Zinc Supplementation Decreases Obesity‐Related Neuroinflammation and Improves Metabolic Function and Memory in Rats

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of zinc (Zn) supplementation on metabolic and neuroinflammatory parameters in cafeteria diet (CAF)‐induced obesity in Wistar rats. Methods Animals were divided into four groups: control diet (CT); CT+Zn; CAF; CAF+Zn. The diet was administered for 20 weeks; Zn treatment (10 mg/kg/d) started at week 16 and it was conducted until the end of the diet protocol. Weight gain, visceral fat, and plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, insulin, TNF‐α, and IL‐6, as well as homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, were assessed. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba‐1) expression in the cerebral cortex and toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR‐4) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were evaluated. Memory was assessed by the novel object recognition test. Results CAF diet increased weight gain, visceral fat, and plasma glucose, triglyceride, and TNF‐α levels. Zn reversed the hyperglycemia caused by CAF diet and reduced IL‐6 levels. In the cerebral cortex, GFAP was similar between groups; Iba‐1 was increased by CAF diet but reduced in the CAF+Zn group. Zn reduced CAF‐dependent TLR‐4 increase in the hippocampus but not in the cerebral cortex. CAF‐fed animals showed impaired recognition memory, whereas Zn reversed it. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that Zn partially reverted obesity‐related metabolic dysfunction and reduced neuroinflammation and memory deficit caused by CAF diet.