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Effects of dehydrated Opuntia ficus indica (Nopal) consumption on adiposity and gut physiology in Sprague Dawley rats fed a high fat diet
Author(s) -
MORANRAMOS SOFIA,
TOVAR ARMANDO R.,
TORRES NIMBE,
RAYBOULD HELEN
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.861.17
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , adipocyte , chemistry , cecum , leptin , steatosis , adipose tissue , obesity , food science , biology
We have previously shown that Opuntia ficus indica (Nopal), a plant rich in dietary fiber and polyphenols is able to ameliorate hepatic steatosis in obese Zucker rats. However, its effect in high fat diet‐induced obese models has not been evaluated. Six weeks old male Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 42) were fed with a low fat diet (LF) or a high fat diet (HF) for 4 weeks, The groups were then divided; one half of each group was assigned to a LF + Nopal (LF‐N) or HF + Nopal (HF‐N) and fed for a further 6 weeks. Results Nopal consumption significantly decreased adiposity and adipocyte hypertrophy and decreased serum leptin. Nopal consumption significantly increased the weight of cecal contents and cecal tissue regardless of the diet. Finally Nopal consumption decreased reactive oxygen species in the cecum and colon of HF rats. This study shows that Nopal consumption prevents HF diet‐derived adiposity. The significant association between adiposity, adipocyte size and cecum weight may imply that fermentation of the dietary fibers present in Nopal could be partly responsible for the changes observed in the adipose tissue. Supported by NIH DDK 41004 grant (HR)