Abstract
Scientists are focusing on bioactive ingredients to counteract obesity. We evaluated whether a mix containing grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), anthocyanins, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and chicken feet hydrolysate (CFH) could reduce body fat mass and also determined which mechanisms in the white adipose tissue (WAT) and the brown adipose tissue (BAT) were affected by the treatment. The mix or vehicle (VH) were administered for three weeks to obese rats fed a cafeteria (CAF) diet. Biometric measures, indirect calorimetry, and gene expression in WAT and BAT were analyzed as was the histology of the inguinal WAT (IWAT). The individual compounds were also tested in the 3T3-L1 cell line. The mix treatment resulted in a significant 15% reduction in fat (25.01 ± 0.91 g) compared to VH treatment (21.19 ± 1.59 g), and the calorimetry results indicated a significant increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation. We observed a significant downregulation of Fasn mRNA and an upregulation of Atgl and Hsl mRNA in adipose depots in the group treated with the mix. The IWAT showed a tendency of reduction in the number of adipocytes, although no differences in the total adipocyte area were found. GSPE and anthocyanins modulated the lipid content and downregulated the gene and protein levels of Fasn compared to the untreated group in 3T3-L1 cells. In conclusion, this mix is a promising treatment against obesity, reducing the WAT of obese rats fed a CAF diet, increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation, and modifying the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism of the adipose tissue.
Highlights
The number of obesity cases worldwide is increasing yearly
In the inguinal WAT (IWAT), we analyzed the a significant increase in Hsl gene expression in the mix group compared to the VH group, and no gene expression of Ucp1 and Prdm16, but their expression was unaffected by the treatment
The mix of natural ingredients used in this study administered to rats fed a CAF diet was able to decrease fat accretion after three weeks of treatment, increase EE, increase fat oxidation, and modify the gene expression of key genes in lipid metabolism of the adipose tissue
Summary
The number of obesity cases worldwide is increasing yearly. Obesity is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fat caused by an imbalance between caloric intake and expenditure, with serious implications for health [1]. Weight loss accompanied by body fat reduction has a beneficial impact on overall health in obese individuals, including a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular diseases [2] and decreased insulin resistance [3], among others. The white adipose tissue (WAT) is the principal organ affected in obesity, increasing the mass (hypertrophy) and number (hyperplasia) of adipocytes through the incorporation of triglycerides (TAG) into its cytoplasm [4]. It has been shown that the WAT tends to be hypertrophic in obesity, promoting insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia and leading to the accumulation of lipids
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