The modifying effects of galactomannan of Canadian-grown fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L) on the glycemic and lipidemic staus in rats

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Srichamroen, Achalee
  • Field, Catherine J.
  • Thomson, Alan B.
  • Basu, Tapan K.

• Using high sucrose-fed male Sprague-Dawley rats, a study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding Galactomannan (GAL), a soluble dietary fiber extracted from Canadian-grown fenugreek seeds, on blood lipid and glucose responses. Rats (n = 8, 175–200 g) were randomly assigned to one of three high sucrose diets containing 10% cellulose (control), 7.5% cellulose + 2.5% GAL, and 5% cellulose + 5% GAL, respectively for 4 weeks. After 3 weeks, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on each rat. A week later blood samples were collected to determine the effect on blood lipids. A significant reduction in glycemic response was observed only in 5% GAL group at 120 min following OGTT, when compared with that of control and 2.5% GAL groups. The plasma level of insulin was also significantly reduced (p<0.001) in 5% GAL-fed rats but at all times during OGTT. These animals also showed a reduction in body weight gain (p<0.05) in parallel with less food intake (p<0.05). All GAL-fed (2.5% and 5.0%) rats had significantly reduced plasma levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol in association with a reduction in epididymal adipose weight. Overall, this study demonstrated that feeding GAL from Canadian-grown fenugreek seeds has the potential to alter glycemic and lipidemic status and reduce abdominal fat in normal rats.

• Date created

  2008-01-01

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Epididymal tissue
  • Glycemic status
  • Canadian fenugreek seed
  • Lipidemic status
  • Galactomannan

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-8mys-c569

• License

  © 2008 A. Srichamroen et al. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.