Metabolic and Inflammatory Signaling are Influenced by Consumption of Polyphenol‐rich Whole‐Fruit Extracts and Purified Phytochemicals in High‐fat Fed Mice (LB419)

A number of reports show that many different phytochemicals favorably influence metabolism and reduce inflammatory markers. Our trial tested the relative potency of purified compounds or whole foods in parallel, using the high‐fat fed C57BL/6J mouse model. The model tested and ranked effects of fruit extracts derived from apple peel, whole sweet cherries and grapes, along with purified compounds including quercetin, resveratrol, and ellagic acid in an attempt to design more‐potent combinations. Polyphenol‐rich fruit extracts and purified compounds were mixed into a high‐fat (60% of total kcal) obesigenic rodent diet and fed to mice along with low‐fat and high‐fat control diets for 10 weeks. Serum circulating factors were measured using a magnetic bead multiplex assay (Milliplex, Millipore Corp.). Mice fed the high‐fat control diet became obese and lost normal glucose control. Serum insulin levels were >1500 pg/mL in the high‐fat controls versus 90% of the high‐fat level (P< 0.01). Quercetin and extracts from grape, cherry, and apple peel also showed improved insulin levels. C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were higher in all high‐fat diet groups except the mice fed a high‐fat diet containing a grape powder product. Our results point to future research in which we plan to compare the relative impact of mixtures of different commonly‐available whole foods on chronic inflammation. Grant Funding Source : Blue Mountain Horticultural Society