Taurine supplementation decreases fat accumulation by suppressing FAS and enhancing ATGL

Abstract The effect of taurine on obese rats was studied. Methods: taurine was added to drinking water and given to animals for 21 weeks. ATGL (adipose triglyceride lipase) inhibitor was injected for one week. The results showed that taurine could significantly reduce the body weight and body fat content of fat rats, reduce the levels of the serum TG, TC and LDL-C, increase the level of HDL-C, reduce the lipid deposition in the liver and the aortic arch, decrease the expression of FAS (fatty acid synthase) and increase the expression of ATGL. In addition, in the case of taurine intake, atglistatin (ATGL inhibitor) didn’t affect the expression of FAS and ATGL. Conclusion: Taurine can reduce fat deposition induced by high-fat diet in SD rats, which may be related to reducing FAS content and increasing ATGL content. Taurine does not completely regulate the expression of FAS and ATGL through the ATGL pathway.