Oxidative stress (OS) promotes bone loss after menopause, and there is evidence that dietary antioxidants may reduce the level of OS in vivo. This study examined dose-dependent effects of blackberries (BBs) containing mainly cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside (C3G) in preventing bone loss in an ovariectomized (Ovx) rat model. Nine-month-old female (N=38) Sprague-Dawley rats were scanned using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for baseline whole body, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD). One group was sham operated (Sham) and three groups were ovariectomized (Ovx). The groups and corresponding diets were Sham+control diet (n=12), Ovx+control diet (n=12), Ovx+5% BB (n=7), and Ovx+10% BB (n=7). Control diet was AIN-93M rodent diet, and the Ovx+5% BB and Ovx+10% BB were a diet modified to contain powdered, freeze-dried BB at levels of 5% and 10% (w/w). Following 100 days of treatment, whole body BMC and BMD were reassessed and bone specimens, blood, and 24-h urine samples were collected for analyses. Findings indicate that ovariectomy (Ovx) compromised whole body BMC and trabecular microarchitecture of the proximal tibia and fourth lumbar vertebra. C3G-rich BB at the level of 5% modestly protected BMDs, loss of the tibia, lumbar vertebra, and femur by 2.4%, 2.7%, and 4.3% (P<.0013; .0437; .0004), respectively. BB 5% treatment significantly prevented loss of tibial trabecular bone volume and trabecular number by 37% and 21%, respectively (P<.05), and also significantly prevented tibial trabecular separation by 22%. We conclude that C3G-rich BB treatment at the level of 5% (w/w) but not at 10% (w/w) may modestly reduce Ovx-induced bone loss evident by improved tibial, vertebral, and femoral BMD values, and tibial bone microstructural parameters. Bone protective effects may be as a result of the synergistic effects of phenolic compounds; however, further work is required to determine BBs' specific mechanisms of action.

The present study estimated the economic impact of increased dietary fiber consumption on direct medical costs associated with constipation in the U.S. using a decision‐analytic model. The model was developed with the following input parameters from the peer‐reviewed literature: prevalence of functional constipation; current dietary fiber intakes; proportion meeting recommended intakes; proportion expected to experience constipation alleviation with increased dietary fiber consumption; and annual direct medical costs updated to U.S. $ 2012. Sensitivity analyses explored the model robustness to each parameter. Direct medical cost‐savings was $12.7 billion annually among adults. This base case model assumed that 3% of men and 6% of women currently met recommended dietary fiber intakes; each 1 g/d increase in dietary fiber intake reduced constipation prevalence by 1.9%; and all adults would increase dietary fiber intakes to 25 g/d. Sensitivity analyses found that even if only 50% of the adult population increased dietary fiber intake by 3g/d, annual medical costs savings would exceed $2 billion. All plausible scenarios resulted in cost savings of at least $1 billion. The finding that the simple, realistic change of increasing dietary fiber intakes could result in cost savings exceeding $12.7 billion is promising and highlights the need for strategies to increase dietary fiber intakes.

Nearly five percent of Americans suffer from functional constipation, many of whom may benefit from increasing dietary fiber consumption. The annual constipation-related healthcare cost savings associated with increasing intakes may be considerable but have not been examined previously. The objective of the present study was to estimate the economic impact of increased dietary fiber consumption on direct medical costs associated with constipation.

Phenolic compounds from berries have shown bone protective effects in animal studies. We hypothesized that consumption of 45 g of blackberries or blueberries for 9 months will prevent smoking-induced bone loss in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal smokers (n = 45) and nonsmokers (n = 20) were recruited. Smokers were randomly assigned to treatment groups: smoker control (n = 21); smoker + 45 g freeze-dried blackberries (n = 8); or smoker + 45 g freeze-dried blueberries (n = 16). We measured bone mineral density (BMD) at 0 and 9 months, urinary deoxypyridinoline, bone alkaline phosphate, osteocalcin, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and highly sensitive C-reactive protein at 0, 3, 6, 9 months. Bone loss of total body BMD was statistically significant in S-C and S-BL groups, but not in S-BB and NS groups (p = 0.0284). Findings indicated that blackberries but not blueberries modestly protected against smoking-induced bone loss in postmenopausal smokers.

Blackberries contain anthocyanins and phenolic acids derived from anthocyanin fragments that have an important role in the small intestine for retaining gut health. It has been hypothesized that supplementing diets with blackberries may improve gut health through a prebiotic mechanism. Unfortunately identification of gut bacteria is difficult since only 20% of bacterial species can be cultured using current techniques. Therefore, a non-culture based technique was utilized to examine shifts in gut bacteria of mice fed one of five diet treatments: (1) control, (2) aged blackberries supplemented at 5% (w/w), (3) aged blackberries supplemented at 10% (w/w), (4) fresh blackberries supplemented at 5% (w/w), and (5) fresh blackberries supplemented at 10% (w/w). Mice feces were initially collected before supplementing blackberries as a control (0 week) and were collected every 2 weeks for up to 10 weeks. Polymerase chain reaction-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-based DGGE) was performed and further identification of bacteria was conducted by excising and sequencing target bands. Banding patterns were more consistent over time in those groups that had a diet supplemented with 10% aged or fresh blackberries compared to the 2 groups fed a diet supplemented with 5% of fresh or aged blackberries. From the sequencing data, Lactobacillus johnsonii was present in all groups after 2 weeks of sampling. The Aerococcus spp. and Actinomycetes were increased in blackberries treatments as well as Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella pneumonia and Erwinia spp. were present in aged blackberry treatment. These data indicate that supplementing a diet with aged or fresh blackberries causes shifts in the gastrointestinal microflora.

Blackberry (Rubus sp.) fruit contains high levels of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, mainly flavonols and ellagitannins, which contribute to its high antioxidant capacity and other biological activities. Blackberry phenolic composition and concentrations are known to be influenced by genetics, growing conditions, and maturation. Despite the current knowledge of their chemistry, research specific to blackberry phenolic compounds' health benefits, metabolism, bioavailability, and mechanism by which they confer health benefits is scarce. Blackberry phenolic compounds have protective effects on age-related neurodegenerative diseases and bone loss in vivo and can inhibit low-density lipoprotein and liposomal oxidation in vitro. Blackberry extracts have also exerted antimutagenic effects in vitro and in vivo by modifying cell signaling pathways and suppressing tumor promotion factors. However, the antiobesity, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties of blackberry phenolic compounds need investigation. Similarly, studies that elucidate the in vivo physiologically effective concentrations of blackberry phenolic compounds are necessary.

Vegetarian diets have been associated with several health benefits. However, there are some concerns around the nutritional adequacy of vegetarian diets. The present study was designed to evaluate the differences in nutrient intakes between vegetarian (VDP) and non‐vegetarian dietary patterns (NVDP) in US adult population (> 19 yrs; N = 11,888) using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003–2008. Respondents who did not report the consumption of meat, poultry or fish on the NHANES dietary recall for either of the two survey days were categorized as having a vegetarian dietary pattern. Mean nutrient intakes were adjusted for Age, Gender, Ethnicity, Poverty Income Ratio and kCal. Total energy intake was approximately. 16% lower in VDP when compared to NVDP. Mean intakes of fiber, vitamins A, C, and E, total folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium were higher for VDP than for NVDP. Although intake of sodium was lower in the VDP, it was still higher than the current guideline. Dairy and fruit consumption was higher among the vegetarians. Contrary to the common belief, total vegetable intake was not different between the two groups. The Healthy Eating Index, a measure of diet quality, was not different for people following a vegetarian dietary pattern compared to non‐vegetarians.

Smoking aggravates bone loss in postmenopausal women due to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Berries rich in phenolics have shown bone protective affects in animal studies partially due to their anti‐oxidant properties. We assessed effects of: (i) smoking and (ii) consumption 45g/day of blueberries and blackberries for 9 months on bone health. Postmenopausal smokers (n=31) and nonsmokers (NS) (n=18) were recruited. Smokers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: smoker control (S‐C) (n=12); smoker + 45 g freeze‐dried blackberries (S‐BB) (n=6); or smoker + 45 g freeze‐dried blueberries (S‐BL) (n=13). We measured: bone mineral density (BMD) of total body, and other regions at 0 and 9m, and urinary deoxypyridinoline, bone alkaline phosphate, osteocalcin, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and highly sensitive C‐reactive protein at 0, 3, 6, and 9 month. Total body BMD decreased by 0.0359 g/cm2 in S‐C group compared to 0.0041 and 0.0226 g/cm2 in S‐BB and S‐BL groups respectively, and increased by 0.0031 g/cm2 in NS group (p=0.0284). No significant changes were noted on other parameters. These findings indicate that antioxidant rich berries modestly protect against smoking‐induced bone loss in postmenopausal women. The mechanisms by which berries prevent bone loss need further exploration. This study was funded by Arkansas Biosciences Institute.

Anthocyanins may be responsible for the health benefits of chokeberries, as they are present in large quantities in chokeberries and are potent antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agents. Previous investigations on the bioavailability of anthocyanins illustrate that little of the ingested amount reaches systemic circulation. Furthermore, anthocyanins are known to undergo extensive polymerization during storage. Presently, little research has examined the effects of polymerization on the absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how storage‐induced polymerization affects the absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins in rats by comparison of fresh versus aged chokeberry juices. 75 eight week‐old male, Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments by gavage once daily for 7 days: water (CTRL), n=8; fresh chokeberry juice (FCB), n=32; and aged chokeberry juice (ACB), n=32. On day 7, rats from CTRL were sacrificed at 0.5h, and 8 rats from FCB and ACB were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2, or 4‐h post‐gavage for collection and analysis of blood and urine by HPLC/MS. Based on previous studies, we expect to find higher absorption and excretion of anthocyanins in the rats that received fresh chokeberry juice than in the rats that received aged chokeberry juice. Research support was provided by Arkansas Biosciences Institute.

Estrogen loss predisposes postmenopausal women to a 60% greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome. We examined the dose dependent effects of whole blackberries containing 87% cyanidin-3-O-β-d-glucoside (C3G), a powerful antioxidative and anti-inflammatory anthocyanin, in ovariectomized rats. Nine-month-old female Sprague–Dawley rats were either sham-operated or ovariectomized (OVX) and divided four groups, Sham + control diet, OVX + control diet, OVX + 5% blackberry and OVX + 10% blackberry (OVX-BB10%). After 100 days of treatment, serum, liver lipids, insulin and C-reactive protein, serum antioxidant capacity, low density lipoprotein oxidation and gene expression of inflammatory markers were measured. Final body weights of blackberry treatments were lower than the OVX controls, and BB10% (w/w) diet decreased hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression levels. Thus, consumption of C3G-rich blackberries is protective against weight gain and inflammation associated with ovariectomy-induced menopause in a rat model.

Background: One in five adults in the United States is obese as defined by a body mass index of 30 kg/m2. Obesity is associated with metabolic syndrome, a combination of medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. These conditions present challenges to the medical care system and require a multifaceted approach through a variety of interventions. This study investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) at the level of 5 % (w/w) in alleviating the complications associated with metabolic syndrome.Methods: The study was carried out using thirty-six, three-month old female lean and obese Zucker rats housed in an environmentally controlled laboratory. The Zucker rats were divided into three groups (N=12): Lean (L-CTRL) and obese controls (O-CTRL) and obese-FOS (O-FOS). The controls received AIN-93M purified rodent diet and the animals in the O-FOS group were fed AIN-93M diet modified to contain 5.0% FOS (w/w). After 100 days of treatment, the rats were fasted for 12 hours and sacrificed. Tissue and organs of interest, and blood were collected for analysis. Serum concentrations of the following were determined: glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and insulin. Gravimetric quantification of liver lipids was performed and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) gene expression was determined in white adipose tissue by qRT-PCR.Results: No significant differences were observed in the serum lipids, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and PPAR-γ gene expression in white adipose tissue of O-FOS group compared to O-CTRL group. FOS supplementation significantly lowered the percent total liver lipids by 12% with a subsequent reduction in the liver weights compared to O-CTRL rats. Serum insulin concentrations were lowered 3.6 fold in O-FOS group compared to O-CTRL (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these findings we conclude that dietary supplementation of 5% FOS (w/w) may reduce hepatic steatosis and the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with insulin resistance without changes in blood lipids and glucose levels.Key words: Dietary fiber, Fructooligosaccharide, Hepatosteatosis, Liver lipids, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Zucker.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collection of octadecadienoic fatty acids that have been shown to possess numerous health benefits. The CLA used in our study was produced by the photoisomerization of soybean oil and consists of about 20% CLA; this CLA consists of 75% trans – trans (a mixture of t8,t10; t9,t11; t10,t12) isomers. This method could be readily used to increase the CLA content of all soybean oil used as a food ingredient. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of trans – trans CLA-rich soy oil, fed as a dietary supplement, on body composition, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and markers of glucose control and liver function of obese fa/fa Zucker rats. The trans – trans CLA-rich soy oil lowered the serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein–cholesterol levels by 41 and 50%, respectively, when compared to obese controls. Trans – trans CLA-rich soy oil supplementation also lowered the liver lipid content significantly ( P < 0.05) with a concomitant decrease in the liver weight in the obese rats. In addition, glycated hemoglobin values were improved in the group receiving CLA-enriched soybean oil in comparison to the obese control. PPAR-γ expression in white adipose tissue was unchanged. In conclusion, trans – trans CLA-rich soy oil was effective in lowering total liver lipids and serum cholesterol.

Excess energy intake is one of the major causes of obesity and is associated with several chronic diseases. The progression of these diseases is often related to oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants in the form of bioactive phytochemicals can be effective in preventing the development of these conditions. Blackberries are a rich source of antioxidants such as anthocyanins. In the present study, we examined the dose‐dependent effects of blackberries or their anthocyanins in preventing the development of obesity related morbidities in high fat (HF) fed ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. We compared the effects of blackberries at three different levels (5%, 7.5%, and 10% w/w of a HF diet) to anthocyanins extracted from blackberries added to a HF diet at levels equivalent to the respective blackberry diet. The controls groups included Sham‐operated and Ovx animal groups fed a HF or low‐fat diet. Preliminary data indicate that higher doses of blackberry may have modest effects in lowering total cholesterol in comparison to HF Ovx control groups; in addition, blackberry treatment also lowered triglycerides when compared to the HF sham group but not the HF Ovx group. The anthocyanins at all levels did not alleviate symptoms associated with adiposity. The research is funded by NSF‐EPSCOR P3 grant

PURPOSE: The decrease in estrogen levels following menopause has been shown to be a major contributing factor in osteoporosis. Several interventions have shown promise in counteracting these effects. The risks of hypertension and other cardiovascular problems also increase dramatically after menopause. The actions of proteases such as Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPPIV) reduce blood pressure by decreasing the vasoconstrictor effect of neuropeptide Y. The purpose is to determine the effects of ovarectomy on dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) activity in rats and to evaluate the effects of interventions for improving bone density on DPPIV activity. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=11) were anesthetized at 8-9 months of age (Sham). Four groups were ovarectimized and maintained with the following specifications until 19-20 months of age. OVX-control (n= 9) were fed normal rat chow, OVX-PTH (n=11) were injected with parathyroid hormone for two weeks, OVX-CBD (n=11) were injected with parathyroid hormone collagen binding protein, and OVX-GT (n= 8) were fed a diet of 500 mg/kg green tea polyphenols. After induction of anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium, the femoral arteries and 1A arterioles (G1A) from the red gastrocnemius muscle were removed. DPPIV activity was assayed using a fluorogenic substrate, glycyl-L-proline-4-methoxy-2-naphthylamide, which produced relative fluorescence units (RFU) proportionate to DPPIV activity. The RFU values were converted to units of DPPIV activity. Total protein was determined using the microBCA assay, and the enzyme activity was normalized to total protein. RESULTS: DPPIV activity was lower in the femoral artery (Sham: 0.020±0.045; OVX-control: 0.006±0.011; OVX-PTH: 0.002±0.007; OVX-CBD: 0.002±0.005; OVX-GT: 0.136±0.38U/L/μg protein) compared to the G1A arteriole (Sham: 0.075±0.081; OVX-control: 0.111±0.102; OVX-PTH: 0.547±0.950; OVX-CBD: 126±0.093; OVX-GT: 0.172±0.167U/L/μg protein; p<0.05). There was no significant effect of the treatments. CONCLUSIONS: DPPIV activity was not sensitive to changes in hormone status or interventions to improve bone density. Supported by Arkansas Biosciences Institute and the NIH grant R03AG033245.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was (1) to determine if vascular ecto-ATPase activity was affected by obesity and (2) to see if feeding soy diets with varying levels of isoflavones would have an effect on ATPase activity in obese rats. Since obesity is associated with high vascular resistance, we hypothesized that obese rats would have less ecto-ATPase activity (i.e. more ATP to cause vasoconstriction) compared to their lean controls. We also hypothesized that soy supplementation would increase the amount of ecto-ATPase activity, and that high levels of insulin would amplify the need for higher ATPase activity. METHODS: Red gastrocnemius 1A arterioles from the hind limb of three month old, female Zucker rats were analyzed using a spectrophotometric phosphate assay to detect synaptic ecto-ATPase activity. Obese (538±7g) and lean (300±6g) control groups were used in the study. Three treatment groups of obese rats were fed either low (45mg), moderate (450mg), or high (900mg) levels of soy isoflavones per kg of total diet for 100 days. RESULTS: The results showed that the obese control had significantly higher ATPase activity than lean control (115±11pM of phosphate, n=8; 62±14pM, n=8, p<0.05). The low soy diet treatment group had significantly lower ATPase activity than the obese control (28±9pM of phosphate, n=7, p<0.05). The data showed that insulin levels with the low soy diet were significantly lower than obese controls (0.38±0.06μg/mL vs. 1.37±0.19μg/mL, p<0.05). Moderate and high soy diets did not have a significant effect on ecto-ATPase activity. However, insulin levels were significantly reduced by all three soy diets (low: 0.38±0.01μg/mL; moderate: 0.78±0.12μg/mL; high: 0.82±0.18μg/mL, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the results of the study are somewhat contrary to our hypotheses, it appears that there is some connection between ecto-ATPase activity and high sympathetic activity. A low soy diet appears to be more beneficial in reducing both insulin levels and ATPase activity in obese rats. Previous literature links purinergic receptors with insulin levels and the results from the current study support the idea that there is an interaction between insulin and ATP. Supported by Arkansas Biosciences Institute and the NIH grant R03AG033245.

PURPOSE: The decrease in estrogen levels following menopause has been shown to be a major contributing factor in osteoporosis. Dietary supplements have been suggested as options to counteract these effects. The risks of hypertension and other cardiovascular problems also increase dramatically after menopause. Ecto-ATPase decreases hypertension by breaking down ATP. The purpose is to determine the effects of ovarectomy on ATPase activity in rats and to evaluate the effects of dietary supplements on ATPase activity. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=10) were anesthetized at 8-9 months of age (Sham). Four groups were ovarectimized and maintained with the following specifications until 19-20 months of age. OVX-control (n=9) were fed normal rat chow, OVX-PTH (n=11) were injected with parathyroid hormone for two weeks, OVX-CBD (n=11) were injected with parathyroid hormone collagen binding protein, and OVX-GT (n=9) were fed a diet of 500 mg/kg green tea polyphenols. After induction of anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium, the femoral arteries and 1A arterioles from the red gastrocnemius muscle were removed. Ecto-ATPase activity was determined using a PiBlue phosphate assay. Total protein was determined using the microBSA assay, and the enzyme activity was normalized to total protein. RESULTS: All groups showed similar ATPase activity in both the femoral arteries and 1A arterioles (G1A). For the femoral groups, means were Sham 3588.3±1883.7, OVX-control 3955.5±1511.6, OVX-PTH 3403.6±1618.6, OVX-CBD 4406.3±1280.4, and OVX-GT 4572.6±1057.3 pM phosphate. G1A group means were Sham 2602.6±2348.5, OVX-control 3357.0±1905.6, OVX-PTH 3358.4±2086.9, OVX-CBD 3887.2±1411.5, and OVX-GT 2860.3±2822.5 pM phosphate. Normalized enzyme activity for the femoral arteries was Sham 11.50±8.494, OVX-control 15.45±15.44, OVX-PTH 10.99±6.580, OVX-CBD 23.75±20.96, and OVX-GT 14.60±8.806 pM phosphate/µg protein. Normalized enzyme activity for the G1A groups was Sham 15.95±13.24, OVX-control 19.81±11.37, OVX-PTH 20.25±16.25, OVX-CBD 31.23±46.48, and OVX-GT 20.59±9.573 pM phosphate /ug protein. CONCLUSIONS: ATPase activity is not sensitive to ovarectomy or dietary manipulations focused on changing bone density. Supported by Arkansas Biosciences Institute and the NIH grant R03AG033245.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine if fructoligosaccharides or conjugated linoleic acid in the diet reduces the activity of ecto-ATPases in the synapse of skeletal muscle arteries and arterioles. METHODS: The femoral artery and gastrocnemius 1A arteriole were removed from 23 female Obese Zucker rats (18 month old). Prior to euthanization, rats were fed either normal rat chow (control), a 5% fructoligosaccharide diet (FOS), or a diet rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for 100 days. Arteries and arterioles were prepared for the PiBlue phosphate assay to determine ecto-ATPase activity. Plasma insulin concentrations were determined using an ELISA. RESULTS: There was no difference in ecto-ATPase activity in the FOS (813±178 pM phosphate) or the CLA (700±79pM phosphate) group compared to obese control (723±180pM phosphate). Insulin concentrations were not different among obese control (1.37±0.58μg/ml), FOS (1.50±1.11μg/ml), and CLA (1.33±0.50μg/ml). DISCUSSION: A diet rich in probiotics (Fructoligosaccharides) or conjugated linoleic acid does not affect skeletal muscle vascular ecto-ATPase activity or plasma insulin in obese Zucker rats. Supported by Arkansas Biosciences Institute and the NIH grant R03AG033245.

The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which bitter melon seed (BMS) alleviates the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome and elucidate the mechanism by which BMS exerts beneficial effects. Three-month-old female Zucker rats were assigned to following groups: lean control (L-Ctrl), obese control (O-Ctrl), and obese + BMS (O-BMS). The control groups were fed AIN-93M purified rodent diet, and the O-BMS group was fed AIN-93M diet modified to contain 3.0% (wt/wt) ground BMS for 100 days. After 100 days of treatment, BMS supplementation in the obese rats lowered the total serum cholesterol by 38% and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels by about 52% and increased the ratio of serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol to total cholesterol compared to the O-Ctrl group. The percentage of total liver lipids was about 32% lower and serum triglyceride levels were 71% higher in the O-BMS group compared to the O-Ctrl group. Serum glucose levels were significantly lowered partly because of the increase in the serum insulin levels in the BMS-based diet groups. BMS supplementation increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) in the white adipose tissue of the obese rats significantly (P < .05) and down-regulated the expression of PPAR-γ, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and interferon-γ mRNA in heart tissue of the obese rats. The findings of this study suggest that BMS improves the serum and liver lipid profiles and serum glucose levels by modulating PPAR-γ gene expression. To our knowledge, this study for the first time shows that BMS exerts cardioprotective effects by down-regulating the NF-κB inflammatory pathway.