Effect of mulberry on glucose regulation in mice fed with high-fat diet

  Objective  To investigate regulative effect of mulberry on blood glucose in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and to provide evidences for application of mulberry in blood glucose control.

  Methods  Totally 50 male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into a control group (with regular chow), a HFD group (with 60% energy from fat), and three HFD plus low, moderate and high mulberry groups (with HFD and 1.1%, 2.2% and 4.4% mulberry powder). Body weight and feed consumed of the mice were recorded once a week. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was conducted at week 0, 4, 8 and 12, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for blood glucose was calculated. At week 13, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin level were determined and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was assessed.

  Results  Compared to the control mice, the mice of HFD group showed significantly increased body weight (46.09 ± 5.40 g), FBG (11.80 ± 1.80 mmol/L), and HOMA-IR (30.38 ± 14.48) (P < 0.05 for all). In comparison to those in the mice of HFD group, significantly lower body weight (41.27 ± 5.56 g), FBG (9.44 ± 1.34 mmol/L), and HOMA-IR (17.88 ± 11.53) were detected one week after the 12-week treatment in the mice with 4.4% mulberry powder (all P < 0.05 for all).

  Conclusion  Mulberry intervention decreases body weight gain and improves glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in the mice fed with high-fat diet.