Plantago ovata husks-supplemented diet ameliorates metabolic alterations in obese Zucker rats through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase. Comparative study with other dietary fibers.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to compare the effects of intake of diets supplemented with different dietary fibers, namely cellulose, methylcellulose or Plantago ovata husks, (insoluble, soluble non-fermentable, and soluble fermentable fiber, respectively), on the abnormalities clustered in the metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
Adult obese Zucker rats were distributed in four groups which were fed respectively a standard, a cellulose-supplemented, a methylcellulose-supplemented or a P. ovata husks-supplemented diet, for ten weeks.


RESULTS
Increased body weight, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia, increased TNF-alpha and reduced adiponectin secretion by adipose tissue found in obese Zucker rats were significantly improved in obese rats fed the P. ovata husks-supplemented diet, together with a lower hepatic lipid content which parallels activation of the signaling pathway of AMP-protein kinase in the liver. The methylcellulose-supplemented diet reduced body weight, hyperlipidemia, circulating free fatty acids concentration and ameliorated adipose tissue secretion of adiponectin and TNF-alpha. Feeding with the cellulose-supplemented diet only reduced free fatty acids circulating levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The soluble dietary fibers essayed are more beneficial than insoluble fiber in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, being the soluble and fermentable the more efficient to improve metabolic alterations. Fermentation products of P. ovata husks must play an important role in such effects.
Galisteo
Milagros
M
Department of Pharmacology, CTS-164 Research Group, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Spain. mgalist@ugr.es
Morón
Rocío
R
Rivera
Leonor
L
Romero
Rosario
R
Anguera
Anna
A
Zarzuelo
Antonio
A
D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002482:Cellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005285:Fermentation; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010943:Plantago / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D012995:Solubility
D015415:Biomarkers; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002482:Cellulose; D008747:Methylcellulose; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose