High Fructose Diet-induced Glucose Intolerance and Dyslipidemia in Adult Syrian Golden Hamsters

It has been hypothesized that glucose intolerance or diabetes can be induced in rodents by a high fructose diet (HFD: fructose 60%). This study was designed to examine the effects of HFD on various parameters viz fasting plasma glucose, glucose tolerance test, plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, NEFA (non-esterified fatty acid), glycerol, body weight, food consumption and water intake in male Syrian golden hamsters and the results were compared with a normal or standard diet (ND). Assessment after 3 months of dietary treatment reveals that the body weight gain, plasma triglycerides level, fasting plasma glucose and water intake were found significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in HFD group. Total Cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, NEFA and glycerol levels were also significantly elevated (p < 0.05) with concomitant level of decrease in HDL-C as compared to that of ND group. An oral glucose tolerance test showed a significant increase in plasma glucose levels after 2 h of glucose challenge in hamsters. During the experiment, it was noticed that important weight gain observed in HFD dietary test group was associated with a significant low (p < 0.001) food consumption. It is presumed that dietary nutrients contained in this high fructose diet might have an effect on insulin action and therefore, might contribute to the development of glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia. In addition to their diabetogenic effect, this HFD might probably have an atherogenic effect and can be used in a longterm study to induce diabetic dyslipidemia.