The Marine Microalga, <i>Tisochrysis lutea,</i> Protects against Metabolic Disorders Associated with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity

• Main Authors: Claire Mayer, Léo Richard, Martine Côme, Lionel Ulmann, Hassan Nazih, Benoît Chénais, Khadija Ouguerram, Virginie Mimouni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: <i>Tisochrysis lutea</i>; DHA; obesity; metabolic syndrome; fat mass; glycemia
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/430

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 series and especially docosahexaenoic acid are known to exert preventive effects on metabolic disturbances associated with obesity and decrease cardiovascular disease risk. n-3 LC-PUFAs are mainly consumed in the form of fish oil, while other sources, such as certain microalgae, may contain a high content of these fatty acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of <i>Tisochrysis lutea </i>(Tiso), a microalga rich in DHA, on metabolic disorders associated with obesity. Three male Wistar rat groups were submitted for eight weeks to a standard diet or high-fat and high fructose diet (HF), supplemented or not with 12% of <i>T.</i><i> </i><i>lutea </i>(HF-Tiso). The supplementation did not affect plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALAT). Bodyweight, glycemia and insulinemia decreased in HF-Tiso rats (ANOVA, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while total plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) increased (ANOVA, <i>p</i> < 0.001) without change of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and triacylglycerol (TAG) levels. Tiso supplementation decreased fat mass and leptinemia as well as liver TAG, cholesterol and plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels (ANOVA, <i>p</i> < 0.001) while it did not affect interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-4 and lipopolysaccharides levels. HF-Tiso rats showed an increase of IL-10 level in abdominal adipose tissue (ANOVA, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, these results indicated that DHA-rich <i>T. lutea</i> might be beneficial for the prevention of obesity and improvement of lipid and glucose metabolism.