Ingested capsaicinoids can prevent low-fat–high-carbohydrate diet and high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating the NADPH oxidase and Nrf2 pathways

Figures & data

Table 1 Composition of diets (g/kg) fed to rats

Items	Control	High-fat diet
Casein	200.0	200.0
Starch	579.5	150.0
Sucrose	50.0	149.5
Soybean oil	70.0	0
Beef tallow	0	400.0
Cellulose	50.0	50.0
Vitamin–mineral premix*	45.0	45.0
l-Cysteine	3.0	3.0
Choline bitartrate	2.5	2.5

Notes:

* The vitamin–mineral premix provides the following (per kg): all-trans-retinyl acetate 1.8 mg; cholecalciferol 0.025 mg; all-rac-α-tocopherol acetate 12.5 mg; menadione sodium bisulfate 1.1 mg; riboflavin 4.4 mg; thiamine mononitrate 1.1 mg; vitamin B₆ 2.2 mg; niacin 35 mg; Ca-pantothenate 10 mg; vitamin B₁₂ 0.02 mg; folic acid 0.55 mg; d-biotin 0.1 mg; manganese (from manganese oxide) 40 mg; iron (from iron sulfate) 12.5 mg; zinc (from zinc oxide) 25 mg; copper (from copper sulfate) 3.5 mg; iodine (from potassium iodide) 0.3 mg; selenium (from sodium selenite) 0.15 mg; choline chloride 175 mg.

Table 2 Effects of capsaicinoids (CAPs) on final BW and plasma biochemical parameters in high-sucrose diet (HSD)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats

Item	Groups
	Control	CAPs	HSD	HSD + CAPs	HFD	HFD + CAPs
Final BW, g	289.00±3.04^b	288.36±4.24^b	318.14±6.96^a	314.86±3.72^a	307.00±4.25^a,b	306.00±4.65^a,b
TC, mg/dL	62.14±1.20^d	62.71±0.94^b,c	97.43±1.13^a	81.29±1.23^b	92.86±2.37^a	68.71±1.30^c
TG, mg/dL	28.57±0.92^d	26.86±1.28^d	80.71±2.55^a	71.43±1.67^b	68.43±2.44^b	55.00±2.05^c
ALT, U/L	75.43±3.95	74.71±3.52	79.43±3.85	77.71±3.15	80.29±3.05	76.86±4.02
AST, U/L	141.71±5.62	139.00±4.69	145.71±6.51	142.57±3.10	149.14±6.94	146±3.70

Notes: Different superscript letters indicate group mean differences (P<0.05). Data are means ± SE.

Abbreviations: ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BW, body weight; TC, total cholesterol; SE, standard error; TG, triglycerides.

Table 3 Effects of capsaicinoids (CAPs) on serum glucose, insulin, FFA, leptin, MDA, TAC, and liver MDA concentrations in high-sucrose diet (HSD)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats

Parameters	Groups
	Control	CAPs	HSD	HSD + CAPs	HFD	HFD + CAPs
Glucose, mg/dL	96.14±3.03^d	93.71±1.46^d	180.14±5.57^a	147.00±2.53^c	163.43±3.25^b	137.71±2.47^c
Insulin, μlU/mL	26.28±0.07^e	26.06±0.06^e	62.72±0.17^a	57.72±0.20^b	42.47±0.14^c	36.48±0.13^d
FFA, mM	1.27±0.05^d	1.23±0.04^d	4.23±0.10^b	2.40±0.11^c	4.93±0.08^a	2.34±0.05^c
Leptin, ng/mL	13.43±0.78^d	12.71±1.04^d	59.86±2.20^a	33.43±0.72^b	27.29±0.81^c	16.14±0.59^d
Serum MDA, nmol/mL	0.82±0.03^d	0.44±0.01^e	1.76±0.03^a	1.19±0.03^c	1.33±0.03^b	1.11±0.02^c
Liver MDA, nmol/mL	1.84±0.04^d	1.26±0.04^e	3.64±0.02^a	2.29±0.05^c	3.19±0.04^b	1.95±0.05^d
Aorta MDA, nmol/mL	1.65±0.07^d	1.32±0.05^e	4.64±0.15^a	2.83±0.08^c	3.55±0.13^b	2.20±0.08^d
Serum TAC, U/mL	1.18±0.02^b	1.45±0.03^a	0.33±0.02^f	0.87±0.02^c	0.50±0.01^e	0.77±0.03^d

Notes: Data are means ± standard error. Different superscript letters indicate group mean differences (P<0.05).

Abbreviations: FFA, free fatty acid; MDA, malondialdehyde; TAC, total antioxidant capacity.

Figure 1 Effects of capsaicinoids (CAPs) in high-sucrose diet (HSD)- and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats.

Notes: Aortic NFκB (A); Nrf2 (B); Sirt1 (C); endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (D); p22^phox (E); gp91^phox (F). The intensity of the bands was quantified by densitometric analysis. Data expressed as ratio of normal control value (set to 100%). Data are expressed as percentage of control value. Each bar represents the mean and standard error of mean. The intensity of the bands (G) was quantified by densitometric analysis. Blots were repeated at least four times, and representative blots are shown. β-Actin was included to ensure equal protein loading. Different superscripts denote significant differences between groups not sharing the same superscript (P<0.05). Capsimax^®; OmniActive Health Technologies, Ltd., Morristown, NJ, USA.