title: Effect of L-arginine supplementation on insulin resistance and serum adiponectin concentration in rats with fat diet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementation with L-arginine, a substrate used in the production of nitric oxide, had an effect on adiponectin concentration in rats fed a high-fat diet. The influence of L-arginine on insulin resistance was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was performed using 36 Wistar rats divided into three groups: group 1 was fed a standard diet, group 2 a high-fat (HF) diet, group 3 a HF diet supplemented with L-arginine. After 42 days, serum levels of lipids, glucose, insulin, NO, and adiponectin were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass was equal in all 3 groups, at the beginning as well as at the end of the study, however, in group 2 the amount of visceral fat was greater after 42 days. In group 3, there was a tendency for visceral fat to decrease. An increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as a decrease in NO and adiponectin were seen in group 2, while in group 3, L-arginine supplementation ameliorated these disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that L-arginine supplementation in rats fed a HF diet is associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity. Our findings suggest that the underlying mechanism could be at least partially related to an increase in adiponectin concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miczke
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznan University of Life Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suliburska
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pupek-Musialik
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Medical University of Białystok Poland.
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ostrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabłecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Poznan University of Life Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krejpcio
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skrypnik
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Obesity Treatment and Metabolic Disorders, Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bogdański
keywords: High-fat (HF) diet; L-arginine supplementation; insulin resistance; nitric oxide; serum adiponectin