Soluble dietary fibre fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed improves glucose homeostasis in animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes by delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancing insulin action

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 97; no. 3; pp. 514 - 521
• Main Authors: Hannan, J. M. A., Ali, L., Rokeya, B., Khaleque, J., Akhter, M., Flatt, P. R., Abdel-Wahab, Y. H. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.03.2007
• Subjects: Absorption; Adipocytes; Animal models; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body weight; carbohydrate metabolism; Carbohydrates; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - diet therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - diet therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diet therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Dietary Carbohydrates - pharmacokinetics; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - pharmacology; Dietary Fiber - therapeutic use; Digestion; Digestion - drug effects; Disaccharidases - antagonists & inhibitors; Disaccharidases - metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fenugreek; fiber content; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastric motility; Gastrointestinal motility; Gastrointestinal Motility - drug effects; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; Glucose; Glucose absorption; Glucose tolerance; Glucose transport; Glycogen; Glycogens; Homeostasis; Homeostasis - drug effects; hypoglycemic agents; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Ingestion; Insulin; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin action; Insulin Secretion; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; intestinal absorption; Intestinal Absorption - drug effects; Intestine, Small - enzymology; Male; medicinal properties; Motility; noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Oral administration; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Rodents; Seeds; Small intestine; Solubility; Soluble dietary fibre; Sucrose; Sucrose - pharmacokinetics; Trigonella - chemistry; Trigonella foenum-graecum; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Bangladesh; India; Glucose absorption; Trigonella foenum-graecum; Soluble dietary fibre; Fenugreek; Gastrointestinal motility; Diabetes; Insulin action; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Animal model; Pancreatic hormone; Seeds; Motility; Homeostasis; Autoimmune disease; Glucose; Gastrointestinal; Absorption; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Carbohydrate; Immunopathology; Metabolic diseases; Digestion; Insulin; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Leguminosae; Type 1 diabetes; Trigonella foenum-graecum: Fenugreek: Diabetes: Soluble dietary fibre: Glucose absorption: Gastrointestinal motility: Insulin action; Spermatophyta; Trigonella foenum graecum
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114507657869

Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds have been documented as a traditional plant treatment for diabetes. In the present study, the antidiabetic properties of a soluble dietary fibre (SDF) fraction of T. foenum-graecum were evaluated. Administration of SDF fraction (0·5 g/kg body weight) to normal, type 1 or type 2 diabetic rats significantly improved oral glucose tolerance. Total remaining unabsorbed sucrose in the gastrointestinal tract of non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats, following oral sucrose loading (2·5 g/kg body weight) was significantly increased by T. foenum-graecum (0·5 g/kg body weight). The SDF fraction suppressed the elevation of blood glucose after oral sucrose ingestion in both non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats. Intestinal disaccharidase activity and glucose absorption were decreased and gastrointestinal motility increased by the SDF fraction. Daily oral administration of SDF to type 2 diabetic rats for 28 d decreased serum glucose, increased liver glycogen content and enhanced total antioxidant status. Serum insulin and insulin secretion were not affected by the SDF fraction. Glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and insulin action were increased by T. foenum-graecum. The present findings indicate that the SDF fraction of T. foenum-graecum seeds exerts antidiabetic effects mediated through inhibition of carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancement of peripheral insulin action.