Antiobesity effects of kimchi in diet-induced obese mice

Background: The present study was investigated to confirm the antiobesity effect of kimchi in high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice. Methods: Mice in the high-fat diet (HFD) group, standardized kimchi (S-Kimchi) group, and Korean commercial kimchi (D-Kimchi) group, but not in the normal-diet group, were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for the first 4 weeks to induce obesity. From the 5th to 8th weeks, the S- and D-Kimchi groups were fed an HFD containing 10% of S-Kimchi or D-Kimchi, respectively. After 8 weeks, mice were sacrificed and obesity-related factors were determined. Results: Body and adipose tissue weights were significantly lower in the kimchi-treated groups than in the HFD group. In particular, in the D-Kimchi group, serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, insulin, and leptin were significantly lower, and serum levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and adiponectin were markedly higher than those in the HFD group. Moreover, hepatic mRNA expression of adipogenesis-related genes (CCAAT/enhance-binding protein-α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, and fatty acid synthase) in the kimchi-treated groups were lower than those in the HFD group, but fatty acid oxidation-related carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 expressions were higher. In addition, kimchi decreased the mRNA levels of the inflammation-related monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and interleukin-6 in epididymal fat tissue. Conclusion: Administration of kimchi, especially of D-Kimchi, which contained Leuconostoc mesenteroides DRC 0211 starter and other subingredients, exhibited antiobesity activity by reducing body weight gains and adipose tissue weights; modulating serum lipid profiles and hepatic lipogenesis; regulating serum insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels; and reducing adipocyte size and inflammatory response in epididymal fat tissues.