Effect of genistein with carnitine administration on lipid metabolism and obesity in C57BL/6J mice fed high fat diets

Abstract

We investigated the effect of dietary genistein (soy isoflavone) with or without the addition of L-carnitine, which may act synergistically, on an intentionally induced pre-diabetic state characterized by insulin resistance and obesity in C57BL/6J mice that fed high fat diets. Especially in liver, the results showed that genistein with carnitine transcriptionally up-regulated expression of ACS and CPT-1 by approximately 50% and 40% respectively, compared to genistein alone. However, the up-regulation of CPT-1 was not directly reflected in the activity of the CPT-1. On the other hand, the effect of genistein and genistein with carnitine, on the expressions of ACS and CPT-1 in muscle, was not insignificant. In addition, genistein with carnitine significantly reduced leptin concentrations in plasma. Our study suggests that genistein and carnitine have synergistic anti-obesity effects, probably by modulating the expression of PPAR-associated genes. However, further works is needed to elucidate the possible mechanisms by which genistein and carnitine intervene in obesity.