Fuzhuan tea consumption imparts hepatoprotective effects and alters intestinal microbiota in high saturated fat diet-fed rats

Scope Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an obesity‐related disorder characterized by lipid infiltration of the liver. Management is limited to lifestyle modifications, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic options. The objective of this study was to examine if fermented Fuzhuan tea prevents metabolic impairments associated with development of hepatic steatosis. Methods and results Rats consumed control (CON) or high saturated fat (SAT) diets with or without Fuzhuan tea for 8 weeks. Outcomes included enzymatic and gene expression measures of metabolic dysregulation in liver and adipose tissue. Pyrosequencing was used to assess intestinal microbiota adaptations. Fuzhuan tea prevented diet‐induced inflammation in the liver. Liver triglycerides of ∼18 mg/g were observed in SAT‐fed animals, but remained similar to CON diet levels (∼12 mg/g) when supplemented with Fuzhuan tea. In adipose tissue, tea treatment prevented SAT‐induced inflammation and reduced plasma leptin approximately twofold. Fuzhuan tea also altered intestinal function and was associated with a threefold increase in two Lactobacillus spp. Conclusions These data suggest that Fuzhuan tea protects against liver and adipose tissue stress induced by a high SAT diet and positively influences intestinal function. Further investigation of the molecular targets of Fuzhuan tea is warranted. Fuzhuan tea is a fungal‐fermented Chinese tea that has a number of purported health benefits, including improved lipid parameters. Here, we demonstrate in a preclinical rodent model that Fuzhuan tea consumption prevents several negative effects associated with consumption of a high saturated fat diet. Specifically, Fuzhuan tea consumption prevents saturated fat‐induced inflammation in the liver and adipose tissue, prevents accumulation of triglycerides in the liver, increases levels of fecal Lactobacilli, and decreases circulating endotoxin. These results suggest that Fuzhuan tea warrants further investigation for prevention/treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and that modulation of these effects through interactions with the gut microbiota should be pursued.