Foxtail millet oil alleviates high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice by targeting AMPK-PPAR pathway and regulating gut microbiota

Abstract

Foxtail millet oil (FMO) has demonstrated possible health advantages. This study investigated the anti-obesity characteristics of FMO, elucidating its underlying mechanisms. GC-MS analysis revealed that FMO is rich in linoleic acid, comprising up to 65.05 % of its fatty acid content. Supplementation with FMO lowered fat accumulation and body weight in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Additionally, it improved blood glucose levels, lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity while alleviating oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and organ damage. Transcriptomic analysis established the AMPK-PPAR signaling pathway as a crucial mechanism through which FMO regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, with the upregulation of Cyp7a1 and Pck1 and the downregulation of Acaca, Fasn, Scd1, and Plin2. FMO modulated gut microbiota, thereby increasing the abundance of the norank_f__Bacteroidales_S24-7_group and Allobaculum, associated with bile acid metabolism and reduced hepatic cholesterol accumulation. These results showed that FMO is a promising functional food source for managing obesity and metabolic disorders.