Soy protein intake prevents adipocyte hypertrophy in rats fed a high fat diet

Abstract

Lipid accumulation in liver is produced by an increase in the uptake of free fatty acid (FFA) secreted by adipose tissue during obesity. Soy protein intake prevents hepatic lipotoxicity, however it is not clear if soy protein has an effect in adipose tissue. Thus, the purpose of the present work was to study if soy protein intake can prevent adipocyte hypertrophy in rats fed a high fat diet. The results of the present work showed that after 180 days, rats fed soy protein presented a significant reduction in epididymal adipocyte number and area, a lower serum leptin concentration and lower adiposeTNFα mRNA concentration than rats fed casein diet. Perilipin mRNA concentration was higher in rats fed soy protein associated with lower serum FFA concentration. These results suggest that soy protein intake prevents lipotoxicity reducing adipocyte hypertrophy and TNFαexpression, and increasing perilipin expression reducing FFA release, and preventing insulin resistance. This work was supported by CONACYT grant No 46135-M