Polyphenol-Rich Coffee Leaf Extract Alleviates High-Fat Diet-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction through Modulation of Barrier Integrity, Enterohepatic Axis, and Gut Microbiota.

WEAC supplementation reduced body weight in high-fat diet-fed mice.

• C57BL/6 mice were used as the animal model and fed a high-fat diet (HFD)
• WEAC was administered at doses of 100-200 mg/kg body weight
• Body weight reduction was observed across the supplementation range

WEAC supplementation lowered TNF-α levels in multiple tissues of HFD-fed mice.

• TNF-α levels were reduced in serum, colon, liver, and brain
• WEAC doses tested were 100-200 mg/kg body weight
• Reduction in TNF-α indicates systemic anti-inflammatory effects across multiple organ systems

WEAC improved intestinal barrier integrity in HFD-fed mice.

• Improvement was evidenced by upregulation of tight-junction proteins
• Intestinal d-lactic acid leakage was reduced, indicating reduced barrier permeability
• These findings are consistent with the previously reported epithelial barrier-protective effects of WEAC in vitro

WEAC reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and improved lipid profiles in HFD-fed mice.

• Liver histology revealed reduced lipid accumulation and ballooning degeneration following WEAC treatment
• Decreased triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were observed
• These hepatic findings correspond to improvements in the enterohepatic axis

WEAC intervention decreased total bile acid levels and altered short-chain fatty acid profiles and key phytochemical metabolism in HFD-fed mice.

• Total bile acid levels were decreased following WEAC supplementation
• Short-chain fatty acid profiles were altered by WEAC treatment
• Key phytochemical metabolism was also modified by WEAC intervention

WEAC modulated gut microbiota composition in HFD-fed mice.

• WEAC reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio
• Abundance of Parabacteroides, unclassified_Muribaculaceae, and Akkermansia was increased
• Blautia levels were lowered following WEAC supplementation
• These microbiota changes are associated with improved gut homeostasis

WEAC showed no adverse effects in mice fed a normal diet.

• A normal diet control group was included to assess safety of WEAC supplementation
• No adverse effects were detected in normal diet-fed mice receiving WEAC
• This finding supports the safety profile of WEAC at the tested doses of 100-200 mg/kg body weight