Effects of Xylooligosaccharides on Blood Glucose, Serum and Liver Lipids and Cecum Short-chain Fatty Acids in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The effect of supplementing xylooligosaccharides (XO) to purified diets on growth performance and several metabolic parameters was examined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The dietary XO improved growth retardation, hyperphagia, polydipsia, elevation of serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol, reduction of liver triglyceride, and fatty acid composition (reduction of the desaturation index) of liver phosphatidylcholine. In addition, the XO diet yielded an acidic environment in the cecum by increasing the pool size of acetic acid. Thus, XO, which is half as sweet as sucrose, can be applicable to foods as a sweetener that is capable of improving diabetic symptoms.