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How can I improve my sensitivity to insulin?

January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Answer:  If you are overweight, lose weight through diet.

Hepatology. 2009 Jan;49(1):80-6.

Orlistat for overweight subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: A randomized, prospective trial.

Harrison SA, Fecht W, Brunt EM, Neuschwander-Tetri BA.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if orlistat, an inhibitor of fat absorption, combined with caloric restriction in overweight subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis results in weight loss and improved liver histology. Fifty overweight subjects (body mass index = >or=27) with biopsy proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis were randomized to receive a 1,400 Kcal/day diet plus vitamin E (800 IU) daily with or without orlistat (120 mg three times a day) for 36 weeks. Liver biopsies were repeated at week 36. Twenty-three subjects in the orlistat/diet/vitamin E group and 18 in the diet/vitamin E group completed the study. The mean age was 47 +/- 9.0 (standard deviation) years and mean body mass index was 36.4 +/- 6.3 kg/m(2). Four subjects were diabetic. The orlistat group lost a mean of 8.3% body weight compared to 6.0% in the diet plus vitamin E group (not significant). Both groups also had similarly improved serum aminotransferases, hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation, ballooning, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity scores. Stratified according to weight loss instead of treatment group, a loss of >or=5% body weight (n = 24) compared to <5% body weight (n = 17) correlated with improvement in insulin sensitivity (P = 0.001) and steatosis (P = 0.015). Comparing subjects who lost >or=9% of body weight (n = 16), to those that did not (n = 25), improved insulin sensitivity (P < 0.001), adiponectin (P = 0.03), steatosis (P = 0.005), ballooning (P = 0.04), inflammation (P = 0.045), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (P = 0.009) were seen. Increases in adiponectin strongly correlated with improved ballooning and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (P = 0.03). Orlistat did not enhance weight loss or improve liver enzymes, measures of insulin resistance, and histopathology. However, subjects who lost >or=5% of body weight over 9 months improved insulin resistance and steatosis, and those subjects who lost >or=9% also achieved improved hepatic histologic changes.

Filed Under: insulin resistance, managing less common health problems, physical Tagged With: , ,

How can I improve my fatty liver condition?

January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Answer:  If you are overweight, lose weight through diet.

Hepatology. 2009 Jan;49(1):80-6.

Orlistat for overweight subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: A randomized, prospective trial.

Harrison SA, Fecht W, Brunt EM, Neuschwander-Tetri BA.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if orlistat, an inhibitor of fat absorption, combined with caloric restriction in overweight subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis results in weight loss and improved liver histology. Fifty overweight subjects (body mass index = >or=27) with biopsy proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis were randomized to receive a 1,400 Kcal/day diet plus vitamin E (800 IU) daily with or without orlistat (120 mg three times a day) for 36 weeks. Liver biopsies were repeated at week 36. Twenty-three subjects in the orlistat/diet/vitamin E group and 18 in the diet/vitamin E group completed the study. The mean age was 47 +/- 9.0 (standard deviation) years and mean body mass index was 36.4 +/- 6.3 kg/m(2). Four subjects were diabetic. The orlistat group lost a mean of 8.3% body weight compared to 6.0% in the diet plus vitamin E group (not significant). Both groups also had similarly improved serum aminotransferases, hepatic steatosis, necroinflammation, ballooning, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity scores. Stratified according to weight loss instead of treatment group, a loss of >or=5% body weight (n = 24) compared to <5% body weight (n = 17) correlated with improvement in insulin sensitivity (P = 0.001) and steatosis (P = 0.015). Comparing subjects who lost >or=9% of body weight (n = 16), to those that did not (n = 25), improved insulin sensitivity (P < 0.001), adiponectin (P = 0.03), steatosis (P = 0.005), ballooning (P = 0.04), inflammation (P = 0.045), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (P = 0.009) were seen. Increases in adiponectin strongly correlated with improved ballooning and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (P = 0.03). Orlistat did not enhance weight loss or improve liver enzymes, measures of insulin resistance, and histopathology. However, subjects who lost >or=5% of body weight over 9 months improved insulin resistance and steatosis, and those subjects who lost >or=9% also achieved improved hepatic histologic changes.

Filed Under: managing less common health problems, nonalcoholic fatty liver, physical Tagged With: , ,

How can I increase my sperm count?

January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Answer 2: If you are seriously overweight, try losing weight.

Reprod Health. 2011 Aug 17;8:24.

Does weight loss improve semen quality and reproductive hormones? Results from a cohort of severely obese men.

Håkonsen LB, Thulstrup AM, Aggerholm AS, Olsen J, Bonde JP, Andersen CY, Bungum M, Ernst EH, Hansen ML, Ernst EH, Ramlau-Hansen CH.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A high body mass index (BMI) has been associated with reduced semen quality and male subfecundity, but no studies following obese men losing weight have yet been published. We examined semen quality and reproductive hormones among morbidly obese men and studied if weight loss improved the reproductive indicators.

METHODS:

In this pilot cohort study, 43 men with BMI > 33 kg/m² were followed through a 14 week residential weight loss program. The participants provided semen samples and had blood samples drawn, filled in questionnaires, and had clinical examinations before and after the intervention. Conventional semen characteristics as well as sperm DNA integrity, analysed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) were obtained. Serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (Inh-B) were measured.

RESULTS:

Participants were from 20 to 59 years of age (median = 32) with BMI ranging from 33 to 61 kg/m². At baseline, after adjustment for potential confounders, BMI was inversely associated with sperm concentration (p = 0.02), total sperm count (p = 0.02), sperm morphology (p = 0.04), and motile sperm (p = 0.005) as well as testosterone (p = 0.04) and Inh-B (p = 0.04) and positively associated to estradiol (p < 0.005). The median (range) percentage weight loss after the intervention was 15% (3.5-25.4). Weight loss was associated with an increase in total sperm count (p = 0.02), semen volume (p = 0.04), testosterone (p = 0.02), SHBG (p = 0.03) and AMH (p = 0.02). The group with the largest weight loss had a statistically significant increase in total sperm count [193 millions (95% CI: 45; 341)] and normal sperm morphology [4% (95% CI: 1; 7)].

CONCLUSION:

This study found obesity to be associated with poor semen quality and altered reproductive hormonal profile. Weight loss may potentially lead to improvement in semen quality. Whether the improvement is a result of the reduction in body weight per se or improved lifestyles remains unknown.

Read the complete paper:

Does weight loss improve semen quality and reproductive hormones? Results from a cohort of severely obese men.


Filed Under: how to increase sperm count, managing men's health issues, physical Tagged With: , , , , ,