Low ethanol consumption increases insulin sensitivity in Wistar rats

Autor(es)

D.T. Furuya ^[1] ; R. Binsack ^[2] ; U.F. Machado ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica - Brasil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 36, n. 1, p. 125-130, 2003-01-00.

Resumo

Several human studies suggest that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with enhanced insulin sensitivity, but these studies are not free of conflicting results. To determine if ethanol-enhanced insulin sensitivity could be demonstrated in an animal model, male Wistar rats were fed a standard chow diet and received drinking water without (control) or with different ethanol concentrations (0.5, 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 7%, v/v) for 4 weeks ad libitum. Then, an intravenous insulin tolerance test (IVITT) was performed to determine insulin sensitivity. Among the ethanol groups, only the 3% ethanol group showed an increase in insulin sensitivity based on the increase of the plasma glucose disappearance rate in the IVITT (30%, P<0.05). In addition, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed in control and 3% ethanol animals. Insulin sensitivity was confirmed in 3% ethanol rats based on the reduction of insulin secretion in the IVGTT (35%, P<0.05), despite the same glucose profile. Additionally, the 3% ethanol treatment did not impair body weight gain or plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities. Thus, the present study established that 3% ethanol in the drinking water for 4 weeks in normal rats is a model of increased insulin sensitivity, which can be used for further investigations of the mechanisms involved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 98/03514-3 - Regulação do transportador de glicose GLUT 4 no diabetes mellitus tipo 2: papel da resistência à insulina
• Beneficiário: Ubiratan Fabres Machado
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático