Upcycled romaine lettuce powder as a dietary supplement for control of metabolic syndrome

Authors: GARCIA-ROCHA, KARLA - Autonomous University Of Sinaloa; CAPACETA-OSUNA, ANDREA - Autonomous University Of Sinaloa; OCHOA-ACOSTA, ALICIA - Autonomous University Of Sinaloa; Avena-Bustillos, Roberto; OSUNA-MARTINEZ, ULISES - Autonomous University Of Sinaloa; CÁRDENAS-TORRES, FELIZNANDO - Autonomous University Of Sinaloa; Yokoyama, Wallace - Wally; McHugh, Tara; TERAN-CABANILLAS, ELI - Autonomous University Of Sinaloa

Submitted to: ACS Food Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2023
Publication Date: 8/3/2023
Citation: Garcia-Rocha, K.F., Capaceta-Osuna, A., Ochoa-Acosta, A., Avena Bustillos, R.D., Osuna-Martinez, U., Cárdenas-Torres, F.I., Yokoyama, W.H., McHugh, T.H., Teran-Cabanillas, E. 2023. Upcycled romaine lettuce powder as a dietary supplement for control of metabolic syndrome. ACS Food Science and Technology. 3(8):1393-1402. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.3c00204.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.3c00204

Interpretive Summary: The study investigated the potential health benefits of using Romaine lettuce powder (RLP) as a dietary supplement for preventing metabolic syndrome (MS) induced by a high-fat diet in mice. The outer leaves of Romaine lettuce are usually discarded during harvesting, but RLP can be derived from these leaves and has high levels of fiber, total soluble phenolics (TSP), and antioxidant capacity. The study found that supplementing the high-fat diet with 10% RLP lowered glucose and insulin levels, prevented the development of insulin resistance, and reduced adipose tissue and liver weight in mice. The results suggest that incorporating RLP into the diet has potential health benefits for regulating body weight, lowering lipid levels, and improving glucose metabolism. Overall, the study highlights the potential of upcycling discarded Romaine lettuce outer leaves for health benefits.

Technical Abstract: During harvesting of Romaine lettuce, the outer leaves are discarded in the field, which presents an excellent opportunity for upcycling. We previously developed Romaine lettuce powder (RLP) using these outer leaves, which possesses high levels of fiber, total soluble phenolics (TSP), and a remarkable antioxidant capacity. In this study, we assessed the preventive effects, and health benefits of RLP in mice fed with a high-fat diet that induced metabolic syndrome (MS). The mice that received a 10% RLP supplement in their high-fat diet showed reduced glucose and insulin levels and the prevention of insulin resistance. Additionally, adipose tissue and liver weight were lower in the group fed with a high-fat diet supplemented with 10% RLP compared to the high-fat and standard diet. Moreover, mice fed with 10% RLP showed reduced microvesicular steatosis and hepatic vasodilation, compared to the high-fat diet-fed mice, indicating a potential positive effect of lettuce powder on liver health. Our findings suggest that incorporating RLP into the diet may also benefit human health.