Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) belongs to secondary osteoporosis caused by diabetes; it has the characteristics of high morbidity and high disability. In the present study, we constructed a type 1 diabetic rat model and administered chondroitin sulfate (200 mg/kg) for 10 weeks to observe the preventive effect of chondroitin sulfate on the bone loss of diabetic rats. The results showed that chondroitin sulfate can reduce blood glucose and relieve symptoms of diabetic rats; in addition, it can significantly increase the bone mineral density, improve bone microstructure, and reduce bone marrow adipocyte number in diabetic rats; after 10 weeks of chondroitin sulfate administration, the SOD activity level was upregulated, as well as CAT levels, indicating that chondroitin sulfate can alleviate oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Chondroitin sulfate was also found to reduce the level of serum inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and MCP-1) and alleviate the inflammation in diabetic rats; bone metabolism marker detection results showed that chondroitin sulfate can reduce bone turnover in diabetic rats (decreased RANKL, CTX-1, ALP, and TRACP 5b levels were observed after 10 weeks of chondroitin sulfate administration). At the same time, the bone OPG and RUNX 2 expression levels were higher after chondroitin sulfate treatment, the bone RANKL expression was lowered, and the OPG/RANKL ratio was upregulated. All of the above indicated that chondroitin sulfate could prevent STZ-induced DOP and repair bone microstructure; the main mechanism was through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and regulating bone metabolism. Chondroitin sulfate could be used to develop anti-DOP functional foods and diet interventions for diabetes.
Rape (Brassica napus L.) bee pollen (RBP) is a functional food rich in nutrients obtained by worker bees collecting rape pollen and mixing it with nectar and bee salivary enzymes. The study aimed to investigate the protective impact of RBP on renal tissue damage and modulating gut microbiota in diabetic rats. We established a diabetic model of rat via streptozotocin injection, then the rats were treated with RBP for 6 weeks. Results showed that RBP significantly suppressed fasting glucose, reduced oxidative stress and prevented renal pathological changes as well as renal function damage in diabetic rats. In addition, RBP reduced the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, C‐reaction protein, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β, and IL‐18), and the expression levels of transforming growth factor‐β1, p‐Smad2, and p‐Smad3 in the kidney. Moreover, RBP supplementation also improved the gut microbial dysregulation in diabetic rats. Based on the results, RBP can improve kidney tissue damage in diabetic rats. This study will promote the development of RBP functional food.
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