TITLE:
Effects of γ-Polyglutamic Acid on Blood Glucose and Caecal Short Chain Fatty Acids in Adult Male Mice
AUTHORS:
Motoi Tamura, Sachiko Hori, Atsuko Inose, Masuko Kobori
KEYWORDS:
γ-Polyglutamic Acid, Mice, Blood Glucose, Short Chain Fatty Acids
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.11 No.1,
January
7,
2020
ABSTRACT: γ-Polyglutamic
acid (γ-PGA)
is a major component of Natto. We hypothesized that γ-PGA
could reduce postprandial glucose rise and plasma glucose levels. Mice were fed
a 0.1% γ-PGA—containing diet or control diet for 91 days.
Maltose and starch tolerance tests were performed, and plasma lipids, glucose
levels, and caecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured. Mice were
co-administered γ-PGA
and starch to suppress the initial rise in blood glucose levels. Blood glucose
levels at 15 min were significantly lower in the PGA group than in the Con
group (P 0.05).
The plasma glucose level and NEFA level were also significantly lower in the
PGA group (P 0.05),
and caecal acetic acid/total caecal SCFAs ratio was significantly increased in
the PGA group (P 0.05). Significant negative
correlations existed between the caecal
acetic acid/propionic acid ratio and the weight of visceral fat/BW (r =-0.57, P = 0.0318).
Our results suggest that γ-PGA
may effectively prevent metabolic syndrome by lowering blood glucose levels.