J.C. Cha, V. Ivanov, M.W. Roomi, T. Kalinovsky, A. Niedzwiecki, M. Rath
Dr. Rath Research Institute, 1260 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050
Molecular Medicine Reports, 2011, DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2011.562

Abstract:
Incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide with both environmental and genetic factors implicated in its development.   Diabetes is often preceded by metabolic syndrome (MS) and can develop in normal adults ingesting a high fructose diet.  The effect of high fructose intake in development of MS in children and adolescents is less clear. 

Our objective was to study the effects of a nutrient mixture and metformin, a widely used oral diabetic medication, in modulating the physiological and biochemical parameters of a high fructose diet in immature mice.  C57BL/6J wild type mice of 7 weeks age were given 12% fructose in their water and were given either metformin in distilled water (MET) or a diabetic nutrient mix (DNM) over 7 weeks.  DNM-fed mice showed a decrease in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and fructosamine relative to the fructose-fed only group (p<0.05).  A discordant result was observed in the MET group, with a decrease in blood pressure but increases in total cholesterol and fructosamine (p<0.05).  Serum glucose did not change significantly among all groups.  Thus, symptoms of fructose-induced MS in young mice can be countered nutritionally. Additionally, metformin can improve some biochemical markers while worsening others.

Key Words: 
diabetes nutrient mix, metformin, C57/BL6J wild-type mice, fructose diet, metabolic syndrome parameters, fructosamine, lipid profile, systolic blood pressure

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