Background: Obesity induced brain infammation is associated with cognitive disorders. We aimed to investigate
the infuence of vitamin D on hypothalamus and hippocampus infammatory response in high‑fat diet induced obese
rats.
Methods: In the beginning of the study, 40 rats were divided into two groups: control diet and high fat diet (HFD)
for 16 weeks; then each group subdivided into two groups including: N, ND + vitamin D, HFD and HFD + vitamin D.
Vitamin D supplementation was done for 5 weeks at 500 IU/kg dosage. IL‑6, IL‑1β, NF‑Kβ and acetylcholine (ACH) and
brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) concentrations in hippocampus and hypothalamus homogenate samples
were measured by commercial ELISA kits.
Results: Vitamin D administration, reduced food intake and weight gain in studied groups (P < 0.001). Vitamin D
reduced hippocampus acetylcholine concentrations in ND + vitamin D group (P < 0.001). High fat diet increased hip‑
pocampus IL‑6 concentrations signifcantly (P < 0.05) compared with normal diet receiving groups. Vitamin D could
not have signifcant efects on IL‑6 concentrations. Vitamin D administrations reduced IL‑1β, NF‑Kβ and acetylcholine
concentration and BDNF concentrations in ND + vitamin D compared with ND group. These reductions were not
signifcant in HFD + vitamin D versus HFD group.
Conclusion: According to our results, vitamin D reduced food intake and weight gain and modulated the HFD
induced infammatory response in hippocampus and hypothalamus of high fat diet induced obesity. Therefore, this
neurosteroid, can be suggested as a supplemental therapeutic tool in prevention of obesity related cognitive and
neurodegenerative problems.

• The efects of vitamin D administration on brain infammatory markers in high fat diet induced obese rats