Effects of (-)-epicatechin on a diet-induced rat model of cardiometabolic risk factors.
Overweight and obesity have been associated with increase in cardiometabolic risk. Therapeutics include lifestyle changes and/or pharmacologic agents. However, such interventions are often limited by poor compliance and/or significant side effects. The consumption of certain dietary products, such as cocoa, exerts positive effects on cardiometabolic risk factors. (-)-Epicatechin (EPI), the most abundant flavonoid in cacao has been reported to replicate such effects. However its mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated.In a rat model of high-fat diet-induced obesity and its associated cardiometabolic risk factors, we administered 1mg/kg of EPI, by gavage, for 2 weeks. Endpoints included weight-gain, glycemia, triglyceridemia, and systolic blood pressure. We also assessed food intake and fecal excretion. Mitochondrial function and structure related proteins were measured by Westerns.Obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and systolic hypertension were developed after the administration of the high-fat diet for five weeks. EPI significantly decreased the rate of weight gain, glycemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The ratio between energy intake and excretion was not significantly modified by treatment. EPI restored the obesity-induced decreases in the levels of skeletal muscle and abdominal tissue sirtuins (SIRTs), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator (PGC-1α), mitofilin, transcription factor A mitochondrial (TFAM), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and deiodinase.EPI treatment yielded beneficial effects on high fat diet-induced endpoints thus may be considered as a potential agent for the treatment of obesity and its cardiometabolic associated abnormalities. Mechanism of action may be attributed to the modulation of cellular/mitochondrial function, thus improving overall metabolism.
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Gabriel
G
Gutiérrez-Salmeán
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Pilar
P
Ortiz-Vilchis
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Claudia Maria
CM
Vacaseydel
Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Leticia
L
Garduño-Siciliano
Departamento de Farmacia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
German
G
Chamorro-Cevallos
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Eduardo
E
Meaney
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Santiago
S
Villafaña
University of California San Diego, Department of Medicine, United States.
Francisco
F
Villarreal
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico.
Guillermo
G
Ceballos
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico. Electronic address: israel.ramirez14@hotmail.com.
Israel
I
Ramírez-Sánchez
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D002392:Catechin
Cacao; Epicatechin; Flavonoids; Metabolic cardiovascular syndrome; Mitochondria