Dietary coconut oil lowered circulating fetuin-A levels and hepatic expression of fetuin-A in KK/TaJcl mice.

Abstract

Although coconut oil has attracted great attention as a functional food, enough supportive scientific evidence is lacking. In addition, the beneficial effects of coconut oil consumption on the prevention of metabolic disorders are controversial. Fetuin-A is a plasma glycoprotein secreted by hepatocytes and adipocytes. Circulating fetuin-A levels relate to insulin resistance due to macrophage-mediated adipose tissue inflammation. This study demonstrated that coconut oil feeding significantly downregulated the hepatic expression of fetuin-A and reduced its plasma level in KK mice-an obese diabetic model animal. The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, a potent inducer for macrophage infiltration, decreased in epididymal white adipose tissue in coconut oil-fed KK mice. The expression of CD68 and CD11c, markers of proinflammatory M1 macrophages, was significantly reduced by coconut oil feeding in epididymal white adipose tissue of KK mice. However, the mice did not exhibit improved insulin resistance. Our results may further support the potential of coconut oil as a dietary trigger that can reduce both circulating fetuin-A levels and infiltration of proinflammatory macrophages in visceral adipose tissue.