The effect of zinc supplementation on some adipokines released from adipose tissue, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in obese rats

Obesity is a mild chronic inflammation that causes many metabolic diseases, including cancer, and is being studied intensively for its treatment. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the energy balance changes that can be obtained by adding zinc (ZnSO4), which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, to drinking water of obese rats which induced by diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats, five weeks aged were used for this purpose. The rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group rats consuming standard rat diet and high-fat diet (HFD). After obesity was determined in the first eight weeks of the experiment, the obese rats were divided into two groups as Zn added to drinking water (HFD + Zn) and obese group (HFD). The analyzes were performed at the end of the addition of Zn to drinking water for eight weeks (150 mg Zn / L in the first 6 weeks, 235 mg Zn / L in the 7th week and 250 mg Zn / L in the 8th week). The mean feed consumption in the HFD + Zn group was not different from that in the obese group. As a result of statistical evaluation, it was found that mean body weight, mean water consumption, serum concentrations of CRP, orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY), leptin and insulin, also fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels in HFD + Zn group decreased compared to obese rats fed HFD. It was observed that the total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels of HFD+Zn groups became closer to the data obtained in the healthy control group. Zn supplementation decreased blood cholesterol profile compare to obese rats fed HFD. The supplementation of Zn to drinking water in obese rats resulted in a statistically significant increase in serum nesfatin-1 (p<0.0001), which is an effective protein in the formation of satiety. Serum triglyceride concentration tended to decrease in obese rats with the effect of Zn. In conclusion, according to the positive data obtained in the energy balance, it can be said that the oral use of Zn would be very important to prevent the occurrence of metabolic diseases due to obesity in humans.