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The combination of resveratrol and quercetin enhances the individual effects of these molecules on triacylglycerol metabolism in white adipose tissue

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyze whether the combination of resveratrol and quercetin showed additive or synergic effects on body fat accumulation and triacylglycerol metabolism in adipose tissue from rats fed an obesogenic diet.

Methods

Rats were divided into four dietary groups: a control group and three groups each treated with either resveratrol (15 mg/kg/day; RSV), quercetin (30 mg/kg/day; Q), or both (15 mg resveratrol/kg/day and 30 mg quercetin/kg/day; RSV + Q) for 6 weeks. White adipose tissues from several anatomical locations were dissected. Serum parameters were analyzed by using commercial kits. The activities of fatty acid synthase and heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase (HR-LPL) were measured using spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods, and protein expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipose tissue triglyceride lipase (ATGL), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) by western blot.

Results

The administration of either resveratrol or quercetin separately did not induce significant reductions in adipose tissue weights. By contrast, the combination of both molecules led to a significant reduction in all the fat depots analyzed. The percentage of reduction in each tissue was greater than the calculated additive effect. HR-LPL activity was reduced in RSV and RSV + Q groups. The activity of HSL was not modified. By contrast, ACC was inhibited and ATGL increased only by the combination of both polyphenols.

Conclusion

The results obtained demonstrate a synergistic effect between resveratrol and quercetin and suggest that when these molecules are combined, a great number of metabolic pathways involved in adipose tissue triacylglycerol accumulation are affected.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2011-27406-ALI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Ciberobn), Government of the Basque Country (IT-572-13), and University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (ELDUNANOTEK UFI11/32). N. Arias is a recipient of a doctoral fellowship from the Basque Country Government. Resveratrol was a generous gift from Monteloeder (Elche, Alicante, Spain).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Obesity Group, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Lucio Lascaray Research Center, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006, Vitoria, Spain

    Noemí Arias, M. Teresa Macarulla, Leixuri Aguirre, Iñaki Milton & María P. Portillo

  2. CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Vitoria, Spain

    Noemí Arias, M. Teresa Macarulla, Leixuri Aguirre & María P. Portillo

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  1. Noemí Arias
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  5. María P. Portillo
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Correspondence to María P. Portillo.

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Arias, N., Macarulla, M.T., Aguirre, L. et al. The combination of resveratrol and quercetin enhances the individual effects of these molecules on triacylglycerol metabolism in white adipose tissue. Eur J Nutr 55, 341–348 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0854-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-0854-9

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