The anti-diabetic activity of oat β-d-glucan in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic mice.

This study was initiated to investigate the mechanism by which oat β-d-glucan (OBG) can control blood sugar levels and improve hepatogenic glycometabolism in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced mice. After administration of different concentrations and molecular weights of β-d-glucan by oral gavage for 28 days, the body weight, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, hepatic glycogen, glucose kinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activity of the diabetic mice were measured. In comparison with a negative control group (saline), β-d-glucan, especially medium or high doses of high-molecular-weight β-d-glucan, had a strong hypoglycaemic effect in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced mice. The mechanism of this effect may be associated with the high viscosity of the solution, an increase in insulin secretion, a decline in insulin resistance, and especially an improvement in hepatogenic glycometabolism. Moreover, β-d-glucan also markedly repaired and improved the integrity of pancreatic islet β-cell and tissue structures.