Romaine lettuce outer leaves are
discarded in the field
during
harvesting, presenting an opportunity for upcycling. We previously
developed a romaine lettuce powder (RLP) from discarded outer leaves
with high antioxidant capacity, high levels of fiber, and high concentration
of total soluble phenolics. In this study, we evaluated the health
benefits and preventive effects of RLP in metabolic syndrome (MS)
induced by a high-fat diet fed to mice for 12 weeks. Supplementation
with 10% RLP in a high-fat diet lowered glucose and insulin levels
and prevented the development of insulin resistance in mice. Moreover,
adipose tissue weight was lower in mice fed with a high-fat diet supplemented
with 10% RLP compared to mice fed with a control high-fat diet. Liver
weight was also lower in mice fed with a high-fat diet supplemented
with 10% RLP compared to those fed with low-fat and high-fat diet
groups, suggesting a positive effect of lettuce powder on liver health.
Here, we show that RLP has a preventive effect on MS by regulating
body weight, lowering lipid levels, and improving glucose metabolism.
Our results indicate that incorporating RLP into mice’s diet
has potential health benefits.