Evaluation of the effects of interesterified fat on molecular mechanisms involved in the central control of energy homeostasis

Author(s)

Beatriz Piatezzi Siqueira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Limeira, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas
• Defense date: 2024-01-31

Examining board members

Marciane Milanski Ferreira; Julio Beltrame Daleprane; Camila Libardi do Amaral

• Advisor: Adriana Souza Torsoni; Marciane Milanski Ferreira

Abstract

Recently, interesterified fat has been used as an alternative to trans fats. Interesterified fat is obtained through the processing of vegetable oils using chemical or enzymatic methods, resulting in the rearrangement of fatty acids on the glycerol molecule without altering their degree of saturation. Recent studies have shown metabolic disorders in response to chronic intake (eight weeks) of a diet rich in interesterified fat, such as body mass gain, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance. However, the effects of short-term intake of this fat and its impact on the central nervous system responsible for energy homeostasis are unknown. The hypothalamus is the region responsible for the central control of food intake and energy expenditure through specialized neurons capable of receiving information and signaling other brain areas involved in the regulation of hunger/satiety. Consumption of a high-fat diet leads to hypothalamic activation of chronic inflammatory response, production of chemokines and cytokines, resulting in resistance to the action of the hormones leptin and insulin, the main signaling molecules of energy balance. Our aim was to understand the effect of interesterified palm oil on cellular processes that control energy homeostasis in mice. For this purpose, male Swiss mice were subjected to a diet with interesterified palm oil and divided into four experimental groups: normolipidic palm oil group (PO), normolipidic interesterified palm oil group (IPO), hyperlipidic group (POHF), and hyperlipidic interesterified group (IPOHF), which received the experimental diet for one or four weeks. Swiss and/or C57BL/6 male mice were also supplemented with interesterified palm oil (IPO) for seven consecutive days or subjected to a single intracerebroventricular (icv) treatment with 2-palmitoylglycerol (PG). The data presented here suggest that short- and medium-term intake of interesterified fat or supplementation with oils does not appear to modulate animal phenotypes or cause significant impacts on energy and glycemic metabolism. Further experiments are necessary for a complete understanding of the metabolic effects of interesterified fat in the short and medium term (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/01322-8 - Evaluation of the effects of interesterified fat on molecular mechanisms involved in the central control of energy homeostasis
• Grantee: Beatriz Piatezzi Siqueira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master