Pea Albumin Extracted from Pea (pisum Sativum L.) Seed Protects Mice from High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Modulating Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota

Plant protein has been reported to play a key role in the prevention of obesity and associated complications. It is unknown whether pea albumin may exert anit-obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders alleviation. Pea albumin was isolated from pea seed (Pisum sativum L.) and determined its functional role for anti-obesity and metabolic disorders alleviation in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Pea albumin administration reduced body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammatory cytokines secretion, and alleviated hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed mice. Interestingly, pea albumin inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro and modulated lipid metabolism by upregulating critical proteins implicated in lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation, and downregulating lipogenesis in vivo. Moreover, pea albumin restored gut microbial composition to normal fat diet condition and selectively promoted the growth of beneficial gut bacteria (Akkermansia, Parabacteroides etc.). Collectively, the data demonstrated that pea albumin protects mice from HFD-induced obesity and associated metabolic disorders.