Taurine alters respiratory gas exchange and nutrient metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of taurine supplementation on respiratory gas exchange, which might reflect the improved metabolism of glucose and/or lipid in the type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats.


METHODS
Male OLETF rats (16 weeks of age) were randomly divided into two groups: unsupplemented group and taurine-supplemented (3% in drinking water) group. After 9 weeks of treatment, indirect calorimetry and insulin tolerance tests were conducted. The amounts of visceral fat pads, tissue glycogen, the blood concentrations of glucose, triacylglycerol, taurine, and electrolytes, and the level of hematocrit were compared between groups. A nondiabetic rat strain (Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka) was used as the age-matched normal control.


RESULTS
The indirect calorimetry showed that the treatment of OLETF rats with taurine could reduce a part of postprandial glucose oxidation possibly responsible for the increase of triacylglycerol synthesis in the body. Taurine supplementation also improved hyperglycemia and insulin resistance and increased muscle glycogen content in the OLETF rats. Supplementation with taurine increased the blood concentration of taurine and electrolyte and fluid volume, all of which were considered to be related to the improvement of metabolic disturbance in OLETF rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Taurine supplementation may be an effective treatment for glucose intolerance and fat/lipid accumulation observed in type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. These metabolic changes might be ascribed, in part, to the alteration of circulating blood profiles, where the improved hyperglycemia and/or the blood accumulation of taurine itself would play roles.
Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima City, 770-8503, Japan. harada@nutr.med.
Nagakatsu
N
Harada
Chika
C
Ninomiya
Yoshie
Y
Osako
Masaki
M
Morishima
Kazuaki
K
Mawatari
Akira
A
Takahashi
Yutaka
Y
Nakaya
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005502:Food; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D006400:Hematocrit; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D020334:Rats, Inbred OLETF; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004573:Electrolytes; D007328:Insulin; D013654:Taurine; D006003:Glycogen