L Belkacemi

Intermittent Fasting Modulation of the Diabetic Syndrome in Streptozotocin-Injected Rats

This study investigates the effects of intermittent overnight fasting in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ rats). Over 30 days, groups of 5-6 control or STZ rats were allowed free food access, starved overnight, or exposed to a restricted food supply comparable to that ingested by the intermittently fasting animals. Intermittent fasting improved glucose tolerance, increased plasma insulin, and lowered Homeostatis Model Assessment index. Caloric restriction failed to cause such beneficial effects. The β-cell mass, as well as individual β-cell and islet area, was higher in intermittently fasting than in nonfasting STZ rats, whilst the percentage of apoptotic β-cells appeared lower in the former than latter STZ rats. In the calorie-restricted STZ rats, comparable findings were restricted to individual islet area and percentage of apoptotic cells. Hence, it is proposed that intermittent fasting could represent a possible approach to prevent or minimize disturbances of glucose homeostasis in human subjects.

Intermittent fasting modulation of the diabetic syndrome in sand rats. III. Post-mortem investigations

The present report concerns several post-mortem variables examined in sand rats that were either maintained on a vegetal diet (control animals) or exposed first during a 20-day transition period to a mixed diet consisting of a fixed amount of a hypercaloric food and decreasing amounts of the vegetal food and then to a 30-day experimental period of exposure to the hypercaloric food. During the latter period, all animals were either given free access to food or fasting daily for 15 h, i.e. from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 a.m. The body weight, liver wet weight, pancreas wet weight, plasma glucose and haemoglobin A1c concentration, plasma insulin concentration, insulinogenic index, insulin resistance HOMA, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentration, liver triglyceride and phospholipid content were all measured. Pancreatic islet (insulin, GLUT2) and liver (lipid droplets) histology were also examined. The main findings consisted in a lower body weight of fasting than non-fasting animals, a higher liver weight in non-diabetic and diabetic rats than in control non-fasting (but not so in fasting) animals, a decrease of pancreas weight in non-diabetic and diabetic as distinct from control animals, a fasting-induced decrease in plasma glucose, plasma insulin and insulin resistance HOMA, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentration and triglyceride liver content.

Intermittent Fasting Modulation of the Diabetic Syndrome in Streptozotocin-Injected Rats: Post-Mortem Investigations

Intermittent fasting was previously reported to exert beneficial effects in sand rats, an animal model of diabetes. The present report complements recent comparable findings recorded in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ rats). Intermittent fasting minimized the increase in pancreatic, hepatic and renal weight otherwise observed in the STZ rats. The glycogen content of the liver was higher in the STZ rats than in the control animals. It was positively correlated, at the individual level, with the hepatic glucose content. Significant positive correlations also prevailed between the plasma glucose concentration at sacrifice, which was lower in intermittently fasting or calorie-restricted STZ rats than in non- fasting STZ rats, and either the liver glucose content or liver total carbohydrate content. The kidney PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) index, as well as the plasma creatinine and urea concentrations, were also lower in intermittently fast- ing or calorie-restricted STZ rats than in non-fasting diabetic animals. These findings reinforce the view that intermittent fasting may exert a favourable effect, in terms of glucose homeostasis and the undesirable consequences of its perturba- tion, in diabetic animals.

Cross-sectional pilot study about the liver enzymes profile in type 2 diabetic patients from an Algerian west region: Wilaya of Mostaganem

AIMS The magnitude of abnormal liver enzymes profile in type 2 diabetic patients is unknown in Algerian west region even though it counts among liver diseases considered as an important cause of death in type 2 diabetes. The main objective is to assess the prevalence of elevated liver enzymes levels among patients with type 2 diabetes from Algerian west region and to determine associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS A descriptive cross sectional study was performed on 180 type 2 diabetic patients in whom anthropometric and biochemical parameters were determined. RESULTS Twenty-five patients had abnormal elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) (13.9%) with the gender-wise prevalence being 15.9% (n=17) in women and 10.9% (n=8) in men. The prevalence of abnormal elevated aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase level was respectively 10% (n=18), 6.1% (n=11) and 8.9% (16). High waist circumference (OR: 5, CI: 1.04-24.04) and high blood pressure (OR: 4.86, CI: 0.94-25.12) were only associated with elevated AST. Fasting glucose >1.4g/l were associated both with elevated ALT (OR: 3.03, CI: 0.86-10.67) and AST (OR: 5.7, CI: 1.09-29.8). CONCLUSION A relatively high prevalence of elevated liver enzymes was found in diabetic patients from west Algeria, especially in female patients.