A diet based on wheat bread baked with lactic acid improves glucose tolerance in hyperinsulinaemic Zucker (fa/fa) rats

In the present study, the objective was to evaluate the long-term metabolic impact of adding lactic acid to a bread-based diet in obese, hyperinsulinaemic Zucker (fa/fa) rats. All diets were based on a white wheat bread, and the lactic acid was added either prior to, or after the baking process. In addition, a diet with addition of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v was included to investigate the possible impact of probiotic lactic acid bacteria, in the absence of lactic acid. The intervention period was fourteen days and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed before and after the intervention. Glucose, insulin and glucagon were measured during both OGTTs. Other parameters studied were blood lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides) and liver cholesterol. The intervention period with the wheat bread baked in the presence of lactic acid improved glucose tolerance as judged from a 51% reduction (P=0.007) in the total glycaemic area. In contrast, there was no such improvement with the diet where lactic acid was added after baking or with addition of probiotic bacteria. No differences were seen between groups in insulin, blood lipids or liver cholesterol following the intervention. It is concluded that bread baked in the presence of lactic acid improves glucose metabolism in obese and hyperinsulinaemic Zucker rats.     

Seaweed Supplements Normalise Metabolic,Cardiovascular and Liver Responses in High-Carbohydrate,High-Fat Fed Rats

Increased seaweed consumption may be linked to the lower incidence of metabolic syndrome in eastern Asia. This study investigated the responses to two tropical green seaweeds, Ulva ohnoi (UO) and Derbesia tenuissima (DT), in a rat model of human metabolic syndrome. Male Wistar rats (330–340 g) were fed either a corn starch-rich diet or a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet with 25% fructose in drinking water, for 16 weeks. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats showed the signs of metabolic syndrome leading to abdominal obesity, cardiovascular remodelling and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Food was supplemented with 5% dried UO or DT for the final 8 weeks only. UO lowered total final body fat mass by 24%, systolic blood pressure by 29 mmHg, and improved glucose utilisation and insulin sensitivity. In contrast, DT did not change total body fat mass but decreased plasma triglycerides by 38% and total cholesterol by 17%. UO contained 18.1% soluble fibre as part of 40.9% total fibre, and increased magnesium, while DT contained 23.4% total fibre, essentially as insoluble fibre. UO was more effective in reducing metabolic syndrome than DT, possibly due to the increased intake of soluble fibre and magnesium.     

A diet based on wheat bread baked with lactic acid improves glucose tolerance in hyperinsulinaemic Zucker (fa/fa) rats

In the present study, the objective was to evaluate the long-term metabolic impact of adding lactic acid to a bread-based diet in obese, hyperinsulinaemic Zucker (fa/fa) rats. All diets were based on a white wheat bread, and the lactic acid was added either prior to, or after the baking process. In addition, a diet with addition of Lactobacillus plantarum 299v was included to investigate the possible impact of probiotic lactic acid bacteria, in the absence of lactic acid. The intervention period was fourteen days and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed before and after the intervention. Glucose, insulin and glucagon were measured during both OGTTs. Other parameters studied were blood lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides) and liver cholesterol. The intervention period with the wheat bread baked in the presence of lactic acid improved glucose tolerance as judged from a 51% reduction (P=0.007) in the total glycaemic area. In contrast, there was no such improvement with the diet where lactic acid was added after baking or with addition of probiotic bacteria. No differences were seen between groups in insulin, blood lipids or liver cholesterol following the intervention. It is concluded that bread baked in the presence of lactic acid improves glucose metabolism in obese and hyperinsulinaemic Zucker rats.     

Cooked Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) Protect Against β-cell Damage in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes is a disease characterized by a hyperglycemic stage that leads to a chronic inflammatory state. We evaluated the in vivo effect of a diet supplemented with 25 % cooked black bean cultivar Negro 8025 (N8025) flour in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The effect was assessed before (preventive-treatment) and after (treatment) the onset of diabetes. There is a significant decrease of total phenolic, tannins and anthocyanins content after cooking, and the concentration of most of the single phenols analyzed are only slightly decreased. The treatment group showed a significant reduction of glucose (22.8 %), triglycerides (21.9 %), total cholesterol (29.9 %) and LDL (56.1 %) that correlates with a protection of pancreatic ß-cells. The diet with N8025 flour before the induction of diabetes did not exert a protective effect (glucose levels are similar to the diabetic control) but they have low levels of total cholesterol (47.5 %) and LDL (56.1 %). The preventive-treatment group did not inhibit the increase of TNF-α and IL-1β, whereas the treatment group did, compared to the diabetic control. Therefore, N8025 bean supplementation can be recommended to control diabetes.     

Reduced-calorie Avocado Paste Attenuates Metabolic Factors Associated with a Hypercholesterolemic-high Fructose Diet in Rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced-calorie avocado paste on lipid serum profile, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic steatosis in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet. Thirty five male Wistar rats were randomly separated in five groups: Control group (ground commercial diet); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution (HHF group); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution supplemented with avocado pulp (HHF+A group); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution supplemented with reduced-calorie avocado paste (HHF+P group); and hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution supplemented with a reduced-calorie avocado paste plus fiber (HHF+FP group). The A, P, and FP were supplemented at 2 g/kg/d. The study was carried out for seven weeks. Rats belonging to the HHF group exhibited significantly (P?≤?0.05) higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels in serum as well as lower insulin sensitivity than the control group. Supplementation with reduced-calorie avocado paste showed a significant (P?≤?0.05) decrease in total cholesterol (43.1 %), low-density lipoprotein (45.4 %), and triglycerides (32.8 %) in plasma as well as elevated insulin sensitivity compared to the HHF group. Additionally, the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased significantly in the HHF-P group (39.8 and 35.1 %, respectively). These results are likely due to biocompounds present in the reduced-calorie avocado paste, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and dietary fibre, which are capable of reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, reduced-calorie avocado paste attenuates the effects of a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet in rats.     

Glycemic index of boiled BARLEYmax® in healthy Japanese subjects

BARLEYmax® is a unique barley rich in dietary fiber and resistant starch, which are considered to decrease the risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus. In this study, we evaluated the postprandial glycemic response for boiled BARLEYmax and determined its glycemic index in a Japanese population. Eleven healthy subjects were administered a 50 g/150 mL glucose drink twice and boiled BARLEYmax containing 50 g available carbohydrate after a wash-out period. Postprandial blood glucose, its change from baseline over 90 min, and the incremental area under the curve for BARLEYmax were statistically lower than those for the glucose drink. The glycemic index of the BARLEYmax was 24.3 (standard error of the mean, 3.5). These results suggest that in Japanese individuals, boiled BARLEYmax contributes to improving the postprandial glycemic response, which is one of the possible risk factors for the development of type II diabetes mellitus.     

The cholesterol-lowering property of soybeans fed to rats is related to the fasting duration

Numerous factors affect plasma cholesterol and, therefore, representpotential interferences with the specific effects of diet on lipid metabolism.After casein intake, serum cholesterol levels depend on many experimentalconditions in rats, such as the type of casein, the presence or absence ofcholesterol in the diet, the age and strain of rat, the diet composition, thenutritional status. The effect of fasting duration on selected parameters wasstudied in adult male Wistar rats fed a 20% casein and 1% cholesterol-based diet. No changes were observed in total serum, lipoproteins-B andHDL cholesterol and in triglyceride values after an 8 h-fast compared tonon-fasted animals. A significant decrease was induced in total andlipoproteins-B cholesterol with a 12 h-fast. A prolonged fast resulted ina significant decrease in these parameters and in triglycerides and inHDL-cholesterol levels.Fasted animals fed heated soybean meal instead of casein did not display amarked decrease in serum lipids. It appeared that the fasting effect wasmore marked in animals fed casein than in animals fed soybeans. Theseresults showed the importance of experimental conditions such as nutritional status ofanimals when blood samples are taken in studies of the hypocholesterolemiceffect of soy protein compared to casein.     

Studies on the effect of curry leaves supplementation (Murraya koenigi) on lipid profile,glycated proteins and amino acids in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients

Curry leaves powder supplementation (12 g providing 2.5 g fibre) was carried out for a period of 1 month in 30 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. The parameters monitored at 1, 15 and 30 days were fasting and 2 h post-prandial blood sugar levels, serum total cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides, total amino acids, uronic acid, glycosylated serum proteins and glysocylated low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction. The results indicated a transient reduction in fasting and post-prandial blood sugar levels at 15-day period with no appreciable changes in serum glycosylated protein levels, glycosylated low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction, serum lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol levels, uronic acid and total amino acids were observed during the supplementation period, i.e. either at 15 days or 30 days.     

茶叶中EGCG对非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠的调脂保肝作用研究

非酒精性脂肪肝是以肝实质细胞发生脂肪堆积和脂肪变性为主要特征,并伴随机体脂质代谢紊乱的一种获得性代谢疾病。以高脂饲料喂养大鼠,建立非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠模型;以低、中、高剂量（10、50、100 mg·kg^-1）表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）分别灌胃模型大鼠,探讨茶叶中EGCG对非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠的调脂保肝作用。结果表明,与模型组相比,EGCG能显著降低血清中甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）和低密度脂蛋白-胆固醇（LDL-C）含量,降低丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）活性水平,提高高密度脂蛋白-胆固醇（HDL-C）的含量,改善大鼠肝脏氧化应激状态。此外,肝脏病理切片显示,EGCG能减少肝细胞中脂滴的形成,同时脂质代谢相关基因表达量分析显示,EGCG能调理肝脏的脂质代谢。综合以上实验结果表明,EGCG能显著改善非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠的脂质代谢紊乱和脂肪性肝损伤。     

The Effects of the Decaffeination of Coffee Samples on Platelet Aggregation in Hyperlipidemic Rats

The effect of coffee on cardiovascular diseases is still controversial. It is known that the process of decaffeination may influence the chemical constitution and, therefore, the biological effects of coffee. This study thus evaluated the effects of decaffeination on the levels of total phenols and chlorogenic acids in Coffea arabica L. samples, as well as the effects of ingesting both integral and decaffeinated coffee on the lipid profile and hemostatic and hematological parameters in normal and hyperlipidemic rats. Samples of integral and decaffeinated lyophilized coffee (Coffea arabica L., planted in Brazil) were used for chemical analysis (total phenols, chlorogenic acid and caffeine contents). For the bioassays, coffee beverages were prepared with non-lyophilized samples (10 % w/v) and were filtered and administered to animals by gavage (7.2 mL/kg/day) over 30 days. On the 31st day after beginning the treatment with coffee beverages, hyperlipidemia was induced to the animals by administering Triton WR-1339 (300 mg/kg body weight). On day 32, blood was taken to determine the lipid profile, platelet aggregation, prothrombin time, partially activated thromboplastin time and hemogram. The contents of both phenolic compounds and chlorogenic acid in the integral coffee beverage were significantly lower than those in the decaffeinated coffee beverage. The animals treated with Triton WR-1339 presented a mixed hyperlipidemia. Although the decaffeination process caused a relative increase in total phenols and chlorogenic acids, the coffee drinks were unable to change the lipid profile or the hemostatic and hematological parameters in the studied animals.     

鲜人参与生晒参对高脂饮食和STZ诱导的2型糖尿病大鼠的降血糖作用

目的研究生晒参与未经炮制加工的新鲜人参对高脂饮食和链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导致糖尿病大鼠的降糖作用。方法 60只雄性Wistar大鼠随机抽取8只作为正常对照组,其余大鼠用高脂饲料喂养加小剂量链脲佐菌素(STZ)的方法建立实验性2型糖尿病大鼠模型,筛选造模成功大鼠,随机分为模型组,胰岛素治疗组(0.5U/kg皮下注射),生晒参(RS-1:600mg/kg,灌胃给药)组,鲜人参(RS-2:600mg/kg,灌胃给药)组。实验灌胃给药8周后进行空腹血糖,胆固醇(TC),甘油三酯检测(TG)检测。结果空腹血糖结果表明,生晒参组和鲜人参组较模型组均有改善,鲜人参组效果表现显著(P0.05),所有给药组的总胆固醇,甘油三酯检测均下降,但并没有显着改变,不具统计学显着性(P0.05)。结论本研究表明,生晒参与鲜人参具有改善糖尿病大鼠血糖和血脂的紊乱作用,其中鲜人参比生晒参具有更好的效果。     

Effect of silymarin on metabolic factors of food-restricted over conditioned Wistar rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in serum metabolic factors of over conditioned pregnant rats treated with silymarin in food restriction condition. Sixty pregnant Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. All rats received high energy diet before treatments. Control group were fed ad libitum (Non-FR). Rats in other groups received 50% of the food intake of Non-FR group and served as food-restricted (FR) groups. Three of five FR groups received 150, 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) silymarin, respectively (FR-150, 200, 400). Another FR group (FR-Con) and the Non-FR group did not receive any silymarin. Glucose, triglyceride, LDL and HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, thyroid hormones and cortisol were measured in serum. All factors were significantly different between groups except free-T4 and T4. Serum glucose concentrations in FR-150 and 200 and Non-FR groups were lower than FR-Con and FR-400. Silymarin significantly increased serum triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and cholesterol contents in FR groups. The highest levels of these factors were noted in 200 mg silymarin-treated group. HDL cholesterol was highest in FR-Con; meanwhile FR-200 group had the lowest HDL cholesterol. Serum cortisol decreased in treated and untreated FR groups except FR-150 group. Free-T3 and T3 concentrations in FR-400 and FR-Con groups were higher than the other silymarin treated groups. In conclusion our results indicate that 200 mg kg(-1) of silymarin in Wistar rats is the best dosage to achieve metabolic benefits. Silymarin has positive effects on lipid metabolism and can modulate serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in food restriction condition. Also, the present findings suggest that silymarin under food restriction situation exerts a decreasing effect upon peripheral conversion of T4 to T3.     

Lipid peroxidation alterations in type 2 diabetic patients

It was studied that type 2 diabetes mellitus is connected with increased plasma lipid peroxidation (lipid peroxidation expressed as malondialdehyde). This review aimed to evaluate the state of lipid peroxidation among type 2 diabetic subjects. Present finding showed that lipid peroxidation increased in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increased lipid peroxidation maybe is associated with some diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Lipid peroxidation has an important role in the pathogenesis and the complications of diabetes. Antioxidants have been found to prevent the progression and occurrence of diabetes. There are several mechanisms that may cause lipid peroxidation affront in diabetic subjects, although, their precise contributions are not completely clear. We proposed that production of free radicals can be reduced by preventing high blood glucose levels and by the control of instabilities in blood glucose levels. A contributor to these instabilities in blood glucose is glycaemic control by using of fast blood sugar test. Furthermore, the earlier assessment of the advancement of diabetes that firmly control of blood glucose can be obtained; the greater will be the decrease in diabetic complications. Patients with type 2 diabetes may have very high physiological antioxidants requirements.     

A Study of Glycemic Response to Corinthian Raisins in Healthy Subjects and in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

This study was designed to evaluate the metabolic response to Corinthian raisins in healthy and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Healthy subjects (n?=?15) and diabetic patients (n?=?15) received 74 g raisins or 50 g glucose as reference food. Blood samples were collected at time 0 (before the consumption) and 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min after raisin or glucose consumption. There was no significant difference in baseline glucose and insulin between raisins and reference in both groups. The difference at glucose peaks between raisins and reference was significant in healthy and in diabetics. Glycemic and insulinemic responses were decreased after raisin consumption compared to reference. An estimate of the glycemic index would be 66.3?±?3.4.     

Growth,hormonal status and protein turnover in rats fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein

The inclusion of peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein in the diet of growing rats brings about a reduction in growth rate as well as the impairment in the liver, muscle and spleen weights as compared with casein fed controls. Also, a fall in plasma glucose, triglycerides and protein was observed in the legume fed animals, while no changes in cholesterol levels were found. Furthermore, the rats fed on the diet containing peas showed lower levels of plasma insulin, corticosterone, IGF-I and T₄ as compared with casein controls. Liver and muscle total protein (mg) and total DNA (mg) were markedly decreased in the legume fed animals, but DNA/g, protein/DNA and RNA/protein ratios were similar in both dietary groups. Likewise, liver and muscle fractional synthesis rates were similar in the casein and legume groups, while the whole body protein synthesis is assumed to be lower in the legume fed animals due to differences in body weights. It is concluded that animals fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the only source of protein showed less adverse effects than those found with other legumes such asVicia faba L. orPhaseolus vulgaris L., in which protein quality, antinutritional factors and nutrient availability could be involved.     

Effect of oral administration of fenitrothion on biochemical and hematological parameters in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute exposure to various doses of fenitrothion (FNT) on level of serum glucose, total protein, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and some hematological parameters. The study was conducted on 8-week-old male Wistar rats that divided into four groups (three experimental groups and one control group), were treated orally with different doses (25, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1)) of fenitrothion for 28 consecutive day. After treatment, blood samples were collected for biochemical and hematological studies. Present results demonstrated that exposed groups led to significant dose-dependent increase in serum glucose and cholesterol levels. Significant decrease was observed in some hematological parameters [Red Blood Cell (RBC) counts, Hemoglobin (Hb), Haematocrite (Ht) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) values]. Serum total protein and triglycerides were also decreased not significantly in exposed groups when compared with control. Generally, the degrees of observed variations were found to be dose dependent.     

大豆蛋白调节血脂的机理研究

随着对大豆制品的健康作用的认识,西方国家对大豆消耗不断增加.流行病学调查、人群营养干预试验和动物试验都表明大豆蛋白可降低血清总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆同醇、甘油三酯浓度和肝细胞胆固醇和甘油三酯浓度,该文综述了大豆蛋白调理血脂的可能机制.     

Chitosan Oligosaccharide Alleviates Abnormal Glucose Metabolism without Inhibition of Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in a High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat Model

This study investigated the effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on glucose metabolism and hepatic steatosis in a high-fat (HF) diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Male Wistar rats were divided into: (1) normal control (NC group), (2) HF diet (HF group), (3) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes with HF diet (DF group), and DF group supplemented with (4) 0.5% COS (D0.5F group), (5) 1% COS (D1F group), and (6) 5% COS (D5F group) for 4 weeks. COS supplementation significantly decreased the plasma glucose, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) levels, and hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity, and significantly increased hepatic hexokinase activity and glycogen content in diabetic rats; but the increased hepatic TG and TC levels could not be significantly decreased by COS supplementation. Supplementation of COS increased superoxide dismutase activity and decreased lipid peroxidation products in the diabetic rat livers. COS supplementation significantly increased phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein expression, and attenuated protein expression of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and phosphorylated p38 and renal sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) in diabetic rats. These results suggest that COS may possess a potential for alleviating abnormal glucose metabolism in diabetic rats through the inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipid peroxidation and renal SGLT2 expression.     

Aberrant Promoter Methylation Profile of Niemann-Pick Type C1 Gene in Cardiovascular Disease

Background: The protein of Niemann-pick type C1 (NPC1) gene promotes the egress of cholesterol from late endosomes and lysosomes to other cellular compartments and contributes to a process known as reverse cholesterol transport. This study aimed to examine whether promoter methylation of NPC1 is associated with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: Fifty CVD patients and 50 healthy subjects as the control group were recruited in this study. Promoter methylation of NPC1 gene was defined using a nested-methylation specific polymerase chain reaction method. Statistical analyses were done using the chi-square, t-test or ANOVA tests. Results: Our study showed that the frequency of semi-methylated promoter (methylated/unmethylated status) was significantly higher in CVD patients than that in controls (OR = 6.521, 95% CI = 2.211-19.215, P = 0.008). However, a completely methylated promoter (methylated/methylated status) was not detected in any subjects in either of the two groups tested. Additionally, the analysis of clinical data according to the methylation status of NPC1 gene demonstrated that serum levels of total cholesterol, total triglycerides, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are influenced by NPC1 methylation, so that subjects with a completely unmethylated promoter (Unmethylated/unmethylated status) held lower levels of total triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C and higher levels of HDL-C. Conclusion: Our findings propose that the NPC1 promoter methylation is a probable mechanism that can result in reduced/impaired NPC1 expression/activity and may thus contribute to progression of CVD. Key Words: Niemann-pick type C1 (NPC1), Promoter methylation, cardiovascular disease     

Lipid profile of rats fed blends of rice bran oil in combination with sunflower and safflower oil

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of blended oils, i.e., polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) rich vegetable oils like safflower oil (SFO) and sunflower oil (SNO) with the unconventional and hypocholesterolemic rice bran oil (RBO) on the serum lipid profile of rats. Rats fed RBO + SNO/SFO at 70:30 ratio for a period of 28 days showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in animals fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) and cholesterol free diet (CFD). Liver total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were also reduced. Fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids was increased with use of RBO blends. RBO, which is rich in tocopherols and tocotrienols, may improve the oxidative stability of the blends. Tocotrienols are known to inhibit 3-hydroxy, 3-methyl, glutaryl CoA (HMG-COA) reductase (rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis), resulting in hypocholesterolemia. In addition to improving the lipid profile by lowering TC, TG and LDL-C and increasing HDL-C, blending of RBO with other oils can result in an economic advantage of lower prices.