Effect of Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) Fiber on Energy Intake and Adipose Tissue Profiles in Mice Fed with High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Jicama (Pachyrhizuz erosus, Fabaceae) has been reported to elicit various medicinal benefits against metabolic disturbances. We also have previously demonstrated that extracted jicama fiber (JF) could sustain normoglycemic state in high-sugar diet fed mice. In this present study, we investigated the effectivity of jicama fiber in preventing the dysregulation of energy metabolism as well as adiposity in adult male BALB/c mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Three groups of animals were treated with normal diet (ND), HFD, and HFD in combination with 25% JF (w/w), respectively for 8 weeks ad libitum. Furthermore, food intake, energy intake, water intake, white adipose (WAT) and brown adipose (BAT) tissue mass, kidney and liver weight as well as organ index were determined. Our investigation revealed that JF 25% could preclude the perturbation of circadian feeding and energy intake rhythms caused by HFD but significantly reduced total water intake. JF also effectively counteracted the marked increase of WAT and decrease of BAT weight and its index in HFD fed mice. Furthermore, JF did not significantly alter the weight and index of both kidney and liver in HFD fed mice. This finding suggests that JF could be used as a potent supplement to minimize the disruption of energy homeostasis and obesity caused by HFD.