Slowly Digestible Carbohydrates against Obesity by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Modulating Inflammation through the AMPK/PPAR Pathway

Although carbohydrate intake is associated with obesity, optimizing carbohydrate quality alone for weight management remains unclear. This study confirmed the slow-digesting properties of a slow-digesting carbohydrate (SDC) and investigated its impact on obesity. Human trials showed that SDC reduced blood glucose peaks by 15-20% compared to japonica rice, with lower glycemic indices (40.2 and 38.5) than japonica rice (66.3). This was partially attributed to changes in the V-type structure and increased ordered microstructures of the SDC. Animal experiments showed that high-quality SDC significantly reduced body weight, insulin resistance, and associated inflammation, effectively alleviating obesity. It is due to their activation of the AMPK/PPAR pathway, downregulating lipogenic enzymes, upregulating UCP1 and lipases, and promoting M2 macrophage polarization to inhibit adipose tissue inflammation. These results demonstrate that improving carbohydrate quality alone significantly enhances obesity management, underscoring SDC's role in prevention and revealing its mechanisms, thus offering a foundation for obesity intervention strategies.