Oat beta-glucan ameliorates insulin resistance in mice fed on high-fat and high-fructose diet

Abstract

Methods: This study sought to evaluate the impact of oat beta-glucan on insulin resistance in mice fed on high-fat and high-fructose diet with fructose (10%, w/v) added in drinking water for 10 weeks.

Results: The results showed that supplementation with oat beta-glucan could significantly reduce the insulin resistance both in low-dose (200 mg/kg¹ body weight) and high-dose (500 mg/kg¹ body weight) groups, but the high-dose group showed a more significant improvement in insulin resistance (P <0.01) compared with model control (MC) group along with significant improvement in hepatic glycogen level, oral glucose, and insulin tolerance. Moreover, hepatic glucokinase activity was markedly enhanced both in low-dose and high-dose groups compared with that of MC group (P <0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggested that supplementation of oat beta-glucan alleviated insulin resistance and the effect was dose dependent.

Keywords: oat beta-glucan; high-fat; high-fructose; insulin resistance; mice

(Published: 20 December 2013)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2013. 57: 22754 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v57i0.22754