title: Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic potential of a high fiber diet in healthy versus diabetic rabbits.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate potential hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects of Plantago ovata husk included in the diet, in healthy and diabetic rabbits. We also examined the effects of this fiber in other biochemical parameters. Two groups of 18 rabbits were used. The first group was fed with standard chow and the second with chow supplemented with Plantago ovata husk (3.5 mg/kg/day). On day 14 diabetes mellitus was induced by the intravenous administration of alloxan (80 mg/kg). After an oral glucose load (3 g), glucose, insulin, and other biochemical parameters were determined on day 14 (healthy rabbits) and on day 28 (diabetic rabbits). In healthy rabbits, fiber did not modify glucose or insulin levels but decreased significantly total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index, and glycosylated hemoglobin. In diabetic rabbits, fiber was more beneficial in mild diabetics than in severe diabetics with significant decreases in glucose levels and increases in insulin concentrations. In these animals fiber caused an important reduction in cholesterol, indicating a beneficial effect of Plantago ovata husk in diabetic rabbits. Although further studies in patients are necessary, we think that Plantago ovata husk offers interesting perspectives to be administered to patients with diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, IBIOMED, University of León, 24071 León, Spain. rdielz@unileon.es
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sahagún
authors.forename: Ángela P
authors.initials: ÁP
authors.lastname: Calle
authors.forename: Nélida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006262:Health; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010943:Plantago; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007328:Insulin