Influence of dietary capsaicin and onion on the metabolic abnormalities associated with streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus

Effect of feeding 15 mg% capsaicin diet or 3% freeze dried onion powder containing diet were examined in albino rats rendered diabetic with streptozotocin injection. Diabetic rats maintained on onion diet for 8 weeks excreted comparatively less amounts of albumin, urea, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus. Dietary onion also partially reversed the abnormalities in plasma albumin, urea, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus in diabetic animals. Onion also produced a significant reduction in hyperglycemic status of diabetic animals. Diabetic rats maintained on onion diet had a lowered relative liver weight at the end of the study compared to diabetic control group. Diabetic rats fed onion diet also exhibited lowered lipid peroxides in circulation and in urine when compared to diabetic control group. Blood cholesterol was lowered significantly by dietary onion in diabetic animals. Cholesterol decrease was exclusively from LDL-VLDL fraction. Significant decrease in blood phospholipids and tr iglycerides also brought about by dietary onion. Hepatic cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids which were elevated under diabetic condition were countered significantly by dietary onion. Dietary capsaicin did not have any significant influence on any of the parameters tested in diabetic rats. Thus, the study reveals that onion feeding improves the metabolic status in diabetic condition, probably because of its hypoglycemic as well as hypocholesterolemic effect. (Mol Cell Biochem 175: 49–57, 1997)     

Influence of dietary curcumin and cholesterol on the progression of experimentally induced diabetes in albino rat

Effect of feeding 0.5% curcumin diet or 1% cholesterol diet was examined in albino rats rendered diabetic with streptozotocin injection. Diabetic rats maintained on curcumin diet for 8 weeks excreted comparatively less amounts of albumin, urea, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus. Urinary excretion of the electrolytes sodium and potassium were also significantly lowored under curcumin treatment. Dietary curcumin also partially reversed the abnormalities in plasma albumin, urea, creatinine and inorganic phosphorus in diabetic animals. On the other hand, glucose excretion or the fasting sugar level was unaffected by dietary curcumin and so also the body weights were not improved to any significant extent. Diabetic rats fed curcumin diet had a lowered relative liver weight at the end of the study compared to other diabetic rat groups. Diabetic rats fed a curcumin diet also showed lowered lipid peroxidation in plasma and urine when compared to other diabetic groups. The extent of lipid peroxidation on the other hand, was still higher in cholesterol fed diabetic groups compared to diabetic rats fed with control diet.Thus, the study reveals that curcumin feeding improves the metabolic status in diabetic condition, despite no effect on hyperglycemic status or the body weights. The mechanism by which curcumin improves this situation is probably by virtue of its hypocholesterolemic influence, antioxidant nature and free radical scavenging property.     

Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of curcumin and capsaicin in high-fat-fed rats

The beneficial hypolipidemic and antioxidant influences of the dietary spice compounds curcumin and capsaicin were evaluated. Curcumin, capsaicin, or their combination were included in the diet of high-(30%)-fat-fed rats for 8 weeks. Dietary high-fat-induced hypertriglyceridemia was countered by dietary curcumin, capsaicin, or their combination by 12%-20%. Curcumin, capsaicin, and their combination also produced a slight decrease in serum total cholesterol in these animals. Serum alpha-tocopherol content was increased by dietary curcumin, capsaicin, and their combination in high-fat-fed rats. Serum total thiol content in high-fat-fed animals and serum ascorbic acid in normal animals was elevated by the combination of curcumin and capsaicin. Hepatic glutathione was increased by curcumin, capsaicin, or their combination in normal animals. Hepatic glutathione and alpha-tocopherol were increased, whereas lipid peroxide level was reduced by dietary curcumin and combination of curcumin and capsaicin in high-fat-fed animals. Serum glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase in high-fat-fed rats were generally higher as a result of dietary curcumin, capsaicin, and the combination of curcumin and capsaicin. Hepatic glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly elevated by dietary spice principles in high-fat-fed animals. The additive effect of the 2 bioactive compounds was generally not evident with respect to hypolipidemic or antioxidant potential. However, the effectiveness of the combination was higher in a few instances.     

The Effects of Dietary Iron and Capsaicin on Hemoglobin,Blood Glucose,Insulin Tolerance,Cholesterol, and Triglycerides,in Healthy and Diabetic Wistar Rats

ObjectiveOur aim was to assess the effects of dietary iron, and the compound capsaicin, on hemoglobin as well as metabolic indicators including blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose tolerance.ResultsHealthy rats fed a low-iron diet exhibited significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, compared with rats fed a control diet. Significantly reduced blood lipid was also provoked by low dietary iron in diabetic rats, compared with those fed a control diet. Insulin, and glucose tolerance was only improved in healthy rats fed the low-iron diet. Significant increases in total cholesterol were found in diabetic rats fed a high-iron diet, compared with healthy rats fed the same diet, although no statistical differences were found for triglycerides. Hemoglobin levels, which were not statistically different in diabetic versus healthy rats fed the high-iron diet, fell when capsaicin was added. Capsaicin also provoked a fall in the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic animals, versus diabetics fed with the high iron diet alone. In conclusion, low levels of dietary iron reduced levels of serum triglycerides, hemoglobin, and cholesterol, and significantly improved insulin, and glucose tolerance in healthy rats. In contrast, a high-iron diet increased cholesterol significantly, with no significant changes to triglyceride concentrations. The addition of capsaicin to the high-iron diet (for diabetic rats) further reduced levels of hemoglobin, cholesterol, and triglycerides. These results suggest that capsaicin, may be suitable for the treatment of elevated hemoglobin, in patients.     

Diets alter jejunal morphology and brush border membrane composition in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Previous studies have demonstrated enhanced active and passive uptake of many nutrients in animals with experimental diabetes. These changes in absorption cannot be explained by differences in intestinal morphology, although the brush border membrane (BBM) phospholipids do change in diabetes. Manipulation of diet produces alterations in intestinal uptake of lipids and glucose. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of diet and diabetes on jejunal morphology and BBM lipid composition. Rats were rendered hyperglycemic with streptozotocin and were fed for 2 weeks on a diet that was high or low in carbohydrate, essential fatty acids, cholesterol, or protein. In both control and diabetic rats, these diets produced changes in villus height and BBM sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities. In both control and diabetic rats, BBM phospholipids were unaffected by changes in the dietary content of essential fatty acids, cholesterol, or protein, but total BBM phospholipid content was reduced in animals fed low as compared with high carbohydrate diet. Total BBM phospholipid content was higher in diabetic than in control animals fed the low protein diet, whereas BBM phospholipid content was lower in diabetic than in control animals fed the high carbohydrate diet, and was even lower in diabetic animals fed the low as compared with the high carbohydrate diet. These changes in total phospholipids were due to alterations in the BBM content of phospholipids containing choline. In control animals, BBM cholesterol was higher in rats fed the low as compared with the high cholesterol diet, or the low as compared with the high protein diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of Dietary Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Protein Level on Liver and Serum Lipid Metabolism of Rats

The effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dietary protein level on the liver and serum lipid metabolism of rats were studied. Rats were fed an experimental diet containing 7 or 30% casein with or without 0.1 % PCB for 24 days. Dietary PCB increased the level of triglyceride, phospholipid and cholesterol in the liver. The accumulation of triglyceride and cholesterol in liver was markedly increased with a low protein diet. The incorporation of injected ³H₂O into liver cholesterol was increased by PCB, but not affected by the dietary level of protein. The incorporation of the tracer into liver fatty acids was not increased by PCB intake. Dietary PCB also raised serum cholesterol and phospholipid, while PCB decreased triglyceride level, especially in rats on low protein diet. In addition, PCB intake clearly raised serum high density lipoprotein and diminished very low density lipoprotein. In the low protein group, PCB markedly repressed the incorporation of ³H₂O into serum lipids. The results suggest that the hepatic lipids accumulation by the addition of 0.1 % PCB to a low protein diet might be mainly ascribed to a repression in the transport of triglyceride from liver to blood. KEY WORDS: PCB, dietary protein, liver lipids, serum lipoprotein.     

Hepatic expression of apolipoprotein A-I gene in rats is upregulated by monounsaturated fatty acid diet

The effect of the degree of dietary fat saturation on the hepatic expression of apolipoprotein A-I mRNA was studied in male rats. Animals were maintained for two months on a high fat diet (40% w/w) containing 0.1% cholesterol. Two groups of control animals received either chow diet or chow plus 0.1% cholesterol, while experimental groups received their fat supplement as coconut, corn or olive oil respectively. Dietary cholesterol did not affect apolipoprotein A-I mRNA levels as compared to control animals. Corn oil fed animals had significantly higher levels of hepatic apolipoprotein A-I mRNA than those receiving cholesterol, or coconut oil plus cholesterol. Olive oil fed animals had significantly higher levels of hepatic apolipoprotein A-I mRNA when compared to all other dietary groups. Our data indicate that monounsaturated fatty acids supplied as olive oil play a major role in regulating the hepatic expression of apolipoprotein A-I in male rats.     

Beneficial influence of dietary curcumin, capsaicin and garlic on erythrocyte integrity in high-fat fed rats

In rats rendered hyperlipidemic by maintaining them on a high-fat diet (30%) for 8 weeks, inclusion of spice principles [curcumin (0.2%) or capsaicin (0.015%)] or garlic (2.0%) in the diet produced significant hypotriglyceridemic effect. Plasma cholesterol remained unaffected in high-fat treatment. Hepatic triglyceride content was significantly higher in high-fat fed rats, and this increase was effectively countered by inclusion of the hypolipidemic spice agents -- curcumin, capsaicin or garlic in the diet. The lipid profile of erythrocyte membranes of hyperlipidemic rats was similar to basal controls. An examination of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in various groups indicated that the red blood cells of hyperlipidemic rats display a slight resistance to osmotic lysis. Inclusion of spice principles [curcumin (0.2%) or capsaicin (0.015%)] or garlic (2.0%) in the diet, which produced the hypotriglyceridemic effect, appeared to beneficially correct this altered osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. Activities of ouabain-sensitive Na(+),K(+)-ATPase as well as acetylcholinesterase of erythrocyte membranes in high-fat fed rats remained unaltered. Activity of Ca(2+),Mg(2+)-ATPase in erythrocyte membrane was significantly decreased in high-fat fed animals, whereas dietary spice principles and garlic countered this reduction in enzyme activity. In the absence of any change in the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio in the erythrocyte membrane, a decreased activity of membrane-bound Ca(2+),Mg(2+)-ATPase could have probably contributed to the accumulation of intracellular calcium leading to the diminished deformability of the erythrocytes in high-fat fed rats.     

Diet supplementation with beta-carotene improves the serum lipid profile in rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet

The present study investigated the underlying mechanism associated with the hypocholesterolemic activity of beta-carotene by examining its effects on the serum lipid profile, fecal cholesterol excretion, and gene expression of the major receptors, enzymes, and transporters involved in cholesterol metabolism. Female Fischer rats were divided into three groups and were fed either a control or a hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented or not supplemented with 0.2 % beta-carotene. After 6 weeks of feeding, blood, livers, and feces were collected for analysis, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed. Dietary supplementation with 0.2 % beta-carotene decreased serum total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, the atherogenic index, and hepatic total lipid and cholesterol contents. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the total lipid and cholesterol contents excreted in the feces. The qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that the hypercholesterolemic diet promoted a decrease in the gene expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor and an increase in the gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and cholesterol-7a-hydroxylase. The expression of these genes and gene expression of ATP-binding cassette subfamily G transporters 5and 8 were unaffected by beta-carotene supplementation. In conclusion, the decrease in serum cholesterol and the elevation of fecal cholesterol obtained following beta-carotene administration indicate that this substance may decrease cholesterol absorption in the intestine and increase cholesterol excretion into the feces without a direct effect on the expression of cholesterol metabolism genes.     

Hypolipidemic action of taurine in rats.

The effect of taurine on the serum and liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels was studied in rats fed cholesterol plus cholic acid. Four groups of 4 weeks old rats were fed control diet, hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD), HCD + 1% taurine or HCD + 2% taurine for 8 weeks. Addition of taurine in HCD diet showed a significant reduction not only in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels but also in liver total cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride contents compared to the animals fed HCD alone. Histological examination of organs of these animals showed severe fatty vacuolation in livers and signet ring type vacuolation in kidneys of rats fed HCD. Taurine showed ameliorating effect on these abnormalities. The animals fed taurine in HCD also showed increased bile and sterol excretion in faeces compared to rats fed HCD alone. Taurine showed significant hypocholesterolemia in rats probably by enhancing the catabolism of cholesterol and reducing the absorption of dietary cholesterol.     

Feeding the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-N(omega)nitroarginine elevates serum very low density lipoprotein and hepatic triglyceride synthesis in rats

This study was conducted to study the influence of dietary L-N(omega)nitroarginine (L-NNA), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, on serum lipids and lipoproteins and on the activities of enzymes related to lipid metabolism in rats. Feeding rats a diet containing 0.2 g/kg L-NNA for 5 weeks elevated serum concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, phospholipid, and free fatty acid and reduced serum nitrate (an oxidation product of NO). The elevation in serum triglyceride was mainly due to the elevation in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride. Contents of cholesterol and phospholipid in the VLDL fraction also were elevated by L-NNA. L-NNA treatment caused significantly higher activity of hepatic microsomal phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (the rate-limiting enzyme in triglyceride synthesis) and lower activity of hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase (the rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid oxidation). Activities of hepatic enzymes responsible for fatty acid synthesis such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and fatty acid synthase were unaffected by L-NNA. The activity of hepatic microsomal phosphocholine cytidyltransferase (the rate-limiting enzyme in phosphatidylcholine synthesis) was reduced significantly by L-NNA. Our results suggest that lower NO production caused the elevations in hepatic triglyceride synthesis by higher esterification of fatty acid and lower fatty acid oxidation, leading to an enrichment of VLDL triglyceride.     

Effects of Dietary Glutathione on Plasma and Liver Lipid Levels in Rats Fed on a High Cholesterol Diet

The effects of dietary glutathione (GSH) on plasma and liver lipid concentrations were investigated with rats fed on a high cholesterol diet. When graded levels of GSH, 0.75 to 5.0%, were added to the 25% casein basal diet, the plasma total cholesterol level was significantly decreased and the HDL-cholesterol level was inversely increased in all addition levels without influence on the growth of animals except for the 5% addition level; the dietary addition of 5% GSH markedly depressed the growth and food consumption of rats and caused a slight diarrhea. Plasma triglyceride and phospholipid levels were decreased by the dietary addition of GSH. The contents of cholesterol and triglyceride in the liver were decreased as the dietary addition level of GSH was increased. The dietary addition of a mixture of glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine, or cysteine alone corresponding to 2.5% GSH resulted in a cholesterol-lowering effect which could not be distinguished from the effect of GSH in rats fed on the 25% casein diet. When 1.5% GSH was added to a low (10%) casein diet, the plasma cholesterol-lowering effect of GSH was also observed and the effect was comparable to that of cysteine. These results indicate that dietary-added GSH has a plasma and liver cholesterol-lowering efficacy and that this effect is largely attributable to the cysteine residue of GSH rather than to the tripeptide itself or the other amino acid residues.     

Protective effect of dietary curcumin and capsaicin on induced oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, iron-induced hepatotoxicity and carrageenan-induced inflammation in experimental rats

The beneficial influence of dietary curcumin, capsaicin and their combination on the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation was examined in an animal study. Individually, both dietary curcumin and capsaicin significantly inhibited the in vivo iron-induced LDL oxidation, as well as copper-induced oxidation of LDL in vitro. The protective effect of the combination of curcumin and capsaicin on LDL oxidation was greater than that of individual compounds. This protective influence of spice principles was also indicated by the relative anodic electrophoretic mobility of oxidized LDL on agarose gel. In another study, rats injected with iron showed hepatic toxicity as measured by an increase in lipid peroxides and elevated serum enzymes, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Dietary curcumin, capsaicin and their combination reduced the activities of these enzymes, and lowered the liver lipid peroxide level, indicating amelioration of the severity of iron-induced hepatotoxicity. In yet another study, a comparison of the extent of carrageenan-induced paw inflammation showed that both dietary curcumin and capsaicin moderately lowered inflammation, while the spice principles in combination were more effective. Dietary curcumin and capsaicin significantly decreased the activity of 5'-lipoxygenase activity in the polymorphonuclear lymphocytes in carrageenan-injected rats, the decrease being even higher in the case of combination of these two spice principles. Results suggest that dietary curcumin and capsaicin individually are protective to LDL oxidation both in vivo and in vitro, to iron-induced hepatotoxicity and to carrageenan-induced inflammation. This beneficial effect was higher when the two compounds were fed in combination.     

Effect of coix on plasma, liver, and fecal lipid components in the rat fed on lard- or soybean oil-cholesterol diet

To determine the influence of dietary coix on lipid metabolism, the effect of coix on plasma, liver, and fecal lipid components was studied using Sprague-Dawley male rats. All rats were divided into four groups, and the rats of each group were fed the coix-lard diet, coix-soybean oil diet, or the respective control diets (containing 1% cholesterol each) for 27 days. Plasma and liver cholesterol levels in the coix-lard diet group significantly decreased as compared with those in the control group, whereas there was no effect on the fecal excretion of cholesterol. The decreases in the concentrated liver triglyceride and the increases in the fecal excretion of triglyceride were found in coix-soybean oil diet group. Moreover, liver and fecal phospholipid levels in both coix diet groups significantly increased. But there were no significant changes in plasma and fecal bile acids in either coix diet group. These results suggest the possibilities that coix may have an inhibitory action on cholesterol synthesis in liver, a facilitating effect on biliary excretion of triglyceride, and an acceleratory action on phospholipid synthesis in liver.     

Serum lipoprotein composition, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and tissue lipase activities in pregnant diabetic rats and their offspring receiving enriched n-3 PUFA diet

The effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on lipoprotein concentrations and on lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activities were studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats during pregnancy and in their macrosomic offspring from birth to adulthood. Pregnant diabetic and control rats were fed Isio-4 diet (vegetable oil) or EPAX diet (concentrated marine omega-3 EPA/DHA oil), the same diets were consumed by pups at weaning. Compared with control rats, diabetic rats showed, during pregnancy, a significant elevation in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low and high density lipoprotein (LDL-HDL(1))-triglyceride, cholesterol and apoprotein B100 concentrations and a reduction in apoprotein A-I levels. HTGL activity was high while LPL and LCAT activities were low in these rats. The macrosomic pups of Isio-4-fed diabetic rats showed a significant enhancement in triglyceride and cholesterol levels at birth and during adulthood with a concomitant increase in lipase and LCAT activities. EPAX diet induces a significant diminution of VLDL and LDL-HDL(1) in mothers and in their macrosomic pups, accompanied by an increase in cholesterol and apoprotein A-I levels in HDL(2-3) fraction. It also restores LPL, HTGL and LCAT activities to normal range. EPAX diet ameliorates considerably lipoprotein disorders in diabetic mothers and in their macrosomic offspring.     

Rate-limiting, diurnal activity of hepatic microsomal cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase in pigeons with high serum cholesterol

Efficiency of regulating serum cholesterol by cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase was studied in pigeon strains hypo-(SR-39) and hypercholesterolemic (SR-37) with respect to dietary cholesterol. Diurnal hydroxylase activity in SR-37 was 10% of that in strain SR-39 adapted to a light-dark cycle and fed a non-cholesterol diet. Acrophase (6 p.m.) activity was 54-fold greater in SR-39 than in SR-37 pigeons. Dietary cholesterol elevated enzyme activity 2.8-fold in SR-37 pigeons. Dietary cholestyramine plus cholesterol increased hydroxylase activity 21-fold in SR-37 and 3-fold in SR-39 strain; yet, activity remained greater in SR-39. Cholestyramine feeding prevented elevated cholesterol levels in both groups. The circadian rhythms of hydroxylase and serum corticosterone were determined. The diurnal activity in SR-37 was 10% of that in SR-39 and acrophase activity was 34-fold greater in SR-39. Hormone levels were comparable. Programmed acrophase was asynchronous between strains. Hydroxylase activity was positively correlated with corticosterone levels and inversely correlated with serum cholesterol. A defect in the up-regulation of cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase is proposed which limits the catabolism of cholesterol in strain SR-37.     

Fenugreek improves diet-induced metabolic disorders in rats

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) has been described earlier and its use in ancient medicinal practice is well known. The hypoglycemic effects of fenugreek have been studied in many animal models and diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the preventive efficiency of dietary fenugreek on diet-induced metabolic diseases in rats. The diets used in this study were a standard diet, a high-fat high-sucrose (HFS) diet, and a HFS diet containing 0.5?g/kg b.?w./day fenugreek based on the modified version of the AIN-93G purified diet, for 12 weeks, respectively. The rats fed the HFS diet containing fenugreek showed significantly lower fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR than the rats fed the HFS diet. Therefore, fenugreek improved insulin sensitivity in rats. The triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the plasma were significantly lower in the fenugreek-administered group. Moreover, distinct reductions of triglyceride, total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and phospholipid levels in the liver were found in the rats fed the HFS diet containing fenugreek. These results suggest that fenugreek enhanced insulin sensitivity at least partly by improving lipid metabolism disorders in the plasma and the liver in the rats induced by the HFS diet.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate and myo-inositol on metabolic changes in rats fed 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT)

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary carbohydrate [starch or sucrose (500 g/kg diet)] and myo-inositol (2 g/kg diet) on metabolic changes in rats fed 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) (0.7 g/kg diet). Dietary DDT enhanced serum and hepatic lipids and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS), elevated hepatic activities of lipogenic enzymes such as malic enzyme (ME), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS), increased hepatic cytochrome P-450 content and the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes such as aminopyrine N-demethylase, glutathione S-transferase and 4-nitrophenol-UDP glucuronosyltransferase (4NP-UDPGT) and raised hepatic ascorbic acid and serum copper. Dietary sucrose promoted the increases in hepatic concentrations of total lipids, triglyceride and cholesterol, hepatic activity of ME, hepatic TBA-RS, cytochrome P-450 content and serum copper due to DDT feeding when compared to DDT administered in a starch based diet. Dietary myo-inositol significantly depressed the rises in hepatic concentrations of total lipids, triglyceride and cholesterol and the activities of ME and G6PD due to DDT feeding regardless of dietary carbohydrate quality. Dietary starch supplemented with myo-inositol potentiated the enhancements in hepatic activities of Phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase and 4NP-UDPGT due to DDT feeding. These results suggest that dietary starch and myo-inositol can protect DDT fed rats against an accumulation of hepatic lipids, which might be mainly ascribed to the depression of hepatic lipogenesis. In addition, the present study implies that the supplementation of myo-inositol to high starch diet might improve the function of drug-metabolizing enzymes exposed to DDT.     

Dietary restriction improves systemic and muscular oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic Goto–Kakizaki rats

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction leading to hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Dietary intervention seems to improve some of these cellular complications, namely insulin resistance. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on systemic and skeletal muscle oxidative stress and insulin resistance in normal Wistar rats and Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rats, a non-obese type 2 diabetic animal model. Four-month-old normal and diabetic rats were separated in four groups. One group of each strain was maintained with ad libitum standard diet, and the other group was submitted to a dietary restriction (50% of control animals daily food intake), during 2 months. Metabolic profile, insulin resistance indexes and muscle lipids were determined. Oxidative stress parameters were also measured at systemic and muscle levels: protein carbonyl, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and free 8-isoprostane. Dietary restriction improved lipid profile in both strains and urinary free 8-isoprostane and plasma carbonyl compounds in diabetic rats. An improvement of muscle triglycerides accumulation and 8-isoprostane concentration and a reduction of insulin resistance were also observed in GK rats. Our data show that dietary restriction ameliorates systemic and skeletal muscle oxidative stress state in type 2 diabetes, which is associated with improved insulin resistance.     

Effects of dietary oyster extract on lipid metabolism, blood pressure, and blood glucose in SD rats, hypertensive rats, and diabetic rats

Oyster extract was prepared by hydrolysis of oyster protein with proteases, Aloase (a protease from Bacillus subtilis), and Pancitase (a protease from Aspergillus oryzae). Rats were fed a diet containing 20% casein (the control diet) or 15% casein and 5% oyster extract (the oyster extract diet) as the protein source. The oyster extract diet exerted a significant reduction in serum cholesterol and liver triglyceride concentrations as compared with the control diet in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed cholesterol-supplemented diets for 4 weeks. The activities of cytosolic fatty acid synthase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly lower in the oyster extract group than in the control group in the liver of SD rats. Hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats and Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, type 2 diabetic rats, fed the oyster extract diet, for 4 weeks and 4 months respectively, than in those fed the control diet in the cholesterol-free diet. Blood pressure was significantly lower in the oyster extract group than in the control group at the 2nd and 4th weeks after the beginning of feeding experimental diets in SH rats. These results suggest that oyster extract prepared by hydrolysis of oyster induces triglyceride-lowering activity in the liver through a decrease in hepatic lipogenesis in SD rats, and that it exerts the antihypertensive effect in SH rats.