Hydrocortisone-Containing Animal-Derived Food Intake Affects Lipid Nutrients Utilization

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Metabolomics
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Increasing consumption of animal-derived foods raises concerns about endogenous hydrocortisone accumulation in organisms.
• Understanding hydrocortisone's impact on lipid metabolism is crucial for food safety and human health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cumulative effects of dietary hydrocortisone intake on lipid nutrient metabolism.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying hydrocortisone's influence on lipid metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Collected 120 porcine muscle samples across three time points with varying hydrocortisone concentrations.
• Utilized a food chain simulation framework and UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS for lipidomics analysis.
• Integrated lipidomics and proteomics data for comprehensive mechanistic insights.

Main Results:

• Identified 175 lipid molecules, with 66 significantly altered by hydrocortisone exposure, including triglycerides and glycerophospholipids.
• Hydrocortisone promoted adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase activity, leading to triglyceride hydrolysis.
• Decreased concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentanoic acid were observed, alongside an increase in saturated triglycerides over time.

Conclusions:

• Dietary hydrocortisone triggers glycerophospholipids degradation and triglycerides hydrolysis.
• Hydrocortisone intervenes in lipid nutrient utilization by modulating key enzymatic activities.
• This research provides mechanistic insights into the metabolic consequences of hydrocortisone exposure through the food chain.