The expansion of adipose tissue mass is the primary characteristic of the process of becoming obesity, which causes chronic adipose inflammation and is closely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipocyte hypertrophy restricts oxygen availability, leading to microenvironmental hypoxia and adipose dysfunction. This study aimed at investigating the effects of oxygenated water (OW) on adipocyte differentiation (adipogenesis) and the metabolic function of mature adipocytes. The effects of OW on adipogenesis and the metabolic function of mature adipocytes were examined. Meanwhile, the in vivo metabolic effects of long-term OW consumption on diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice were investigated. OW inhibited adipogenesis and lipid accumulation through down-regulating critical adipogenic transcription factors and lipogenic enzymes. While body weight, blood and adipose parameters were not significantly improved by long-term OW consumption, transient circulatory triglyceride-lowering and glucose tolerance-improving effects were identified. Notably, hepatic lipid contents were significantly reduced, indicating that the DIO-induced hepatic steatosis was attenuated, despite no improvements in fibrosis and lipid contents in adipose tissue being observed in the OW-drinking DIO mice. The study provides evidence regarding OW's effects on adipogenesis and mature adipocytes, and the corresponding molecular mechanisms. OW exhibits transient triglyceride-lowering and glucose tolerance-improving activity as well as hepatic steatosis-attenuating functions.
Keywords: adipocytes; adipogenesis; hepatic steatosis; lipid metabolism; oxygenated water.