An Avocado Extract Enriched in Mannoheptulose Prevents the Negative Effects of a High-Fat Diet in Mice.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether an extract of unripe avocados enriched in mannoheptulose (MH) could prevent obesity-related metabolic changes induced by a high-fat diet in mice.
Results Summary
The study found that the avocado extract (HF + MH diet) completely protected mice against obesity-related metabolic changes, including increased body weight, body fat, blood lipids, and oxidative stress, while improving insulin sensitivity and physical performance, without affecting food intake. The extract also attenuated signaling in the mTOR pathway, suggesting potential metabolic benefits.
Population
Male C57BL/6J mice starting at 16 weeks of age.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (extract enriched in mannoheptulose).
Duration
44 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | body weights | male C57BL/6J mice | - | exhibited higher | #1 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | body fat | male C57BL/6J mice | - | exhibited higher | #2 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | blood lipids | male C57BL/6J mice | - | exhibited higher | #3 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | leptin | male C57BL/6J mice | - | exhibited higher | #4 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | decrease | adiponectin levels | male C57BL/6J mice | - | reduced | #5 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | decrease | insulin sensitivity | male C57BL/6J mice | - | reduced | #6 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | decrease | VO2max | male C57BL/6J mice | - | reduced | #7 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | decrease | falls from a rotarod | male C57BL/6J mice | - | reduced | #8 |
HF diet containing an extract of unripe avocados (AvX) enriched in the 7-carbon sugar mannoheptulose (MH) | no change | changes in body weights, body fat, blood lipids, leptin, adiponectin levels, insulin sensitivity, VO2max, and falls from a rotarod | male C57BL/6J mice | - | were completely protected against | #9 |
HF diet containing an extract of unripe avocados (AvX) enriched in the 7-carbon sugar mannoheptulose (MH) | no change | food intake | male C57BL/6J mice | - | no significant diet effects on | #10 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | oxidative stress | male C57BL/6J mice | - | increased | #11 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | total reactive oxygen species | male C57BL/6J mice | - | higher levels of | #12 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | superoxide | male C57BL/6J mice | - | higher levels of | #13 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | peroxynitrite | male C57BL/6J mice | - | higher levels of | #14 |
HF diet containing an extract of unripe avocados (AvX) enriched in the 7-carbon sugar mannoheptulose (MH) | decrease | changes in oxidative stress markers (total reactive oxygen species, superoxide, peroxynitrite) | male C57BL/6J mice | - | attenuated | #15 |
high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated) | increase | signaling in the mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway | male C57BL/6J mice | - | increased | #16 |
HF diet containing an extract of unripe avocados (AvX) enriched in the 7-carbon sugar mannoheptulose (MH) | decrease | changes in mTOR pathway signaling | male C57BL/6J mice | - | attenuated | #17 |
Beginning at 16 weeks of age and continuing for 44 weeks, male C57BL/6J were fed either a control (CON) diet; a high-fat (HF) diet (60% unsaturated); or the HF diet containing an extract of unripe avocados (AvX) enriched in the 7-carbon sugar mannoheptulose (MH), designed to act as a glycolytic inhibitor (HF + MH). Compared to the CON diet, mice on the HF diet exhibited higher body weights; body fat; blood lipids; and leptin with reduced adiponectin levels, insulin sensitivity, VO2max, and falls from a rotarod. Mice on the HF + MH diet were completely protected against these changes in the absence of significant diet effects on food intake. Compared to the CON diet, oxidative stress was also increased by the HF diet indicated by higher levels of total reactive oxygen species, superoxide, and peroxynitrite measured in liver samples by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, whereas the HF + MH diet attenuated these changes. Compared to the CON, the HF diet increased signaling in the mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and the addition of the MH-enriched AvX to this diet attenuated these changes. Beyond generating further interest in the health benefits of avocados, these results draw further new attention to the effects of this rare sugar, MH, as a botanical intervention for preventing obesity.