The prebiotic fiber inulin ameliorates cardiac, adipose tissue, and hepatic pathology, but exacerbates hypertriglyceridemia in rats with metabolic syndrome
Yuki Komatsu, Kiyoshi Aoyama, Mamoru Yoneda, Sao Ashikawa, Shiho Nakano, Yumeno Kawai, Xixi Cui, Nozomi Furukawa, Katsuhide Ikeda, Kohzo Nagata
Abstract
Prebiotics ameliorate dysbiosis and influence metabolism and the immune system, but their effects on cardiovascular complications in metabolic disorders remain largely unknown. Inulin ameliorated hypertension, cardiac injury, and diastolic dysfunction without affecting obesity or insulin resistance in a rat model of metabolic syndrome. The favorable cardiac effects of inulin may be related to inhibition of systemic inflammation associated with a reduction in circulating interleukin-6 levels. Additionally, inulin exacerbated hypertriglyceridemia but alleviates adipose tissue and hepatic pathology in these animals, as well as increased the number of regulatory T cells in adipose tissue.