2) Fasting blood sugar/insulin levels

Results

Microscopic photography was taken on visceral fat samples from all groups in Week 8 to compare the extent of their hypertrophy. Group B on HFD showed hypertrophy of mesenteric fat cells compared to Group A on ordinary diet (fat cell diameter: 40-50 micrometer in Group A [normal group] and 80-90 micrometer in Group B [control group]). Growth in fat cell size for Group C, which was given trehalose solution to drink, was inhibited (fat cell diameter: 60-70 micrometer). No such inhibition was demonstrated in Groups on other types of saccharide (fat cell diameter: 85-100 micrometer in Group D, 80-90 micrometer in Group E, 80-90 micrometer for Group F, and 85-100 for Group G).

As for mesenteric fat cell area, Group G on HFD had a larger per-cell area than Group A on ordinary diet. Area increase for fat cells of Group C on trehalose was inhibited, while Groups on other saccharide (Group D, Group E, Group F and Group G) had greater per-cell area than Group B.

*For the measurement of mesenteric fat cells, an optical microscope (at 200x magnification) was used to take a photograph of five randomly-selected fields. The number of fat cells per microscopic view (0.267mm2) was counted to work out the per-cell area.

Sample fasting serum insulin and insulin resistance were examined in Week 7. Compared to Group A on ordinary diet, Group B on HFD showed a raised level of fasting blood sugar and fasting serum insulin, as well as insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), which is calculated with the two figures.  Meanwhile, increase in fasting serum insulin for Group C, which was trehalose solution, was inhibited. This, in turn, lowered the HOMA-IR index to indicate improvement in insulin resistance. This effect was not observed in groups on other saccharides (Group D, Group E, Group F and Group G).

*This study has also confirmed trehalose's effectiveness in inhibiting the progression of glucose tolerance impairment and protecting pancreatic beta cells, which secrete insulin.

SOURCE Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc.