Dietary syringic acid reduces fat mass in an ovariectomy-induced mouse model of obesity

Abstract

Objective: Postmenopausal women are at increased risk of metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Therefore, the chemoprevention of postmenopausal changes in health via dietary supplements is important. Syringic acid (SA) is a phenolic compound present in the fruit of the assai palm, Euterpe oleracea, and in the mycelium of the shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes. This compound shows no affinity for estrogen receptors and may exert disease-preventive effects. Reportedly, dietary SA ameliorates high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice; however, its effects on estrogen deficiency-induced obesity are still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether and how dietary SA affects these factors in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Methods: Ten-week-old OVX mice were fed SA-containing diets (100 mg/kg body weight/d) for 12 weeks. Their body weights, food intake, and uterus weights as well as other parameters were measured and comparisons were made with mice in the control group. Results: Dietary SA did not affect the body weight, food intake, or uterus weight of OVX mice over the study period; however, the SA-fed group showed lower fat mass (ie, visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat) than the OVX-control group (11.1 ± 3.3 vs. 8.3 ± 2.4, P < 0.05; 7.9 ± 1.1 vs. 5.9 ± 1.6, P < 0.05; 19.0 ± 4.2 vs. 14.1 ± 3.8, P < 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, blood analysis revealed that SA-treatment resulted in a dose-dependent decrease and increase in serum triglyceride (59.2 ± 8.3 vs. 43.9 ± 12.2 mg/dL P < 0.05) and adiponectin (7.7 ± 0.3 vs. 9.5 ± 0.6 μg/mL, P < 0.05) levels, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that the SA diet improves lipid metabolism without affecting the uterus in OVX mice. Therefore, dietary SA has potential applicability for the prevention of postmenopausal obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Phenolic compounds, amino acid profiles, and antibacterial properties of kefir prepared using freeze‐dried Arbutus unedo L. and Tamarindus indica L. fruits and sweetened with stevia, monk fruit sweetener, and aspartame

“…The major phenolic components of kefir samples containing Tamarindus indica L. fruit were syringic acid and salicylic acid, respectively. Syringic acid, one of the phenolic compounds abundantly found in olives, dates, spices, pumpkin, honey, red wine, and other plants (Srinivasulu et al, 2018), is associated with free radical scavenging, antioxidative, and anti‐inflammatory effects (Tanaka et al, 2021).…”

A Mixture of Pure, Isolated Polyphenols Worsens the Insulin Resistance and Induces Kidney and Liver Fibrosis Markers in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

“…The dosage of the compounds included are in a similar and sometimes lower range compared to the dosages previously published for pure, isolated compounds. The usual range in previous publications goes from 15 mg/kg [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Considering mice of 35 g and an intake of 4.5 g/day of HFD that means for 15 mg/kg-0.525 mg of polyphenol and for 100 mg/kg-3.5 mg in mice.…”

Lipid equilibrating actions of syringic acid following lost ovarian function

“…Further, chemicals that increase postmenopausal health by reducing menopause-related symptoms through mechanisms exclusive of the estrogen receptor are an important, but seemingly underappreciated approach. In this issue of Menopause , Tanaka et al 5 offer promising new research into the positive effects of syringic acid (SA) treatment on lipid metabolism following lost ovarian function. In this study, an ovariectomized mouse model of menopause was used to assess the impact of SA treatment on lipid metabolism and accumulation in ad libitum fed mice.…”

“…In a series of five different experiments, Tanaka et al 5 demonstrated that treatment of 10-week-old ovariectomized mice with SA causes a significant decrease in serum triglyceride levels compared with ovariectomized mice receiving vehicle treatment. Serum triglyceride levels in ovariectomized SA treated mice were consistent with levels found in sham (intact) control and sham (intact) SA-treated mice.…”