Milled FXS and FXO intake does not affect glycemic control in adults with well-controlled type 2 diabetes. Possible prevention of weight gain by flax consumption warrants further investigation.

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Changes in plasma adipokines and oxidative stress can already be detected in youth with T2DM; however, many of the changes are mirrored in obese youth, suggesting that both these populations are at an increased risk for future cardiovascular complications.

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Abnormal expression and/or function of mammalian hexose transporters contribute to the hallmark hyperglycemia of diabetes. Due to different roles in glucose handling, various organ systems possess specific transporters that may be affected during the diabetic state. Diabetes has been associated with higher rates of intestinal glucose transport, paralleled by increased expression of both active and facilitative transporters and a shift in the location of transporters within the enterocyte, events that occur independent of intestinal hyperplasia and hyperglycemia. Peripheral tissues also exhibit deregulated glucose transport in the diabetic state, most notably defective translocation of transporters to the plasma membrane and reduced capacity to clear glucose from the bloodstream. Expression of renal active and facilitative glucose transporters increases as a result of diabetes, leading to elevated rates of glucose reabsorption. However, this may be a natural response designed to combat elevated blood glucose concentrations and not necessarily a direct effect of insulin deficiency. Functional foods and nutraceuticals, by modulation of glucose transporter activity, represent a potential dietary tool to aid in the management of hyperglycemia and diabetes.

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Chronic lead exposure irreversibly damages the kidneys and may be associated with hypertension and renal insufficiency at sub-clinically toxic levels. Zinc supplementation reduces lead absorption and tissue retention in rodent models but the mechanisms are unknown. Metallothionein (MT) may function in lead detoxification. Our objective was to investigate the effects of marginal zinc (MZ) and supplemental zinc (SZ) intakes on renal lead and zinc accumulation, renal MT immunolocalization and levels. Weanling Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to MZ (8 mg Zn/kg diet), zinc-adequate control (CT; 30 mg Zn/kg), zinc-adequate diet-restricted (DR; 30 mg Zn/kg) or SZ (300 mg Zn/kg) groups, with and without lead acetate-containing drinking water (200 mg Pb/L) for 3 weeks. Kidneys were analyzed for lead and zinc by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy and MT by immunolocalization and Western blotting. MZ had higher renal lead and lower renal zinc concentrations than CT. SZ was more protective than CT against renal lead accumulation. Renal MT levels reflected dietary intake (SZ > or = DR > or = CT > or = MZ) but lead had no effect on MT staining intensity, distribution, or relative protein amounts. In summary, while SZ lowered renal lead concentration, MT did not appear to function in renal lead accumulation. Future studies should explore alternate mechanisms of renal lead detoxification.

No abstract