β-Lactoglobulin delivery system for enhancing EGCG biological efficacy in HFD obesity mice model

Enriching widely-consumed foods and beverages with nutraceuticals is an important disease-prevention strategy. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the green-tea polyphenol, is a potent antioxidant with numerous attributed health benefits. However, it is bitter, astringent, and susceptible to oxidation. Herein we studied our recently developed beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lg)-based delivery system, assessing its efficacy in the prevention of metabolic syndrome effects in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice model. Metabolic effects were evaluated in mice fed either HFD or normal diet (ND), which concomitantly consumed either milk (1% fat) fortified with EGCG-beta-Lg complexes, or free EGCG, or water with EGCG or water only, for 12 weeks. HFD mice receiving EGCG-beta-Lg complexes in milk, had significantly lower liver-triglycerides levels compared to control (HFD-water) group. Moreover, compared to free EGCG in milk, EGCG-beta-Lg complexes significantly improved glucose tolerance in both diets. Thus, beta-Lg delivery system may improve the efficacy of polyphenols like EGCG in preventing the metabolic syndrome.