A low-carbohydrate diet with different fatty acids' sources in the treatment of obesity: Impact on insulin resistance and adipogenesis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the influence of fatty acid quality (saturated, polyunsaturated ω-3, ω-6, and monounsaturated ω-9) in a low-carbohydrate diet on obesity-related outcomes such as glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
Results Summary
The low-carbohydrate diet reversed glucose intolerance, with ω-3 and ω-9 fatty acids showing better results in improving fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and anti-inflammatory effects. The diet also enhanced insulin signaling pathway activity and mitochondrial function, particularly in the ω-3 group.
Population
Male Swiss mice with diet-induced obesity.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-fat diet | increase | obesity and glucose intolerance | Male Swiss mice | - | was able to induce | #1 |
switch to a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern | decrease | glucose intolerance | Male Swiss mice | - | reversed | #2 |
low-carbohydrate diet with ω-3 fatty acids | decrease | glucose intolerance | Male Swiss mice | - | better results | #3 |
low-carbohydrate diet with ω-9 fatty acids | decrease | glucose intolerance | Male Swiss mice | - | better results | #4 |
low-carbohydrate diet with ω-3 fatty acids | decrease | fasting serum glucose, insulin, and HOMA indexes | Male Swiss mice | - | presented improved | #5 |
low-carbohydrate diet with ω-9 fatty acids | decrease | fasting serum glucose, insulin, and HOMA indexes | Male Swiss mice | - | presented improved | #6 |
low-carbohydrate diet | increase | insulin pathway proteins such as IR, IRS1, and AKT | Male Swiss mice | - | increased the activity | #7 |
ω-3 diet | increase | mitochondrial complexes and AMPK signaling pathway proteins | Male Swiss mice | - | showed greater activity | #8 |
ω-6-rich diet | increase | M2-type macrophage polarization | Male Swiss mice | - | induced | #9 |
ω-9-rich diet | increase | M2-type macrophage polarization | Male Swiss mice | - | induced | #10 |
low-carbohydrate diet in the ω-3 group | neutral | cytokine production | Male Swiss mice | - | modulation | #11 |
low-carbohydrate diet in the ω-9 group | neutral | cytokine production | Male Swiss mice | - | modulation | #12 |
consuming a low-carbohydrate diet pattern | decrease | weight loss | obesity | - | promotes | #13 |
consuming a low-carbohydrate diet pattern | decrease | glucose intolerance | obesity | - | improves | #14 |
consumption of ω-3 polyunsaturated lipids | increase | improvement of glucose intolerance, lipid metabolism, and anti-inflammatory effects | - | - | can lead to more favorable outcomes | #15 |
consumption of ω-9 monounsaturated lipids | increase | improvement of glucose intolerance, lipid metabolism, and anti-inflammatory effects | - | - | can lead to more favorable outcomes | #16 |
BACKGROUND: The search for nutritional intervention strategies against obesity has grown, highlighting the low-carbohydrate diet model. However, little is known about the impact of the quality of fatty acids consumed in this diet. Thus, we aim to investigate the influence of fatty acid quality on dietary strategy on obesity. METHODS: Male Swiss mice were diet-induced to obesity. Afterward, mice consume a low-carb diet with different types of fat: saturated, polyunsaturated ω-3, ω-6, and monounsaturated ω-9 fatty acids. Weight gain and food consumption were monitored weekly. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed and blood and tissue samples were collected for analysis of insulin resistance markers. Protein expression of insulin signaling pathway molecules, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, macrophage polarization, and cytokine production were analyzed. RESULTS: The high-fat diet was able to induce obesity and glucose intolerance. The switch to a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern reversed the glucose intolerance, with better results in the ω-3 and ω-9 groups. After the low-carbohydrate diet, groups ω-3 and ω-9 presented improved fasting serum glucose, insulin, and HOMA indexes. The low-carbohydrate diet also increased the activity of insulin pathway proteins such as IR, IRS1, and AKT. Furthermore, the ω-3 diet group showed greater activity of mitochondrial complexes and AMPK signaling pathway proteins. The ω-6 and ω-9 -rich diet induced M2-type macrophage polarization, as well as cytokine production modulation by the low-carbohydrate diet in the ω-3 and ω-9 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming a low-carbohydrate diet pattern promotes weight loss and improves glucose intolerance in obesity. Also, the quality of lipids has a direct influence, demonstrating that the consumption of ω-3 polyunsaturated and ω-9 monounsaturated lipids can lead to more favorable outcomes for the improvement of glucose intolerance, lipid metabolism, and anti-inflammatory effects.