Abstract:
This study examined if oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei K3-4C had a significant lowering effect on blood glucose levels and body weight in diabetic obese female BALB/c mice. In order to induce diabetes mellitus and obesity, mice were maintained on a high-fat diet for 28 days. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed by consecutive elevated fasting blood glucose levels greater than 240 mg/dl while obesity was confirmed by a body weight 20% greater than that of the control group. Lactobacillusparacasei K3-4C (0.05%) was orally administered everyday for 16 days to the high-fat Lactobacillus group using an oral gavage. The control group and the high-fat non-Lactobacillus group received no Lactobacillus paracasei K3-4C treatment. The blood glucose levels and body weights of all groups were measured daily. The results revealed that oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei K3-4C lowered blood glucose levels by 46% and body weight by 13% after the 16-day treatment period. It was also found that baseline body weight had no significant effect on blood glucose levels, indicating that differences among the groups were due to the treatment alone.
