Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of dietary resistant starch on glucose metabolism in offsprings of diabetic rats. Methods Twenty female Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with type 2 diabetes aged 6 weeks were randomized into resistant starch diet group (GK-RS group, n=10) and energy control diet group (GK-EC group, n=10), and another 10 age-matched female Wistar rats fed with energy control diet were served as blank control group (Wistar-EC group). Ten male offsprings were randomly selected in each group, and were raised till 8 weeks old on regular chow diet. Body weight and volume of food intake were recorded three time a week, pancreatic relative β cell density was measured by immunohistochemistry, fasting serum insulin concentration was detected by ELISA, concentrations of fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose were determined by oral glucose tolerance test, and insulin sensitivity was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results Compared with GK-EC group, the concentration of fasting blood glucose significantly decreased (P<0.05), pancreatic insulin content significantly increased (P<0.05), and pancreatic relative β cell density tended to increase in GK-RS group (P=0.07). There was no significant difference in body weight, volume of food intake, HOMA-IR and concentrations of 2 h postprandial blood glucose and fasting serum insulin between GK-EC group and GK-RS group (P>0.05). Conclusion Dietary resistant starch has potential in improving glucose metabolism disorder in offsprings born to diabetic dams.

Key words: resistant starch, type 2 diabetes, glucose metabolism, offspring