title: Influence of phytostanol phosphoryl ascorbate (FM-VP4) on insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, plasma lipid levels, and gastrointestinal absorption of exogenous cholesterol in Zucker (fa/fa) fatty and lean rats.
abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of Phytostanol Phosphoryl Ascorbate (FM-VP4) on insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, plasma lipid levels, body weight, and gastrointestinal absorption of exogenous cholesterol in Zucker (fa/fa) fatty and lean rats. A group of 12 age-matched male obese (n = 6) and lean (n = 6) Zucker rats were administered 250 mg/kg twice a day (as 2% FM-VP4 in drinking water) for 30 consecutive days. Fasted blood samples prior to and following treatment were taken from all rats for glucose, lipid, insulin, and leptin determination. An oral glucose tolerance test was also carried out at the end of the treatment protocol. In addition, male obese (n = 7) and lean (n = 8) Zucker rats were coadministered a single oral gavage of [(3)H]cholesterol plus cold cholesterol with or without FM-VP4 (20 mg/kg) dissolved in Intralipid and the plasma concentration of the radiolabel was determined 10 h following the dose. FM-VP4 30-day treatment did not alter body weight, morning glucose, insulin, lipids, and leptin concentrations. There was no alteration in glucose tolerance in the nondiabetic, normoglycemic lean group; however, there was a highly significant improvement in glucose tolerance in the fatty group following FM-VP4 treatment. In addition, the insulin response to oral glucose showed no significant change in nondiabetic lean rats, whereas there was a change in the insulin secretory profile in the fatty group following FM-VP4 treatment. Furthermore, following a single oral gavage of FM-VP4 resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of radiolabeled cholesterol absorbed. These findings suggest that FM-VP4 treatment to fatty Zucker rats could result in increased glucose responsiveness of the insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells. Furthermore, our findings suggest that FM-VP4 may only be effective presystemically. Systemic administration of FM-VP4 is warranted to determine the therapeutic potential of this effect.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2146 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3. Kwasan@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Kishor M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wasan
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zamfir
authors.forename: P Haydn
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.forename: Raymond A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pederson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; C445524:FM-VP4 compound; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D010840:Phytosterols; D002784:Cholesterol