Enhanced anti-obesity effects of complex of resistant starch and chitosan in high fat diet fed rats

This study investigated the interventional effect of resistant starch (RS), chitosan (CS) and chitosan-starch complexes (CL) on blood glucose, lipid composition and oxidative stress in high-fat diet fed rats. Compared with RS or CS alone, CL administration performed more efficiently in controlling body weight and adipose tissue mass, together with an increase in HDL-C concentration, oxidative stress suppression by increasing body antioxidant capacity. Gene expression analysis demonstrated the fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis and metabolism gene SREBP-1, adipocyte differentiation gene PPARγ, cholesterol synthesis gene HMGCR, gluconeogenesis gene GAPDH, were significantly down-regulated, whilst lipid oxidation gene Acox1 and liver functional genes Gstm2, Gclc were up-regulated following CL consumption compared with single RS or CS treatment. Hypolipidemic effects were observed by CL administration and oxidative stress suppression by CL appeared to be associated with elevated antioxidant enzyme activity, increased lipid oxidation, as well as improved fatty acid and cholesterol homeostasis.