Study of insulin resistance in relation to serum IGF-I levels in subjects with different degrees of glucose tolerance

Vitamin D supplementation modulates glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) in diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a metabolic illness that increases protein glycosylation in hyperglycemic conditions, which can have an impact on almost every organ system in the body. The role of vitamin D in the etiology of diabetes under RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) stress has recently received some attention on a global scale. Vitamin D's other skeletal benefits have generated a great deal of research. Vitamin D's function in the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is supported by the discovery of 1,25 (OH)2D3 and 1-Alpha-Hydroylase expression in immune cells, pancreatic beta cells, and several other organs besides the bone system. A lower HBA1c level, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus all seems to be associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Most of the cross-sectional and prospective observational studies that were used to gather human evidence revealed an inverse relationship between vitamin D level and the prevalence or incidence of elevated HBA1c in type 2 diabetes. Several trials have reported on the impact of vitamin D supplementation for glycemia or incidence of type 2 diabetes, with varying degrees of success. The current paper examines the available data for a relationship between vitamin D supplementation and HBA1c level in diabetes and discusses the biological plausibility of such a relationship.

The effects of saffron petals and damask rose petals on biochemical and inflammatory measurements

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by high blood sugar greatly affected by diet. The chemical medicines applied to treat diabetes usually have side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of saffron petals, damask rose petals, and saffron-damask rose petal herbal teas on weight loss, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and the inflammatory factors of diabetic rats.

METHODS

In this study, 40 male Sprague Dawley rats with an average age of four weeks received a high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar diet for nine weeks. The rats were then randomly assigned to five groups, including normal, control, saffron petal, damask rose petal, and saffron plus damask rose petal groups. For nine weeks, 3 mL of the herbal tea was administered to the intervention groups daily through oral gavage. The levels of FBS, lipid profile, Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), and glucose tolerance test (GTT) were measured following the intervention.

RESULTS

Saffron petals reduced weight gain, Triglyceride (TG), and HbA1c and increased hs-CRP and IGF-1 (all p < 0.05). The damask rose petal reduced weight gain, FBS, hs-CRP, and HbA1c and increased the IGF-1 (all p < 0.05). Saffron plus damask-rose petals reduced the weight gain, TG, hs-CRP and HbA1c, and increase IGF-1 factor (all p < 0.05) compared to the control group. No significant effect was found on visceral fat, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Compared with the normal group, saffron petals and damask rose petals increased the FBS, HDL, and LDL levels. Damask rose and the combination of saffron petals and damask rose decreased IGF-1 compared with the normal group (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Saffron and damask rose petals could have beneficial effects on improving the status of biochemical markers. The simultaneous use of saffron and damask rose may counteract the adverse effects of saffron on inflammatory indices.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency and metabolic syndrome

Consistent evidence associates IGF-1 deficiency and metabolic syndrome. In this review, we will focus on the metabolic effects of IGF-1, the concept of metabolic syndrome and its clinical manifestations (impaired lipid profile, insulin resistance, increased glucose levels, obesity, and cardiovascular disease), discussing whether IGF-1 replacement therapy could be a beneficial strategy for these patients. The search plan was made in Medline for Pubmed with the following mesh terms: IGF-1 and "metabolism, carbohydrate, lipids, proteins, amino acids, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, diabetes" between the years 1963-2015. The search includes animal and human protocols. In this review we discuss the relevant actions of IGF-1 on metabolism and the implication of IGF-1 deficiency in the establishment of metabolic syndrome. Multiple studies (in vitro and in vivo) demonstrate the association between IGF-1 deficit and deregulated lipid metabolism, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and an altered metabolic profile of diabetic patients. Based on the available data we propose IGF-1 as a key hormone in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome; due to its implications in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Previous data demonstrates how IGF-1 can be an effective option in the treatment of this worldwide increasing condition. It has to distinguished that the replacement therapy should be only undertaken to restore the physiological levels, never to exceed physiological ranges.

Metabolic actions of insulin-like growth factor-I in normal physiology and diabetes

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is closely related to insulin but has distinct metabolic actions. IGF-I is an important stimulant of protein synthesis in muscle, but it also stimulates free fatty acid use. The administration of IGF-I to patients with extreme insulin resistance results in improvement in glycemic control, and IGF-I is associated with lowering glucose and enhancing insulin sensitivity in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. However, patients with diabetes are also sensitive to stimulation of side effects in response to IGF-I. IGF-I coordinately links growth hormone and insulin actions and has direct effects on intermediary metabolism.