Substitution of local Indonesian varieties of brown rice on anthropometry and blood glucose level improvement in type 2 DM patients: a pilot project.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder whose prevalence increases globally. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is one of the DM management pillars to control blood glucose. Local Indonesian brown rice is proven to contain high fiber and magnesium levels thus could improve obesity, fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c This study aims to prove the benefits of brown rice on anthropometric parameters and blood glucose control. DESIGN AND METHODS: Respondents were overweight women older than 40 years with type 2 diabetes who were given three main meals and three snacks six days a week for 12 weeks. Anthropometric and blood glucose control data were collected before and after the intervention. Diet and intake data before the intervention were obtained through a semi quantitate food frequency questionnaire. Intake data during the intervention were recorded using the 24-hour food record and analyzed using modified NutriSurvey 2007 software. RESULTS: Brown rice intervention significantly reduced body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and abdominal circumference (p<0.05), also in fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (PBG), and HbA1c (p<0.05). From the Pearson's test results, an increase in fiber intake correlated with a decrease in BMI and abdominal circumference (p=0.03; r = -0.511 and p=0.006; r = -0.619, respectively). Meanwhile, magnesium intake and changes in BMI showed a negative correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The substitution of brown rice as a staple food for 12 weeks improves anthropometric parameters and blood glucose control in respondents with type 2 diabetes.

High-fructose diet initially promotes increased aortic wall thickness, liver steatosis, and cardiac histopathology deterioration, but does not increase body fat index.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fats and fructose have been responsible for inducing obesity and body tissues damage due to the consequence of metabolic syndrome through several mechanisms. The body fat index (BFI) is one of the anthropometric measures used to detect obesity in rats. This study aims to examine the correlation between high-fat high-fructose diet and liver steatosis cell count, early atherosclerosis characteristics, and BFI in Sprague Dawley Rats. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was an experimental design using 2 groups of 12-weeks-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The control group received a standard diet and tap water beverages for 17 weeks. The intervention group was fed with high-fat diet from modified AIN 93-M and additional 30% fructose drink. We analyzed the foam cell count, aortic wall thickness, cardiac histopathology, and liver steatosis cell count after the sacrifice process. RESULTS: The rats in the intervention group had a higher aortic wall thickness, liver steatosis, and foam cell count (+125%, p<0.01; +317%, p<0.01 and +165%, p<0.01 respectively) compared to the control group. The intervention group also showed higher mononuclear inflammatory and hypertrophic cell count. A significant positive correlation was found between dietary fructose with premature atherosclerosis by increasing foam cell count (r=0.66) and aortic wall thickness (r=0.68). In addition, 30% dietary fructose increased liver steatosis (r =0.69) and mononuclear inflammatory cardiac cell count (r=0.61). Interestingly, the intervention had no effect on BFI (p>0.5; r=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary fat and fructose consumption for 17 weeks promote atherosclerosis, liver steatosis, and cardiac histopathology alteration without increasing BFI.