Effects of native or partially defatted hemp seeds on hindgut function, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in diet-induced obese rats

The aim was to compare the effects of a small amount of native and partially defatted hemp seeds on hindgut function, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat (HF) diet. After 8 weeks of experimental feeding, HF dietary feeding induced obesity and a series of metabolic disorders in rats. Supplementation of the HF diet with both seed forms increased the cecal SCFA concentrations and improved the antioxidant status of rats, especially glutathione metabolism in the liver. Dietary consumption of the defatted seeds decreased liver triglyceride accumulation, whereas it unfavorably increased the liver cholesterol content. By contrast, dietary consumption of the native seeds decreased the plasma cholesterol concentration, especially the non-HDL fraction, and increased hepatic expression of PPAR gamma. This study demonstrates that low and regular consumption of both seed forms attenuates disorders associated with an unbalanced diet, although their consumption is unable to prevent the development of obesity itself.