Dietary conjugated linoleic acid normalizes impaired glucose tolerance in the Zucker diabetic fatty fa/fa rat

Karen L. Houseknecht, John P.Vanden Heuvel, Silvia Y. Moya-Camarena, Carla P. Portocarrero, Louise W. Peck, Kwangok P. Nickel, Martha A. Belury

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

575 Scopus citations

Abstract

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid which has anti-carcinogenic and anti-atherogenic properties. CLA activates PPARα in liver, and shares functional similarities to ligands of PPARγ, the thiazolidinediones, which are potent insulin sensitizers. We provide the first evidence that CLA is able to normalize impaired glucose tolerance and improve hyperinsulinemia in the pre-diabetic ZDF rat. Additionally, dietary CLA increased steady state levels of aP2 mRNA in adipose tissue of fatty ZDF rats compared to controls, consistent with activation of PPARγ. The insulin sensitizing effects of CLA are due, at least in part, to activation of PPARγ since increasing levels of CLA induced a dose-dependent transactivation of PPARγ in CV-1 cells cotransfected with PPARγ and PPRE X 3-luciferase reporter construct. CLA effects on glucose tolerance and glucose homeostasis indicate that dietary CLA may prove to be an important therapy for the prevention and treatment of NIDDM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)678-682
Number of pages5
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume244
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 27 1998

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dietary conjugated linoleic acid normalizes impaired glucose tolerance in the Zucker diabetic fatty fa/fa rat'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this