Dietary cocoa ameliorates obesity-related inflammation in high fat-fed mice

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the effect of cocoa powder supplementation on obesity-related inflammation in high fat (HF)-fed obese mice. Methods Male C57BL/6J (n = 126) were fed with either low-fat (LF, 10 % kcal from fat) or HF (60 % kcal from fat) diet for 18 weeks. After 8 weeks, mice from HF group were randomized to HF diet or HF diet supplemented with 8 % cocoa powder (HF–HFC group) for 10 weeks. Blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical analyses. Results Cocoa powder supplementation significantly reduced the rate of body weight gain (15.8 %) and increased fecal lipid content (55.2 %) compared to HF-fed control mice. Further, cocoa supplementation attenuated insulin resistance, as indicated by improved HOMA-IR, and reduced the severity of obesity-related fatty liver disease (decreased plasma alanine aminotransferase and liver triglyceride) compared to HF group. Cocoa supplementation also significantly decreased plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin-6 (IL-6, 30.4 %), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, 25.2 %), and increased adiponectin (33.7 %) compared to HF-fed mice. Expression of pro-inflammatory genes (Il6, Il12b, Nos2, and Emr1) in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of the epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) was significantly reduced (37–56 %) in the cocoa-supplemented mice. Conclusions Dietary supplementation with cocoa ameliorates obesity-related inflammation, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease in HF-fed obese mice, principally through the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression in WAT. These effects appear to be mediated in part by a modulation of dietary fat absorption and inhibition of macrophage infiltration in WAT.

Hepatic genome-wide expression of lipid metabolism in diet-induced obesity rats treated with cocoa polyphenols

“…Furthermore, the present data are consistent with other findings indicating that genistein promotes the expression of genes for fatty acid oxidation by induction of PPARα in human HepG2cells . Similarly, Cocoa treatment improved hepatic β-oxidation, via activation of PPARα-signalling in mouse livers (Fidaleo et al, 2014;Gu, Yu, & Lamert, 2014).…”

Cocoa Flavanol Intake and Biomarkers for Cardiometabolic Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…The increased bioavailability of NO may also mediate the beneficial effects of cocoa flavanols on endothelial function (53). Experimental studies have shown that cocoa supplementation slowed body weight gain, increased plasma concentrations of adiponectin, and attenuated insulin resistance, as indicated by improved HOMA-IR (54,55). In addition, a growing body of evidence derived from both in vitro studies and animal studies also demonstrates the antidyslipidemia and anti-inflammation effects of cocoa and cocoa flavanols (14, 56, 57) (58-60).…”

Fermented Miso with Adzuki Beans or Black Soybeans Decreases Lipid Peroxidation and Serum Cholesterol in Mice fed a High-Fat Diet

“…Black soybeans and sword beans fed to rats on a high-fat diet have been shown to decrease hepatic levels of TBARS [41], which is consistent with our results. Gu et al [36] have reported that cocoa supplementation decreased serum ALT and hepatic triglyceride levels, and suppressed liver inflammation in high-fat diet-fed mice. Our data indicate that in adzuki miso (AM) and black soybean miso (BSM) fermented for 6 months, DPPH scavenging activity was higher compared to soybean miso (M), which correlated with a significant reduction in serum AST and hepatic lipid peroxidation levels in mice on a high-fat diet.…”

“…Gu et al [36] have reported that dietary cocoa supplementation of high-fat diet for 10 weeks suppresses the increase of liver weight and ameliorates fatty liver disease symptoms in mice. The addition of adzuki polyphenol extract (APP) to drinking water used at a single dose reduced liver injury, liver weight, peroxide content, and serum AST in 11-week old ddY mice, suggesting that APP exerts hepatoprotective effects [5].…”