Resveratrol ameliorates metabolic disorders and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed mice

Abstract

Aims: Oxidative stress is an important risk factor in development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Resveratrol (RSV), as a natural antioxidant, reduces intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress.

Materials and methods: The study investigated the effects of RSV treatment on high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and muscle, adipose, and hepatic cells of insulin resistance. HFD-fed mice were treated with RSV for 10 weeks. Blood glucose, plasma triglyceride (TG), body weight and glucose-lipid metabolism of skeletal muscle, fat and liver were examined. We further assessed the metabolic regulation of RSV in C2C12 myotubes, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and HepG2 cells of insulin resistance.

Key findings: We found that RSV reduced blood glucose, plasma TG and body weight, ameliorated insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice. RSV reduced lipid accumulation and increased glycogen storage in muscle and hepatic cells, promoted lipolysis in adipocytes. We further found RSV reduced ROS levels in muscle, adipose, and hepatic cells of insulin resistance, contributing to improvement of metabolic abnormalities in HFD-fed mice.

Significance: The study reveals that RSV ameliorates metabolic disorders and insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice, which provides further demonstration in RSV-treated type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: Glucose-lipid metabolism; Insulin resistance; Oxidative stress; Resveratrol; Type 2 diabetes.