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Antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of biotransformed blueberry juice in KKAy mice

International Journal of Obesity volume 33, pages 1166–1173 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Aim:

Biotransformation of blueberry juice by the Serratia vaccinii bacterium gave rise to adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and glucose uptake in muscle cells and adipocytes, but inhibited adipogenesis. This study investigated the antiobesity and antidiabetic potential of biotransformed blueberry juice (BJ) in KKAy mice, rodent model of leptin resistance.

Methods:

BJ was incorporated in drinking water of KKAy mice. Parameters of body weight, food intake, plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. Before and after therapy, animals were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test. At the end of treatment, liver, muscle, kidney, epididymal fat pad, abdominal fat pad, and dorsal fat pad were collected and weighed.

Results:

Incorporating BJ in drinking water protected young KKAy mice from hyperphagia and significantly reduced their weight gain. Moreover, BJ protected young KKAy mice against the development of glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus. Chronic BJ administration in obese and diabetic KKAy mice reduced food intake and body weight. This effect could not fully explain the associated antidiabetic effect because BJ-treated mice still showed lower blood glucose level when compared with pair-fed controls. The adipokines pathway also seems to be involved because BJ significantly increased adiponectin levels in obese mice.

Conclusions:

This study shows that BJ decreases hyperglycemia in diabetic mice, at least in part by reversing adiponectin levels. BJ also protects young pre-diabetic mice from developing obesity and diabetes. Thus, BJ may represent a novel complementary therapy and a source of novel therapeutic agents against diabetes mellitus.

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Acknowledgements

Funding of the study was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Atlantic Innovation Fund, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF) of Laval University, a Strategic Research Group of the Quebec Fonds de recherche sur la nature et les technologies (FQRNT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    T Vuong, A Benhaddou-Andaloussi, A Brault, D Harbilas, L C Martineau, D Vallerand & P S Haddad

  2. Institut des nutraceutiques et des aliments fonctionnels, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada

    T Vuong, A Benhaddou-Andaloussi, A Brault, D Harbilas, L C Martineau, D Vallerand, C Ramassamy, C Matar & P S Haddad

  3. Institut Armand-Frappier, Institut National de Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Quebec, Canada

    C Ramassamy

  4. Department of chemistry and biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

    C Matar

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  1. T Vuong
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Correspondence to P S Haddad.

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Vuong, T., Benhaddou-Andaloussi, A., Brault, A. et al. Antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of biotransformed blueberry juice in KKAy mice. Int J Obes 33, 1166–1173 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.149

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