Abstract
BackgroundSeveral studies in both humans and rodents have examined the use of lactoferrin as a dietary solution to weight gain and visceral fat accretion and have shown promising results in the short term (up to 7 weeks). This study examined the effects of giving lactoferrin over a longer period of time.MethodsFor 13 weeks, male C57/BL6J mice were given a diet containing 10 % kJ fat and 20 % kJ casein (LFD) or a diet with 45 % kJ fat and either 20 % kJ casein (HFD) or 20 % kJ lactoferrin (HFD + Lac). Physiological, metabolic, and biochemical parameters were investigated. Gene expression was investigated by Real-Time PCR and microarray. All data was assessed using t-test, ANOVA or ANCOVA. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was used to interpret microarray data and assess the impact on gene sets with common biological roles.ResultsBy the end of the trial, HFD + Lac fed mice did not alter energy balance, body composition, bodyweight, or weight gain when compared to the HFD group. Notably, there were no changes in subcutaneous or epididymal adipose leptin mRNA levels between high fat diet groups, however plasma leptin was significantly reduced in the HFD + Lac compared to HFD group (P < 0.05) suggesting reduced leptin secretion. Global microarray analysis of the hypothalamus indicate an overall reduction in gene sets associated with feeding behaviour (P < 0.01) and an up-regulation of gene sets associated with retinol metabolism in the HFD + Lac group compared to the HFD group (P < 0.01). Genes in the latter catergory have been shown to impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Notably, plasma corticosterone levels in the HFD + Lac group were reduced compared to the HFD fed mice (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe data suggests that prolonged feeding of full-length dietary lactoferrin, as part of a high fat diet, does not have a beneficial impact on weight gain when compared to casein. However, its impact on leptin secretion and accompanying changes in hypothalamic gene expression may underlie how this dietary protein alters plasma corticosterone. The lactoferrin fed mouse model could be used to identify leptin and corticosterone regulated genes in the hypothalamus without the confounding effects of body weight change.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12986-015-0049-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Several studies in both humans and rodents have examined the use of lactoferrin as a dietary solution to weight gain and visceral fat accretion and have shown promising results in the short term
One such dietary solution is focused on the use of whey protein isolate (WPI), which has been shown to reduce weight gain associated with the intake of high fat diets [2, 3]
Plasma leptin and corticosterone were significantly reduced in mice fed dietary bovine lactoferrin compared to casein in a high fat diet Despite similar % fat mass to the High fat diet with casein (HFD) group, HFD + High fat diet with lactoferrin (Lac) fed mice had significantly reduced circulating leptin concentrations (Fig. 4a)
Summary
Several studies in both humans and rodents have examined the use of lactoferrin as a dietary solution to weight gain and visceral fat accretion and have shown promising results in the short term (up to 7 weeks). As increases in obesity have such an impact on the individual and society as a whole, greater research into dietary solutions for obesity has been undertaken in recent years One such dietary solution is focused on the use of whey protein isolate (WPI), which has been shown to reduce weight gain associated with the intake of high fat diets [2, 3]. Tranberg et al showed that the beneficial impact WPI has on weight gain in high fat diet fed adolescent mice took place primarily during the initial four weeks of WPI intervention when mice were 5 to 9 weeks old [3]. In contrast to the Tranberg et al study, BSA fed mice reduced weight gain from 8 to 16 weeks of age during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, which suggests an impact of BSA on weight gain for a lengthier period of time and across a broader age range than WPI [4]
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