Effects of yeast polysaccharide on biochemical indices, antioxidant status, histopathological lesions and genetic expressions related with lipid metabolism in mice fed with high fat diet

•High fat diet resulted in abnormalities of lipid metabolism and antioxidant status in mice.•YPS significantly alleviated the abnormalities caused by high fat diet.•YPS decreased lipogenesis by changing genetic expressions related with lipid metabolism.•YPS may be useful to ameliorate high fat diet induced obesity.

The present study investigated the effects of yeast polysaccharide (YPS) on mice fed a high-fat diet (15%). Mice were fed either a normal control diet (ND) or an HFD supplemented without or with YPS (250 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg) respectively for 7 weeks. Mice were collected for blood samples and sacrificed for liver samples collection at the end of the experiment. Serum TC, TG, LDL, HDL, ALT and AST levels were measured using commercially available kits; hematoxylin and eosin stain was used to measure pathological changes of liver; real-time PCR was used to detect gene mRNA expressions related with lipid metabolism of liver. Results showed that HFD group significant increased the body weight, FER, TC, LDL, TG, ALT, AST, and MDA levels, and decreased HDL, GSH levels and SOD activities compared to ND group. The consumption of an HFD caused fatty liver deposits and steatosis and increased lipogenesis compared to ND. The consumption of an HFD up-regulated SREBP1, FAS and SCD1 mRNA levels and down-regulated PPARα and CPT2 mRNA levels compared to ND. Administration of YPS significantly decreased body weight gain, food intake, FER, TC, LDL, TG, ALT, AST, and MDA levels, increased SOD activity and GSH and HDL levels, alleviated fatty liver deposits and steatosis, down-regulated SREBP1, FAS and SCD1 mRNA levels and up-regulated PPARα and CPT2 mRNA levels, compared to HFD. Therefore, these results suggest that dietary supplementation with YPS may be useful to ameliorate high fat induced obesity.