Background: Early overnutrition programs long-term metabolic dysfunctions. Owing to their benefits, functional foods have been used to treat metabolic diseases. We aimed to test the hypothesis that a diet supplemented with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) mitigates energy metabolism impairment and glucose dyshomeostasis in early overfeeding-programmed rat offspring.
Methods: At postnatal Day 3, the litters were adjusted to 3 (small litter, SL) or 8 (normal litter, NL) pups. During lactation, milk collection and milk intake were performed. At 22 days-old, the pups were weaned and fed a standard diet (NL-SD and SL-SD groups) or an okra-supplemented diet (1.5 % A. esculentus; NL-AE and SL-AE groups). Body weight and food and water intake were measured every two days. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and intracerebroventricular insulin (10-3 mmol/L) tests were performed, and then the offspring were euthanized. Blood, hypothalamus, and visceral fat pads were collected and lean body mass was measured.
Results: Milk from SL mothers had higher triglyceride and energy contents (P < 0.05), and milk consumption by SL offspring was greater than that by NL rats. SL-SD rats were obese, hyperphagic, hypertriglyceridemic, hyperglycemic and glucose intolerant (P < 0.05) and presented central insulin resistance and increased levels of hypothalamic proinflammatory [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), 43.5 %; interleukin 6 (IL-6), 78.5 %; and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), 50.1 %, P < 0.05] cytokines. On the other hand, the consumption of an okra-supplemented diet prevented all metabolic impairments.
Conclusion: In summary, dietary supplementation with okra prevents obesity and glucose deregulation in early-overfeeding rats, which is associated with improved hypothalamic inflammation and insulin resistance.
Keywords: Early obesity; Functional food; Hypothalamus inflammation; Insulin resistance; Lactation; Small litter.
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