epiglucan and Insulin-Resistance

Many individual studies on oat β-glucan (OBG) confirmed its functionality in improving type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but disagreements were identified among those results. To derive a pooled estimate of these results, relevant articles, published before 5 September 2015, were collected from four electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science) and subjected to meta-analysis in the present work. In total, four articles, dealing with 350 T2DM patients combined, met the inclusion criteria. Compared to control, T2DM patients administrated OBG from 2.5 to 3.5 g/day for 3 to 8 weeks presented significantly lowered concentrations in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) by -0.52 (95% CI: -0.94, -0.10) mmol/L (p = 0.01) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by -0.21% (95% CI: -0.40, -0.02) (p = 0.03). However, OBG intake did not significantly lower the fasting plasma insulin (FPI) concentration. In conclusion, mediate-term OBG intake (3-8 weeks) favored the glycaemic control of T2DM patients but did not improve their insulin sensitivity. Regrettably, data upon the effects of long-term OBG intake on glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity were scarce, which is of much importance and should be addressed in future research.

Topics: Adult; Aged; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Fasting; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Male; Middle Aged; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Evidence from animal and observational studies has supported the beneficial effects of beta-glucan intake on glycemic control, but intervention studies in hypercholesterolemic crowd have generated mixed results and have not been systematically examined. In the present study, we aimed to quantitatively evaluate the relation between beta-glucan consumption from oats or barley on glycemic control in hypercholesterolemic individuals. A systematic literature review was conducted for relevant published randomized controlled trials studies (RCTs) in electronic databases through July 2014. Twelve trials with a total of 603 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. Beta-glucan consumption did not significantly affect measures of glycemic control. Summary estimates of weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence interval was 0.05 mmol/L (-0.11, 0.02) for fasting glucose concentration and 0.75 pmol/L (-1.82, 3.32) for fasting insulin concentrations. In conclusion, there was not a significant overall effect of beta-glucan intake on improvements of fasting glucose and insulin concentrations in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Topics: Avena; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Diet; Hordeum; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Dietary fiber exerts beneficial effects on human health reducing the risk factors of metabolic related diseases such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of a food supplement based on brewer's spent grain (BSG) extract in the reduction of postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in normoglycemic subjects. BSG was chemically characterized, revealing the presence of resistant starch (14.64 g/100 g), arabinoxylans (7.50 g/100 g), β-glucans (1.92 g/100 g) and other soluble fibers (6.43 g/100 g), and bioaccessible ferulic acid (91.3 mg/100 g). For the clinical study, 40 normoglycemic subjects were randomized into two groups, 1 and 2 (

Topics: beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Fiber; Dietary Supplements; Edible Grain; Glucose Intolerance; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Postprandial Period; Resistant Starch

Obesity is characterized by insulin resistance and low-grade systemic and adipose tissue (AT) inflammation. It remains unclear whether beneficial effects of weight loss are related to AT inflammation. We aimed to assess the effect of weight loss during low-calorie diet on insulin sensitivity, AT expression of genes associated with inflammation in young subjects with obesity. Furthermore, we estimated the effects of immunomodulatory (1, 3)(1, 6)-β-glucan (BG) on the above parameters.. The study group comprised 52 subjects with obesity. Twelve-week dietary intervention was applied, with randomization to receive or not 500 mg BG daily. Euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, subcutaneous AT biopsy were performed before and after the program. Twenty normal-weight subjects, examined at baseline, served as a control group.. At baseline, obese subjects had lower insulin sensitivity, lower AT ADIPOQ, JAK1, and JAK2 expression and higher AT expression of LEP, IL6ST, STAT3, MIF, CCL2, MMP9, and IL18. Forty obese subjects completed dietary intervention program, which resulted in 11.3% weight loss and 27% increase in insulin sensitivity (both p < 0.0001). AT IL6R, IL6ST, JAK1, and JAK2 expression increased, whereas MIF, CCL2, MMP9, and IL18 gene expression did not change in response to weight loss. BG addition had no effect on any of the parameters studied.. Our data indicate that reduction in AT inflammation is not required for an improvement in insulin action during weight loss in subjects with uncomplicated obesity. BG does not have effects during dietary intervention.

Topics: Adult; beta-Glucans; Caloric Restriction; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Male; Obesity; Subcutaneous Fat; Weight Loss; Young Adult

A high intake of whole grains containing soluble fiber has been shown to lower glucose and insulin responses in overweight humans and humans with type 2 diabetes.. We investigated the linearity of this response after consumption of 5 breakfast cereal test meals containing wheat and/or barley to provide varying amounts of soluble fiber, beta-glucan (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 g).. Seventeen normoglycemic, obese women at increased risk for insulin resistance consumed 5 test meals within a randomized cross-over design after consuming controlled diets for 2 days. Blood samples for glucose and insulin response were obtained prior to and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after consuming the test meals.. Consumption of 10 g of beta-glucan significantly reduced peak glucose response at 30 min and delayed the rate of glucose response. Area under the curve for 2 h-postprandial glycemic response was not affected by beta-glucan content. However, peak and area under the curve of insulin responses were significantly affected by the beta-glucan amount in an inverse linear relationship.. These data suggest that acute consumption of 10 g of beta-glucan is able to induce physiologically beneficial effects on postprandial insulin responses in obese women at risk for insulin resistance.

Topics: beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Body Mass Index; Cross-Over Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dietary Fiber; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edible Grain; Energy Intake; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hordeum; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Middle Aged; Obesity; Risk Factors

Previous studies have shown that the water-soluble dietary fibre betaglucan, a natural component of oats, reduces cholesterol and postprandial hyperglycaemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of betaglucan-enriched bread consumption on the lipid profile and glucose homoeostasis of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).. We conducted a randomized, double-blind study in which 46 patients with T2D and LDL-C greater than 3.37 mmol/l (130 mg/dl) were randomized to incorporate into their diet, for 3 weeks, either bread enriched with betaglucan (providing 3g/day of betaglucan) or white bread without betaglucan.. The consumption of bread containing betaglucan led to significant reductions (vs the control group) in LDL-C of 0.66 mmol/l (15.79%) versus 0.11 mmol/l (2.71%) (P=0.009), in total cholesterol of 0.80 mmol/l (12.80%) versus 0.12 mmol/l (1.88%) (P=0.006), in Fasting plasma insulin (FPI) of 3.23 microU/ml versus an increase of 3.77 microU/ml (P=0.03) and in Homa-IR (Homoeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance) by 2.08 versus an increase of 1.33 (P=0.04).. Betaglucan enriched bread may contribute to the improvement of the lipid profile and insulin resistance in patients with T2D.

Topics: Aged; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Bread; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Double-Blind Method; Female; Food, Fortified; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Linear Models; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Middle Aged

Obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders in dogs and cats and is related to the development metabolic comorbidities. Weight loss is the recommended treatment, but success is difficult due to the poor satiety control. Yeast beta-glucans are known as biological modifiers because of their innumerable functions reported in studies with mice and humans, but only one study with dogs was found. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet supplemented with 0.1% beta-glucan on glucose, lipid homeostasis, inflammatory cytokines and satiety parameters in obese dogs. Fourteen dogs composed three experimental groups: Obese group (OG) with seven dogs with body condition score (BCS) 8 or 9; Lean group (LG) included seven non-obese dogs with a BCS of 5; and Supplemented Obese group (SOG) was the OG dogs after 90 days of consumption of the experimental diet.. Compared to OG, SOG had lower plasma basal glycemic values (p = 0.05) and reduced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. TNF-α was lower in SOG than in OG (p = 0.05), and GLP-1 was increased in SOG compared to OG and LG (p = 0.02).. These results are novel and important for recognizing the possibility of using beta-glucan in obesity prevention and treatment.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Obesity; Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Dietary fiber promotes a healthy gut microbiome and shows promise in attenuating the unfavorable microbial changes resulting from a high-fat/sucrose (HFS) diet. High-fiber diets consisting of oligofructose alone (HFS/O) or in combination with β-glucan (HFS/OB), resistant starch (HFS/OR), or β-glucan and resistant starch (HFS/OBR) were fed to diet-induced obese rats for 8 weeks to determine if these fibers could attenuate the obese phenotype. Only the HFS/O group displayed a decrease in body weight and body fat, but all fiber interventions improved insulin sensitivity and cognitive function. The HFS/O diet was the least effective at improving cognitive function and only the HFS/OB group showed improvements in glucose tolerance, thus highlighting the differential effects of fiber types. Hippocampal cytokines (IL-6, IL-10) were more pronounced in the HFS/OB group which coincided with the most time spend in the open arms of the elevated plus maze. All fiber groups showed an increase in beneficial Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus abundance while the HFS group showed higher abundance of Clostridium. Fecal microbiota transplant from fiber-treated rats into germ-free mice did not alter body composition in the mice but did result in a higher abundance of Bacteroides in the HFS/O and HFS/OB groups compared to HFS. The HFS/OB recipient mice also had higher insulin sensitivity compared to the other groups. This study highlights the influence of dietary fiber type on metabolic and cognitive outcomes suggesting that the type of supplementation (single or combined fibers) could be tailored to specific targeted outcomes.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Cognition; Diet, High-Fat; Dietary Fiber; Insulin Resistance; Mice; Obesity; Rats; Resistant Starch; Sucrose

Gut microbiota alterations are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Yeast β-glucans are potential modulators of the innate immune-metabolic response, by impacting glucose, lipid, and cholesterol homeostasis. The study examines whether yeast β-glucan interacts differentially with either an obese healthy or obese diabetic gut microbiome, to impact metabolic health through hepatic effects under high-fat dietary challenge.. Male C57BL/6J mice are pre-inoculated with gut microbiota from obese healthy (OBH) or obese type 2 diabetic (OBD) subjects, in conjunction with a high-fat diet (HFD) with/without yeast β-glucan. OBD microbiome colonization adversely impacts metabolic health compared to OBH microbiome engraftment. OBD mice are more insulin resistant and display hepatic lipotoxicity compared to weight matched OBH mice. Yeast β-glucan supplementation resolves this adverse metabolic phenotype, coincident with increasing the abundance of health-related bacterial taxa. Hepatic proteomics demonstrates that OBD microbiome transplantation increases HFD-induced hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction, disrupts oxidative phosphorylation, and reduces protein synthesis, which are partly reverted by yeast β-glucan supplementation.. Hepatic metabolism is adversely affected by OBD microbiome colonization with high-fat feeding, but partially resolved by yeast β-glucan. More targeted dietary interventions that encompass the interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and host metabolism may have greater treatment efficacy.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet, High-Fat; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Obese; Obesity; Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Topics: Animals; Arabinose; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Dexamethasone; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; Insulin Resistance; Mice; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction

Obesity is associated with other diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Botryosphaeran, a fungal (1→3)(1→6)-β-d-glucan, is described to present antimutagenic, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, and antitumor activities when administered by gavage over 15 days in rats and mice. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the metabolic effects of Botryosphaeran (12 mg/kg body weight/day) treatment over 30 days in obese Wistar male rats. Obesity was induced in the rats by a high-fat/high-sugar diet for 8 weeks. Control rats received a standard diet. On the 5th week, Botryosphaeran treatment commenced. Groups: control, obese, and obese+Botryosphaeran 30 days. In the 8th week, obesity was characterized. Feed intake, glucose and lipid profiles, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity were analyzed. Obese rats showed accumulation of visceral adipose tissue, reduction of muscle mass, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. Botryosphaeran effectively reduced weight gains and the accumulation of retroperitoneal adipose tissue, corrected the levels of glucose, triglycerides, and very low-density lipoprotein-cholestrol, and improved insulin sensitivity. Treatment for 30 days was effective in maintaining the beneficial effects demonstrated by this β-glucan when administered for 15 days without promoting side effects. Treatment with (1→3)(1→6)-β- d-glucan presented anti-obesogenic and beneficial metabolic effects in Wistar rats; important for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Diet, High-Fat; Glucans; Glucose; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Mice; Obesity; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sugars; Triglycerides

Emerging evidence links dietary fiber with altered gut microbiota composition and bile acid signaling in maintaining metabolic health. Yeast β-glucan (Y-BG) is a dietary supplement known for its immunomodulatory effect, yet its impact on the gut microbiota and bile acid composition remains unclear. This study investigated whether dietary forms of Y-BG modulate these gut-derived signals. We performed 4-wk dietary supplementation in healthy mice to evaluate the effects of different fiber composition (soluble vs. particulate Y-BG) and dose (0.1% vs. 2%). We found that 2% particulate Y-BG induced robust gut microbiota community shifts with elevated liver

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Bile Acids and Salts; Bilophila; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; Diet, High-Fat; Dietary Fiber; Disease Models, Animal; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; Insulin Resistance; Intestine, Small; Inulin; Liver; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Obesity; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Signal Transduction; Yeasts

Whole-grain food (WGF) is well known for its anti-diabetic effect, and alleviation of obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) might be one of the underlying mechanisms. In the current study, the effects of starch, as the main component in WGF, and β-glucan in a whole-grain-like structural form (WGLSF) on hepatic IR and glucose homeostasis were investigated using high-fat (HF)-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. After treatment for 8 weeks, the body weight gain and IR of the mice were significantly reduced. The hepatic Akt, the key component in insulin signaling, was activated, and the hepatic expression and protein levels of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were reduced. Moreover, WGLSF effectively reduced the hepatic levels of free fatty acids and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB. Additionally, the reduced level of the phosphorylated c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) indicated that WGLSF treatment might inactivate the JNK signaling, leading to improved hepatic IR. These results demonstrated that starch and β-glucan in a whole grain-like structural form have the potential as a dietary strategy to combat obesity-induced hepatic IR for improved health.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Diet, High-Fat; Glucose-6-Phosphatase; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Interleukin-6; Liver; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Obese; Obesity; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP); Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Starch

β-glucan (BG) and mulberry have received increasing attention for their benefits as natural sources of metabolic health. In the current study, we investigated the synergetic beneficial effects of BG and mulberry leaf extract (MLE) in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male C57BL6 mice were fed a HFD for twelve weeks to induce significant obesity and insulin resistance. BG and MLE were administrated orally throughout the feeding period. The administration of BG resulted in a significant reduction in body weight gain, perirenal fat mass, fasting insulin, serum lipids, serum inflammation markers, and fatty liver, showing systemic health improvement. Likewise, the administration of MLE showed benefits similar to BG, with the exception of body weight gain. In addition to the systemic benefits, the combination of BG and MLE resulted in a synergetic improvement in insulin sensitivity. Meanwhile, only the combination of BG and MLE significantly enhanced liver GST (Glutathione S-Transferase) activity and CuZn-SOD (Superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn)) activity, resulting in a significant reduction in GSH/GSSG (Glutathione disulfide) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the liver. These results further confirm the beneficial effects of BG and MLE on metabolic disorders and show that the combination of BG and MLE has synergetic effects.

Topics: Adiposity; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; beta-Glucans; Biomarkers; Diet, High-Fat; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hypoglycemic Agents; Hypolipidemic Agents; Inflammation Mediators; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Lipids; Liver; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Morus; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Obesity; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Time Factors; Weight Gain

Adults with metabolic syndrome from different race/ethnicities are often predisposed to developing type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, growing evidence suggests that healthy diets and lifestyle choices can significantly slow or prevent progression to T2D. This poorly understood relationship to healthy dietary patterns and prevention of T2D motivated us to conduct a retrospective analysis to determine the potential impact of a minor dietary lifestyle change (daily mushroom consumption) on known T2D risk factors in racially diverse adults with confirmed features of the metabolic syndrome. Retrospectively, we studied 37 subjects who had participated in a dietary intervention focused on vitamin D bioavailability from white button mushrooms (WBM). All 37 had previously completed a 16-week study where they consumed 100 g of WBM daily and were then followed-up for one month during which no mushrooms were consumed. We analyzed differences in serum risk factors from baseline to 16-week, and from baseline to one-month follow-up. Measurement of serum diabetic risk factors included inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and the antioxidant component naturally rich in mushrooms, ergothioneine. Significant beneficial health effects were observed at 16-week with the doubling of ergothioneine from baseline, increases in the antioxidant marker ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) and anti-inflammatory hormone, adiponectin and significant decreases in serum oxidative stress inducing factors, carboxymethyllysine (CML) and methylglyoxal (MG), but no change in the lipid oxidative stress marker 8-isoprostane, leptin or measures of insulin resistance or glucose metabolism. We conclude that WBM contain a variety of compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits that can occur with frequent consumption over time in adults predisposed to T2D. Well-controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings and identify the specific mushroom components beneficial to health.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Agaricus; Antioxidants; beta-Glucans; Biomarkers; Body Mass Index; Chitin; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, LDL; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet; Dinoprost; Ergothioneine; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Leptin; Linear Models; Lysine; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Oxidative Stress; Polyphenols; Pyruvaldehyde; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Triglycerides; Vitamin D

This study was initiated to investigate the mechanism by which oat β-d-glucan (OBG) can control blood sugar levels and improve hepatogenic glycometabolism in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced mice. After administration of different concentrations and molecular weights of β-d-glucan by oral gavage for 28 days, the body weight, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, hepatic glycogen, glucose kinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activity of the diabetic mice were measured. In comparison with a negative control group (saline), β-d-glucan, especially medium or high doses of high-molecular-weight β-d-glucan, had a strong hypoglycaemic effect in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced mice. The mechanism of this effect may be associated with the high viscosity of the solution, an increase in insulin secretion, a decline in insulin resistance, and especially an improvement in hepatogenic glycometabolism. Moreover, β-d-glucan also markedly repaired and improved the integrity of pancreatic islet β-cell and tissue structures.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Drinking; Fasting; Glucose Tolerance Test; Glycogen; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Liver; Liver Glycogen; Male; Mice; Molecular Weight; Niacinamide; Pancreas

In addition to their fermentable dietary fiber and the soluble β-glucan fiber, oats have unique avenanthramides that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that reduce coronary heart disease in human clinical trials. We hypothesized that oat consumption will increase insulin sensitivity, reduce body fat, and improve health span in Caenorhabditis elegans through a mechanism involving the daf-2 gene, which codes for the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1-like receptor, and that hyperglycemia will attenuate these changes. Caenorhabditis elegans wild type (N2) and the null strains sir-2.1, daf-16, and daf-16/daf-2 were fed Escherichia coli (OP50) and oat flakes (0.5%, 1.0%, or 3%) with and without 2% glucose. Oat feeding decreased intestinal fat deposition in N2, daf-16, or daf-16/daf-2 strains (P < .05); and glucose did not affect intestinal fat deposition response. The N2, daf-16, or sir-2.1 mutant increased the pharyngeal pumping rate (P < .05), a surrogate marker of life span, following oat consumption. Oat consumption increased ckr-1, gcy-8, cpt-1, and cpt-2 mRNA expression in both the N2 and the sir-2.1 mutant, with significantly higher expression in sir-2.1 than in N2 (P < .01). Additional glucose further increased expression 1.5-fold of the 4 genes in N2 (P < .01), decreased the expression of all except cpt-1 in the daf-16 mutant, and reduced mRNA expression of the 4 genes in the daf-16/daf-2 mutant (P < .01). These data suggest that oat consumption reduced fat storage and increased ckr-1, gcy-8, cpt-1, or cpt-2 through the sir-2.1 genetic pathway. Oat consumption may be a beneficial dietary intervention for reducing fat accumulation, augmenting health span, and improving hyperglycemia-impaired lipid metabolism.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Avena; beta-Glucans; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Diet; Dietary Fiber; Edible Grain; Functional Food; Glucose; Hyperglycemia; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Longevity; ortho-Aminobenzoates; Plant Preparations; Receptor, Insulin; RNA, Messenger; Sirtuins

The gut microbiome plays an important role in regulation of metabolic processes, including digestion, absorption, and synthesis of bioactive molecules that signal physiological host mechanisms. Changes in the human gut microbiome are associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Water-soluble dietary fibres like inulin and beta-glucan are fermented in the colon, and beta-glucan increases viscosity. Blueberries improve insulin sensitivity through an antioxidant effect. A cobiotic, consisting of purified inulin, sugar-free blueberry pomace extract, and an oat preparation of purified beta-glucan was developed for twice a day (bid) consumption as a smoothie drink to repair the gastrointestinal dysbiosis in type 2 diabetes. A 30-year-old man presented with new onset type 2 diabetes and a fasting glucose (FBS) of 375 mg/dl. Metformin 500 mg bid was initiated and increased to 1 g bid after 1 week. During the first 9 days of metformin treatment, he developed diarrhoea, but his FBS only dropped to 325 mg/dl. The cobiotic bid was added on the 9th day of metformin treatment, and after 2 days, his FBS dropped to 175 mg/dl. After 8 weeks on metformin and the cobiotic, his blood sugar was 100 mg/dl and he lost 5.5 kg. His stools became soft and formed on the cobiotic, reverted to diarrhoea when off of it for 2 days, and returned to normal on resuming the cobiotic formulation. Metformin is a safe, effective and inexpensive generic medication favouring weight loss, recommended as initial treatment of type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association. However, a 20% incidence of diarrhoea limits its tolerability. A safe food supplement that can increase the efficacy of metformin and its tolerability, as occurred in this case report, would have significant positive public health consequences. A controlled clinical trial of the cobiotic with metformin is planned.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Blueberry Plants; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dietary Fiber; Dysbiosis; Gastrointestinal Tract; Glucose; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin Resistance; Inulin; Low Back Pain; Male; Metformin; Microbiota; Probiotics

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is part of the spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, there are few suitable animal models to study the pathogenesis of NASH or very limited advances in the prevention. Our aims were to establish a mouse model of NASH by intraperitoneally injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a dose of 1.5 mg per kg body weight per day for 6 weeks and to investigate the potential inhibitory effects of oat β-glucan (1%, 5%, or 10%) added to a specific pathogen-free diet. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS for 6 weeks increased serum LPS levels; decreased serum glucagon-like peptide-2 levels; triggered abnormal aminotransferase activity, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance; and increased hepatic proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β), triglyceride, and malonyl dialdehyde levels; but reduced hepatic superoxide dismutase activity. Histologic evaluation revealed evidence of hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and mild necrosis in LPS-treated mice. Dietary supplementation of oat β-glucan prevented most of the LPS-induced metabolic disorders, and improved hepatic steatosis and inflammation, although a dose-dependent effect was not observed. In conclusion, oat β-glucan could inhibit LPS-induced NASH in mice.

Topics: Animals; Avena; beta-Glucans; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endotoxemia; Fatty Liver; Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; Glucose Intolerance; Inflammation; Insulin Resistance; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-6; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver; Male; Malondialdehyde; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Oxidative Stress; Superoxide Dismutase; Transaminases; Triglycerides; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Weight Gain

The soluble fiber β-glucan, a natural component of barley, has been shown to lower the postprandial glucose response and is thought to improve insulin resistance.. This study examined the effect of chronic consumption of the high β-glucan barley flour on glucose control, liver lipids and markers of muscle fatty acid oxidation in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. Two groups of ZDF rats were fed diets containing either 6% β-glucan in the form of barley flour or cellulose as a control for 6 weeks. A group of Zucker lean rats served as a negative control.. The barley flour group had an increased small intestinal contents viscosity compared to the obese control group. After 6 weeks, the barley flour group had reduced glycated hemoglobin, lower relative kidney weights and a reduced area under the curve during a glucose tolerance test, indicating improved glucose control. Fasting plasma adiponectin levels increased in the barley flour group and were not different than the lean control group. ZDF rats on the barley flour diet had lower relative epididymal fat pad weights than the obese control and a greater food efficiency ratio. The barley flour group also had reduced liver weights and a decreased concentration of liver lipids. The barley flour group had significantly higher concentrations of muscle acylcarnitines, a metabolite generated during fatty acid oxidation.. These results show that chronic consumption of β-glucans can improve glucose control and decrease fatty liver in a model of diabetes with obesity.

Topics: Adiponectin; Animals; beta-Glucans; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Carnitine; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dietary Fiber; Disease Models, Animal; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Fatty Liver; Flour; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hordeum; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Intestine, Small; Ketones; Liver; Obesity; Organ Size; Postprandial Period; Rats; Rats, Zucker; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Triglycerides

Consumption of a diet high in barley beta-glucan (BG) has been shown to prevent insulin resistance. To investigate the mechanism for the effects of barley BG, three groups of male 7-wk-old C57BL/6J mice were fed high-fat diets containing 0, 2, or 4% of barley BG for 12 wk. The 2% BG and 4% BG groups had significantly lower body weights compared with the 0% BG group. The 4% BG group demonstrated improved glucose tolerance and lower levels of insulin-resistance index and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. Consumption of the BG diet decreased hepatic lipid content. Mice on the BG diet also demonstrated decreased fatty acid synthase and increased cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene expression levels. The BG diet promoted hepatic insulin signaling by decreasing serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 and activating Akt, and it decreased mRNA levels of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. In summary, consumption of BG reduced weight gain, decreased hepatic lipid accumulation, and improved insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high-fat diet. Insulin signaling enhanced due to the expression changes of glucose and lipid metabolism genes by BG consumption. Consumption of barley BG could be an effective strategy for preventing obesity, insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Body Weight; Dietary Fats; Fatty Liver; Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Glucose Intolerance; Hordeum; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Obesity; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; RNA, Messenger; Seeds; Signal Transduction