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Lifelong exposure to dietary isoflavones reduces risk of obesity in ovariectomized Wistar rats
Author(s) -
Kurrat Anne,
Blei Tina,
Kluxen Felix M.,
Mueller Dennis R.,
Piechotta Marion,
Soukup Sebastian T.,
Kulling Sabine E.,
Diel Patrick
Publication year - 2015
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.201500240
Subject(s) - endocrinology , ovariectomized rat , medicine , leptin , obesity , isoflavones , skeletal muscle , estrogen
Scope Traditional Asian diet rich in soy isoflavones (ISOs) is discussed to be linked to a lower obesity prevalence. In lifelong and short‐term exposure scenarios we investigated effects of an ISO‐rich diet on the body composition and development of obesity in female rats. Methods and results Female Wistar rats grew up on ISO‐free or ISO‐rich control diet (CON ISO: 467 mg/kg diet). Starting postnatal day 83, ovariectomized and intact animals received high calorie Western diet (WD) in the absence or presence of ISO (WD ISO: 431 mg/kg diet) for 12 weeks to induce obesity or maintained on respective control diet (CON). One group starting ISO exposure after ovariectomy mimics short‐term ISO exposure in postmenopausal Western women. Lifelong but not short‐term ISO exposure resulted in reduced body weight, visceral fat mass, serum leptin, and smaller adipocytes. ISO decreased hepatic SREBP‐1c, ACC, FAS, and PPARγ mRNA expression in nonobese animals. Moreover, ovariectomy reduced skeletal muscle weight, which was antagonized by both short‐term and lifelong ISO exposure. Conclusion Our results indicate that in female rats lifelong but not short‐term ISO intake reduces the risk to develop obesity. Furthermore, lifelong and short‐term ISO exposure may antagonize loss of skeletal muscle mass induced by ovariectomy.