title: Medium-chain triglyceride ameliorates insulin resistance and inflammation in high fat diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo effects of dietary medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) on inflammation and insulin resistance as well as the underlying potential molecular mechanisms in high fat diet-induced obese mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male C57BL/6J mice (n = 24) were fed one of the following three diets for a period of 12 weeks: (1) a modified AIN-76 diet with 5 % corn oil (normal diet); (2) a high-fat control diet (17 % w/w lard and 3 % w/w corn oil, HFC); (3) an isocaloric high-fat diet supplemented with MCT (17 % w/w MCT and 3 % w/w corn oil, HF-MCT). Glucose metabolism was evaluated by fasting blood glucose levels and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by fasting serum insulin levels and the index of homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance. The levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α were measured by ELISA, and hepatic activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways was determined using western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to HFC diet, consumption of HF-MCT did not induce body weight gain and white adipose tissue accumulation in mice. HFC-induced increases in serum fasting glucose and insulin levels as well as glucose intolerance were prevented by HF-MCT diet. Meanwhile, HF-MCT resulted in significantly lower serum IL-6 level and higher IL-10 level, and lower expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein in liver tissues when compared to HFC. In addition, HF-MCT attenuated HFC-triggered hepatic activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that MCT was efficacious in suppressing body fat accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammatory response, and NF-κB and p38 MAPK activation in high fat diet-fed mice. These data suggest that MCT may exert beneficial effects against high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Chunfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Jieshu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Zhaofeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Jianyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. cyzhong@njmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Caiyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005215:Fasting; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Medium-chain triglyceride; NF-κB; p38 MAPK