Evaluation of anti-diabetic attributes of Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5957, Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5897 and Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC: 5898 in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Interest in probiotics has grown significantly in the last decades due to their reported nutritional and health promoting effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of probiotic fermented milk (PFM) prepared using three different probiotic strains i.e. Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5957, Lactobacillus rhamnosus MTCC: 5897 and Lactobacillus fermentum MTCC: 5898; independently or in combination, for treating streptozotocin induced type-1 diabetes in male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were fed with PFM preparations for 6 weeks and then analyzed for the various biochemical parameters associated. The results indicated that feeding of PFM significantly improved glucose metabolism (fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, serum insulin), serum inflammation status (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and serum interleukin-6), oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in liver and kidney), serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides) in diabetic rats. In addition, feeding of PFM has significantly reduced mRNA expression of pepck and g6pase genes that code the key enzymes of gluconeogenesis pathway. The results of this study showed that daily consumption of PFM can be effective in combating of type -1 diabetes and its complications.