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Study Title:

Quercetin Boosts Adiponectin

Study Abstract

Eur J Pharm Sci. 2010 Sep 11;41(1):16-22. Epub 2010 May 16.

Quercetin enhances adiponectin secretion by a PPAR-gamma independent mechanism.
Wein S, Behm N, Petersen RK, Kristiansen K, Wolffram S.

Institute of Animal Nutrition & Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Herrmann-Rodewald-Str 9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany. wein@aninut.uni-kiel.de

Abstract
To study possible insulin sensitizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of the flavonol quercetin, rats were fed a high-fat diet (19%, w/w) with (HFQ) or without (HF) 0.03% quercetin or a flavonoid-poor low-fat (5%, w/w) maintenance diet (LF) over 4 weeks. Body weight was measured weekly, and plasma concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, as well as of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured (12h fasted) at the end of the feeding period. Adiponectin and peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor (PPAR)-gamma mRNA were measured in adipose tissue (WAT) by real-time RT-PCR. PPAR-gamma transactivation was investigated by means of a reporter gene assay. HF feeding resulted in elevated fasted plasma glucose concentrations, while HFQ did not differ from LF feeding. In the HFQ group plasma concentrations and WAT mRNA levels of adiponectin were elevated compared with the HF group, however, PPAR-gamma mRNA concentration in WAT was decreased (HFQ vs. HF). Compared to both other groups quercetin feeding significantly reduced oxidative stress, measured by plasma 8-iso-PGF(2alpha), while body weight gain, body composition and plasma leptin levels were not affected. Neither quercetin nor its metabolites induced PPAR-gamma-mediated transactivation in vitro. Adiponectin stimulating effects of quercetin are PPAR-gamma-independent and prevent impairment of insulin sensitivity without affecting body weight and composition.

Study Information

Wein S, Behm N, Petersen RK, Kristiansen K, Wolffram S.
Quercetin enhances adiponectin secretion by a PPAR-gamma independent mechanism.
Eur J Pharm Sci.
2010 September
Institute of Animal Nutrition & Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Herrmann-Rodewald-Str 9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany