Supplementing with Opuntia ficus-indica Mill and Dioscorea nipponica Makino extracts synergistically attenuates menopausal symptoms in estrogen-deficient rats

Vitamin D deficiency impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and increases insulin resistance by reducing PPAR-γ expression in nonobese Type 2 diabetic rats

“…ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 23 The rodent model used in this study has limited utility for extrapolation to human dose responses to vitamin D. However, the metabolic pathways described in this study for vitamin D regulation of energy metabolism suggests a mechanism for how the dose response to vitamin D may be mediated. It also supports the existence of a J-shaped dose response curve, as suggested by Sanders et al [53], for mvtabolic effects of vitamin D and therefore helps elucidate the dose response principals involved.…”

“…The rats were placed into metabolic chambers (airflow = 800 ml/min) with a computer-controlled O2 and CO2 measurement system (BIOPAC Systems, Inc., Goleta, CA) to determine their calorimetric parameters. The respiratory quotients (RQ) and resting energy expenditures (REE) were calculated using previously reported equations [22,23].…”

“…Hip, knee and ankle articulations were in 90° flexion. Upon completion of scanning, BMD was determined in the designated and equivalent areas of the right femur and lumbar spine in all rats by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) using an absorptiometer (pDEXA Sabre; Norland Medical Systems Inc., Fort Atkinson, WI, USA), which was equipped with the appropriate software for assessment of bone density in small animals [23].…”

“…The liver, epididymal fat pads and brown adipose tissues were collected at the end of the were measured with corresponding primers as previously described [23,26].…”

Herbs for Diabetes: Update—Part 2

“…21 Another example is a study in which a combination of O. ficus-indica grown in Korea and Dioscorea nipponica (Japanese wild yam, chuan shan long) root reduced serum lipids and insulin levels in ovariectomized mice by changing hepatic metabolism. 22 More examples of preclinical studies include the following: Juice of the pad of Opuntia streptacantha (nopal cardón) inhibited a-glucosidase significantly in vitro. 23 A traditional cold infusion of nopal cardón was shown to prevent hyperglycemia by blocking hepatic glucose output, without having a persistent hypoglycemic effect, compared to controls, in diabetic rats.…”