Pomegranate seed oil, a rich source of punicic acid, prevents diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Pomegranate seed oil has been shown to protect against diet induced obesity and insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE:

To characterize the metabolic effects of punicic acid on high fat diet induced obesity and insulin resistance.

DESIGN:

High-fat diet or high-fat diet with 1% Pomegranate seed oil (PUA) was fed for 12 weeks to induce obesity and insulin resistance. We assessed body weight and composition (pSABRE DEXA-scan), energy expenditure (Columbus Instruments) and insulin sensitivity at the end of the 12 weeks.

RESULTS:

PSO intake resulted in a lower body weight, 30.5±2.9 vs 33.8±3.2 g PSO vs HFD respectively, p=0.02, without affecting food intake or energy expenditure. The lower body weight was fully explained by a decreased body fat mass, 3.3±2.3 vs 6.7±2.7 g for PSO and HFD fed mice, respectively, p=0.02. Insulin clamps showed that PSO did not affect liver insulin sensitivity but clearly improved peripheral insulin sensitivity, 164±52% vs 92±24% for PSO and HFD fed mice respectively, p=0.01.

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that dietary PSO ameliorates high-fat diet induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice, independent of changes in food intake or energy expenditure.

• Authors: Irene O C M Vroegrijk, Janna A van Diepen, Sjoerd van den Berg, Irene Westbroek, Hiskias Keizer, Luisa Gambelli, Raquel Hontecillas, Josep Bassaganya-Riera, Gerben C M Zondag, Johannes A Romijn, Louis M Havekes, Peter J Voshol
• Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol) Vol. 49 Issue 6 Pg. 1426-30 (Jun 2011) ISSN: 1873-6351 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21440024 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Dietary Fats
• Insulin
• Linolenic Acids
• Plant Oils
• punicic acid

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Dietary Fats (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Eating
• Glucose Clamp Technique
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Insulin
• Insulin Resistance
• Linolenic Acids (administration & dosage)
• Lythraceae (chemistry)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Obesity (prevention & control)
• Plant Oils (administration & dosage)
• Seeds (chemistry)