Assessment of safety profile and anti-obesity effects of innovative plant-based food formulations in a zebrafish diet-induced obesity model.

Abstract

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder associated with impaired glucose, lipid metabolism and excessive visceral fat accumulation. Therefore, the development of effective dietary strategies, including functional foods, has attracted increasing interest. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and the metabolic effects of three food formulations (F1, F2, and F3) using a zebrafish model. The safety profile of the complex of active substances was assessed in zebrafish embryos and larvae by evaluating survival, hatching rate, spontaneous movement, morphological abnormalities, and cardiac function. To investigate metabolic effects, diet-induced obesity was established in adult zebrafish. Supplementation with F1, F2, or F3 did not toxicity or developmental defects at early life stages. It resulted in significant reductions in body weight, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels compared to obese controls. Additionally, formulations reduced visceral fat content, while F1 and F2 also significantly decreased subcutaneous fat. These findings demonstrate that the tested food formulations are safe and exert beneficial effects on metabolic parameters and fat accumulation in zebrafish. The results suggest their potential as functional dietary interventions contributing to the amelioration of diet-induced obesity-related metabolic dysfunction.