Fucoxanthin ameliorates hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance in diabetic mice partially through IRS-1/PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways. (September 2018) - Zhang, Yiping
Graphical abstract: Highlights: Fucoxanthin improved glucose/lipid metabolism and ameliorated insulin resistance in diabetic mice. Fucoxanthin regulated GK and PEPCK mRNA expressions in liver. Fucoxanthin promoted glycogen synthesis via regulating GLUT4, GSY and GSK3β protein expressions in muscle. Fucoxanthin lowered plasma lipid levels via regulating PPARα, p-ACC, CPT-1 and FAS protein expressions in liver. Fucoxanthin regulated IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and AMPK signaling proteins both in liver and muscle. Abstract: Fucoxanthin has potential anti-diabetic activities, but its precise effects and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, C57BL/KsJ- db / db mice were fed diets containing fucoxanthin (0.2% and 0.4%, w/w) for 6 weeks. Results showed dietary fucoxanthin significantly improved glucose/lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, and prevented pancreatic histological changes in db / db mice. Moreover, fucoxanthin markedly lowered blood glucose by regulating glucokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA expressions in liver, promoted glycogen synthesis by regulating glucose transporter 4, glycogen synthase and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta protein expressions in skeletal muscle, and lowered blood lipid levels by regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, p-acetyl CoA carboxylase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and fatty acid synthetase protein expressions in liver. Mechanistic studies indicated that fucoxanthin effectively regulates the expression of IRS-1/PI3K/AKT and AMPK signaling proteins in liver and skeletal muscle. All results suggested that fucoxanthin is a potential functional food or effective drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus.