TNO’s toolbox in the fight vs. obesity

Battle against obesity on multiple fronts

TNO, the Dutch Institute for Applied Scientific Research, considers it of major importance that the complex issue of obesity is being addressed by many organizations, including government, healthcare professionals, industry and scientists. There is a need for multiple approaches, not only at the individual level (e.g., affecting behavior changes), but also at the social level (e.g., family, school), and in the physical environment (e.g., playgrounds).

The food industry could also contribute to this fight against obesity by producing healthy, effective products, reducing serving size, and being responsible with respect to advertisements aimed at children.

TNO is contributing to this fight in various ways, including monitoring developments in this field, as well as setting up interventional programs, such as measuring the impact of summer camp on children who are seriously overweight. TNO also undertakes research on the physiological aspects of obesity and related diseases.

The Institute is also involved in developing innovative new food concepts which, for example, are more nutricious or are more satiating.

Some examples of TNO’s contributions to the industry are covered below.

Monitoring developments

TNO, VU University Medical Center, and the University of Utrecht assessed the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children living in the Netherlands, and compared the findings with data obtained in 1980 and 1997. Data on 90,071 children, aged 4-16 years, was routinely collected by 11 community health services during 2002—2004.

TNO’s gastro-intestinal model

On average, 14.5% of the boys and 17.5% of the girls were overweight (including obesity), which is a substantial increase since 1980 (boys 3.9%, girls 6.9%) and 1997 (boys 9.7%, girls 13.0%). Similarly, the percentage of obese children has grown substantially.

It was concluded that the prevalence of overweight and obese children in the Netherlands is still rising at an even faster rate than before. Evidence-based interventions are needed to counter the obesity epidemic (van den Hurk et al., Arch Dis Child. 2007, 92:992-995).

The KOALA Birth Cohort Study (KOALA is the Dutch acronym for: Child, Parent, Health, Focus on Lifestyle and Predisposition) follows over 2,800 mother/child pairs from the 14th week of pregnancy onwards. In the KOALA subproject on lifestyle and weight, TNO, Maastricht University, Royal FrieslandCampina, and Suikerstichting Nederland joined forces. Children between four and six years of age are followed with respect to several (behavioral) determinants on food consumption, physical exercise and anthropometrics. Results will be linked with data about their mothers during pregnancy (e.g., dietary patterns) and data of early childhood (e.g., birth weight and breast feeding versus infant formula). The results will provide important insights into the development of overweight in children and possibly provide a basis for effective intervention strategies.

Ingredient development and evaluation

With respect to ingredient development, TNO’s toolbox comprises ingredient purification and characterization, ingredient modeling, ingredient modification, and innovative production technologies. Two examples of ingredient projects are provided here.

TNO, in collaboration with the University of Groningen, conducted an R&D program on exopolysaccharides. This program led to the discovery that some exopolysaccharides could be used in weight management applications. A novel α-glucan produced by the bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri (TNO strain) was named Reuteran. It was tested in a human trial in which positive effects on insulin and glucose levels were registered, along with an increased feeling of fullness and a decrease in hunger. Patents were filed and licensed to commercial partners.

One way to evaluate ingredients that induce satiety is to determine their capability to release satiating hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK) in cultured gut cells. In a collaboration with the Dutch company, Lipid Nutrition, Korean pine nut free fatty acids (pinoleic acid) were tested in a STC-1 cell culture for their ability to increase CCK-8 secretion versus various other dietary fatty acids. Pinoleic acid turned out to induce the highest hormone release. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind crossover trial, including 18 overweight women, was performed, as well. These women received capsules with pinoleic acid, Korean pine nut triglycerides or olive oil as a placebo in combination with a light breakfast. Various gut hormones were determined. CCK-8 and glucagons like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were augmented in the Korean pine nut treatments, whereas the appetite sensation, “prospective food intake,” was lower compared to the placebo. Hence, pinoleic acid may work as an appetite suppressant. Further human studies are ongoing to confirm these effects and to evaluate effects on actual food intake and body weight (Pasman et al., Lipids Health Dis. 2008, 20:7-10).

For more information on the use of pinoleic acid for appetite suppression, please see the product profile by Lipid Nutrition entitled “Innovations in Lipids for Weight Management”, elsewhere in this enewsletter.

Physiological research

In tackling the obesity problem, it is of great importance to investigate differences in the physiological regulation of food intake and meal initiation between normal weight and obese individuals. TNO and its partners investigated whether or not ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”) responses are related to meal initiation and whether or not the ghrelin responses and effects were dependent on body mass index (BMI) and energy status of male volunteers included in a randomized, crossover design trial. It turned out that obese subjects are less sensitive to the effects of ghrelin. Furthermore, ghrelin concentrations, but not changes in ghrelin, were correlated with appetite (Blom et al., Physiology & Behavior 2009, 96 :742-748).

TNO is also applying systems biology research to dietary interventions with human volunteers in order to provide insight into the individual’s body response to dietary treatments and challenges. For example, a pioneering large-scale gene expression analysis in human adipose tissue biopsies was performed in response to a short-term nutritional intervention (with a spread containing fatty acids known for their satiating effect versus a spread containing fatty acids normally eaten at breakfast; spreads were eaten for 9 days). Measured profiles revealed that adipose tissue gene expression of lean and overweight subjects was distinctly different, mainly with respect to defense response and metabolism. Individual responses in overweight subjects were variable and these correlated better to obesity phenotype markers as waist/hip ratio and fat percentage than to BMI (van Erk et al., Genes Nutr. 2008,3:127-137). This study strengthened the hypothesis that fat tissue is actively involved in the development of obesity-related disease.

Multidisciplinary approaches

Several projects of TNO in the field of weight and health have been described here. However, many more projects are undertaken. Unique proprietary models at TNO include, for instance, TNO’s validated gastro-intestinal models (in which, for example, gastric emptying, digestion kinetics or microflora effects can be studied), unique animal models for obesity and other metabolic diseases, and TNO’s in-house clinical unit. TNO has a strong track record in collaborating with U.S. companies.

Contact Details:
wim.vanhartingsveldt@tno.nl

About TNO

TNO envisages knowledge as the most important resource for the development of the modern economy. TNO’s mission is to apply scientific knowledge with the aim of strengthening the innovative power of industry and government. TNO Quality of Life is one of its core areas in which healthy food, good working conditions, healthcare and sport are being addressed.

www.tno.nl

Please see us at the Holland Food Valley Pavilion, Booth #1419/1519, at the IFT Annual
Meeting + Food Expo, June 6-9, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California.

Also, please join us at a lecture (148-03), by Anneke Martin entitled: “Reducing the Bad
(Saturated Fats) for the Good (Unsaturated Fats) in Reformulating Bakery Products,” on
Monday, June 8, 2:15 p.m. — 2:35 p.m.