Juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) supplementation reduces body weight gain and protects mice from metabolic complications induced by high-fat diet

To investigate the effects of jucara pulp supplementation on energy homeostasis and metabolic complications in diet-induced obese mice. Mice received a control (C) or a high-fat diet (H) for 16 weeks and for half the diet was supplemented with 0.5% freeze-dried jucara powder (CJ and HJ groups, respectively). Food intake, body weight, energy expenditure, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, liver steatosis, and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in brown adipocytes were analyzed. Jucara pulp supplementation reduced body weight gain in HJ compared to H group but increased body weight in CJ compared to C group. Energy intake was higher in the CJ group than in C, H, and HJ, but similar between H and HJ groups. Despite similar energy intake, jucara pulp supplementation increased energy expenditure in HJ compared to H group. However, UCP-1 expression was not affected by jucara. Also, H mice exhibited a severe diet-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, all of which were significantly improved in HJ mice. In addition, H group had higher fat content in hepatocytes than HJ, whereas no difference was observed between C and CJ. Jucara pulp has a great potential to reduce the metabolic complications associated with obesity.