Being overweight and/obese is associated with metabolic disorders such as diabetes and insulin resistance⁽Reference Smith and Singleton¹⁾. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) has been identified as a potential marker for weight loss⁽Reference Wang, Holst, Andersen and Astrup²⁾. The mechanisms by which nutrients regulate molecular pathways involved in adipose tissue metabolism have recently become of high interest⁽Reference Oboh, Bello and Ademosun³⁾. Lemon extracts appear to improve weight loss and reduce ACE activity⁽Reference Oboh, Bello and Ademosun³⁾. Here, we aim to understand the potential use of ACE as an early marker for weight loss and determine whether lemon extracts effects ACE gene expression and insulin sensitivity in adipocytes.

52 participants (77 % females and 23 % males; mean BMI 27 ± 5) were instructed to follow a 1200 Kcal diet with an optional daily <250Kcal-snack. They used an in-house generated health platform to provide urine and diaries of food intake and physical activity. A total of 149 days information was recorded by the participants on the health platform. The study was approved by Warwick Medical School Ethics committee BSREC. ACE concentration was measured using a Human ACE DuoSet Elisa from R&D System. 3T3L1 adipocytes were differentiated as previously described in⁽Reference Zebisch, Voigt and Wabitsch⁴⁾ and treated with lemon extract (LJ). ACE mRNA expression was quantified by qPCR using Taqman gene expression assays. PhosphoAKT (p-AKT) protein levels were used to assess insulin responsiveness in 3T3L1 cells treated with 100μg/ml LJ and 100nM insulin. Pearson correlation and Mann Whitney U test were performed using R to understand correlation between ACE and weight change parameters.

We found that following a day of dieting (so far without lemon juice), ACE positively correlated with weight difference; reduction was significantly more robust in individuals with a BMI >25 (p < 0·05 and p < 0·005 respectively; Fig 1a, b). ACE gene expression significantly increased (up to 12-fold at day 8) during 3T3L1 differentiation (Fig 1c). Addition of LJ on differentiated cells led to an 80 % reduction in ACE gene expression in adipocytes (Fig 1d). Consistent with this, LJ-induced ACE reduction was associated with increased insulin sensitivity in adipocytes, evidenced by increased p-AKT levels (Fig 1e).

Fig. 1.

(a) ACE response is dependent upon BMI. (b) Following day ACE is positively related to weight difference. (c) ACE mRNA expression during 3T3L1 adipocytes differentiation.(d) Effects of lemon juice LJ on ACE mRNA expression in adipocytes.(e) Phospho-AKT and total AKT levels change with treatment of 100ug/ml LJ after 10h followed by incubation with/without 100 nm insulin(I).

In summary, our studies demonstrate that, ACE levels correlate with BMI and weight loss as early as after only 1 day of dieting, and thus could be a potential early “biofeedback” marker on dieting and weight loss. LJ reduction in ACE expression has been found in a model of adipocytes and this is also associated with increased insulin sensitivity.