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Low‐dose diet supplement of a natural flavonoid, luteolin, ameliorates diet‐induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice
Author(s) -
Xu Na,
Zhang Lei,
Dong Jing,
Zhang Xian,
Chen YanGuang,
Bao Bin,
Liu Jian
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201300830
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , insulin resistance , adipose tissue , adipocyte , apigenin , insulin , luteolin , mast cell , biology , flavonoid , immunology , biochemistry , antioxidant
Scope Mast cells play important roles in diet‐induced obesity and diabetes, and some synthetic mast cell stabilizers can improve related metabolic disturbances in mice. Luteolin (LU) is a potent natural mast cell stabilizer. However, a direct correlation between LU and these common metabolic diseases is not established. Methods and results Male C57BL/6 mice were fed low‐fat diet, high‐fat diet (HFD), HFD with 0.002 and 0.01% LU for 12 wk, respectively. Dietary LU suppressed HFD‐induced body weight gain, fat deposition, and adipocyte hypertrophy. Meanwhile, glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity was also improved. Interestingly, dietary LU ameliorated angiogenesis and associated cell apoptosis and cathepsin activity in epididymis adipose tissues, which is a critical mechanism that mast cells are involved in diet‐induced obesity and diabetes. Further, we showed dietary LU reduced mast cell and macrophage infiltrations and inflammatory cytokine levels in epididymis adipose tissues. Finally, LU inhibited mast cell‐derived IL‐6 expression, which is a key cytokine that contributes to mast cell‐associated metabolic derangements, and protein kinase C activator phorbol myristoyl acetate reversed the inhibitory effects. Conclusions As a natural flavonoid, low‐dose diet supplement of LU ameliorates diet‐induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice, suggesting a new therapeutic and interventional approach for these diseases.