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: Yeyi Gu, Shan Yu, Jong Yung Park, Kevin Harvatine, Joshua D Lambert
• Journal: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry (J Nutr Biochem) Vol. 25 Issue 4 Pg. 439-45 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 1873-4847 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24561154 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Eicosanoids
• Enzymes
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
• NF-kappa B
• Peptide Fragments
• glucagon-like peptide-2 (3-33)
• Arachidonic Acid
• Phospholipases A2

Topics

• Adipocytes (drug effects)
• Animals
• Arachidonic Acid (metabolism)
• Cacao
• Cell Size (drug effects)
• Diet, High-Fat (adverse effects)
• Eicosanoids (metabolism)
• Endotoxemia (chemically induced, diet therapy)
• Enzymes (metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 (blood)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Panniculitis (chemically induced, diet therapy, genetics)
• Peptide Fragments (blood)
• Phospholipases A2 (metabolism)