Beneficial effect of exercise combined with licorice flavonoid oil supplementation on visceral adipose tissue

Abstract

ObjectiveWe investigated the beneficial effect of exercise combined with licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) on visceral adipose tissue, and the lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle and liver.MethodsMale Sprague‐Dawley rats divided into four groups: control, exercise, control with LFO, and exercise with LFO groups. The rats subjected to exercise ran on a treadmill 5 times a week. LFO was administered 1500mg/kg body weight daily. After 7 weeks, overnight fasted rats were killed, and samples were collected. Adipocyte cell size in the epididymal white adipose tissue and the fat‐oxidation related enzyme, CS, HAD and CPT‐2, activities in the plantaris muscle and liver were measured.ResultsBoth exercise and LFO reduced the adipose tissue mass and adipocyte cell size. In addition, exercise combined with LFO more effectively reduced the adipose tissue than only exercise or LFO. Furthermore, exercise increased the muscular CS and HAD activities, and LFO increased the hepatic CPT‐2 activity.ConclusionExercise combined with LFO effectively reduced visceral adipose tissue, because the combination enhanced the muscular and hepatic lipid metabolism, respectively. These results suggested that the combination might be effective to decrease the risk from obesity. Supported by Grants‐in‐Aid for Science Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.