Effect of L-arginine supplementation on insulin resistance and serum adiponectin concentration in rats with fat diet

• Published in: International journal of clinical and experimental medicine 2015-01, Vol.8 (7), p.10358-10366
• Main Authors: Miczke, Anna, Suliburska, Joanna, Pupek-Musialik, Danuta, Ostrowska, Lucyna, Jabłecka, Anna, Krejpcio, Zbigniew, Skrypnik, Damian, Bogdański, Paweł
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 1940-5901; 1940-5901

The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplementation with L-arginine, a substrate used in the production of nitric oxide, had an effect on adiponectin concentration in rats fed a high-fat diet. The influence of L-arginine on insulin resistance was also evaluated. The experiment was performed using 36 Wistar rats divided into three groups: group 1 was fed a standard diet, group 2 a high-fat (HF) diet, group 3 a HF diet supplemented with L-arginine. After 42 days, serum levels of lipids, glucose, insulin, NO, and adiponectin were measured. Insulin resistance (IR) was estimated by the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). Body mass was equal in all 3 groups, at the beginning as well as at the end of the study, however, in group 2 the amount of visceral fat was greater after 42 days. In group 3, there was a tendency for visceral fat to decrease. An increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as a decrease in NO and adiponectin were seen in group 2, while in group 3, L-arginine supplementation ameliorated these disturbances. Our study shows that L-arginine supplementation in rats fed a HF diet is associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity. Our findings suggest that the underlying mechanism could be at least partially related to an increase in adiponectin concentration.