive protein but they increased IL-10 protein serum levels and mRNA expression. The impact of laurate-bioconjugated fructans on zoometric and metabolic parameters supports their potential as therapeutic agents to improve obesity, obesity comorbidities, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and MetS. Full article