title: Kefir prevented excess fat accumulation in diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: Excessive body fat accumulation can result in obesity, which is a serious health concern. Kefir, a probiotic, has recently shown possible health benefits in fighting obesity. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of 0.1 and 0.2% kefir powder on fat accumulation in adipose and liver tissues of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Kefir reduced body weight and epididymal fat pad weight and decreased adipocyte diameters in HFD-induced obese mice. This was supported by decreased expression of genes related to adipogenesis and lipogenesis as well as reduced proinflammatory marker levels in epididymal fat. Along with reduced hepatic triacylglycerol concentrations and serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities, genes related to lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in liver tissue. Kefir also decreased serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations. Overall, kefir has the potential to prevent obesity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food and Biotechnology , Korea University , Sejong , Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: b Food and Nutritional Sciences, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences , North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University , Greensboro , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food and Biotechnology , Korea University , Sejong , Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: c Naturene Co. Ltd. , Chungnam , Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: c Naturene Co. Ltd. , Chungnam , Korea.
authors.forename: In-Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Food and Biotechnology , Korea University , Sejong , Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Yon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis; D000070716:Kefir; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids
keywords: kefir; liver; obesity; white adipose tissue