HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF DIETARY Acrocomia aculeata KERNEL OIL ON TYPE 2 DIABETIC RATS

Macauba (Acrocomia ssp), is a palm tree native to tropical America found mostly in the wetlands (Pantanal) and Savannah-like area (Cerrados) of Brazil. Its fruit yields pulp and kernel oils, whose fatty acid compositions are very distinguishable. The pulp oil is rich in oleic acid; the kernel oil is rich in medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), accounting for about 50% of the total composition, mostly lauric acid. In our research group, we have been looking at alternative sources other than carbohydrates to supply energy as a strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of type 2 diabetes. The role MCFAs play in that is likely connected to their specific mechanisms of absorption, transport, and mitochondrial metabolism, which diverges from long chain fatty acids. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of dietaries formulated with kernel oil of Acrocomia aculeata (AKO), as partial substitute of carbohydrate-originated calories. Rats were induced to type 2 diabetes by using high fat diet and a low dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight). The oil was obtained by cold pressing and contained 45.40% of lauric acid. Two doses of AKO were evaluated: 40 and 160 g.kg-1 diet. Blood glucose level, lipid profile, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity were assayed after 28 days. Dietary with AKO exerted hypoglycemic action, stimulated insulin secretion, improved pancreatic β cell function (HOMA-β), and decreased insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). It also had a positive effect on pancreatic islet morphology and β-cells number. In addition, AKO fed rats showed reduced triglycerides levels, lower density lipoprotein-cholesterol and increases in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Also, it improved hepatic function markers. Those findings suggest AKO was effective to ameliorate the health of diabetic rats.