Effects of porang glucomannan combined with a high-protein diet on oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging markers in D-galactose-induced rats

Abstract

Aging is a predominant risk factor for several diseases associated with reduced life expectancy. To address this risk factor, several studies have proposed the combined use of porang glucomannan and a high-protein diet to improve various aging markers. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of porang glucomannan and high-protein combination diet as an anti-aging agent. An experimental study using a post-test-only control group design was conducted using Sprague Dawley white rats. The animals were randomly divided into four groups with different treatments: normal control, D-galactose, high-protein diet, and a combination of porang glucomannan and high-protein combination diet. Blood samples were then collected from the ophthalmic vein on day 58 for biomarker measurement using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The parameters measured were superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF11), and α-Klotho levels. The results showed that the combination of porang glucomannan and high-protein diet could improve oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging markers. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test followed by post-hoc showed significant differences between the combination diet and high protein group (p < 0.001). In addition, the average levels of oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA) in porang glucomannan and high-protein combination group were improved significantly. Similar results were also obtained for inflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α) and aging markers (NLRP3, IGF-1, GDF-11, and α-Klotho). The mean NRLP-3 levels in glucomannan and high-protein combination group were not significantly different compared to control. The study highlights that the combination of porang glucomannan and a high-protein diet effectively improved various aging markers.

Keywords: Aging; high-protein diet; inflammation; oxidative stress; porang glucomannan.

Figure 1.

Experimental design of the study. Control group received a normal diet from day one to 58. D-galactose was administered from day 1 to 28 for D-Gal, PG, and PG + HP groups. On day 29, pre-treatment data were collected. From day 30 to 58, D-Gal group only received a normal diet without any treatment. HP and PG + HP groups received treatments, high-protein and high-protein with porang glucomannan combination, respectively, from day 30 to 57. Post-treatment data were collected on day 58. Control: healthy control group; D-Gal: induced with D-galactose only; HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with high protein; PG + HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with combination of porang glucomannan and high protein.

Figure 2.

Level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels following D-galactose-induced aging. Control: healthy control group; D-Gal: induced with D-galactose only; HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with high protein; PG + HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with combination of porang glucomannan and high protein. Ns: non-significant.

Figure 3.

Effects of porang glucomannan and high protein combination diet on oxidative stress markers: (A) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and (B) malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The measurement was performed on day 58. Control: healthy control group; D-Gal: induced with D-galactose only; HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with high protein; PG + HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with combination of porang glucomannan and high protein. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA; significant at *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.

Figure 4.

Effects of porang glucomannan and high protein combination diet on inflammation markers: (A) interleukin-6 (IL-6) and (B) tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) levels. The measurement was performed on day 58. Control: healthy control group, D-Gal: induced with D-galactose only, HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with high protein, PG + HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with combination of porang glucomannan and high protein. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA; significant at *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.

Figure 5.

Effects of porang glucomannan and high protein combination diet on aging markers: insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level (A); NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) level (B); growth differentiation factor-11 (GDF11) (C); and α-Klotho level (D). The measurement was performed on day 58. Control: healthy control group; D-Gal: induced with D-galactose only; HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with high protein; PG + HP: induced with D-galactose and treated with a combination of porang glucomannan and high protein. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA; ns: non-significant; significant *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.