Modified Rice Bran Improves Glucose Tolerance in NIDDM Adult Rats Given Streptozotocin as Neonates

Authors: I. Ohara, K. Onai and H. Maeda

Abstract: The effect of modified rice bran on glucose tolerance was studied in adult non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats that had been caused by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg per kg streptozotocin (STZ) at 1. 5 days of age. Following weaning, the animals were divided into 3 groups, 5 control rats fed a 1.7% cellulose diet, 7 diabetic rats fed a 1. 7% cellulose diet and 8 diabetic rats fed a 1% modified rice bran (+0. 7% cellulose) diet. Rats had free access to one of experimental diets and water for 60 days. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed at 8 weeks of age. Trunk blood was collected and plasma levels of insulin, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total protein, albumin and urea nitrogen were measured. Plasma glucose levels in diabetic rats fed the 1.7% cellulose diet increased significantly faster and to higher levels than those of the normal control in an oral glucose tolerance test. In the NIDDM rats fed the modified rice bran diets, the rapid rise of plasma glucose levels was depressed. Among the various other biochemical measurements only the plasma total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by the administration of modified rice bran. Modified rice bran holds promise as a dietary fiber supplement for the treatment of diabetes.