Mouse Models to Study Antiobesogenic Effects of Carotenoids.

Carotenoids entail a vast potential to tackle health problems including obesity and some of its comorbidities. The use of animal models remains necessary, particularly at early stages of research (preclinical) and for advancing in mechanistic aspects of carotenoid action. No single animal model completely mimics human absorption and metabolism of carotenoids, and the best model must be chosen considering the specific application, characteristics of the individual models, and funding and facilities available. Here, we propose three protocols in mice to investigate the potential of a given carotenoid, carotenoid mixture, or carotenoid-rich extract to (a) counteract the development of obesity and prevent the metabolic alterations caused by feeding mice a moderate high-fat diet; (b) improve the metabolic profile of obese animals with metabolic alterations caused by chronic high-fat diet feeding; and (c) act as coadjuvants in weight loss strategies (reversion to a low fat diet) applied to diet-induced obese animals.