Effects of Dietary Allitol and D-Allulose on Body Fat Accumulation and Cecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

We investigated the effects of a single and simultaneous intake of allitol and D-allulose on body fat accumulation and cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and accurately assessed the contribution of rare sugars to body fat in rats fed a high-fat diet that led to obesity. Thirty-two male 3-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, allitol, D-allulose, and allitol + D-allulose. The rats were fed experimental diets and water ad libitum for 11 weeks. High doses of allitol or D-allulose can induce diarrhea in rat; hence, each group of rats was acclimated to 1-5% allitol and D-allulose incrementally for the initial 20 days. After the feeding period, all rats were euthanized and collected tissues. Perirenal, mesenteric, and total intra-abdominal adipose tissue weights were significantly reduced by dietary Dallulose, whereas dietary allitol tended to decrease these adipose tissue weights. Both allitol and D-allulose significantly decreased carcass and total body fat mass. We confirmed that both dietary allitol and D-allulose inhibited body fat accumulation; however, D-allulose did not inhibit hepatic lipogenesis and no synergy was observed between dietary allitol and D-allulose in terms of anti-obesity effects. Dietary allitol significantly increased cecal SCFA levels and these effects were more potent than those of dietary D-allulose. The antiobesity effect of allitol may be due to the action of SCFAs, especially butyric acid, produced by the gut microbiota. Many of the effects of allitol as an alternative sweetener remain unknown, and further research is required.