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Effects of lipoic acid on AMPK and adiponectin in adipose tissue of low- and high-fat-fed rats

European Journal of Nutrition volume 52, pages 779–787 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Lipoic acid (LA) is an antioxidant with antiobesity and antidiabetic properties. Adiponectin is an adipokine with potent anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key enzyme involved in cellular energy homeostasis. Activation of AMPK has been considered as a target to reverse the metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Aim of the study

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of LA on AMPK phosphorylation and adiponectin production in adipose tissue of low-fat (control diet) and high-fat diet-fed rats.

Results

Dietary supplementation with LA reduced body weight and adiposity in control and high-fat-fed rats. LA also reduced basal hyperinsulinemia as well as the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) levels, an index of insulin resistance, in high-fat-fed rats, which was in part independent of their food intake lowering actions. Furthermore, AMPK phosphorylation was increased in white adipose tissue (WAT) from LA-treated rats as compared with pair-fed animals. Dietary supplementation with LA also upregulated adiponectin gene expression in WAT, while a negative correlation between adiposity-corrected adiponectin levels and HOMA index was found. Our present data suggest that the ability of LA supplementation to prevent insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed rats might be related in part to the stimulation of AMPK and adiponectin in WAT.

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Abbreviations

AMPK:

AMP-activated protein kinase

HOMA:

Homeostasis model assessment

LA:

Lipoic acid

LASY:

Lipoic acid synthase

TZDs:

Thiazolidinediones

WAT:

White adipose tissue

BAT:

Brown adipose tissue

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain (AGL 2009-10873/ALI and AGL 2006-04716/ALI) and by Línea Especial: “Nutrición, Obesidad y Salud” (University of Navarra). PL Prieto-Hontoria was supported by a research grant by Danone Institute, Spain.

Conflict of interest

The authors state no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Food Science, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, C/Irunlarrea, 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    Pedro L. Prieto-Hontoria, Patricia Pérez-Matute, Marta Fernández-Galilea, J. Alfredo Martínez & María J. Moreno-Aliaga

  2. HIV and Associated Metabolic Alterations Unit, Infectious Diseases Area, Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain

    Patricia Pérez-Matute

Authors
  1. Pedro L. Prieto-Hontoria
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  2. Patricia Pérez-Matute
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  3. Marta Fernández-Galilea
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  4. J. Alfredo Martínez
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  5. María J. Moreno-Aliaga
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Correspondence to María J. Moreno-Aliaga.

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Prieto-Hontoria, P.L., Pérez-Matute, P., Fernández-Galilea, M. et al. Effects of lipoic acid on AMPK and adiponectin in adipose tissue of low- and high-fat-fed rats. Eur J Nutr 52, 779–787 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0384-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0384-7

Keywords

  • Lipoic acid
  • Obesity
  • Adiponectin
  • AMPK