The expansion of adipose tissue mass is the primary characteristic of the process of becoming
obesity, which causes chronic adipose
inflammation and is closely associated with
type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipocyte
hypertrophy restricts
oxygen availability, leading to microenvironmental
hypoxia and adipose dysfunction. This study aimed at investigating the effects of oxygenated water (OW) on adipocyte differentiation (adipogenesis) and the metabolic function of mature adipocytes. The effects of OW on adipogenesis and the metabolic function of mature adipocytes were examined. Meanwhile, the in vivo metabolic effects of long-term OW consumption on diet-induced
obesity (DIO) mice were investigated. OW inhibited adipogenesis and
lipid accumulation through down-regulating critical adipogenic
transcription factors and lipogenic
enzymes. While
body weight, blood and adipose parameters were not significantly improved by long-term OW consumption, transient circulatory
triglyceride-lowering and
glucose tolerance-improving effects were identified. Notably, hepatic
lipid contents were significantly reduced, indicating that the DIO-induced hepatic steatosis was attenuated, despite no improvements in
fibrosis and
lipid contents in adipose tissue being observed in the OW-drinking DIO mice. The study provides evidence regarding OW's effects on adipogenesis and mature adipocytes, and the corresponding molecular mechanisms. OW exhibits transient
triglyceride-lowering and
glucose tolerance-improving activity as well as hepatic steatosis-attenuating functions.