Effects of Pomegranate Seed Oil on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism-Related Organs in Rats Fed an Obesogenic Diet

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 61; no. 21; pp. 5089 - 5096
• Main Authors: Miranda, Jonatan, Aguirre, Leixuri, Fernández-Quintela, Alfredo, Macarulla, M. Teresa, Martínez-Castaño, M. Guadalupe, Ayo, Josune, Bilbao, Elisabette, Portillo, María P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 29.05.2013
• Subjects: adipose tissue; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; conjugated linoleic acid; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; dietary supplements; Fat industries; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food industries; functional foods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glucose; glucose tolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; glycemic control; Humans; insulin resistance; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; liver; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Male; Mice; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Plant Oils - administration & dosage; pomegranates; Punicaceae - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Wistar; seed oils; Seeds - chemistry; skeletal muscle; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; punicic acid; rat; skeletal muscle; glucose tolerance; liver; Fruit; Rat; Digestive system; Liver; Rodentia; Tolerance; Lipids; Vegetable oil; Glucose; Metabolism; Feeding; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Acids; Diet; Carbohydrate; Muscle; Pomegranate
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf305076v

Studies conducted in mice have revealed positive effects of punicic acid (PUA). The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of PUA on fat accumulation and glycemic control in rats fed an obesogenic diet. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and PUA group (diet supplemented with 0.5% PUA). No changes were observed in adipose tissue weights. The glucose tolerance test showed that the glycemic value in the PUA group had decreased significantly at the final time (120 min) (−19.3%), as had fructosamine levels (−11.1%). However, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) showed that insulin resistance did not improve. No changes were observed in the liver, skeletal muscle composition, or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) activation. Low levels (mg/g tissue) of PUA (0.04 ± 0.01 in both tissues) and higher levels of cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (0.31 ± 0.08 in liver, 0.52 ± 0.11 in muscle) were found. PUA supplementation induced hypoplasia (−16.1%) due to the antiproliferative effect on hepatocytes. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.5% PUA did not lead to decreased fat accumulation in adipose tissue, liver, or skeletal muscle, or to improved glycemic control. The hypoplasia induced in liver is a negative effect that should be considered before proposing PUA as a functional ingredient.