Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(6): 397-404
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-944544
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Short-term and Long-term Effects of Guar on Postprandial Plasma Glucose, Insulin and Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Concentration in Healthy Rats

P.  G.  Prieto1 , J.  Cancelas1 , M.  L.  Villanueva-Peñacarrillo1 , W.  J.  Malaisse2 , I.  Valverde1
  • 1Metabolism, Nutrition and Hormones, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
  • 2Laboratory of Experimental Hormonology, Brussels Free University, Brussels, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

Received 24 October 2005

Accepted after revision 16 January 2006

Publication Date:
06 July 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Ingestion of guar gum decreases postprandial glycemia and insulinemia and improves sensitivity to insulin in diabetic patients and several animal models of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to compare the short-term and long-term effects of guar on plasma insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 concentration in healthy rats. In the short-term experiments, the concomitant intragastric administration of glucose and guar reduced the early increment in plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 concentration otherwise induced by glucose alone. Comparable findings were made after twelve days of meal training exposing the rats to either a control or guar-enriched diet for fifteen minutes. Mean plasma glucose concentrations were lower while mean insulin concentrations were higher in the guar group than in the controls according to intragastric glucose tolerance tests conducted in overnight fasted rats maintained for 19 to 36 days on either the control or guar-enriched diet. The intestinal content of glucagon-like peptide 1 at the end of the experiments was also lower in the guar group. Changes in body weight over 62 days of observation were comparable in the control and guar rats. Thus, long-term intake of guar improves glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose absorption, without improving insulin sensitivity, in healthy rats.

References

Dr. Isabel Valverde

Dpto. Metabolismo, Nutrición y Hormonas

Fundación Jiménez Díaz · Avda. Reyes Católicos 2 · 28040 Madrid

Phone: +34 915504899

Fax: +34 915440247 ·

Email: ivalverde@fjd.es