Lycopene alleviates Western diet-induced elevations in anthropometrical indices of obesity, adipose lipids, and other nutritional parameters.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of lycopene on obesity-related anthropometric indices in rats fed a Western diet.
Results Summary
The Western diet significantly increased weight gain, adiposity, and other obesity-related indices in rats. Lycopene treatment reduced these elevated parameters in a dose-dependent manner.
Population
Female Wistar rats
Effective Dosage
0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg body weight
Duration
2 weeks (following an 8-week diet period)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western diet | increase | weight gain | obese female Wistar rats | 108.3% | significantly increased | #1 |
Western diet | increase | adiposity index | obese female Wistar rats | 102.1% | significantly increased | #2 |
Western diet | increase | abdominal circumference | obese female Wistar rats | 81.5% | significantly increased | #3 |
Western diet | increase | thoracic circumference | obese female Wistar rats | 97.6% | significantly increased | #4 |
Western diet | increase | body mass index | obese female Wistar rats | 47.4% | significantly increased | #5 |
Western diet | increase | Lee index | obese female Wistar rats | 13.9% | significantly increased | #6 |
Western diet | increase | adipose tissue lipid contents | obese female Wistar rats | - | significantly higher | #7 |
Western diet | increase | daily feed intake | obese female Wistar rats | 37.4% | significantly higher | #8 |
Western diet | increase | daily energy intake | obese female Wistar rats | 66.0% | significantly higher | #9 |
Western diet | increase | daily weight gain | obese female Wistar rats | 108.3% | significantly higher | #10 |
Western diet | increase | feed efficiency | obese female Wistar rats | 25.5% | significantly higher | #11 |
lycopene | decrease | elevated anthropometrical parameters | obese female Wistar rats | - | occasioned a dose-dependent reduction | #12 |
lycopene | decrease | elevated nutritional parameters | obese female Wistar rats | - | occasioned a dose-dependent reduction | #13 |
lycopene | decrease | adipose lipid contents | obese female Wistar rats | 16-54% | elicited significant reductions | #14 |
Objective: Given the unrelenting surge in the prevalence of obesity and the intensified efforts aimed at elucidating underlying mechanisms and proffering effective treatments, this study investigated the effects of lycopene on various anthropometrical indices of obesity. Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats were equally divided into two groups and fed either control diet or Western diet. After eight weeks, obese rats (fed Western diet) were divided into three groups (n=5); obese control received the vehicle, while the other two received lycopene (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg body weight, respectively). Normal rats were grouped into three (n=5) and treated similarly. This treatment lasted for another two weeks, in addition to their respective diets. Afterwards, anthropometrical indices were taken. Results: The weight gain, adiposity index, abdominal and thoracic circumference, body mass index, and Lee index were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the obese rats compared to the normal control, by 108.3%, 102.1%, 81.5%, 97.6%, 47.4%, and 13.9%, respectively. The obese rats had significantly (p<0.05) higher adipose tissue lipid contents, daily feed (37.4%) and energy intake (66.0%), daily weight gain (108.3%), and feed efficiency (25.5%) compared to control. However, the treatment of obese rats with lycopene occasioned a dose-dependent reduction in the elevated anthropometrical and nutritional parameters. In addition, lycopene elicited significant reductions (p<0.05), ranging from 16-54%, in the adipose lipid contents. Conclusion: The data presented here illustrate the positive effects of lycopene on indices of obesity and other anthropometric parameters in obese female rats.