Title

Whole blueberry protects pancreatic beta-cells in diet-induced obese mouse

Authors

Weixiang Liu, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Yiping Mao, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Jacob Schoenborn, Michigan Technological University
Zhihong Wang, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Guiliang Tang, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Xiaoqing Tang, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-22-2019

Abstract

Background

Blueberry is rich in bioactive substances and possesses powerful antioxidant potential, which can protect against oxidant-induced and inflammatory cell damage and cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to determine how blueberry affects glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell proliferation in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.

Methods

Wild type male mice at age of 4 weeks received two different kinds of diets: high-fat diet (HFD) containing 60% fat or modified HFD supplemented with 4% (wt:wt) freeze-dried whole blueberry powder (HFD + B) for 14 weeks. A separate experiment was performed in mice fed with low-fat diet (LFD) containing 10% fat or modified LFD + B supplemented with 4% (wt:wt) freeze-dried whole blueberry powder. The metabolic parameters including blood glucose and insulin levels, glucose and insulin tolerances were measured.

Results

Blueberry-supplemented diet significantly increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in HFD + B mice compared to HFD mice. However, no difference was observed in blood glucose and insulin sensitivity between LFD + B and LFD mice. In addition, blueberry increased β-cell survival and prevented HFD-induced β-cell expansion. The most important finding was the observation of presence of small scattered islets in blueberry treated obese mice, which may reflect a potential role of blueberry in regenerating pancreatic β-cells.

Conclusions

Blueberry-supplemented diet can prevent obesity-induced insulin resistance by improving insulin sensitivity and protecting pancreatic β-cells. Blueberry supplementation has the potential to protect and improve health conditions for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients.

Publisher's Statement

© The Author(s) 2019. Article deposited here in compliance with publisher policies. Publisher's version of record: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-019-0363-6

Publication Title

Nutrition & Metabolism

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Liu, W., Mao, Y., Schoenborn, J., Wang, Z., Tang, G., & Tang, X. (2019). Whole blueberry protects pancreatic beta-cells in diet-induced obese mouse. Nutrition & Metabolism, 16(34). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-019-0363-6
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/biological-fp/125

Version

Publisher's PDF