Ellagic Acid Promotes Lipid Reduction in High‐Fat Diet‐Induced Obese Mice by Remodeling the Gut Microbiota and Activating PPAR Pathways and Retinol Metabolism in Adipose Tissue

Ellagic acid (EA), a bioactive polyphenol abundant in pomegranate and berries, exhibits potential in metabolic regulation. This study investigates EA's anti-obesity mechanisms, focusing on its effects on gut microbiota and transcriptional regulation in adipose tissue. After a 9-week high-fat diet feeding, mice were divided into groups and treated with low-dose EA (10 mg/kg/day), high-dose EA (30 mg/kg/day), or urolithin A (20 mg/kg/day) for 7 weeks, with healthy and obese controls included. In diet-induced obese mice, a 7-week EA intervention (10 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced adiposity (-46.96%, p < 0.01) and improved serum lipid profiles. Transcriptome analysis revealed PPARγ upregulation (380.34%, p < 0.001) and retinol metabolism activation (Rdh11, 1.51-fold) in white adipose tissue. Gut microbiota analysis showed that low-dose EA inhibited Mailhella massiliensis abundance (73.64%, p < 0.001). It also enhanced nocturnal energy expenditure (56.79%, p < 0.05) and improved antioxidant capacity. In contrast, high-dose EA and UroA neither activated these pathways nor suppressed harmful bacteria, and physical activity levels remained unchanged. Low-dose EA ameliorates obesity via PPARγ-mediated lipid metabolism, retinol metabolism activation, and gut microbiota modulation (M. massiliensis suppression). EA-rich foods may serve as functional dietary strategies for obesity management.