Background & aims: The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of supplementation with different inulin-type fructan fractions against common features of the metabolic syndrome in a rat model of this syndrome (fructose-fed rat).
Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups and the animals received for 4 weeks either a semi-purified starch or fructose-based diet, or diets in which fructose was partially substituted with various fructans: 10 g/100 g of long-chain inulin or oligofructose, or an oligofructose-enriched inulin. After this period, blood pressure was measured and samples of blood and tissues were collected for selected biochemical analyses.
Results: As compared to the starch-fed group, the fructose-fed rats presented: hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, increased susceptibility to heart peroxidation and renal damages. Long-chain inulin and oligofructose-enriched inulin supplementation prevented fructose induced elevated blood pressure, susceptibility to heart peroxidation and renal damages. All inulin-type fructans containing diets prevented fructose induced hypertriglyceridemia.
Conclusions: These results suggest that supplementation with inulin-type fructans is efficient against fructose induced hypertension and that effects are most pronounced for long-chain inulin and oligofructose-enriched inulin. We hypothesize that the anti-hypertensive effect of inulin could be explained by the reduction of the high fructose induced oxidative stress.