Cocoa powder, cocoa extract and epicatechin attenuate hypercaloric diet-induced obesity through enhanced β-oxidation and energy expenditure in white adipose tissue

Abstract Cocoa flavan-3-ols have been shown to exert a positive influence on obesity-related metabolic risk factors. This study evaluated the effects of cocoa powder (Co), cocoa extract (Co-Ex) and its main flavanols (Epi, Cat and PB2) on the expression of genes involved in WAT lipid metabolism in a rat model of hypercaloric diet-induced obesity. Co, Co-Ex and Epi are associated with adipogenesis, β-oxidation and energy expenditure in WAT linked to upregulating the expression of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), PPARα, PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC1α), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Additionally, these treatments are associated with decreases in body weight gain and total fat mass and insulin resistance, reduced lipogenesis, and inflammation related to downregulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene expression, decreasing TNF-α and increasing ApN concentrations in WAT. Co, Co-Ex and Epi may be considered to be potential agents for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic disorders.