MEHTAP ATAK
Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine - 2024;15(4):277-281
Aim: A high-fat diet (HFD) leads to systemic low-grade inflammation associated with various metabolic and inflammation-related diseases. White tea (WT), rich in catechins and potent antioxidants, plays a pivotal role in disease prevention. This study aimed to explore the impact of white tea known for its beneficial health effects like antioxidants, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties on the levels of sortilin and interleukin-6 in the retroperitoneal adipose tissue of rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Material and methods: The study utilized 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, categorized into three groups: control, HFD, and white tea in addition to HFD. The rats were allowed ad libitum access to food for 12 weeks, and the HFD+WT group received a daily oral gavage of 5 mg/kg of white tea. Weight measurements were recorded on a weekly basis, and the experiment was terminated upon achievement of the obesity criterion. At the end of the study, the levels of sortilin and IL-6 in retroperitoneal adipose tissue were measured by ELISA, while serum glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were assessed using a colorimetric spectrophotometric technique. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the control group and the HFD group for glucose, cholesterol sortilin and IL-6 levels as well as final live weight of the rats (p < 0.05). Discussion: It was concluded that WT has a significant effect on preventing weight gain and reducing serum glucose and cholesterol levels. However, there were no observed alterations in sortilin and IL-6 levels in the retroperitoneal adipose tissue between HFD and HFD+WT group. This lack of change may be attributed to the low bioavailability of the bioactive compounds in WT following dietary intake.
