This study aimed to determine whether taurine supplementation improves metabolic disturbances and diabetic complications in an animal model for type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether taurine has therapeutic effects on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and diabetic complications in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats with long-term duration of diabetes. Fourteen 50-week-old OLETF rats with chronic diabetes were fed a diet supplemented with taurine (2%) or a non-supplemented control diet for 12 weeks. Taurine reduced blood glucose levels over 12 weeks, and improved OGTT outcomes at 6 weeks after taurine supplementation, in OLETF rats. Taurine significantly reduced insulin resistance but did not improve β-cell function or islet mass. After 12 weeks, taurine significantly decreased serum levels of lipids such as triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Taurine significantly reduced serum leptin, but not adiponectin levels. However, taurine had no therapeutic effect on damaged tissues. Taurine ameliorated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, at least in part, by improving insulin sensitivity and leptin modulation in OLETF rats with long-term diabetes. Additional study is needed to investigate whether taurine has the same beneficial effects in human diabetic patients.

BackgroundLotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf has been used to treat obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of lotus leaf hot water extract with taurine supplementation in high fat diet-induced obese rats.MethodsFour week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with 8 rats in each group for a period of 6 weeks (normal diet, N group; high fat diet, HF group; high fat diet + lotus leaf hot water extract, HFL group; high fat diet + lotus leaf hot water extract + taurine, HFLT group). Lotus leaf hot water extract was orally administrated to HFL and HFLT groups and the same amount of distilled water was orally administered (400 mg/kg/day) to N and HF groups. Taurine was supplemented by dissolving in feed water (3% w/v).ResultsThe body weight gain and relative weights of epididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissues were significantly lower in N, HFL and HFLT groups compared to HF group. HFL and HFLT groups showed lower concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in serum. HFLT group showed higher the ratio of high density lipoprotein cholesterol/total cholesterol compared to HFL group. HFLT group showed better blood lipid profiles compared to HFL group.ConclusionsLotus leaf hot water extract with taurine supplementation showed antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects in high fat diet-induced obese rats, which was more effective than lotus leaf hot water extract alone.

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These results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of NSEE on adipogenesis. In addition, NSEE had a beneficial effect, reducing adipose tissue weights, ameliorating blood lipid profile, and modulating serum leptin level in rats fed a high-fat diet. Therefore, we suggest that lotus seed has a potential to be developed as an effective agent against obesity-related diseases.

To evaluate the extent to which fat mass contributes to serum osteopontin (OPN) concentration, we investigated whether serum OPN levels are decreased by exercise-induced fat mass loss and whether they are associated with body fat percentage in obese humans. Twenty-three female college students were recruited to participate in an 8-week body weight control program. Body composition [body weight, soft lean mass, body fat mass, body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio and body mass index (BMI)] were assessed prior to and following the program. Serum lipid profiles and serum adiponectin, leptin and osteopontin levels were measured from serum collected prior to and following the program. To understand the effect of fat mass loss on the serum levels of adipokine, which is mainly produced in adipose tissue, the leptin and adiponectin levels were also measured prior to and following the program. Serum leptin levels (mean ± standard error of the mean) decreased significantly following the program (from 9.82±0.98 to 7.23±0.67 ng/ml) and were closely correlated with body fat percentage. In addition, serum adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with body fat percentage, while serum adiponectin levels were not significantly altered. By contrast, serum OPN levels decreased significantly following the program (from 16.03±2.34 to 10.65±1.22 ng/ml). However, serum OPN levels were not correlated with body fat percentage, suggesting that serum OPN levels are controlled by several other factors in humans. In conclusion, a high expression of OPN in adipose tissues may not be correlated with serum OPN levels in obese humans. Thus, tissues or physiological factors other than fat mass may have a greater contribution to the serum OPN levels.