Vitamin D Alleviates Obesity in Insulin Resistance Rat Model via Adipokine-Gut Microbiome Regulation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.13010Keywords:
Adipokines, Allobaculum, 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D3, Lactobacillus, Lee index, Adipokines, Allobaculum, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, Lactobacillus, Lee indexAbstract
Introduction: It was established that vitamin D reduced insulin resistance in prediabetic rats in a model induced by a high-fat, high-glucose diet and low-dose streptozotocin (HFDS). However, it remained unclear whether vitamin D could assist with obesity and dysbiosis in the insulin-resistant rat model induced by HFDS. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats in the study were randomly divided into two groups. Six rats were fed a standard diet, while 18 were fed an HFDS diet. Once obesity and insulin resistance were established, the 18 HFDS rats were randomly assigned to three treatment groups for 12 weeks: one group received no treatment, another received 100 IU/kg BW of vitamin D3, and the third received 1000 IU/kg BW of vitamin D3. Body weight and the Lee index were assessed before and after treatment. At the end of the experiment, microbiome profiles of colon segments and epididymal fat adipose tissues were analyzed. Results and Discussion: We found that in a rat model induced by HFDS, vitamin D3 supplementation at both doses reduced body weight, the Lee index, and adipose tissue size, and increased the adiponectin/leptin ratio. The richness and relative abundance of gut microbiome richness and composition alongside improvements in obesity profiles. The main species modulated by vitamin D3 supplementation; notably Lactobacillus spp. and Allobaculum increased, whereas Blautia spp. decreased, particularly at the dose of 1000 IU/kg BW. Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation was associated with improvements in obesity-related parameters, accompanied by changes in the adiponectin/leptin ratio and shifts in gut microbiome diversity and species composition.
HIGHLIGHTS
Obesity escalates the process of insulin resistance to type 2 diabetes. In our study, vitamin D3 supplementation reduced body weight in an insulin-resistant rat model induced by a high-fat, high-glucose diet and low-dose streptozotocin. The weight loss was accompanied by restored adipokine balance, an increased adiponectin/leptin ratio, decreased adipocyte size, and a shift in microbial composition including increased Lactobacillus and Allobaculum.
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