Abstract
Pistachios contain beneficial substances such as unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, and polyphenols. In the present study, we investigated if pistachio consumption is able to prevent or to revert hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and adipose tissue morphological alterations caused by high fat diet (HFD) in the mouse. Moreover, the impact of pistachio intake on the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid transport proteins (FAT-P), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1), and sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c) in liver and adipose tissue was also analyzed. No change in body weight, food intake, and hyperglycemia was observed between mice consuming pistachios (HFD-P) and HFD mice. Pistachio intake was able to prevent but not to reverse HFD-induced hypertriglyceridemia. Cholesterol plasma levels, steatosis grading, body fat mass, and adipocyte size were significantly lower in HFD-P group compared to HFD in both prevention and reversal protocol. Pistachio-diet was able to prevent HFD-induced overexpression of PPAR-γ, FAS, and SCD1 in the liver and SREBP-1c, PPAR-γ, and FAT-P in adipose tissue. Similarly, HFD-P significantly ameliorated the expression levels of FAT-P and SCD1 in the liver and SREBP-1c, FAS, and SCD1 in adipose tissue of obese mice. The present study shows that pistachio consumption is able to prevent and to ameliorate obesity-related dysfunctions by positively modulating the expression of genes linked to lipid metabolism.
Highlights
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus because it is characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia
The purpose of the present study was to investigate if pistachio consumption is able to prevent or to revert obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions, such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and adipose tissue (AT) morphological alterations, in HFD mice
The present study demonstrates that regular pistachio intake is able to prevent and to improve obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions such as dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and adipose tissue alterations in HFD obese mice
Summary
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus because it is characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The pathogenesis of MetS is a complex issue involving genetic, environmental, and dietary factors [1]. It is well known that a high-fat-diet (HFD) and excessive nutrient intake result in adipose tissue (AT) triglyceride accumulation, with consequent adipocyte hypertrophy and pro-inflammatory cytokines release, and in ectopic fat deposition. Excessive hepatic lipids can lead to steatosis, the initial stage of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is strictly linked to atherogenic dyslipidemia and diabetes and it is considered to be a hepatic component of MetS [2]. Several metabolic and signaling pathways are involved in Nutrients 2018, 10, 1857; doi:10.3390/nu10121857 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
