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The effects of 30 days resveratrol supplementation on adipose tissue morphology and gene expression patterns in obese men

International Journal of Obesity volume 38, pages 470–473 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Polyphenolic compounds, such as resveratrol, have recently received widespread interest because of their ability to mimic effects of calorie restriction. The objective of the present study was to gain more insight into the effects of 30 days resveratrol supplementation on adipose tissue morphology and underlying processes. Eleven healthy obese men were supplemented with placebo and resveratrol for 30 days (150 mg per day), separated by a 4-week washout period in a double-blind randomized crossover design. A postprandial abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsy was collected to assess adipose tissue morphology and gene expression using microarray analysis. Resveratrol significantly decreased adipocyte size, with a shift toward a reduction in the proportion of large and very-large adipocytes and an increase in small adipocytes. Microarray analysis revealed downregulation of Wnt and Notch signaling pathways and upregulation of pathways involved in cell cycle regulation after resveratrol supplementation, suggesting enhanced adipogenesis. Furthermore, lysosomal/phagosomal pathway and transcription factor EB were upregulated reflecting an alternative pathway of lipid breakdown by autophagy. Further research is necessary to investigate whether resveratrol improves adipose tissue function.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jos Stegen and Yvonne Essers for their excellent technical assistance with the biochemical analysis and adipocyte cell size analysis. This study was funded by Top Institute Food and Nutrition. TI Food and Nutrition, formerly known as WCFS, is a unique public/private partnership that generates vision on scientific breakthroughs in food and nutrition, resulting in the development of innovative products and technologies that respond to consumer demands for safe, tasty and healthy foods. Partners are major Dutch food companies and research organizations. We also thank DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Kaiseraugst, Switzerland for providing us with the resVidaTM and placebo capsules.

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Author notes

  1. E Konings and S Timmers: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    E Konings, S Timmers, G H Goossens, J W Jocken, P Schrauwen, E C Mariman & E E Blaak

  2. Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), Wageningen, The Netherlands

    S Timmers & P Schrauwen

  3. Division of Human Nutrition, Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M V Boekschoten, L A Afman & M Müller

  4. Netherlands Nutrigenomics Centre, TI Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M V Boekschoten, L A Afman & M Müller

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  1. E Konings
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  2. S Timmers
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  3. M V Boekschoten
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  4. G H Goossens
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Correspondence to E E Blaak.

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Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on International Journal of Obesity website

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Konings, E., Timmers, S., Boekschoten, M. et al. The effects of 30 days resveratrol supplementation on adipose tissue morphology and gene expression patterns in obese men. Int J Obes 38, 470–473 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.155

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.155

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