Carob Extract Supplementation Together with Caloric Restriction and Aerobic Training Accelerates the Recovery of Cardiometabolic Health in Mice with Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Carob, the fruit of Ceratonia siliqua L. exerts antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects and could be a useful strategy for the treatment and/or prevention of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to analyze whether supplementation with a carob fruit extract (CSAT+®), alone or in combination with aerobic training, accelerates the recovery of cardiometabolic health in mice with MetS subjected to a caloric restriction. For this purpose, mice were fed with a high fat (58% kcal from fat)/high sugar diet for 23 weeks to induce MetS. During the next two weeks, mice with MetS were switched to a diet with a lower caloric content (25% kcal from fat) supplemented or not with CSAT+® (4.8%) and/or subjected to aerobic training. Both caloric reduction and aerobic training improved the lipid profile and attenuated MetS-induced insulin resistance measured as HOMA-IR. However, only supplementation with CSAT+® enhanced body weight loss, increased the circulating levels of adiponectin, and lowered the plasma levels of IL-6. Moreover, CSAT+® supplementation was the only effective strategy to reduce the weight of epidydimal adipose tissue and to improve insulin sensitivity in the liver and in skeletal muscle. Although all interventions improved endothelial function in aorta segments, only supplementation with CSAT+® reduced obesity-induced hypertension, prevented endothelial dysfunction in mesenteric arteries, and decreased the vascular response of aorta segments to the vasoconstrictor AngII. The beneficial cardiometabolic effects of CSAT+® supplementation, alone or in combination with aerobic training, were associated with decreased mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as MCP-1, TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6 and with increased gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as GSR, GPX-3, and SOD-1 in the liver, gastrocnemius, retroperitoneal adipose tissue, and aorta. In conclusion, supplementation with CSAT+®, alone or in combination with aerobic training, to mice with MetS subjected to caloric restriction for two weeks enhances body weight loss, improves the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity, and exerts antihypertensive effects through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Ceratonia siliqua L. Pod Extract: From Phytochemical Characterization to Liposomal Formulation and Evaluation of Behaviour in Cells

“…C. siliqua pods are known for their antioxidant properties that are of value for the amelioration and prevention of many disorders [ 33 , 34 ]. In the literature, there are many studies comparing different extraction methods to prepare an active extract.…”

Carob Extract (Ceratonia siliqua L.): Effects on Dyslipidemia and Obesity in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Rat Model

“…The findings of the present study suggest that rats fed a high-fat diet and treated with carob pulp extract had significantly lower weight gain compared to the untreated rats. The possible mechanisms for this phenomenon are numerous and include the inhibition of adipocyte proliferation and differentiation [31], reduction of food intake [32], decline in body glucose and lipid content [36], increase in serum adiponectin [27,30], decrease in leptin resistance [33,37,38], and inhibition of fat accumulation in the liver [31]. Our study addresses two of these mechanisms.…”

“…Several studies on animal models have reported the impact of carob on body weight and proposed various explanatory mechanisms [31,32,36]. Fujita et al [31] showed that supplementation with carob pod polyphenols (CPPs) significantly decreased body weight gain in high-fat-fed mice.…”

“…As explained above, this mechanism could also account for the decreased weight gain observed in our study. De la Fuente-Fernández et al [32] revealed that supplementation with carob extract induced significant weight loss in high-fat diet-fed mice, primarily through its satiety effect, resulting in reduced food intake. Forestieri et al [36] showed a suppressed weightincrease curve in high-fat diet-fed rats supplemented with carob gums.…”

“…Thirdly, carob has been found to decrease levels of leptin [32], a hormone produced by adipocytes that regulates food intake and body weight control. Obese individuals often have high leptin levels due to leptin resistance [33].…”