Male-Specific Effects of β-Carotene Supplementation on Lipid Metabolism in the Liver and Gonadal Adipose Tissue of Healthy Mice
- 주제(키워드) beta-carotene , sex differences , beta-carotene cleavage enzyme , estrogen receptor , lipid metabolism , liver , adipose tissue
- 주제(기타) Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
- 설명문(일반) [Oh, Yeonsoo; Kim, Jinsol; Park, Yoon Jung; Kim, Yuri] Ewha Womans Univ, Dept Nutr Sci & Food Management, Seoul 03760, South Korea; [Oh, Yeonsoo; Kim, Jinsol; Park, Yoon Jung; Kim, Yuri] Ewha Womans Univ, Grad Program Syst Hlth Sci & Engn, Seoul 03760, South Korea
- 등재 SCIE, SCOPUS
- OA유형 Gold
- 발행기관 MDPI
- 발행년도 2025
- URI http://www.dcollection.net/handler/ewha/000000245850
- 본문언어 영어
- Published As https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040909
- PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40005219
- 저작권 이화여자대학교 논문은 저작권에 의해 보호받습니다.
초록/요약
Biological sex is a fundamental determinant of physiological differences, including metabolic processes and disease susceptibility. beta-carotene (BC), a provitamin A carotenoid, is known for its health benefits, but its sex-specific effects on its metabolism remain largely unexplored. This study investigated male and female BALB/c mice receiving BC or vehicle control via oral gavage for 11 weeks. Hepatic and circulating lipid levels, serum retinol, and the expression of BC cleavage enzymes (Bco1 and Bco2) and estrogen receptors (Esr1 and Esr2) in the liver and gonadal fat were analyzed. BC supplementation increased the hepatic Bco1 and Bco2 expression in males, accompanied by higher serum retinol, while downregulating expressions of these enzymes in male gonadal fat. Additionally, BC supplementation significantly reduced gonadal fat mass and adipogenic gene expression in males, with Cebpa and Esr1/Esr2 positively correlated, suggesting a role for estrogen receptor signaling in adipogenesis. These findings demonstrate that BC exerts sex- and tissue-specific effects on lipid metabolism, with strong regulatory interactions between BC metabolism, lipid homeostasis, and sex hormone signaling in males. The results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying sex-dependent differences in lipid metabolism following BC supplementation, with potential implications for metabolic health and disease prevention.
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