title: Dietary cocoa reduces metabolic endotoxemia and adipose tissue inflammation in high-fat fed mice.
abstract: In diet-induced obesity, adipose tissue (AT) is in a chronic state of inflammation predisposing the development of metabolic syndrome. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is a polyphenol-rich food with putative anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we examined the impact and underlying mechanisms of action of cocoa on AT inflammation in high fat-fed mice. In the present study, male C57BL/6 J mice were fed a high fat diet (HF), a HF diet with 8% (w/w) unsweetened cocoa powder (HFC), or a low-fat diet (LF) for 18 weeks. Cocoa supplementation decreased AT mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and EGF-like module-containing mucin-like hormone receptor-like 1 by 40-60% compared to HF group, and this was accompanied by decreased nuclear protein levels of nuclear factor-κB. Cocoa treatment reduced the levels of arachidonic acid in the AT by 33% compared to HF controls. Moreover, cocoa treatment also reduced protein levels of the eicosanoid-generating enzymes, adipose-specific phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase-2 by 53% and 55%, respectively, compared to HF-fed mice. Finally, cocoa treatment ameliorated metabolic endotoxemia (40% reduction in plasma endotoxin) and improved gut barrier function (as measured by increased plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide-2). In conclusion, the present study has shown for the first time that long-term cocoa supplementation can reduce AT inflammation in part by modulating eicosanoid metabolism and metabolic endotoxemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Yeyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Jong Yung
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harvatine
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Electronic address: jdl134@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002099:Cacao; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000378:metabolism; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015777:Eicosanoids; D004798:Enzymes; D053767:Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C451520:glucagon-like peptide-2 (3-33); D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D054467:Phospholipases A2
keywords: Adipose tissue; Cocoa; Inflammation; Obesity; Polyphenol; Theobroma cacao