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Okra-supplemented diet prevents hypothalamic inflammation in early overfeeding-programmed obese rats
Okra-enriched diet prevents hypothalamic inflammation
Early-life overnutrition is known to program lasting metabolic dysfunctions. Functional foods have shown promise in treating metabolic disorders. This study by Ricken et al. (2025) tested whether supplementing the diet with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) could improve energy metabolism and glucose regulation in rats exposed to early overfeeding. Litters were changed to either three pups (short litter, SL) or eight pups (normal litter, NL) at postnatal day 3. Milk was collected and intake measured during lactation. At 22 days old, pups were weaned and fed either a standard diet (NL-SD, SL-SD) or an okra-enriched diet (1.5% Abelmoschus esculentus; NL-AE, SL-AE). 4) Every two days, measurements of body weight, food consumption, and water intake were made. Tests for glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were conducted, after which tissues and blood samples were collected. Milk from SL mothers contained higher triglyceride and energy levels, and SL pups consumed more milk than NL pups. SL-SD rats showed obesity, excessive eating, elevated triglycerides, high blood sugar, glucose intolerance, central insulin resistance, and increased hypothalamic inflammatory markers, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In contrast, rats fed the okra-supplemented diet were protected from these metabolic disruptions. In conclusion, okra dietary supplementation prevented obesity and glucose imbalance in rats subjected to early overfeeding, likely through reductions in hypothalamic inflammation and improved insulin sensitivity. [NPID: Okra supplementation, early overfeeding, metabolic dysfunction, glucose regulation, hypothalamic inflammation, insulin resistance, obesity prevention, rat model, functional foods, energy metabolism]
Year: 2025
