Protective Effect of Tertiary Butylhydroquinone against Obesity-induced Skeletal Muscle Pathology in Post-weaning High Fat Diet Fed Rats

Background: Obesity deleteriously affects skeletal muscle functionality starting from infancy to adulthood, leading to dysfunctional skeletal muscle. Objectives: This study, therefore, evaluated the protective action of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) against obesity-induced skeletal muscle pathology in high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats. Methods: Twenty post-weaning male albino rats were randomized into four groups of five rats each as: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (HFD), Group 3 (orlistat) and Group 4 (tBHQ). Group one received rat pellets for 12 weeks, while groups 2 to 4 received HFD for 12 weeks. At the end of week 8, obesity was confirmed with Lee Obesity Index and body mass index values of ≥ 303 and ≥ 0.68 gcm², respectively. Group 3 was given oral administration of orlistat (10 mg/kg, once daily), while group 4 was given oral administration of tBHQ (25 mg/kg, once daily). Administration of orlistat and tBHQ commenced from week 9 to the end of the experiment. Results: Chronic exposure of post-weaning rats to HFD led to their development of the metabolic syndrome phenotypes in adulthood, characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance as well as induction of oxidative stress and alteration of skeletal muscle markers, which were mitigated following supplementation with orlistat and tBHQ. Conclusion: The study showed the anti-obesity potentials of tBHQ and its protective action against HFD obesity-induced skeletal muscular pathology.