Interesterified palm oil consumption exacerbates the inflammatory response and adverse remodeling of visceral adipose tissue in mice

Interesterified palm oil (IPO) is widely used by the food industry, but its effects on chronic inflammation remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of chronic IPO consumption on inflammatory signaling and adverse remodeling of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) in C57BL/6 mice. The animals received normocaloric and normolipidemic diets (AIN-93M) containing soybean oil (SO), palm oil (PO), or IPO for 10 weeks (013/2019). IPO consumption increased visceral fat mass (+126% vs. SO; +11% vs. PO) and induced adipocyte hypertrophy (+188% vs. SO). In plasma, IPO consumption elevated interleukin-6 concentrations (IL-6, +35% vs. SO), and both PO and IPO groups exhibited an increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α; PO +19%, IPO +29% vs. SO). In eWAT, associated with the accumulation of saturated fatty acids, there was an increase in the mRNA expression of C-C motif chemokine ligand (Ccl2, +245% vs. SO) and Nlrp3 (+61% vs. PO and SO), considered a key element for the processing and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (Il-1β, +126% vs. SO). This inflammatory microenvironment induced by IPO consumption was associated with increased expression of caspase-3 (Casp3, +59% vs. SO and +46% vs. PO), Col1a1 (+239% vs. SO and +66% vs. PO), and reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa, -62% vs. SO). In conclusion, IPO consumption, even in a normocaloric diet, altered lipid metabolism and promoted a profile consistent with an exacerbated inflammatory and fibrotic state, associated with dysfunctional tissue remodeling.