Abstract
Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and heart disease have been linked to diet and lifestyle. Because of the increased prevalence of such chronic diseases, it is critical to explore their pathogenesis and consequences as a way to deter prevention and enhance treatment. Dietary polyphenols have shown promise in improving health and preventing chronic diseases such as T2DM. This study sought to investigate two interrelated questions: 1. How do dietary polyphenols and diet compositions affect T2DM development in the NR? and 2. What is the underlying pathophysiology of T2DM in the NR (independent of diet)? In the current study, fifty male Nile Rats (NR) were primed for 2wks at 3wks of age on standard diabetogenic hiCHO diet. After priming, the NR were divided into 5 groups (n=10 per group):1. control with no phenolics (60:20:20, CHO:fat:protein %energy), 2. curcumin (150ug GAE/kcal, 70:10:20), 3. bergamot (40ug GAE/kcal), 4. palm fruit juice (1187ug GAE/kcal), and 5. green coffee bean (210 ug GAE/kcal). Throughout the study, random blood glucose (RBG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) were monitored at 4wks and 8wks; all NR were necropsied at 8wks and their organs were harvested and weighed. Results indicated that hiCHO priming may have damaged the NR metabolism to the point where none of the dietary interventions were able to reverse T2DM, suggesting that early priming with hiCHO diet may have muted the potential effects of the polyphenols. Results also suggested that the 30min OGTT was the most sensitive screen for pre-diabetes; RBG was the most indicative of terminal pathophysiology related to liver damage; FBG was the least sensitive screen, but the most pronounced for indicating late-stage T2DM in the NR. These findings may be clinically relevant for enhancing procedures in the Hayes Lab and for screening patients.