title: Chitosan reduces plasma adipocytokines and lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissues and ameliorates insulin resistance in diabetic rats.
abstract: Chitosan is a natural product derived from chitin. To investigate the hypoglycemic and anti-obesity effects of chitosan, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal control, diabetic, and diabetic fed 5% or 7% chitosan. Diabetes was induced in rats by injecting streptozotocin/nicotinamide. After 10 weeks of feeding, the elevated plasma glucose, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 and lower adiponetin levels caused by diabetes were effectively reversed by chitosan treatment. In addition, 7% chitosan feeding also elevated plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 levels and lowered the insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment) in diabetic rats. Lower adipocyte granular intensities and higher lipolysis rates in adipose tissues were noted in the 7% chitosan group. Moreover, chitosan feeding reduced hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents and increased hepatic peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor α expression in diabetic rats. Our results indicate that long-term administration of chitosan may reduce insulin resistance through suppression of lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissues and amelioration of chronic inflammation in diabetic rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Hsien-Tsung
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Ron-Shan
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Meng-Tsan
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000097:blood; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001688:Biological Products; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D047493:PPAR alpha; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D048271:Chitosan; D002784:Cholesterol