Effect of medium-chain triacylglycerols on anti-obesity effect of fucoxanthin.

Dietary effects of medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) and fucoxanthin (Fc) on abdominal fat weight were determined using KK-Ay obese mouse. Experimental diet contained MCT(0.9%), Fc (0.1%), or MCT (0.9%) +Fc (0.1%). The abdominal fat weight of mice fed with Fc was significantly lower than that of mice fed with MCT. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a key molecule for metabolic thermogenesis, was clearly expressed in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice fed Fc, but little expression in that of the mice fed MCT. The anti-obesity effect of Fc was increased by mixing Fc with MCT. This increase would be due to the increase in the absorption rate of Fc by MCT.