Ginger extract increases muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and serum HDL-cholesterol level in high-fat diet-fed rats

Mitochondrial dysfunction and dyslipidemia are associated with obesity-linked metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ginger extract on muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) metabolism in high-fat diet-fed rats. Supplementation with ginger extract reduced final body weight and epididymal adipose tissue mass without affecting energy intake (p < 0.05). Ginger extract increased mitochondrial size and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content as well as key genes expression related to mitochondrial biogenesis, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and transcription factor A (Tfam) in skeletal muscle (p < 0.05). In addition, ginger extract elevated serum HDL-C along with up-regulating ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) mRNA in liver (p < 0.05). These results suggest that ginger extract may have a beneficial effect against obesity-related metabolic disorders with elevating muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and serum HDL-C level.