Okra-supplemented diet prevents hypothalamic inflammation in early overfeeding-programmed obese rats

Early overnutrition programs long-term metabolic dysfunctions. Owing to their benefits, functional foods have been used to treat metabolic diseases. We aimed to test the hypothesis that a diet supplemented with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) mitigates energy metabolism impairment and glucose dyshomeostasis in early overfeeding-programmed rat offspring.

At postnatal Day 3, the litters were adjusted to 3 (small litter, SL) or 8 (normal litter, NL) pups. During lactation, milk collection and milk intake were performed. At 22 days-old, the pups were weaned and fed a standard diet (NL-SD and SL-SD groups) or an okra-supplemented diet (1.5 % A. esculentus; NL-AE and SL-AE groups). Body weight and food and water intake were measured every two days. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and intracerebroventricular insulin (10^-3 mmol/L) tests were performed, and then the offspring were euthanized. Blood, hypothalamus, and visceral fat pads were collected and lean body mass was measured.

Milk from SL mothers had higher triglyceride and energy contents (P < 0.05), and milk consumption by SL offspring was greater than that by NL rats. SL-SD rats were obese, hyperphagic, hypertriglyceridemic, hyperglycemic and glucose intolerant (P < 0.05) and presented central insulin resistance and increased levels of hypothalamic proinflammatory [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), 43.5 %; interleukin 6 (IL-6), 78.5 %; and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), 50.1 %, P < 0.05] cytokines. On the other hand, the consumption of an okra-supplemented diet prevented all metabolic impairments.

In summary, dietary supplementation with okra prevents obesity and glucose deregulation in early-overfeeding rats, which is associated with improved hypothalamic inflammation and insulin resistance.