The effect of mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) on metabolic and inflammatory parameters in high-fat diet-fed Wistar rats

This study investigated the effects of mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) aqueous extract consumption on metabolic indicators and inflammatory response of peritoneal macrophages in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Wistar rats were fed a control diet or a HFD for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, rats received, or not, daily doses of yerba mate for 4 weeks. The consumption of yerba mate promoted weight loss, attenuated the HFD-detrimental effects on adiposity and insulin sensitivity and decreased blood levels of the inflammatory biomarkers (p < 0.05). Concerning peritoneal macrophages, mate tea consumption decreased the production of interleukin (IL)-6, but did not influence the production of IL-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor-a and nitric oxide; cytokine mRNA expression; or the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B signalling pathway. In summary, the consumption of mate tea had no consistent effect in the inflammatory response of peritoneal macrophages, but reduced cardiometabolic risk markers.