Nutritional improvement of metabolic syndrome parameters in immature fructose-fed wild-type mice

The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is on the increase worldwide, with both environmental and genetic factors implicated in its development. Diabetes is often preceded by metabolic syndrome (MS) and may develop in normal adults ingesting a high fructose diet. The effect of high fructose intake on the development of MS in children and adolescents is less clear. Our objective was to study the effects of a nutrient mixture and metformin (MET), a widely used oral diabetic medication, in modulating the physiological and biochemical parameters of a high fructose diet in immature mice. C57BL/6J wild‑type mice aged 7 weeks were administered 12% fructose in their water and MET in distilled water or a diabetic nutrient mix (DNM) over 7 weeks. DNM-fed mice showed a decrease in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and fructosamine compared to the fructose-fed only group (p<0.05). A discordant result was observed in the MET group, with a decrease in blood pressure but increases in total cholesterol and fructosamine (p<0.05). Serum glucose did not change significantly among the groups. Thus, symptoms of fructose-induced MS in young mice could be countered nutritionally. Additionally, MET may improve certain biochemical markers while worsening others.