Functionality of cow milk naturally enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols in diets for diabetic rats

PLoS One. 2018 Apr 13;13(4):e0195839. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195839. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus is becoming a serious threat to human health in various parts of the world. Studies with dairy products have shown a potential beneficial effect against diabetes. This experiment evaluated the supplementation of milk naturally enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and polyphenols in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Forty male 28-day-old Wistar rats were distributed in four experimental treatments of diabetic animals (streptozotocin induction) and a normal group (non-induced). Experimental treatments were: control (water), whole common milk (COM-M), milk enriched with PUFA (PUFA-M), milk enriched with PUFA and polyphenols (PUFA/P-M) through a special diet offered to dairy cows. Milk supplementation at a dose 5 mL/kg body weight was performed for 77 days, 42 days before and 35 days after diabetes induction. The COM-M supplementation increased brown fat deposits, reduced post-induction glucose levels, reduced blood fructosamine levels, and improved glucose tolerance. Milk enriched with PUFA reduced final fasting glucose, LDL levels, and improved blood antioxidant capacity. Milk enriched with PUFA and polyphenols promoted an increase in gastrocnemius muscle mass, and a reduction in mesenteric fat and LDL levels. Milk intake, with an emphasis on milk enriched with PUFA and polyphenols, attenuated the metabolic disorders of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Body Weight
  • Cattle
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Polyphenols / chemistry*
  • Rats

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Polyphenols

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brasília, DF, Brazil), statement number 485566/2012-5, Universal/2012. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.