Medium-chain triglycerides inhibit long-chain triglyceride-induced GIP secretion through GPR120-dependent inhibition of CCK

Summary Long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) intake strongly stimulates GIP secretion from enteroendocrine K cells and induces obesity and insulin resistance partly due to GIP hypersecretion. In this study, we found that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) inhibit GIP secretion after single LCT ingestion and clarified the mechanism underlying MCT-induced inhibition of GIP secretion. MCTs reduced the CCK effect after single LCT ingestion in wild-type (WT) mice, and a CCK agonist completely reversed MCT-induced inhibition of GIP secretion. In vitro studies showed that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) inhibit long-chain fatty acid (LCFA)-stimulated CCK secretion and increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations through inhibition of GPR120 signaling. Long-term administration of MCTs reduced obesity and insulin resistance in high-LCT diet-fed WT mice, but not in high-LCT diet-fed GIP-knockout mice. Thus, MCT-induced inhibition of GIP hypersecretion reduces obesity and insulin resistance under high-LCT diet feeding condition.

Graphical abstract

Highlights • MCTs inhibit LCT-induced GIP secretion by reducing LCT-induced CCK action • MCFAs derived from MCTs are expected to have antagonistic properties to GPR120 • Inhibition of GIP secretion alleviates obesity under high-LCT diet feeding condition

Biological sciences; Physiology; Endocrinology