title: Effects of thiol antioxidant β-mercaptoethanol on diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with increased oxidant stress. However, treatments of obese subjects with different types of antioxidants often give mixed outcomes. In this work, we sought to determine if long-term supplementation of a thiol antioxidant, β-mercaptoethanol, to diet-induced obese mice may improve their health conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Middle-age mice with pre-existing diet-induced obesity were provided with low concentration β-mercaptoethanol (BME) in drinking water for six months. Animals were assessed for body composition, gripping strength, spontaneous physical and metabolic activities, as well as insulin and pyruvate tolerance tests. Markers of inflammation were assessed in plasma, fat tissue, and liver.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BME-treated mice gained less fat mass and more lean mass than the control animals. They also showed increased nocturnal locomotion and respiration, as well as greater gripping strength. BME reduced plasma lipid peroxidation, decreased abdominal fat tissue inflammation, reduced fat infiltration into muscle and liver, and reduced liver and plasma C-reactive protein. However, BME was found to desensitize insulin signaling in vivo, an effect also confirmed by in vitro experiments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term supplementation of low dose thiol antioxidant BME improved functional outcomes in animals with pre-existing obesity. Additional studies are needed to address the treatment impact on insulin sensitivity if a therapeutic value is to be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Siu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kirkland
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schwanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Amber L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Corkey
authors.affiliation: Research Program in Men's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: wguo2@partners.org.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000975:Antioxidants; D007328:Insulin; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Diet-induced obesity; Gripping strength; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Oxidant stress; Respiration; Spontaneous locomotion; Thiol antioxidant; β-Mercaptoethanol (PubChem CID: 1567)