Effects of quercetin on adipokine profile in fructose-induced metabolic syndrome

Purpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a health condition characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to assess the effects of quercetin, a natural flavonoid on MetS induced by fructose in Sprague Dawley rats. Materials and methods: The rats, aged 8-10 weeks, were divided into 4 groups: control (C) group, metabolic syndrome (MetS) group, control+quercetin (C+Q) group, and metabolic syndrome+quercetin (MetS+Q) group. The MetS groups received a 20% fructose solution in drinking water for a duration of 10 weeks. For the last 4 weeks of the study, rats in the Q groups were administered 50 mg/kg/body weight quercetin. After 10 weeks, serum samples were tested using ELISA for Triglycerides (TG), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), fasting insulin, resistin, (Interleukin 6) IL6, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), leptin, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and, adiponectin (ADP). The body weights, Lee index and HOMA-IR scores were also measured. Results: Fructose-fed rats showed significant increases in body weight, Lee index, HOMA-IR scores and, fasting insulin with significant decrease in HDL compared to controls. In MetS group, ADP levels were significantly lower compared to control group. In MetS+Q group, there was a tendency for reduced levels of resistin, IL-6, and leptin compared to the untreated MetS group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that quercetin may be beneficial in managing MetS, though further research is needed to explore its mechanisms and effectiveness.