Figure 10.

(a) Proposed model by which HFD leads to weight gain and adipose development. HFD leads to disturbance of gut microbiota, possibly by decreasing IAP expression and increasing TLR4 expression, which may result in metabolic endotoxemia and intestinal and systemic inflammation. Intestinal inflammation results in altered gut barrier function and promotes penetration of LPS from the lumen to the lamina propria. The precise mechanism by which metabolic endotoxemia leads to weight gain and adipose tissue development is not clear; (b) Proposed model by which supplementation of apple-derived pectin suppresses weight gain and adipose development. Pectin supplementation maintains gut microbiota, promoting recovery of IAP and TLR4 levels, which may alleviate metabolic endotoxemia and intestinal and systemic inflammation. Thus, gut barrier function is protected and penetration of LPS from the lumen to the lamina propria is suppressed. These events lead to suppression of weight gain and adipose development.