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In the production of chocolate, only cocoa seeds are used, generating by-products that are generally discarded, increasing the risk of environmental contamination. Given fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, and flavonoid content the use of cacao pod husks can generate nutraceutical products for human consumption. In contrast, obesity represents a major public health problem worldwide. Cacao derivatives are able to modulate overweight and lipid disorders. The objective of present work was to prepare and characterize products using cacao by-products and analyze their effects on altered cardiometabolic risk markers in an obesity model induced by high fat diet and fructose ingestion in rats. The effects of a pellet and extracts made with outer pod husk and kernel husk for 5 weeks were analyzed in an obesity rat model. The treatments significantly decreased body weight by 39%, systolic blood pressure by 27%, triglycerides by 55%, total cholesterol by 24%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 37%, and the triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein ratio by 54%. Cacao by-products improved the metabolic function of obese animals, without causing secondary effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing treatments for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are not completely effective. The need for new alternatives without adverse effects and low cost, such as the flavonoid (-)-epicatechin (EC), which has beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular diseases, arises. The objective of this work was to analyze EC effects in the NASH induced by a Paigen-type diet (PD). Mice were administered with (1) normal chow and water, (2) PD + fructose 30% and (3) PD + fructose 30% + EC (1 mg/kg) per gavage during 9 weeks. At the end of each treatment, serum was collected for analysis of the biochemical profile and liver enzymes. The liver was collected for microscopic analysis and for the evaluation of the relative expression of Plin2, Plin3, CD36, adiponectin and UCP2. Results showed that EC reduced weight gain and decreased triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, TG/high-density lipoprotein and the activity of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase), suggesting lower liver damage. The microscopic analysis showed less "balloonization" of the hepatocyte, small drops of lipids, less accumulation of collagen and infiltration of inflammatory cells as compared to nontreated group. Finally, a decrease in the expression of Plin 2 was observed. While CD36 decreased, adiponectin and UCP2 increased. In conclusion, EC improves the biochemical profile, the microscopic characteristics and protein expression. Therefore, it may be a possible therapeutic approach for NASH since it prevents the progression of the hepatic and metabolic damage induced by high-fat diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]