Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of bilateral ovariectomy and fructose diet on obesity-related metabolic parameters in female rats. The potential of resveratrol, alone and in combination with melatonin, to counter ensuing obesity and precipitated metabolic disturbances was explored.
Methods: Eight-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation and randomly assigned to standard diet (SD) or fructose diet (FD) groups (n = 6 rats per group) as follows: Sham; OVX + FD; OVX + SD; OVX + FD + resveratrol 50 mg/kg/day PO (RESV); OVX + SD + RESV; OVX + FD + melatonin 3 mg/kg/day PO in drinking water (M); OVX + SD + M; OVX + FD + RESV + M; OVX + SD + RESV + M. All treatments were given for 7 weeks. Biochemical, dietary, and anthropometrical parameters were estimated, and abdominal fat pads and the liver were examined for histopathological alterations.
Results: Ovariectomy caused an increase in body weight, body mass index, feed efficiency, serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids, which was further exacerbated by fructose diet. These parameters were significantly decreased by resveratrol, alone and in combination with melatonin. Histopathological examination revealed reduced hypertrophy of adipocytes in adipose tissue and reduced macrophage infiltration in the liver.
Conclusions: Resveratrol/melatonin combination effectively normalizes anthropometrical, biochemical, and histopathological parameters in ovariectomized rats with fructose diet–induced obesity and associated metabolic alterations. The combination should be explored for potential benefits in postmenopausal women.