title: Effects of xylitol on metabolic parameters and visceral fat accumulation.
abstract: Xylitol is widely used as a sweetener in foods and medications. Xylitol ingestion causes a small blood glucose rise, and it is commonly used as an alternative to high-energy supplements in diabetics. In previous studies, a xylitol metabolite, xylulose-5-phosphate, was shown to activate carbohydrate response element binding protein, and to promote lipogenic enzyme gene transcription in vitro; however, the effects of xylitol in vivo are not understood. Here we investigated the effects of dietary xylitol on lipid metabolism and visceral fat accumulation in rats fed a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet containing 0 g (control), 1.0 g/100 kcal (X1) or 2.0 g/100 kcal (X2) of xylitol. After the 8-week feeding period, visceral fat mass and plasma insulin and lipid concentrations were significantly lower in xylitol-fed rats than those in high-fat diet rats. Gene expression levels of ChREBP and lipogenic enzymes were higher, whereas the expression of sterol regulatory-element binding protein 1c was lower and fatty acid oxidation-related genes were significantly higher in the liver of xylitol-fed rats as compared with high-fat diet rats. In conclusion, intake of xylitol may be beneficial in preventing the development of obesity and metabolic abnormalities in rats with diet-induced obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Kikuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amo
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uebanso
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukaya
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koganei
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taketani
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takeda