Folate Deficiency Increased Lipid Accumulation and Leptin Production of Adipocytes

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Metabolic Health
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Imbalanced diets and poor micronutrient status are linked to obesity.
• Obesity is associated with decreased serum folate levels, but causality is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of dietary folate on lipid accumulation and leptin production.
• To explore the effects of folate deficiency in high-fat, high-sucrose, and high-fructose diets.

Main Methods:

• *In vivo*: Mice fed diets with/without folate (high-fat, high-sucrose, high-fructose) for 12 months.
• *In vitro*: 3T3-L1 adipocytes cultured with/without folate.
• Assessed white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, adipocyte size, serum leptin, hepatic triglycerides (TG), and gene expression.

Main Results:

• Folate deficiency with high-fat diets increased WAT mass, adipocyte size, serum leptin, and hepatic TG.
• High-fat, high-sucrose, or high-fructose diets with folate deficiency elevated body weight.
• Folate-deficient adipocytes showed increased TG, leptin, inflammatory cytokines, and lipogenesis gene expression.

Conclusions:

• Folate deficiency promotes lipid accumulation and leptin production in adipocytes.
• Inadequate folate status may be a risk factor for developing obesity.