Immune Netw.  2012 Jun;12(3):96-103. 10.4110/in.2012.12.3.96.

Dietary Aloe QDM Complex Reduces Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance and Adipogenesis in Obese Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

• Shin S
• Kim S
• Oh HE
• Kong H
• Shin E
• Do SG
• Jo TH
• Park YI
• Lee CK
• Kim K

• KMID: 2168007
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2012.12.3.96

Abstract

Obesity-induced disorders contribute to the development of metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, fatty liver diseases, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we evaluated whether the Aloe QDM complex could improve metabolic disorders related to blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Male C57BL/6 obese mice fed a high-fat diet for 54 days received a supplement of Aloe QDM complex or pioglitazone (PGZ) or metformin (Met) and were compared with unsupplemented controls (high-fat diet; HFD) or mice fed a regular diet (RD). RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to quantify the expression of obesity-induced inflammation. Dietary Aloe QDM complex lowered body weight, fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin, and leptin levels, and markedly reduced the impairment of glucose tolerance in obese mice. Also, Aloe QDM complex significantly enhanced plasma adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity via AMPK activity in muscles. At the same time, Aloe QDM decreased the mRNA and protein of PPARgamma/LXRalpha and scavenger receptors in white adipose tissue (WAT). Dietary Aloe QDM complex reduces obesity-induced glucose tolerance not only by suppressing PPARgamma/LXRalpha but also by enhancing AMPK activity in the WAT and muscles, both of which are important peripheral tissues affecting insulin resistance. The Aloe QDM complex could be used as a nutritional intervention against T2D.

Keyword

Aloe QDM complex; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Insulin sensitivity

MeSH Terms

Adipogenesis
Adiponectin
Adipose Tissue, White
Aloe
Animals
Blood Glucose
Blotting, Western
Body Weight
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Diet
Diet, High-Fat
Fasting
Fatty Liver
Glucose
Humans
Inflammation
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Leptin
Male
Metabolic Diseases
Metformin
Mice
Mice, Obese
Muscles
Plasma
Receptors, Scavenger
RNA, Messenger
Thiazolidinediones
Adiponectin
Blood Glucose
Glucose
Insulin
Leptin
Metformin
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Scavenger
Thiazolidinediones

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Effects of Aloe QDM complex on body weight and blood glucose change. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with an aloe formula. (A) Weekly changes in body weight of Aloe QDM complex or anti-diabetic drug-supplemented mice. (B) Blood glucose levels in plasma. Data are means±SEM.values. ††p<0.01 compared with RD-fed mice. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 compared with untreated HFD-fed mice.

• 

  Figure 2 Effects of Aloe QDM complex on insulin homeostasis. (A) Change of plasma insulin levels. At the end of the 8-week experimental period, blood samples were taken from the inferior vena cava, and plasma insulin concentration was measured using commercial insulin ELISA kits. (B) Glucose tolerance and (C) insulin tolerance were improved by Aloe QDM complex. Three days before sacrifice, mice were fasted overnight and then injected intraperitoneally with glucose (1.5 g/kg body weight) or insulin (0.75 U/kg body weight), respectively. Blood glucose levels were measured using tail blood samples at the indicated times post-injection. Data are means±SEM.values. ††p<0.01 compared with RD-fed mice. **p<0.01 compared with untreated HFD-fed mice.

• 

  Figure 3 Effects of Aloe QDM complex on adipogenesis. WAT were isolated from HFD-fed mice. mRNA expression of (A) PPARγ and LXRα and (B) SR-A and CD36 in the WAT were measured by RT-PCR. Experiments were performed in triplicate with similar results.

• 

  Figure 4 Effects of Aloe QDM complex on adiponectin and leptin. WAT were isolated from HFD-fed mice. (A) mRNA expression of adiponectin and leptin in the WAT were measured by RT-PCR. Secretion of (B) adiponectin and (C) leptin protein in the WAT was measured by ELISA. Experiments were repeated in triplicate with similar results. Data are means±SEM.values. ††p<0.01 compared with RD-fed mice. **p<0.01 compared with untreated HFD-fed mice.

• 

  Figure 5 Effects of Aloe QDM complex on AMPK phosphorylation. Muscles were isolated from HFD-fed mice. Protein expression in the WAT was measured by western blot. Experiments were performed in triplicate with similar results.

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