The Metabolic and Endocrine Effects of a 12-Week Allulose-Rich Diet

• Published in: Nutrients 2024-06, Vol.16 (12), p.1821
• Main Authors: Cayabyab, Kevin B, Shin, Marley J, Heimuli, Micah S, Kim, Iris J, D'Agostino, Dominic P, Johnson, Richard J, Koutnik, Andrew P, Bellissimo, Nick, Diamond, David M, Norwitz, Nicholas G, Arroyo, Juan A, Reynolds, Paul R, Bikman, Benjamin T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; animal models; Animals; appetite; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - metabolism; body weight changes; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Diet; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Disease Models, Animal; disease prevention; food composition; food consumption; Fructose - administration & dosage; glucagon-like peptide 1; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - blood; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - metabolism; Glucose; glycemic control; Health aspects; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Laboratory animals; Liver; Liver - metabolism; Male; Metabolism; mitochondria; noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Obesity; Obesity - metabolism; Physiological aspects; Proteins; psicose; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Respiration; Rodents; Sucrose; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - blood; Weight control; Weight Gain
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16121821

The global rise in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity necessitates innovative dietary interventions. This study investigates the effects of allulose, a rare sugar shown to reduce blood glucose, in a rat model of diet-induced obesity and T2D. Over 12 weeks, we hypothesized that allulose supplementation would improve body weight, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control. Our results showed that allulose mitigated the adverse effects of high-fat, high-sugar diets, including reduced body weight gain and improved insulin resistance. The allulose group exhibited lower food consumption and increased levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), enhancing glucose regulation and appetite control. Additionally, allulose prevented liver triglyceride accumulation and promoted mitochondrial uncoupling in adipose tissue. These findings suggest that allulose supplementation can improve metabolic health markers, making it a promising dietary component for managing obesity and T2D. Further research is needed to explore the long-term benefits and mechanisms of allulose in metabolic disease prevention and management. This study supports the potential of allulose as a safe and effective intervention for improving metabolic health in the context of dietary excess.