L-Fucose ameliorates high fat diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice

Objective To examine the role of L-Fucose on obesity and hepatic steatosis in high fat diet mice. Design Mice were randomized into three groups (1) normal chow (NC), (2) high fat diet (HFD), (3) high fat diet + L-Fucose (HFD + Fuc). While L-Fucose treatment was taken to HFD + Fuc group by means of intragastric administration starting from the 8 week, until the end of the experiment. Results We observed that HFD altered the gut microbiota composition and function, and treatment with L-Fucose attenuated enteric dysbiosis. In addition to these alterations, L-Fucose ameliorated body weight gain and fat mass and alleviated hepatic triglyceride level in HFD mice independently of glucose resistance and insulin resistance. Conclusions These fingdings suggested that a critical role for an interaction between gut microbiota, body weight gain and hepatic steatosis. It indicated that treatment with L-Fucose might be a novel strategy to prevent or treat NAFLD