Tartary buckwheat is rich in flavonoids. However, the health-promoting effect of these flavonoids has not been adequately studied. In the present study, we investigated the impact of rutin, quercetin, and Tartary buckwheat on the lipid metabolism of rats on a high-fat diet. Quercetin could significantly reduce body weight, serum triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, TNF-α, insulin, and ameliorate glucose tolerance. It was surprising that Tartary buckwheat significantly increased the weight of the rats. Rutin, quercetin, and Tartary buckwheat tended to decreased fat deposition in the liver of rats but have little effect on short-chain fatty acid production. The changes in the structure and diversity of the microbiota were found to be modulated by these diets. It was concluded that quercetin could attenuate high-fat diet-induced obesity, rutin, quercetin, and Tartary buckwheat can shape the specific structure of gut microbiota. Mechanism of Tartary buckwheat on lipid metabolism needs further systematic research.
Keywords: gut microbiota; lipid metabolism; quercetin; rutin; tartary buckwheat.
© 2019 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.