Lipoic acid improves glucose utilisation and prevents protein glycation and AGE formation.

The present study investigates the antiglycating effect of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) in high fructose-fed rats in vivo and its potential to inhibit the process of glycation in vitro. In addition, the effect of LA on glucose utilisation in rat diaphragm was also studied. Rats fed a high fructose diet (60% total calories) were administered with 35 mg/kg b.w, lipoic acid (LA) intraperitoneally for 20 days. The effects of LA on plasma glucose, fructosamine, protein glycation and glycated haemoglobin in high fructose rats and on in vitro glycation were studied. In vitro utilization of glucose was carried out in normal rat diaphragm in the presence and absence of insulin in which LA was used as an additive. The contents of glucose, glycated protein, glycated haemoglobin and fructosamine were significantly lowered on LA administration to high fructose-fed rats. LA prevented in vitro glycation and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products. Further LA enhanced glucose utilization in the rat diaphragm. This effect was additive to that of insulin and did not interfere with the action of insulin. The findings provide evidence for the therapeutic utility of lipoic acid in diabetes and its complications.

Lipoic acid attenuates hypertension and improves insulin sensitivity, kallikrein activity and nitrite levels in high fructose-fed rats.

Chronic feeding of fructose to normal rats causes impaired glucose tolerance, loss of tissue sensitivity to insulin, hyperinsulinemia and hypertension. alpha-Lipoic acid (LA), a co-enzyme known for its potent antioxidant effects, stimulates insulin-mediated glucose uptake in clinical and experimental diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether LA can mitigate fructose-induced insulin resistance and associated abnormalities. Male Wistar rats of body weights 150-170 g were divided into 4 groups containing 12 rats each. Control rats received a control diet containing starch and water ad libitum. Fructose rats received a fructose-enriched diet (>60% of total calories). Fructose + LA rats received a fructose diet and LA (35 mg/kg b.w.) intraperitoneally. Control + LA rats received a normal diet and LA (35 mg/kg b.w.) intraperitoneally. After the treatment period of 20 days, blood pressure (BP) was measured. Oral glucose-tolerance test, insulin-sensitivity index, urea and creatinine clearance tests, and plasma and urinary sodium and potassium levels were analysed. Kallikrein activity and nitrite content were assayed. Additionally, the activities of RBC-membrane Na(+)/K(+) ATPase and Ca(2+) ATPase enzymes were assayed. Fructose rats showed increased BP, decreased glucose tolerance, decreased insulin sensitivity and altered sodium and potassium levels and renal clearance. LA supplementation mitigated these alterations. The increase in BP was attenuated and the levels of biochemical parameters were brought close to normal. The BP-lowering effect of LA in fructose rats may be related to improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on lipid profile in rats fed a high-fructose diet.

This study investigated the effect of administration of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on lipid metabolism in high fructose-fed insulin-resistant rats. High-fructose feeding (60 g/100 g diet) to normal rats resulted in a significant increase in the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), free fatty acids (FFAs), and phospholipids in plasma, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle. Reduced activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) and increased activity of the lipogenic enzyme hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase were observed in plasma and liver. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lowered and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly elevated. Treatment with LA (35 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal) reduced the effects of fructose. The rats showed near-normal levels of lipid components on plasma and tissues. Activities of key enzymes of lipid metabolism were also restored to normal values. Cholesterol distribution in the plasma lipoproteins was normalized, resulting in a favorable lipid profile. This study demonstrates that LA can alter lipid metabolism in fructose-fed insulin-resistant rats and may have implications in the treatment of insulin resistance.

Cardiac lipids and antioxidant status in high fructose rats and the effect of alpha-lipoic acid.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The development of insulin resistance has been shown to be an early step in the development of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. Oxidative stress may be important in the development of coronary artery disease. Fructose loaded rats, which show the characteristic features of insulin resistance, also display an imbalance between the peroxidation process and the antioxidant system. Alpha-lipoic acid (LA)--a co-enzyme--is known for its potent antioxidant effects. The present study examined whether LA mitigates fructose-induced oxidative stress in heart tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Wistar rats with a body weight of 150-170g were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Control rats received a control diet containing starch and water ad libitum. Fructose rats received a fructose-enriched diet (>60% of total calories). Fructose + LA rats received a fructose diet and alpha-lipoic acid (35mg/kg b.w i.p.). Control + LA rats received control diet and alpha-lipoic acid. After the 20-day treatment period, we assessed the insulin sensitivity index in terms of HOMA. The levels of lipid peroxidation markers and the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant status in the heart tissue were measured. Plasma and heart tissue lipids were also analysed. Fructose rats showed decreased insulin sensitivity as reflected by high values of HOMA, increased peroxidation, impaired antioxidant status and lipid abnormalities in the cardiac tissue. These abnormalities were attenuated and the antioxidant levels were enhanced by LA. The reduction in HOMA values suggests LA improves insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement of insulin sensitivity and enhancement of cardiac antioxidant status suggest that LA may be useful as a cardioprotective agent in insulin-resistant states.

Lipoic acid restores antioxidant system in tissues of hyperinsulinaemic rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Feeding rats with high fructose induces insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia, elevation of blood glucose level and impaired glucose tolerance. Oxidative stress plays a vital role in pathology associated with insulin resistance. The present study was to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on the oxidant-antioxidant balance in liver and kidney of high fructose-fed rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (170-180 g) were divided into six groups. The control group received diet containing starch; the fructose group was given a high fructose diet (>60% of total calories); the third and fourth groups were given fructose diet and administered with two different doses of lipoic acid as low dose (35 mg/kg body weight) and high dose (70 mg/kg bw) intraperitoneally using olive oil as vehicle; the fifth group received control diet and was administered with lipoic acid (70 mg/kg bw); the sixth group received the control diet and olive oil. The rats were maintained in their respective dietary regimen for 20 days. Lipid peroxidation indices and antioxidant status in liver and kidney were quantitated. RESULTS: The rats fed fructose showed increased levels of lipid hydroperoxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes, and impaired antioxidant defence potential as evidenced by a decrease in the levels of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. Treatment with LA to the fructose-fed rats mitigated these alterations and LA was effective uniformly at both the closes. Increased lipid peroxidation and inadequate antioxidant system are observed in the high dose fructose-fed rats. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: LA administration restored the antioxidant potential and lowered lipid peroxidation. These findings strengthen the utility of LA in the management of insulin resistance and associated pathology.

Taurine modulates antioxidant potential and controls lipid peroxidation in the aorta of high fructose-fed rats.

High dosage of fructose induces insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and alterations in plasma lipid profile in normal rats. Recently, it has been shown that these rats also develop oxidative stress, which plays a prominent role in diabetic pathology. We now report the effect of taurine on the susceptibility of the aorta to lipid peroxidation and also on the activities of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in rats fed a high fructose-diet for 4 weeks. Fructose-fed rats were more susceptible to lipid peroxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactivity, and antioxidant status was significantly lower. Taurine supplementation caused a significant reduction in the production of thiobarbituric acid--reactive substances and significant rises in antioxidant enzyme activities. The levels of lipid peroxides, diene conjugates, lipofuscin and hydroperoxides were significantly higher in fructose-fed rats. When these rats received taurine in drinking water, no peroxidative changes were observed. Increased aorta lipid peroxidation could play a role in the pathology associated with fructose-feeding, and taurine reduces the lipid peroxidation by inducing antioxidant enzymes.