High-fat diet promotes hypothalamic inflammation in animal models: a systematic review

Abstract

Context: Hypothalamic inflammation and dysfunction may be induced by high-fat diets. However, the mechanisms involved in this process have not been fully elucidated.

Objective: To evidence, in animal models, of how a high-fat diet influence the mechanisms involved in hypothalamic inflammation.

Data sources: Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Embase databases were searched.

Data extraction: The exclusion criteria were human studies, studies with medicinal products or other substances not related to food, paper reviews, studies that used a surgical intervention or an intervention with food to reverse hypothalamic inflammation, and studies with genetically modified animals. The identified studies were evaluated according to the following inclusion criteria: animal studies, studies in which a control group was included in the experimental design, and studies in which markers of inflammation in the hypothalamus were evaluated.

Data analysis: A total of 322 studies were found, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria for a systematic review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, and were included in this review.

Conclusion: The exposure of rodents to high-fat diets promoted an increase in levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and other proteins involved in the inflammatory process in the hypothalamus. This process was associated with increased glial cell activity.

Keywords: animal models; brain; high-fat diet; hypothalamic inflammation.