title: Improvement of lipid profile by amaranth (Amaranthus esculantus) supplementation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipid disorders may exacerbate some complications of diabetes. Amaranth has been reported to exhibit a cholesterol-lowering effect in hyperlipidemic animals. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of amaranth on serum glucose and the lipid profile in diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to normal control, diabetic control, diabetic amaranth-grain (AG)-supplemented (500 g/kg diet) and diabetic amaranth-oil (AO)-supplemented (90 g/kg diet) groups and fed experimental diets for 3 weeks. Effects were monitored on glucose tolerance, serum and liver lipids, and fecal excretions of lipids and bile acids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fasting serum glucose levels and the glucose tolerance of diabetic rats were improved by AG and AO supplementation. Serum and liver lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were also lowered in diabetic animals by AG and AO consumption. Fecal excretions of cholesterol, TG and bile acid were markedly reduced in diabetic rats, and these parameters were dramatically increased by AG and AO supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AG and AO supplementation improve the glucose and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Biotechnology, Hanseo University, Seosan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D027721:Amaranthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014280:Triglycerides; D013311:Streptozocin; D002784:Cholesterol