Dietary green tea extract lowers plasma and hepatic triglycerides and decreases the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c mRNA and its responsive genes in fructose-fed, ovariectomized rats

J Nutr. 2009 Apr;139(4):640-5. doi: 10.3945/jn.108.103341. Epub 2009 Feb 4.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine whether green tea (GT) inhibits the expression of genes regulating hepatic lipogenesis and intestinal lipid transport in fructose-fed ovariectomized (OX) rats. OX rats were assigned to: 1) a control group (S) fed the AIN-93G diet with corn starch as the major carbohydrate source; 2) another control group (F) fed the same diet but containing fructose at 60% as the major carbohydrate source; 3) a group fed the F diet but containing 0.5% GT; and 4) a group fed the F diet containing 1% GT. At 6 wk, plasma and liver triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol and expression of liver sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and selected genes involved in lipogenesis and lipid transport were measured. Fructose elevated plasma TG and cholesterol compared with the S group. GT at 0.5 and 1.0% markedly lowered plasma and liver TG. Fructose increased the expression of SREBP-1c, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 mRNA in the liver, whereas GT decreased the expression of these lipogenic genes. Similarly, fructose increased the abundance of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase mRNA, whereas GT significantly decreased its expression. GT did not alter the expression of scavenger receptor class B, type 1, microsomal TG transfer protein, and apobec 1 in the liver and intestine. The results suggest that the lipid-lowering effect of GT is mediated partly by its inhibition of hepatic lipogenesis involving SREBP-1c and its responsive genes without affecting lipoprotein assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Color
  • Female
  • Fructose / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Ovariectomy
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / genetics
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / metabolism*
  • Tea / chemistry*
  • Triglycerides / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1
  • Tea
  • Triglycerides
  • Fructose