Effect of a chromium-fructooligosaccharide complex on glycemic parameters in obese and obese-NIDDM rats

The incidence and odds ratio of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, a common sequela of obesity, are increasing in incidence to the point of becoming epidemic in Western society. To determine the potential beneficial effects of a chromium-fructooligosaccharide complex (FCC) on glycemic responses of male obese and obese NIDDM rats, groups of 3 - 4 month old lean and obese LA/Ntul//-cp and SHR/Ntul//-cp rats (NIDDM-rats, n= 6 rats/group) reared normally on Purina #5012 chow from the time of weaning, were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance (OGT) after a brief 4-hour fast. A second group of NIDDM rats (n=5) aged one year were also administered the OGT and FCC challenges. NIDDM rats develop IGT by adolescence and renal disease, cataracts, and impaired nerve conduction velocity typical of DM by adulthood. Animals were administered a glucose solution equivalent to 2.5 grams/kg BW via intragastric gavage, or the same glucose plus the FCC (2.5 g/kg BW, containing 200µg Cr and 2.25 mg/serving) or the FCC alone over a brief (1-2 minute) duration. Measures of blood glucose (BG) were determined at 30-minute intervals from zero to +120 minutes post gavage via tail bleeding, and the area under the curve (AUC) of each group determined. Final body weights (BW) of obese were greater than lean (p=0.05), and obese-NIDDM > Obese rats (p=<0.05) and increased in NIDDM rats with older age. OGT of lean rats remained normal throughout, and FCC resulted in minor decreases in AUC and in BG concentrations at all time points (p= n.s.) The OGT of obese rats demonstrated significant increases in BG at +60, +90-, and +120-minutes post gavage but remained non-diabetic, and FCC decreased the glycemic increase and AUC by ~50%, similar to the glycemic response off lean littermates. The OGT of young NIDDM was significantly impaired and FCC resulted in a 32% reduction in the AUC. The OGT and AUC of OLD NIDDM rats was greater than in young rats and was decreased by 25% with FCC. OGT and OGG+FCC were similar at both ages in NIDDM rats. These results are consistent with an FCC-mediated improvement in glycemic control in congenic animal models for obesity and obesity+NIDDM and suggest that the FCC complex may be a useful nutraceutical adjunct in the dietary treatment of obesity and other glucose intolerant states as they occur in man and animals. © FASEB.