Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats

Obesity can be associated with significant metabolic disorders. Our previous study found that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) improved lipid metabolism in obese rats. However, scant attention has been given to exploring the impact of MCTs on glucose metabolism in obese rats. This study is designed...

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Main Authors: Jiaheng Xia, Zhixin Wang, Ping Yu, Xianghui Yan, Junxin Zhao, Guohua Zhang, Deming Gong, Zheling Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/241
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author Jiaheng Xia
Zhixin Wang
Ping Yu
Xianghui Yan
Junxin Zhao
Guohua Zhang
Deming Gong
Zheling Zeng
author_facet Jiaheng Xia
Zhixin Wang
Ping Yu
Xianghui Yan
Junxin Zhao
Guohua Zhang
Deming Gong
Zheling Zeng
author_sort Jiaheng Xia
collection DOAJ
description Obesity can be associated with significant metabolic disorders. Our previous study found that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) improved lipid metabolism in obese rats. However, scant attention has been given to exploring the impact of MCTs on glucose metabolism in obese rats. This study is designed to examine the effects and mechanisms of three distinct MCTs on glucose metabolism in obese rats. To induce obesity, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were fed a high-fat diet, followed by a 12-week treatment with caprylic triglyceride (CYT), capric triglyceride (CT), and lauric triglyceride (LT). The results showed that three types of MCT intervention reduced the levels of lipids (TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c), hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (insulin, OGTT, HOMA-IR, and ISI), and inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in obese rats (<i>p</i> < 0.01), The above parameters have been minimally improved in the high-fat restoring group (HR) group. MCTs can modulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways to alleviate insulin resistance and improve glucose metabolism in obese rats. Furthermore, MCTs can activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ and reduce the phosphorylation of PPARγ<sup>ser237</sup> mediated by CDK5, which can improve insulin sensitivity without lipid deposition in obese rats. Among the MCT group, CT administration performed the best in the above pathways, with the lowest blood glucose level and insulin resistance. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the connection between health benefits and the specific type of MCT employed.
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spelling doaj.art-35cf583d24794e3bb455e13e014872722024-01-29T13:52:07ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-01-0113224110.3390/foods13020241Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese RatsJiaheng Xia0Zhixin Wang1Ping Yu2Xianghui Yan3Junxin Zhao4Guohua Zhang5Deming Gong6Zheling Zeng7School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, ChinaInstitute of Biological Resources, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330096, ChinaNew Zealand Institute of Natural Medicine Research, 8 Ha Crescent, Auckland 2104, New ZealandJiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Edible and Medicinal Resources Exploitation, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, ChinaObesity can be associated with significant metabolic disorders. Our previous study found that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) improved lipid metabolism in obese rats. However, scant attention has been given to exploring the impact of MCTs on glucose metabolism in obese rats. This study is designed to examine the effects and mechanisms of three distinct MCTs on glucose metabolism in obese rats. To induce obesity, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were fed a high-fat diet, followed by a 12-week treatment with caprylic triglyceride (CYT), capric triglyceride (CT), and lauric triglyceride (LT). The results showed that three types of MCT intervention reduced the levels of lipids (TC, TG, LDL-c, and HDL-c), hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (insulin, OGTT, HOMA-IR, and ISI), and inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in obese rats (<i>p</i> < 0.01), The above parameters have been minimally improved in the high-fat restoring group (HR) group. MCTs can modulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways to alleviate insulin resistance and improve glucose metabolism in obese rats. Furthermore, MCTs can activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ and reduce the phosphorylation of PPARγ<sup>ser237</sup> mediated by CDK5, which can improve insulin sensitivity without lipid deposition in obese rats. Among the MCT group, CT administration performed the best in the above pathways, with the lowest blood glucose level and insulin resistance. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the connection between health benefits and the specific type of MCT employed.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/241medium-chain triglyceridesobesityinsulin resistancePPARγhyperglycemia
spellingShingle Jiaheng Xia
Zhixin Wang
Ping Yu
Xianghui Yan
Junxin Zhao
Guohua Zhang
Deming Gong
Zheling Zeng
Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats
Foods
medium-chain triglycerides
obesity
insulin resistance
PPARγ
hyperglycemia
title Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats
title_full Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats
title_fullStr Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats
title_short Effect of Different Medium-Chain Triglycerides on Glucose Metabolism in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Rats
title_sort effect of different medium chain triglycerides on glucose metabolism in high fat diet induced obese rats
topic medium-chain triglycerides
obesity
insulin resistance
PPARγ
hyperglycemia
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/2/241
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