English

M. Abdelkarem

doi:10.5897/ajpp12.644

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the beneficial effect of quercetin, flaxseed and/or in combination as synergetic, in an animal model of metabolic syndrome (MtS), high fructose (HF)-fed rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats, 3 months old, weighing between 110 to 120 g were randomly divided into 5 groups. Rats were given drinking water (negative (-ve) control rats) or 10% fructose in drinking water (HF; fructose-fed rats) with standard chow for 8 weeks. After 4 weeks of HF feeding, rats were further divided into matched 4 subgroups. Different groups of animals (n = 10, each group) were administered 10% HF (5 mg/kg, +ve control), flaxseed (F; 50 mg/kg), quercetin (Q; 50 mg/kg), flaxseed + quercetin, (FQ; 25 mg/kg each), respectively. All ingredients were given orally, once daily and subsequently for 4 weeks. Serum glucose, insulin, lipids profile, leptin, and adiponectin were estimated. After 4 weeks of feeding, a significant increase in blood glucose level was observed in HF fed rats compared to normal rats, but this was significantly decreased after administration of F, Q and FQ. The serum insulin level in HF fed rats was significantly decreased after administration of F and FQ groups. Significantly, higher concentrations of triacylglycerols (TG), total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL- C) were observed in HF fed rats, and these increases were lower after administration of F, Q and FQ. There was a significant increase in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in FQ group. The increase of serum leptin level was decreased significantly in F, Q and FQ groups. Whereas, the reduction of serum adiponectin level in HF fed rats was increased in F, Q and FQ groups. These data suggests that protective effect of flaxseed and quercetin consumption as functional foods could be less risky for people with decreased insulin sensitivity and increased oxidative stress, such as those with the metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Key words: Flaxseed, protective effect, quercetin, insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes.

Highlights

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of risk factors, including impaired fasting glucose, hypertension, central adiposity, predisposing to higher risks of oxidative stress, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Park et al, 2007; Grattagliano et al, 2008; Chen et al, 2008; Ishizaka et al, 2009)
These data suggests that protective effect of flaxseed and quercetin consumption as functional foods could be less risky for people with decreased insulin sensitivity and increased oxidative stress, such as those with the metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes
A significant increase in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was observed in FQ group (p ≤ 0.001) compared to high fructose (HF) fed rats (Figure 2D)

Summary

Introduction

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of risk factors, including impaired fasting glucose, hypertension, central adiposity, predisposing to higher risks of oxidative stress, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Park et al, 2007; Grattagliano et al, 2008; Chen et al, 2008; Ishizaka et al, 2009). Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of a pro-inflammatory state that induces insulin resistance and leads to clinical and biochemical manifestations of the metabolic syndrome (Horiuchi and Mogi, 2011). Obesity/insulin resistance is associated with metabolic syndrome, which plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular risk. Usually involved in obesity, leads to an imbalanced production of metabolic products, hormones, and adipocytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), free fatty acids (FFAs) or adiponectin which causes decreased insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and liver, and impairs endothelial function through direct or indirect mechanisms

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