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Exploring the Effects of Whole Food-Based Dragon Fruit on Metabolic Disorders in High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice

Pin-Yu Ho1, Pin-Xuan Lin1, Yen-Chun Koh1

  • 1Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC.

Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|October 4, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Red dragon fruit, particularly its precipitate (RP), effectively combats metabolic syndrome and obesity in mice. This whole-fruit approach offers a natural strategy for managing these health conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major cause of premature death, with obesity as a key risk factor.
  • Dragon fruit possesses bioactivity beneficial for preventing obesity-related diseases.
  • Conventional extraction methods using organic solvents do not reflect real-world consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of whole red dragon fruit in mitigating metabolic disorders.
  • To investigate the effects of different red dragon fruit fractions (supernatant, precipitate, pomace) and white dragon fruit supernatant on obesity and MetS.
  • To explore the impact on body composition, inflammation, lipid profiles, and gut microbiota.

Main Methods:

  • A 20-week high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model was employed.
  • Experimental groups included red dragon fruit supernatant (RS), precipitate (RP), pomace (PO), and white dragon fruit supernatant (WS).
  • Evaluations included body weight, adipose tissue, body fat percentage, serum lipids, inflammatory cytokines, glucose homeostasis, and gut microbiota analysis.

Main Results:

  • Red dragon fruit extracts significantly reduced adipose tissue, body fat, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improved blood lipid profiles.
  • The red dragon fruit precipitate (RP) demonstrated the most significant effects, reducing body weight by 4.33g.
  • RP notably improved lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis, and favorably altered gut microbiota composition, increasing beneficial bacteria and short-chain fatty acids.

Conclusions:

  • The precipitate (RP) of red dragon fruit is highly effective in preventing metabolic syndrome and obesity.
  • These findings support the use of whole fruits in functional food development.
  • Utilizing whole red dragon fruit can enhance its agricultural economic value.
Keywords:
dragon fruitgut microbiotalipid metabolismmetabolic syndromeobesitysoluble dietary fiber

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