Anti-Obesity Effect of Porcine Collagen Peptide in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice by Regulating Adipogenesis

Obesity is one of the most common diseases caused by an imbalance in the intake and expenditure of energy, and it is associated with various metabolic complications. This study aimed at investigating the anti-obesity effects and mechanisms of porcine collagen peptide (PCP) using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The PCP treatment significantly inhibited the adipocyte differentiation and attenuated the mRNA expression of transcription factors (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha [C/EBP alpha] and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPAR gamma]) and the lipogenic gene (fatty acid synthase [FAS]) expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In the in vivo study, HFD-fed mice were fed low- (1.5 g/kg body weight/day) and high- (4.5 g/kg body weight/day) PCP for 12 weeks and compared with the normal diet-fed group and HFD-fed control group. The PCP-fed groups showed significantly lower body weight gain, white fat weight gain, serum triglycerides, and adipocyte size compared with the HFD-fed group. The changes in body fat were associated with the upregulation of adiponectin and the downregulation of leptin, C/EBP alpha, PPAR gamma, and FAS. These results suggest that PCP has the potential to reduce obesity by suppressing adipogenesis and could be applied as a functional food material.