Goat’s Milk Intake Prevents Obesity, Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in Mice Fed A High-Fat Diet by Reducing Inflammatory Markers and Increasing Energy Expenditure and Mitochondrial Content in Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

Goat’s milk is a rich source of bioactive compounds (peptides, conjugated linoleic acid, short chain fatty acids, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols such as phytoestrogens and minerals among others) that exert important health benefits. However, goat’s milk composition depends on the type of food provided to the animal and thus, the abundance of bioactive compounds in milk depends on the dietary sources of the goat feed. The metabolic impact of goat milk rich in bioactive compounds during metabolic challenges such as a high-fat (HF) diet has not been explored. Thus, we evaluated the effect of milk from goats fed a conventional diet, a conventional diet supplemented with 30% Acacia farnesiana (AF) pods or grazing on metabolic alterations in mice fed a HF diet. Interestingly, the incorporation of goat’s milk in the diet decreased body weight and body fat mass, improved glucose tolerance, prevented adipose tissue hypertrophy and hepatic steatosis in mice fed a HF diet. These effects were associated with an increase in energy expenditure, augmented oxidative fibers in skeletal muscle, and reduced inflammatory markers. Consequently, goat’s milk can be considered a non-pharmacologic strategy to improve the metabolic alterations induced by a HF diet. Using the body surface area normalization method gave a conversion equivalent daily human intake dose of 1.4 to 2.8 glasses (250 mL per glass/day) of fresh goat milk for an adult of 60 kg, which can be used as reference for future clinical studies.

Reviewing the Benefits of Grazing/Browsing Semiarid Rangeland Feed Resources and the Transference of Bioactivity and Pro-Healthy Properties to Goat Milk and Cheese: Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Inflammation and Hepatic Steatosis Prevention

“…Likewise, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in BAT of UCP-1, and TNF-α quantitation in adipose tissue were evaluated. Further details of the employed methodology can be found in our previous paper [32].…”

“…Mice fed high-fat diet supplemented with the tree milk types were able to decrease body weight and body fat mass, improved glucose tolerance, and prevented adipose tissue hypertrophy and hepatic steatosis irrespective of the type of milk. These effects were associated with an increase in energy expenditure, augmented oxidative fibers in skeletal muscle and reduced inflammatory markers [32]. The beneficial effects can be endorsed to polyphenols found in goat milk which augment energy expenditure by modulation of the thermogenic program of subcutaneous adipose tissue and activating AMPK activity in skeletal muscle and hepatic tissue of mice [60].…”

“…Table 4. Goat milk used as bioactive compounds source: in vivo effects on bioactivity and pro-healthy properties against induced obesity (modified and adapted from Delgadillo-Puga et al [32]).…”

“…Our recent findings showed that bioactivity of dairy products is enhanced when goats are under browsing/grazing management or supplemented with A. farnesiana pods meal [15]. As well, goat milk ingestion can support antioxidant activity of biological systems and even modulate chronic disease while regulating inflammatory indicators to prevent obesity and related maladies [32].…”

“…In the present review, goat milk [8,15] and cheese [6][7][8]13] were revisited on their bioactive compound content. In addition, in vitro and in vivo assays were considered to have the evidence of the effects of such compounds [30][31][32]. To conduct this review, we took into account particularly the experiments that our research group carried out throughout the last fifteen years at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) in Mexico.…”