Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of guarana on mitochondrial biogenesis in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. C57BL6J mice were divided in two groups: high-fat diet HFD and high-fat diet + guarana (HFD-GUA). Both groups received HFD and water ad libitum and the HFD-GUA group also received a daily gavage of guarana (1 g/kg weight). Body weight and food intake was measured weekly. Glycemic, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels were determined. VO2 and energy expenditure (EE) were determined by indirect calorimetry. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and protein content by western blotting. The HFD-GUA group presented lower body weight, subcutaneous, retroperitoneal, visceral, and epididyimal adipose tissue depots, and glycemic and triglyceride levels, with no change in food intake and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the HFD-GUA group presented an increase in VO2 and basal energy expenditure (EE), as well as Pgc1α, Creb1, Ampka1, Nrf1, Nrf2, and Sirt1 expression in the muscle and brown adipose tissue. In addition, the HFD-GUA group presented an increase in mtDNA (mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid) content in the muscle when compared to the HFD group. Thus, our data showed that guarana leads to an increase in energetic metabolism and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis, contributing to control of weight gain, even when associated with high-fat diet.
Highlights
Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide and is related to epigenetic factors, excessive consumption of processed food rich in fat and sugar, and lack of physical activity, among other factors.The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that contribute to development of other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney or coronary problems [1,2].Energy metabolism is determined by energy expenditure and food intake, which must be balanced for body weight maintenance
The effects of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract on body weight control, food intake, protection against hypertension, and in the modulation of some genes and miRNAs associated with the adipogenesis process have been previously shown [13,14,15]
In this study, it was demonstrated that guarana might control body weight by enhancing thermogenesis and mitochondrial biogenesis
Summary
Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide and is related to epigenetic factors, excessive consumption of processed food rich in fat and sugar, and lack of physical activity, among other factors.The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that contribute to development of other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney or coronary problems [1,2].Energy metabolism is determined by energy expenditure and food intake, which must be balanced for body weight maintenance. Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide and is related to epigenetic factors, excessive consumption of processed food rich in fat and sugar, and lack of physical activity, among other factors. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that contribute to development of other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney or coronary problems [1,2]. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (Pgc1α) is responsible for regulating mitochondrial biogenesis, oxygen consumption, and oxidative phosphorylation, through the increase of mitochondrial mass, activation of several key components of adaptive thermogenesis, and stimulation of energy uptake, which allows the adaptation of cells and tissues to situations of high energy demands [5].
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