Anti-obesity and immunomodulatory effects of oil and fermented extract dried from Tenebrio molitor larvae on aged obese mice

Autor: Seul-Ki Mun, Chang Joo Jang, Semi Jo, Si-Hyoun Park, Hyun Bo Sim, Sonny C. Ramos, Hyeongyeong Kim, Yu-Jeong Choi, Dae-Han Park, Kyung-Wuk Park, Beom-Gyun Jeong, Dae Heon Kim, Kyung-Yun Kang, Jong-Jin Kim
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Animal Cells and Systems, Vol 28, Iss 1, Pp 340-352 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 19768354
2151-2485
1976-8354
DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2024.2374547
Popis: Preventing disease and maintaining the health of the elderly are crucial goals for an aging population, with obesity and immune function restoration being of paramount importance. Obesity, particularly visceral obesity characterized by excessive fat accumulation around the abdominal organs, is linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction. Globally, obesity is considered a disease, prompting significant research interest in its treatment. Therefore, it is essential to explore potential therapeutic and preventive strategies to address obesity and the decline in immune function brought about by aging. Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML), commonly known as ‘mealworms,’ are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic and linoleic acids, and essential amino acids, such as isoleucine and tyrosine. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the consumption of TML oil and mealworm fermented extract (MWF-1) on obesity and immunological changes in aged obese mice. Our data showed reduced body fat in 23-week-old C57BL/6 mice fed processed TML products for 6 weeks. Additionally, the characteristically high levels of serum triglycerides decreased by treating with TML oil. The immune responsiveness results confirmed an increase in B cells by treating with MWF-1, while cytokine levels (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2, and −6) were restored to levels similar to young mice. These results suggest that TML oil and MWF-1 are promising dietary supplements for addressing obesity and restoring immune function.
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