β-Glucan, but not Lactobacillus plantarum P-8, inhibits lipid accumulation through selected lipid metabolic enzymes in obese rats

We compared the effects of barley β-glucan and Lactobacillus plantarum P-8 on changes in body weight, white adipose tissue, and the activities of specific lipid metabolic enzymes in diet-induced obese rats. Obese rats were administered barley β-glucan (B), L. plantarum P-8 (P), or both for 8 weeks. The results showed that the dietary intervention reduced the body weight and white adipose tissue accumulation, and altered gut microbiota in the distal faeces of the B group. Furthermore, acetate and propionate levels considerably increased in the caecal digest and rectal feces of the B group. In addition, β-glucan, but not L. plantarum P-8, increased the activities of hepatic acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and carnitine palmitoyl transferase and reduced epididymal fat lipoprotein lipase activity, thus resulting in decreased white adipose tissue accumulation in the obese rats. However, β-glucan and L. plantarum P-8 showed no synergistic effects. Practical applications: β-Glucan ameliorates hyperlipidaemia, increases hepatic acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and carnitine palmitoyl transferase activities, and reduces epididymal fat lipoprotein lipase activity, thus resulting in reduced white adipose tissue accumulation in obese rats. β-Glucan reduces of reducing lipid levels and regulating specific lipid metabolic enzymes.