Abstract from the 3rd WCIRS

Resveratrol Improves insulin resistance in High Cholesterol-Fructose Diet Induced Metabolic Syndrome Jen-Ying Deng and Li-Man Hung Department of Life Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan Epidemiological studies have shown that red wine consumption is associated with less cardiovascular mortality in the general population and diabetic patients. It has been reported that moderate red wine consumption also markedly attenuates insulin-resistance in type 2 diabetic patients. Furthermore, our previously studies showed that resveratrol possesses antihyperglycemic effects in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to determine whether or not resveratrol (a natural antioxidant derived from grapes and red wine) improves metabolic syndrome and to explore its underling mechanisms. To induce metabolic syndrome, male SD rats were given high cholesterol-fructose diet (HCF) for 15 weeks. Compared with the age-matched controlled group, the HCF animals exhibited hyperinsulinemia and hypercholesterolemia as well as impaired glucose tolerance and insulin responses during glucose tolerance test (GTT). Oral gavage fed resveratrol (1 mg/kg/day, 15 weeks) significantly reduced plasma insulin and cholesterol levels. Resveratrol also attenuated plasma glucose elevation and improved insulin responses during GTT. Furthermore, in insulin tolerance test (ITT), the insulin sensitivities were impaired in HCF animals. In contrast, insulin-stimulated plasma glucose lowering effects were significantly improved by resveratrol during ITT. Finally, the hepatic glycogen synthesis as well as glucose uptake activities of soleus muscles, epididymal adipose tissues, and hepatic tissues were dramatically impaired in HCF animals. The results show that administration of resveratrol significantly improved HCF tissue glucose uptake activities and hepatic glycogen synthesis. Thus, we conclude that the metabolic syndrome prevention effect in conjunction with its aforementioned health benefits, suggests the use of resveratrol as a health food supplement and as a therapeutic drug to treat patients with metabolic syndrome.