CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Diabetes mellitus, an endocrine disorder, is associated with profound alterations in lipids and lipoproteins metabolism, and with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, coronary heart and peripheral vascular diseases. Soluble dietary fibers are proposed as key nutrients in the control plasma lipid levels in diabetic patients. Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) is a plant originating from South Amarica. Its edible roots stores the carbohydrates mainly in the form of B-(2-1)fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a fermentable dietary fiber. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidemic efficacy of rich FOS-yacon root in diabetic rats and discuss their action mechanism. Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were orally administered with yacon roots (340 and 6,800 mg FOS/kg/day) for 60 days. During and at the end of experimental period the plasma, pancreas and intestinal segments (ileum, caecum, colon) were isolated for biochemical, histology and immunohistochemical analysis. Yacon root supplement didnt modify significantly the glucose levels, but total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triacylglycerol plasma levels showed positive modifications. While plasma insulin levels was not affected by yacon treatment, morphometric and immunohistochemical studies with anti-insulin, anti-Histone 3 and anti-PCNA antibodies revealed an increase in pancreatic B-cell, evidencing an insipient islet regeneration, without insulin releasing activity. Interesting, experimental diabetes induced a significant increase in both, caecal tissue and plasma GLP-1 levels, while treated rats exhibited a more marked increase of this incretin. Our results suggested that rich FOS-yacon root might be proposed as a nutritional adjuvant in the management of diabetes, based on the endogenous promotion of incretin secretion by the caecum.

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