Effect of Simultaneous Intake of Medium-Chain Triglyceride and d-Allulose on Body Fat Accumulation in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Medium-chain triglycerides, lipids containing three 6−12 carbon medium-chain fatty acids, have antiobesity effects because they do not promote lipogenesis. d-Allulose, a low-calorie epimer of fructose commercially used as a low-calorie sweetener, suppresses hepatic lipogenesis and enhances postprandial fat oxidation. Therefore, we have explored whether a simultaneous intake of medium-chain fatty acids and d-allulose may exhibit a greater reduction in de novo lipogenesis and increase their antiobesity effects. To this end, 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four treatment groups of equal sizes: control, 3% d-allulose-treated, 5% medium-chain triglycerides-treated, and 3% d-allulose + 5% medium-chain triglycerides-treated. After 8 weeks of ad libitum exposure to these diets, d-allulose significantly decreased intra-abdominal adipose tissue and total body fat weight, with or without medium-chain triglyceride supplementation. The antiobesity effect of d-allulose was observed with or without dietary medium-chain triglyceride supplementation in high-fat diet-induced obese rats, but no synergistic effect was detected between d-allulose and medium-chain triglycerides.