Coconut Oil Reduces Visceral Adipocyte Size and Improves the Metabolic Profile of Rats Fed a High-Carbohydrate Diet

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of the food supplementation with coconut oil(CO)on biometric and metabolic parameters in an animal model of obesity.Wistar rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet(HCD rats)develop metabolic disorders very similar to those found in human metabolic syndrome,including increased adiposity,insulin resistance(IR),non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and dyslipidemia.Although HCD rats had normal fasting glycemia,they developed IR as revealed by Homa-IR index and,after glucose overload,exhibited higher peaks of insulinemia and glycemia.These alterations were accompanied by a higher formation of advanced glycated end products(AGEs).The supplementation with CO improved IR,reduced AGEs formation and reverted NAFLD.These effects could be due to CO action of reducing visceral adipocyte size and take place without undesirable collateral effects on lipid profile,placing CO as an adjuvant in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

Agnuside Reduces Visceral Adipocyte Size,Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Reverses Hepatic Steatosis in Ovariectomized Rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of agnuside(AGN),a phytoestrogen in Vitex agnus-castus,on cellular and metabolic alterations induced by ovariectomy in rats.Ovariectomized(OVX)Wistar rats were used as an animal model of postmenopausal metabolic syndrome.The visceral and subcutaneous adipocyte sizes,the peripheral insulin sensitivity and the occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and liver oxidative damage were evaluated.The results were compared with those obtained from control rats(sham-operated)and OVX rats treated daily with AGN.Obese OVX rats exhibited visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and developed glucose intolerance,hyperinsulinemia,NAFLD and dyslipidemia.AGN exerted beneficial effects on several metabolic parameters in OVX rats,including the improvement in glucose intolerance,hyperinsulinemia and NAFLD.Besides,AGN promoted a general improvement in the liver redox state.Although the reduction of the mesenteric adipocyte size is very likely to be an important mode of action of AGN,some actions of AGN could also involve the interaction with estrogen receptors.

Tibolone Reverses NAFLD in Ovariectomised Rats by Reducing Adiposity and Insulin Resistance

This study aimed to investigate the effects of tibolone,a synthetic steroid,on several metabolic dysfunctions induced by oestrogen deficiency,in rats.Ovariectomised(OVX)rats were used as animal model of postmenopausal metabolic syndrome.The OVX rats were treated with daily doses of tibolone(0.16 mg/kg)and the results were compared with control(sham-operated)and OVX untreated rats.Tibolone reduced the adiposity and the visceral adipocyte size in OVX rats.The insulin sensitivity was also improved,and a decrease in the activity of the adipose tissue hormone-sensitive lipase enzyme was recorded.The lower lipolysis by visceral adipocytes,associated with the recovery of peroxisomalβ-oxidation by tibolone may have contributed to the reversion of NAFLD in treated OVX rats.The reduction of liver lipid contents resulted in a general improvement in the liver redox state.In addition,tibolone reduced the mitochondrial ROS generation and restored the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.Tibolone also exerted antioxidant effects on inguinal adipose tissue.Tibolone exerted several beneficial effects on cellular and metabolic dysfunctions induced by ovariectomy in rats.One important mode of action of tibolone was the reduction of the visceral adipocyte size,corroborating the relationship between this one and the development and progression of several comorbidities associated with metabolic syndrome.