Hypoglycaemic effects and inhibitory effect on intestinal disaccharidases of oat beta-glucan in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Most physiological studies on oat beta (beta)-glucan referred to attenuation of blood glucose and insulin responses in both healthy and diabetic individuals. The main purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of oat beta-glucan on glucose metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and the activities of intestinal disaccharidases in the diabetic mice and in vitro. Meanwhile, the potentially regulative mechanisms on intestinal disaccharidases were discussed. Normal and diabetic mice, treated with metformin, were used as the negative and positive controls, respectively. The results indicated that oat beta-glucan could regulate the glucose metabolism and inhibit the activities of intestinal disaccharidases in vivo and in vitro (p < 0.01), especially when using a high-dose, which suggested that oat beta-glucan could effectively improve the internal environment of intestinal tract and would be a potential alpha (alpha)-glycosidase inhibitor. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.