Potential effects of kombucha on endoplasmic reticulum stress and weight regulation in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background Obesity is increasingly recognized as a global metabolic disease, often accompanied by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Kombucha, a fermented tea known for its health-promoting effects, has been associated with weight loss and lipid-lowering properties. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of kombucha on ER stress in obese rats induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods Fifty male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control, Kombucha, HFD, and HFD combined with Kombucha (HFD + Kombucha). Rats in the Kombucha and HFD + Kombucha groups received oral kombucha at a dose of 5 ml/kg daily for 5 weeks. Body weights were monitored weekly. At the end of the experimental period, liver tissues were collected for analysis of ER stress markers (p-inositol-requiring enzyme 1, activating transcription factor 6, p-JNK, p-eIF2a, GRP78) using western blotting. Serum samples were also analyzed for metabolic parameters. Summary Rats treated with kombucha exhibited less weight gain compared to those fed an HFD alone. Although no statistically significant differences were observed in the expression of ER stress markers, numerical reductions were noted in the kombucha-treated groups, suggesting a potential modulatory effect on ER stress rather than a definitive reduction. Kombucha may be associated with reduced weight gain and may have a potential role in ER stress modulation; however, these findings should be considered preliminary due to the lack of statistically significant differences. Importantly, the western blot findings do not support a definitive conclusion regarding ER stress attenuation. The absence of statistically significant differences in ER stress markers represents an important limitation of the study. Further studies involving larger cohorts and longer intervention periods are needed to confirm these findings.