Consumption of the total Western diet differentially affects the response to green tea in rodent models of chronic disease compared to the AIN93G diet.

SCOPE: In pre-clinical studies investigating bioactive components, the efficacy of the bioactive is likely influenced by the basal diet provided to rodents. In this study, we hypothesized that a model bioactive, green tea extract (GTE), would have different effects on colon carcinogenesis, body composition, and lipid metabolism in mice fed a basal diet formulated to promote animal health and growth (AIN93G) as compared to a Western diet that emulates typical American intakes of micro- and macronutrients, the total Western diet (TWD).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were fed either AIN93G or TWD, with or without GTE added to drinking water for 18 weeks. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in azoxymethane-initiated mice was nearly three times greater in mice fed TWD compared to AIN93G. Consumption of GTE suppressed ACF development only in mice fed the TWD. Similarly, supplementation with GTE suppressed weight gain and fasted glucose only in mice fed TWD, while GTE suppressed fat mass in mice fed either diet. Irrespective of diet, GTE supplementation increased cecum weight and decreased cecal SCFA concentration.

CONCLUSION: Collectively, these observations indicate that the TWD influences the bioactivity of GTE in rodent models of obesity, metabolism, and carcinogenesis.