Interventions in the metabolic syndrome: bile acid sequestration and exercise

PhD ceremony: Ms. M. Meissner, 14.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Interventions in the metabolic syndrome: bile acid sequestration and exercise

Promotor(s): prof. A.K. Groen, prof. F. Kuipers

Faculty: Medical Sciences

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) has reached alarming dimensions in the Western World. MetS is comprised of a multitude of risk factors and can lead to serious complications like type 2 diabetes

and atherosclerosis. Bile acid sequestrants (BAS), pharmacological agents that increase the fecal excretionof bile acids, and physical activity improve MetS and act beneficial in decreasing high blood glucose and high cholesterol levels, two components of MetS. However, underlying mechanisms are elusive. We

evaluated whether the BAS and physical activity induced improvements in MetS are underlying specific changes in glucose-and cholesterol-handling in specific mouse models paralleling human disease.