Enriching the diet with menhaden oil improves peripheral neuropathy in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing the diet of type 1 diabetic rats with menhaden oil on diabetic neuropathy. Menhaden oil is a natural source for n-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to have beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease and other morbidities. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were used to examine the influence of supplementing their diet with 25% menhaden oil on diabetic neuropathy. Both prevention and intervention protocols were used. Endpoints included motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, thermal and mechanical sensitivity, and innervation and sensitivity of the cornea and hindpaw. Diabetic neuropathy as evaluated by the stated endpoints was found to be progressive. Menhaden oil did not improve elevated HbA1C levels or serum lipid levels. Diabetic rats at 16-wk duration were thermal hypoalgesic and had reduced motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, and innervation and sensitivity of the cornea and skin were impaired. These endpoints were significantly improved with menhaden oil treatment following the prevention or intervention protocol. We found that supplementing the diet of type 1 diabetic rats with menhaden oil improved a variety of endpoints associated with diabetic neuropathy. These results suggest that enriching the diet with n-3 fatty acids may be a good treatment strategy for diabetic neuropathy.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa;
Lawrence J
LJ
Coppey
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa;
Eric P
EP
Davidson
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa;
Alexander
A
Obrosov
Department of Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; Veterans Affairs Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa; and Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa mark-yorek@uiowa.edu.
Mark A
MA
Yorek
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014110:Touch
D005395:Fish Oils; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids; C033266:Menhaden oil
corneal nerve fibers; diabetic peripheral neuropathy; epidermal nerve fibers; fish oil; type 1 diabetes