Hypoglycemic and antioxidative effects of hydroxyethyl methylcellulose in mice fed with high fat diet.

The effect of hydroxyethyl methylcellulose (HEMC) with different viscosities on the glucose metabolism and antioxidative defense system in high fat-fed mice was investigated. The mice were randomly divided into five dietary groups: normal control diet (NC), high fat diet (HF), and high fat diet supplemented with high viscosity (HF-HV), moderate viscosity (HF-MV), and low viscosity (HF-LV) HEMC fibers. After 6 weeks, the HF group showed a marked increase in body weight gain, body fat, blood glucose concentration, insulin level, and erythrocyte lipid peroxidation rate relative to the NC group. However, supplementation of HEMC in the diet suppressed these high fat-induced hyperglycemia and oxidative stress through enhancement of the activities of hepatic glucokinase and antioxidant enzymes. The hypoglycemic and antioxidative effects increased with increased viscosity of the HEMC consumed. These results illustrate that HEMC with high viscosity may be useful in the management of high fat diet-induced hyperglycemia and oxidative stress.