Anti-Obesity Potential of Modified Pomelo-Peel Dietary Fiber-Based Pickering Emulsion

TL;DR

This study shows that modified pomelo peel dietary fiber emulsions can reduce obesity and related health issues in mice by improving gut health and reducing inflammation.

Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating that modified pomelo peel dietary fiber emulsions can effectively combat high-fat diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders.

Findings

Both EPI and OSA-EPI reduced weight gain and improved blood glucose and lipid profiles in obese mice.

The emulsions attenuated tissue inflammation and oxidative stress while promoting beneficial gut bacteria like Akkermansia.

Increased production of short-chain fatty acids was observed alongside improved gut microbiota diversity.

Abstract

Objectives: In response to the high prevalence of global obesity and associated metabolic diseases, this study aimed to investigate the effects of Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulase-hydrolyzed pomelo peel insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), namely EPI and its octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified form (OSA-EPI), on alleviating high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to an HFD-induced obesity model. Biochemical index determination, histopathological examination, gut microbiota analysis, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis were used to study the potential efficacy of pomelo peel IDF-based emulsion (EPI and OSA-EPI) in alleviating obesity and related metabolic diseases. Results: The findings demonstrated that both emulsions effectively mitigated HFD-induced health impairments: reduced weight gain, improved blood glucose and lipid profiles, attenuated tissue steatosis and inflammation, and lowered oxidative stress. Furthermore, both EPI and OSA-EPI restored gut microbiota diversity, promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacterial taxa (e.g., Akkermansia), and inhibited the growth of harmful genera (e.g., Muribaculum, Faecalibaculum). These changes were accompanied by increased production of SCFAs. Conclusions: This study confirms that modified pomelo peel IDF can effectively exert the health intervention effect of IDF on obesity when used as an emulsion stabilizer, providing a robust scientific foundation for the application of emulsified dietary fibers in combating obesity and related metabolic disorders.

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