Momordica charantia (bitter melon) attenuates high-fat diet-associated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation
2011

Bitter Melon Reduces Brain Inflammation and Oxidative Stress from High-Fat Diet

Sample size: 32 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Nerurkar Pratibha V, Johns Lisa M, Buesa Lance M, Kipyakwai Gideon, Volper Esther, Sato Ryuei, Shah Pranjal, Feher Domonkos, Williams Philip G, Nerurkar Vivek R

Primary Institution: University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hypothesis

Can bitter melon mitigate the effects of a high-fat diet on neuroinflammation and oxidative stress?

Conclusion

Bitter melon supplementation significantly reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Supporting Evidence

  • Bitter melon reduced blood-brain barrier permeability in high-fat diet-fed mice.
  • Neuroinflammatory markers were normalized in the brains of mice supplemented with bitter melon.
  • Bitter melon supplementation decreased oxidative stress in the brains of high-fat diet-fed mice.
  • Plasma antioxidant enzymes were normalized in mice fed high-fat diet with bitter melon.
  • Bitter melon modulated the expression of stress and inflammatory proteins.

Takeaway

Bitter melon can help protect the brain from damage caused by eating too much fat.

Methodology

C57BL/6 female mice were fed a high-fat diet with and without bitter melon for 16 weeks, and various biochemical analyses were performed on their brains.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of animal models and dietary interventions.

Limitations

The study was conducted on mice, and results may not directly translate to humans.

Participant Demographics

C57BL/6 female mice, aged 4-6 weeks.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1742-2094-8-64

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