# Impact of Short-Term Dietary Restriction Combined with Amaranth and Canola Oil Supplementation on Salivary Adipokines in Adults with Obesity

**Authors:** Marzena Helwich, Dominika Kanikowska, Wojciech Eliasz, Alina Kanikowska, Rafał Rutkowski, Małgorzata Moszak, Aldona Juchacz, Ewelina Swora-Cwynar, Marian Grzymisławski, Elżbieta Paszyńska, Anna Surdacka

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/nu18040628 · 2026-02-14

## TL;DR

A short-term calorie-restricted diet with amaranth or canola oil improved salivary health and reduced inflammation in obese adults.

## Contribution

The study shows that combining a calorie-restricted diet with amaranth or canola oil affects salivary adipokines and pH in obese individuals.

## Key findings

- A calorie-restricted diet reduced salivary PAI-1, serpin A12, and TNF-R1 concentrations in obese adults.
- Amaranth oil increased salivary flow rate, while both oils increased salivary pH.
- The intervention improved systemic and oral health markers linked to obesity.

## Abstract

Background: Adipose tissue is a crucial endocrine organ, and obesity, due to its associated chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, disrupts adipokine secretion. These adipokines can be detected not only in blood but also in saliva. Dietary changes are a crucial part of managing obesity, encompassing a balanced diet, increased physical activity, and lifestyle modifications. Moreover, adding functional foods like amaranth and canola oils, recognized for their health benefits, may further improve metabolic and inflammatory health. These products have anti-inflammatory effects and may help reduce the pro-inflammatory activity of adipose tissue, thereby improving systemic and oral health. The study aimed to assess the impact of a 3-week calorie-restricted diet, supplemented with canola or amaranth oil on salivary adipokines, i.e., serpin A12, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNF-R1), pH, and salivary flow in obese patients. Methods: A total of 115 adults with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) were enrolled and placed on a 3-week calorie-restricted diet. The study group (n = 44) received additional supplementation: 21 participants received 20 mL of canola oil daily, and 23 received 20 mL of amaranth oil. The control group (n = 71) followed the same calorie-restricted diet without oil supplementation. Non-stimulated saliva was collected twice, for 20 min each time, before and after the intervention, to evaluate flow rate, pH, and concentrations of serpin A12, PAI-1, and TNF-R1. Concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: An increase in saliva flow rate was observed in patients supplemented with amaranth oil (p = 0.0367). Both the amaranth oil and canola oil groups showed a significant rise in salivary pH (p = 0.0425). Across all participants, the 3-week calorie-restricted diet resulted in a reduction in salivary PAI-1 (p = 0.0339), serpin A12 (p = 0.0001), and TNF-R1 (p = 0.0058). Conclusions: The 3-week calorie-restricted diet contributed to a decrease in the concentration of adipokines in saliva. The low-calorie diet, combined with supplementation of amaranth and canola oils, increased salivary flow and resulted in higher pH values, indicating greater alkalinity.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** SERPINA12 (serpin family A member 12)
- **Diseases:** obesity (MONDO:0011122)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SERPINA12 (serpin family A member 12) [NCBI Gene 145264] {aka OL-64}, TNFRSF1A (TNF receptor superfamily member 1A) [NCBI Gene 7132] {aka CD120a, FPF, TBP1, TNF-R, TNF-R-I, TNF-R55}
- **Diseases:** diabetes (MESH:D003920), endothelial dysfunction (MESH:D014652), cancer (MESH:D009369), cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), weight (MESH:D015431), metabolic syndrome (MESH:D024821), thrombotic (MESH:D013927), Excess (MESH:D006970), injury to (MESH:D014947), chronic inflammation (MESH:D007249), hypertension (MESH:D006973), visceral obesity (MESH:D056128), metabolic (MESH:D008659), Obesity (MESH:D009765), adipose (MESH:D018205), type 2 diabetes (MESH:D003924), underweight (MESH:D013851), weight gain (MESH:D015430), overweight (MESH:D050177)
- **Chemicals:** phytosterols (MESH:D010840), Canola Oil (MESH:D000074262), oil (MESH:D009821), fatty acid (MESH:D005227), carbohydrates (MESH:D002241), triglycerides (MESH:D014280), amaranth oil (-), fat (MESH:D005223), polyunsaturated fatty acids (MESH:D005231), plant oils (MESH:D010938), glucose (MESH:D005947), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), Amaranth (MESH:D000548), squalene (MESH:D013185), lipid (MESH:D008055)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Brassica napus var. napus (annual rape, varietas) [taxon 138011], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Brassica napus (oilseed rape, species) [taxon 3708], Amaranthus cruentus (blood amaranth, species) [taxon 117272], gut metagenome (species) [taxon 749906], Amaranthus caudatus (amaranth, species) [taxon 3567]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12943514/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12943514