Therapeutic potential of a plant-based high-fat food formulation on weight management and lipid accumulation in DIO mice.

Obesity is a medical condition where excess fat is accumulated in the body. Strategies for treatment include nutritional intervention, drugs, nutraceuticals, satiety peptides. High fat-low carbohydrate food as a therapeutic is one of the strategies studied in the recent past for weight management. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a plant-based high-fat food formulation (SU001) on lipid accumulation in diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mice. SU001, which is mildly ketogenic and characterized by low carbohydrates, high fat and protein content, was administered to DIO mice for 30 days. Orlistat, a standard anti-obesity drug, was used as a positive control. Food intake and body weight were monitored daily and plasma lipids, protein levels were measured. Total fat in adipose, liver tissues, fecal samples and their fatty acid profiles were analyzed to assess lipid accumulation. The findings revealed mice fed SU001 showed a decrease in body weight, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fatty acid content in the adipose tissue compared to the high-fat diet control group. Similar results were observed in the orlistat treated group. SU001 treatment led to significant changes in the mRNA expression levels of key lipid metabolism related genes, indicating its role in modulating lipid storage and mobilization pathways. These findings suggest that the formulation SU001 has potential as a therapeutic strategy for weight management and could be explored further for treating lifestyle-related metabolic disorders.