A specific dose of grape seed-derived proanthocyanidins to inhibit body weight gain limits food intake and increases energy expenditure in rats

Abstract

GSPE at a dose of 0.5 g/kg can reduce body weight by limiting food intake and activating energy expenditure in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Defining Conditions for Optimal Inhibition of Food Intake in Rats by a Grape-Seed Derived Proanthocyanidin Extract

“…We have previously reported that flavanols, a type of polyphenol found in abundance in grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), have a modulatory effect on food intake. We described a dose that inhibited food intake and stimulated energy expenditure; this dose inhibited body weight gain by 60% after two eight-day periods of treatment [14]. Previously, we have shown that GSPE produces a lipolytic effect, which contributed to the effects on body weight in this study [12,15,16].…”

“…Afterwards, we showed that a specific dose is needed to ensure a significant chronic effect on body weight control [14]. We now describe in deeper detail several aspects that should be taken into account if a GSPE treatment is to be effective.…”

“…According to our previous results, to obtain an inhibition on food intake, GSPE needs to be administered prior to or simultaneously with food intake [14]. Here, we first showed that to obtain an inhibition on food intake, animals have to be maintained as far as possible in calm, stress-free conditions.…”

“…Previously, we have shown that GSPE produces a lipolytic effect, which contributed to the effects on body weight in this study [12,15,16]. We ruled out the possibility that proanthocyanidins were playing an important role in inhibiting the gastrointestinal digestion process [14]. Remarkably, the animals ingested less food, which could be due to the changes induced by the extract on enteroendocrine signals (increased active GLP-1 [17] and decreased acylated ghrelin [18]) and/or by other signals that limit their need to feeding [17].…”

“…For the chronic treatment assays, animals received two periods of treatment as detailed previously [14]. Briefly, in the first-period treatment, trained animals were divided into 3 groups: a control group treated with a vehicle (tap water) and two GSPE groups (0.5 g GSPE/kg body weight (BW) and 1 g GSPE/kg BW) treated with 423 and 846 mg phenolics/kg of BW, respectively.…”