title: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
authors: Irene O C M
authors: IO
authors: Vroegrijk
authors: Janna A
authors: JA
authors: van Diepen
authors: Sjoerd
authors: S
authors: van den Berg
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Westbroek
authors: Hiskias
authors: H
authors: Keizer
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Gambelli
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Hontecillas
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Bassaganya-Riera
authors: Gerben C M
authors: GC
authors: Zondag
authors: Johannes A
authors: JA
authors: Romijn
authors: Louis M
authors: LM
authors: Havekes
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Voshol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007328:Insulin; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; C519714:punicic acid