(P04-047-24) Dietary Anthocyanins Mitigate High Fat Diet-Induced Hippocampal Inflammation in Mice by Decreasing Endotoxemia and Upregulating BDNF

Objectives: This work investigated if a dietary supplementation with a cyanidin- and delphinidin-rich extract (CDRE) could counteract HFD/obesity-induced hippocampal inflammation in mice.

Methods: Healthy male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 14 weeks either: i) a control diet containing 10% total calories from fat (C); ii) a HFD containing 60% total calories from fat (lard) (HF); iii) the HFD supplemented with 2, 20 or 40 mg AC/kg body weight (BW) (HFA2, HFA20, HFA40, respectively). Endotoxemia, inflammatory cytokines, and BDNF levels were assessed.

Results: Consumption of the HFD caused an 80% increase in endotoxemia compared to C, which was prevented by AC supplementation. Accordingly, hippocampal TLR4 mRNA levels were 110% higher in the HF group, which was not observed in the HFA2, HFA20 and HFA40 groups. Consumption of the HFD also caused: i) an increased expression of genes involved in neuroinflammation, i.e. Iba-1, NOX4, TNFɑ, and IL-1β, ii) parameters of HPA axis regulation and neuroplasticity, i.e. low expression of mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors; and iii) decreased BDNF expression. Supplementation of HFD-fed mice with 40 mg AC/kg BW prevented MR and BDNF, but not GR decreases.

Conclusions: In summary, AC supplementation helped mitigate the negative effects associated with HFD and obesity in mouse hippocampus, in part by decreasing inflammation, improving glucocorticoid metabolism, and upregulating BDNF.

Funding Sources: NIFA USDA to P.O., Henry A. Jastro Research Award to I.M.