title: A high oleic sunflower oil fatty acid esters of plant sterols mixed with dietary diacylglycerol reduces plasma insulin and body fat accumulation in Psammomys obesus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome is associated with subsequent development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by reduced response to insulin, central obesity, and dyslipidemia. Intake of plant sterols (PS) has been shown to confer a healthier lipid profile and ameliorate cardiovascular disease risk factors in experimental animals and humans. In this study we used an animal model of type 2 diabetes to assess the effects of a preparation of PS esterified to high oleic sunflower oil fatty acids mixed with dietary diacylglycerol (PS-HOSO) on diabetic related metabolic parameters. Psammomys obesus (P. obesus) were fed high energy (HE) diet supplemented by either PS-HOSO or control oil. Following 4.5 weeks of intervention, animals were divided into fasting and non-fasting modes prior to outcome measurements. Glucose and insulin levels as well as blood lipid profile, body weight, and fat accumulation were evaluated in fasting and non-fasting modes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  P. obesus fed with a HE diet displayed a characteristic heterogeneity in their blood glucose and insulin levels with a subset group displaying type 2 diabetes symptoms. PS-HOSO treatment significantly reduced total cholesterol (24%, P < 0.001) and non-HDL cholesterol (34%, P < 0.01) compared to the control diet. Among fasting animals, body weight at end point and epididymal fat-to-liver weight ratio were significantly (P < 0.05 each) reduced (7% and 16%, respectively) compared to controls. Interestingly, fasting blood glucose levels were similar between groups, whereas plasma insulin level at end point was 44% lower in the PS-HOSO group compared to control group (P < 0.0001)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PS-HOSO supplementation to diabetes-prone gerbils counteracts the increase in body weight and epididymal fat accumulation, and also results in a drop in circulating insulin levels. These effects are pointing out that PS-HOSO may serve as a functional ingredient for metabolic syndrome or diabetic sufferers, which not only influences body weight, but also prevents or reverses insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Hadassah Medical Center and The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel. ehud@hadassah.org.il
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ziv
authors.forename: Natan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patlas
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalman
authors.forename: Dori
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelled
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dror
authors.forename: Tzafra
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C011439:1,2-diacylglycerol; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004075:Diglycerides; D007328:Insulin; D010840:Phytosterols; D019301:Oleic Acid