Authors
Opara EC. Petro A. Tevrizian A. Feinglos MN. Surwit RS.
Institution
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Title
L-glutamine supplementation of a high fat diet reduces body
weight and attenuates hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in C57BL/6J mice.
Source
Journal of Nutrition. 126(1):273-9, 1996 Jan.
Abstract
C57BL/6J (B/6J) mice are genetically predisposed to become overweight and
develop hyperglycemia if raised on a high fat diet. The purpose of the
present study was to explore the effect of dietary supplementation of
L-glutamine (Gln), an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation, on
the development of hyperglycemia and excessive weight gain. Groups of 10 ageand
weight-matched male B/6J mice were raised on one of four diets: 1) a low
fat, low sucrose (LL), studied separately, 2) a high fat, low sucrose (HL)
diet alone, 3) high fat, low sucrose supplemented with
L-glutamine (HL+Gln) and 4) high fat, low sucrose
supplemented with L-alanine (HL+Ala). Energy intake, body weight, plasma
glucose and insulin concentrations were monitored over time. We found no
difference in energy intake per unit body weight between any groups after the
first 2 wk of feeding. However, the mean +/- SEM for body weight (27.1 +/-
0.6 g) of the LL group measured at 16 wk was lower (P < 0.05) than that of
the HL group at 37.9 +/- 1.9 g. Also, after 5.5 mo, the mean +/- SEM for
plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in the LL group of mice were 6.9
+/- 0.4 mmol/l and 146 +/- 30 pmol/l, which were lower (P < 0.05) than those
in the HL group at 10.1 +/- 0.9 mmol/l and 438 +/- 84 pmol/l, respectively.
Although both amino acids caused a 10% reduction (P < 0.05) in body weight
compared with HL feeding at wk 16, only Gln supplementation resulted in
persistent reductions in both plasma glucose and insulin concentrations over
5.5 mo. In another experiment, when Gln was added to the high fat (HL) diet
of heavy hyperglycemic animals for 2 mo, body weight gain, hyperglycemia and
hyperinsulinemia were attenuated. In conclusion, supplementing
glutamine to a high fat diet reduces body weight and
attenuated hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in B/6J mice.