(P21-004-25) mRNA Gene Expression Analysis After Using Supplements Designed to Support Weight Management

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine if novel supplements (SUPs) formulated to help with aspects of weight management would induce significant changes in gene expression in different tissues.

Methods: Gene expression was analyzed from mouse preclinical & human clinical studies.

In the preclinical study, mice were separated into different groups & given a high-fat diet (HFD) paired with a SUP for 28d. Group 1: HFD + mulberry leaf extract & guar gum; Group 2: HFD + saffron stigma extract, vitamin D3, & vitamin B6; Group 3: HFD + turmeric, moringa, & curry leaf extracts; Group 4: HFD + turmeric, moringa, curry leaf, & prickly pear extracts. The comparison group was given only HFD for 28d. Gene expression was analyzed in different tissues including liver, brain, fat, & muscle.

The human study analyzed gene expression patterns at baseline (BL) & after 12w on a weight management program (n=20). Subjects were asked to follow an eating plan, participate in physical activity, & take 4 SUPs & 1 meal replacement daily. Blood was collected from subjects at BL & w12. 

The samples from both studies were subjected to bioinformatics analysis to obtain differentially expressed genes using the R package edgeR. Then, a functional enrichment analysis was performed using ORA and GSEA methodologies, obtaining GO terms and KEGG pathways.

Results: For the preclinical study, the number of significantly expressed mRNAs obtained in the differential analysis by comparing HFD to the HFD + SUP groups are as follows: Group 1: 28 in fat, 493 in liver; Group 2: 385 in brain, 5 in fat; Group 3: 1376 in fat, 5033 in muscle; Group 4: 107 in muscle, 312 in liver. The clustering analysis demonstrates distinct differences in gene expression patterns in the HFD group vs each SUP group. For the human study, the number of significantly expressed mRNAs obtained is 270 in blood. The clustering analysis shows a general pattern of samples at BL grouped together and w12 samples grouped separately. Gene expression pathway analysis is still under review and being explored to find any significant connections to weight management.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the treatment is effective at eliciting changes in gene expression patterns in the tissues studied. More research is needed to determine the benefit of these changes for weight management.

Funding Sources: NSE Products, Inc., Provo, Utah