Meeting Abstract

P2.147  Sunday, Jan. 5 15:30  Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms of Tropical Foods KARRATTI-ABORDO, J*; NERURKAR, P ; University of Hawaii at Manoa; University of Hawaii at Manoa jadieka@hawaii.edu

Obesity has become an epidemic in America, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). T2D is responsible for about 90%-95% of diagnosed diabetes. In Hawaii, approximately 56.4% of adults are overweight or obese, 14% of children are overweight and 8.4% of individuals have diabetes. Moreover, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have the highest obesity and diabetes mortality rates compared to Caucasians. Dietary changes form the foundation of obesity treatments. However, culturally acceptable foods may have long-term consequences in continuing adherence to dietary changes. Chronic inflammation is an important etiological factor during obesity and T2D. Our project investigates anti-inflammatory properties of local foods such as Momordica charantia (bitter melon), Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd) and Luffa acutangula(ridge gourd), using cell culture models. Such studies are important since identifying local foods with anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory properties may offer easy accessible, cost effective, treatment strategies for obesity or T2D.