High-Fat Diet with Lyophilized Acrocomia aculeata Pulp Increases High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Levels and Inhibits Adipocyte Hypertrophy in Mice.

Obesity is a relevant health hazard characterized as a chronic noncommunicable disease, with severe comorbidities that cause mortality worldwide. Acrocomia aculeata is a Brazilian palm with edible fruits. Its pulp contains fibers, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), such as oleic acid and carotenoids. In this context, our study aimed to elucidate the protective effect of the lyophilized A. aculeata pulp added at the rates of 1%, 2%, and 4% to a high-fat (HF) diet (rich in saturated fats and cholesterol), for 90 days, in mice. The treatment with 4% pulp induced a significant increase in the biochemical parameters of serum cholesterol HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein) compared with the control. According to the evaluation of the epididymal tissue, the groups treated with A. aculeata pulp exhibited smaller fat deposits compared with the HF diet group. Therefore, we infer that the predominant components in A. aculeata, particularly fibers and MUFAs, promote beneficial effects on health parameters during simultaneous exposure to food rich in saturated fat and cholesterol, typical of the Western diet. This is the first study to correlate the presence of fatty acids from A. aculeata pulp in different proportions added in a HF diet with metabolic and histological parameters in Swiss mice.

Animal models of obesity in rodents. An integrative review

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To perform an integrative review of the main animal disease models in rodents used for obesity. METHODS: Research was conducted in the CAPES Portal database using the following keywords "obesity animal models, diet and rodents", published between the years 2010 to 2016. We found 108 articles, of which 19 were selected and analyzed in full for this study. RESULTS: Larger part of publications occurred in the last 6 years, the rats (n = 10) were used in the same proportion mice (n = 10). The choice of male animals (n = 18) and age greater than 21 days (n = 17) showed a major highlight. The greater than 5 week follow-up period (n = 18) was the most applied. A High Fat Diet was the most used in studies (n = 18) . CONCLUSIONS: Male rodents continue to be considered the species most used in experimental studies to induce obesity, also was found variations of age to the beginning of the experiment. For the most part are follow-up time studies along with the use of High Fat Diet.

Animal models of obesity in rodents. An integrative review.

PURPOSE:: To perform an integrative review of the main animal disease models in rodents used for obesity. METHODS:: Research was conducted in the CAPES Portal database using the following keywords "obesity animal models, diet and rodents", published between the years 2010 to 2016. We found 108 articles, of which 19 were selected and analyzed in full for this study. RESULTS:: Larger part of publications occurred in the last 6 years, the rats (n = 10) were used in the same proportion mice (n = 10). The choice of male animals (n = 18) and age greater than 21 days (n = 17) showed a major highlight. The greater than 5 week follow-up period (n = 18) was the most applied. A High Fat Diet was the most used in studies (n = 18) . CONCLUSIONS:: Male rodents continue to be considered the species most used in experimental studies to induce obesity, also was found variations of age to the beginning of the experiment. For the most part are follow-up time studies along with the use of High Fat Diet.