2-heptyl-formononetin increases cholesterol and induces hepatic steatosis in mice

Biomed Res Int. 2013:2013:926942. doi: 10.1155/2013/926942. Epub 2013 Apr 29.

Abstract

Consumption of isoflavones may prevent adiposity, hepatic steatosis, and dyslipidaemia. However, studies in the area are few and primarily with genistein. This study investigated the effects of formononetin and its synthetic analogue, 2-heptyl-formononetin (C7F), on lipid and cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were fed a cholesterol-enriched diet for five weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia and were then fed either the cholesterol-enriched diet or the cholesterol-enriched diet-supplemented formononetin or C7F for three weeks. Body weight and composition, glucose homeostasis, and plasma lipids were compared. In another experiment, mice were fed the above diets for five weeks, and hepatic triglyceride accumulation and gene expression and histology of adipose tissue and liver were examined. Supplementation with C7F increased plasma HDL-cholesterol thereby increasing the plasma level of total cholesterol. Supplementation with formononetin did not affect plasma cholesterol but increased plasma triglycerides levels. Supplementation with formononetin and C7F induced hepatic steatosis. However, formononetin decreased markers of inflammation and liver injury. The development of hepatic steatosis was associated with deregulated expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. In conclusion, supplementation with formononetin and C7F to a cholesterol-enriched diet adversely affected lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in C57BL/6J mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Adipocytes / drug effects
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, White / pathology
  • Animals
  • Body Composition / drug effects
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / pharmacology
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fatty Liver / blood*
  • Fatty Liver / chemically induced*
  • Fatty Liver / genetics
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Isoflavones / adverse effects*
  • Lipogenesis / drug effects
  • Lipogenesis / genetics
  • Lipolysis / drug effects
  • Lipolysis / genetics
  • Lipoproteins / genetics
  • Lipoproteins / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • 2-heptylformononetin
  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Isoflavones
  • Lipoproteins
  • Protective Agents
  • Triglycerides
  • formononetin
  • Cholesterol
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • glutathione S-transferase M1