Low-dose dietary resveratrol has differential effects on colorectal tumorigenesis in adiponectin knockout and wild-type mice

Obesity is associated with a decrease in the antiinflammatory hormone, adiponectin, and increases in the circulating concentrations of multiple proinflammatory cytokines. These changes contribute to colon tumorigenesis. Resveratrol increases adiponectin production in adipocytes and attenuates the development of colon cancer. Thus, we hypothesized that adiponectin is an integral component of the mechanism by which resveratrol antagonizes colorectal tumorigenesis. To investigate this, we induced tumorigenesis in adiponectin knockout (KO) and wild-type (Wt) C57BL/6 mice through combined azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate treatment during which mice were fed a high-fat, lard-based diet, or the same diet containing 20 mg/kg resveratrol. After 14wk on diet, Wt mice gained more weight and, on a percentage basis, had higher fat mass and lower lean mass than KO mice. Resveratrol tended to attenuate this response in male Wt mice. Resveratrol also tended to reduce aberrant crypt foci development and decrease circulating interleukin 6 and insulin concentrations in male but not female Wt mice. Taken together, resveratrol improved overall health of obese Wt but not KO mice as hypothesized with a differential sex response.