| Summary: | The microalgal genus <i>Nannochloropsis</i> has broad applicability to produce biofuels, animal feed supplements and other value-added products including proteins, carotenoids and lipids. This study investigated a potential role of <i>N. oceanica</i> in the reversal of metabolic syndrome. Male Wistar rats (<i>n</i> = 48) were divided into four groups in a 16-week protocol. Two groups were fed either corn starch or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diets (C and H, respectively) for the full 16 weeks. The other two groups received C and H diets for eight weeks and then received 5% freeze-dried <i>N. oceanica</i> in these diets for the final eight weeks (CN and HN, respectively) of the protocol. The H diet was high in fructose and sucrose, together with increased saturated and <i>trans</i> fats. H rats developed obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, fatty liver disease and left ventricular fibrosis. <i>N. oceanica</i> increased lean mass in CN and HN rats, possibly due to the increased protein intake, and decreased fat mass in HN rats. Intervention with <i>N. oceanica</i> did not change cardiovascular, liver and metabolic parameters or gut structure. The relative abundance of Oxyphotobacteria in the gut microbiota was increased. <i>N. oceanica</i> may be an effective functional food against metabolic syndrome as a sustainable protein source.
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