Quinoa Extract Enriched in 20‐Hydroxyecdysone Protects Mice From Diet‐Induced Obesity and Modulates Adipokines Expression

Abstract

Besides their well‐known effect in the molting control in insects, ecdysteroids are steroid hormones that display potential pharmacologic and metabolic properties in mammals. The most common ecdysteroid, 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) is found in many plants such as quinoa. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of quinoa extract (Q) enriched in 20E supplementation to prevent the onset of diet‐induced obesity and to regulate the expression of adipocyte‐specific genes in mice. Mice were fed a standard low‐fat (LF) or a high‐fat (HF) diet with or without supplementation by 20E‐enriched Q or pure 20E for 3 weeks. Supplementation with Q reduced adipose tissue development in HF mice without modification of their body weight gain. This adipose tissue‐specific effect was mainly associated with a reduced adipocyte size and a decrease in the expression of several genes involved in lipid storage, including lipoprotein lipase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Furthermore, Q‐treated mice exhibited marked attenuation of mRNA levels of several inflammation markers (monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, CD68) and insulin resistance (osteopontin, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1)) as compared to HF mice. Q supplementation also reversed the effects of HF‐induced downregulation of the uncoupling protein(s) (UCP(s)) mRNA levels in muscle. Similar results were obtained in mice fed a HF diet supplemented with similar amounts of pure 20E, suggesting that the latter accounted for most of the Q effects. Our study indicates that Q has an antiobesity activity in vivo and could be used as a nutritional supplement for the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity‐associated disorders.

Physiological Effects Associated with Quinoa Consumption and Implications for Research Involving Humans: a Review

“…Despite the null finding, the mice fed quinoa showed a slight decrease in adipose tissue mass as well as a decrease in the expression of lipid storage genes such as lipoprotein lipase and peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-γ [22]. The quinoa extract used in this study was rich in the naturally occurring steroid hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone.…”

“…Three studies investigating Poor weight gain also analysed the concentration of hormones involved in the regulation of appetite. The consumption of quinoa in the diet was associated with a decrease in the concentration of plasma leptin by between 14% and 35% [31,22]. Post-prandial ghrelin and cholecystokinin differences among the quinoa group were respectively 5.4% lower and 45.5% higher than levels among the control group [28].…”

“…In addition, one of these studies investigated differences in the release of cytokines (such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-1β and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) from adipose tissue (adipokines) among mice fed high fat diets [22]. The addition of quinoa to the diet decreased the mass of adipose tissue and significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory adipokines [22].…”

“…The ability of quinoa to induce decreased weight gain was unable to be replicated among mice fed a high fat diet with added quinoa [22]. Despite the null finding, the mice fed quinoa showed a slight decrease in adipose tissue mass as well as a decrease in the expression of lipid storage genes such as lipoprotein lipase and peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-γ [22].…”

“…The quinoa extract used in this study was rich in the naturally occurring steroid hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone. This compound is structurally similar to Vitamin D, which has been shown to affect lipid accumulation in adipose tissue [22].…”