Effect of different dietary fats on inflammation and glucose intolerance in high fructose and high fat fed experimental animals.

OBJECTIVES: Diet is the major modifiable risk factor for the onset of insulin resistance and its progression into diabetes. In the present study the effect of various dietary fats on inflammatory homeostasis and glucose tolerance is investigated in high fat and high fructose fed mice model. METHODS: C57/BL6J mice were divided into four groups and fed a casein-based diet containing high fructose (45%) and high fat (24%) (clarified butter oil [CBO]; safflower oil [SFFO] and lard oil [LO]) for 120 days; oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), plasma lipid profile and plasma & adipose tissue cytokines levels were compared with the control diet (10% groundnut oil and 59.5% starch) fed animals. RESULTS: The total cholesterol and triglycerides were higher in CBO and LO fed animals with glucose intolerance and increased body weights; liver and white adipose tissue weights were higher in CBO and LO fed animals respectively. CBO feeding increased the plasma (IFN-γ) and adipose tissue cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6 & TNF-α). LO feeding increased plasma IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-1ß and adipose tissue IL-6. SFFO feeding decreased body weight and tissue cytokines and increased plasma IFN-γ levels without causing impairment in the glucose tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of a high fructose and high fat diet which mimic the present-day dietary pattern resulted in altered inflammatory homeostasis and impairment in glucose tolerance in 24% CBO and LO fed animals. The deleterious effects of high fructose feeding were reversed in SFFO fed mice possibly due to the presence of oleic and linoleic acids.

Effects of co-administration of Unani pharmacopoeia formulations Qurs Tabasheer Sartani and Arq Hara Bhara with CAT-I antitubercular drugs in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem globally, despite incredible advancements in healthcare system. In Unani system of medicine, Qurs Tabasheer Sarthani (QTS) and Arq Hara Bhara (AHB) have been traditionally used for tuberculosis like conditions. The study was aimed to investigate the effects of co-administration of QTS and AHB with category I first line antitubercular drugs (CAT-I) on the indices of liver and kidney function in rats. METHODS: QTS and AHB were prepared individually and mixed to achieve final compound Unani pharmacopoeia formulation (UPF). The human equivalent doses for rats were calculated and administered with and without CAT-I. The effects of the formulations on serum indices of kidney and liver function, hematological markers and plasma CAT-I drug levels were estimated at 14th, 60th & 180th days of treatment. RESULTS: The administration of UPF, CAT-I and UPF + CAT-I altered the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and haematological markers. These alterations were within permissible range and randomly distributed among groups during various time points. Administration of CAT-I alone resulted in moderate histopathological changes which were completely abrogated in CAT-I + UPF co-administered animals. The co-administration of UPF with CAT-I improved the plasma peak rifampicin (RIF) levels, without altering the liver and kidney functions. CONCLUSIONS: The co-administration of UPF with ATT improved liver and kidney functions and increased the plasma levels of RIF. These beneficial findings provide a scope to evaluate the pharmacokinetic studies in humans.

Dietary trans fatty acids alter diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol content and glucose transport in rats.

The present study evaluates the effect of dietary trans fatty acids on diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition, intramyocellular triacylglycerol content and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in comparison with dietary saturated fatty acids. Male weanling WNIN rats were divided into three groups and fed for 3 months on one of the following diets containing 10 % oil differing in fatty acid composition: control diet, saturated fatty acid diet and trans fatty acid diet. Dietary trans fatty acids increased the intramyocellular triacylglycerols and decreased the ratio of 20 : 4n-6 to 18 : 2n-6 and long-chain PUFA levels (20 %) in diaphragm phospholipids, indicating inhibition of PUFA biosynthesis. However, saturated fatty acids decreased both 18 : 2n-6 and 20 : 4n-6 without change in the ratio. Trans fatty acid-induced alterations in diaphragm phospholipid fatty acid composition and intramyocellular triacylglycerol content were associated with decreased insulin-stimulated glucose transport in the diaphragm. These observations suggest that dietary trans fatty acids decrease diaphragm insulin sensitivity, possibly due to increased intramyocellular triacylglycerol accumulation and decreased long-chain PUFA in phospholipids.