Dietary procyanidin B1 supplementation improves antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in mice

The growing prevalence of chronic diseases is closely linked to oxidative stress and lipid metabolism disorders. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with procyanidin B1 (PB1), a natural polyphenol, on antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in mice. We found that PB1 supplementation enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity, evidenced by increased T-AOC, CAT, GSH-Px, and T-SOD activities, and reduced MDA level. Further investigation revealed that PB1 upregulated the expression of Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1, suggesting that the antioxidant effects of PB1 may be mediated via the Nrf2 signaling. PB1 improved lipid parameters by reducing T-CHO, TG, and LDL-C levels, and increasing HDL-C levels. PB1 downregulated the mRNA expression of adipogenesis-associated genes and upregulated the genes involved in lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation, potentially via the PPARα-ACC1 regulatory axis. In conclusion, dietary PB1 supplementation was found to improve antioxidant defenses and lipid metabolism, indicating its potential as a functional dietary supplement. • Dietary PB1 supplementation enhances systemic antioxidant capacity of mice. • The effect of PB1 on antioxidant capacity may be achieved via Nrf2 signaling. • PB1 supplementation improves lipid metabolism of mice. • The ameliorative effect of PB1 on lipid metabolism may be mediated by PPARα-ACC1 axis.