Effects of Red Rice Bran Extract on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice

Narongsuk Munkong1, Arthid Thim-Uam2, Sirinat Pengnet3

  • 1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand.

Insights

Red rice bran extract (RRBE) improves glucose-insulin homeostasis in mice with high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. RRBE modulates key gene expressions, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for metabolic disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Metabolic research
  • Nutritional science
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Insulin resistance is central to obesity and abnormal glucose-insulin metabolism.
  • Red rice bran extract (RRBE) contains phytochemicals with potential anti-diabetic effects.
  • The molecular mechanisms of RRBE in insulin resistance are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anti-insulin resistant mechanisms of RRBE.
  • To evaluate RRBE's effects in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model.
  • To analyze metabolic, histological, and gene expression changes.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were fed either a low-fat diet or HFD, with some HFD groups receiving RRBE (0.5 g/kg or 1 g/kg) for six weeks.
  • Evaluated metabolic parameters, including blood glucose and fasting serum insulin.
  • Assessed pancreatic histology and gene expression of insulin, insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), insulin receptor substrate (IRS), and glucose transporter (GLUT) in target tissues.

Main Results:

  • HFD-induced mice showed elevated blood glucose, insulin levels, and islet size, with reduced skeletal muscle IDE expression.
  • RRBE treatment significantly restored these metabolic parameters and pancreatic histology.
  • RRBE upregulated IRS and GLUT gene expression in adipose tissue and GLUT in muscle and liver.

Conclusions:

  • RRBE ameliorates abnormal glucose-insulin metabolism in HFD-fed mice.
  • RRBE's mechanism involves modulating the expression of insulin, IDE, IRS, and GLUT genes.
  • RRBE shows promise as a therapeutic agent for managing insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders.

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