Fenugreek supplementation during high-fat feeding improves specific markers of metabolic health

Abstract

To assess the metabolically beneficial effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), C57BL/6J mice were fed a low- or high-fat diet for 16 weeks with or without 2% (w/w) fenugreek supplementation. Body weight, body composition, energy expenditure, food intake, and insulin/glucose tolerance were measured regularly, and tissues were collected for histological and biochemical analysis after 16 weeks of diet exposure. Fenugreek did not alter body weight, fat mass, or food intake in either group, but did transiently improve glucose tolerance in high fat-fed mice. Fenugreek also significantly improved high-density lipoprotein to low-density lipoprotein ratios in high fat-fed mice without affecting circulating total cholesterol, triglycerides, or glycerol levels. Fenugreek decreased hepatic expression of fatty acid-binding protein 4 and increased subcutaneous inguinal adipose tissue expression of adiponectin, but did not prevent hepatic steatosis. Notably, fenugreek was not as effective at improving glucose tolerance as was four days of voluntary wheel running. Overall, our results demonstrate that fenugreek promotes metabolic resiliency via significant and selected effects on glucose regulation, hyperlipidemia, and adipose pathology; but may not be as effective as behavioral modifications at preventing the adverse metabolic consequences of a high fat diet.

Fenugreek Counters the Effects of High Fat Diet on Gut Microbiota in Mice: Links to Metabolic Benefit

“…Fenugreek improves glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia in mice given high fat diet. Data in this manuscript is built on initial publication of the effects of whole fenugreek seed supplementation (2% w/w) on overall metabolic function in the context of a 16-week trial of high fat diet consumption 41 , and thus previously published data are only summarized in this report. Briefly, data show that fenugreek supplementation increased HDL and decreased LDL cholesterol levels in high fat fed-mice (Table 1).…”

“…Statistically significant differences in metabolic parameters in HFD-fed mice as compared to CD-fed mice are mice are noted by ***(p < 0.001), while significant changes in mice given HFD/FG as compared to HFD-fed mice are noted by # (p < 0.05). Adapted from previously published data 41 . Table 2.…”

“…This study was carried out in strict accordance with PHS/NIH guidelines on the use of experimental animals, and all experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Data in this manuscript follows an initial publication on the effects of whole fenugreek seed supplementation (2% w/w) on overall metabolic function in the context of a 16-week trial of high fat diet consumption 41 . As detailed in our initial report 41 , male, 9 week-old C57BL/6 J mice were purchased from Jackson Laboratories, and group-housed (4/cage) under standard conditions with ad libitum access to food/water.…”

“…Data in this manuscript follows an initial publication on the effects of whole fenugreek seed supplementation (2% w/w) on overall metabolic function in the context of a 16-week trial of high fat diet consumption 41 . As detailed in our initial report 41 , male, 9 week-old C57BL/6 J mice were purchased from Jackson Laboratories, and group-housed (4/cage) under standard conditions with ad libitum access to food/water. After 7 days acclimation, mice were randomly separated into the following 4 groups (20 mice each in each group): high fat diet ± fenugreek (HFD and HFD/FG) and control diet ± fenugreek (CD and CD/FG) for 16 weeks.…”

“…To this end, data from our previously published study on the effects of fenugreek on mice given a high fat diet were extended to include sequencing and statistical assessment of gut microbiota. As reported in our previous study, high fat or nutritionally matched low fat diets supplemented with ground fenugreek seeds (2% w/w) were administered to male C57BL/6J mice for 16 weeks, and the metabolic effects of the various diets on adiposity, glycemic control, and hyperlipidemia were quantified 41 . Metagenomic sequencing of fecal microbiota collected from mice was conducted, and diet-related changes in gut microbiota were statistically analyzed in relation to established metrics of metabolic function.…”