Open AccessGene Expression and Adiposity Are Modified by Soy Protein in Male Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats
Author(s) -
Banz William J.,
Davis Jeremy,
Peterson Richard,
Iqbal Muhammad J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2004.238
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , rosiglitazone , soy protein , lipid metabolism , diabetes mellitus , casein , biology , food science
It has earlier been demonstrated that soy protein diets ameliorate the diabetic phenotype in obese Zucker rats. In this study, we further investigated physiological changes related to adiposity in male Zucker diabetic fatty rats consuming soy‐based diets and compared these diets with the insulin‐sensitizing drug, rosiglitazone. Transcript abundance of known genes was assessed in the livers to identify potential molecular connections between soy diets and adiposity. Male Zucker diabetic fatty rats were assigned to casein (C) protein, low‐isoflavone soy (LIS) protein, high‐isoflavone soy (HIS) protein, or C + rosiglitazone (CR) diets. Compared with the C diet, the LIS diet decreased plasma lipids and increased body weight, but did not change liver weight or carcass adiposity. HIS decreased plasma lipids, liver weight, and body weight. CR decreased plasma lipids and increased carcass adiposity and body weight with no effect on liver weight. In LIS livers, 15 genes involved in signaling and lipid metabolism were up‐regulated 2‐fold or higher. In HIS livers, seven genes had a 2‐fold or higher change in abundance. However, in CR livers, none of the genes was significantly changed compared with the C diet. There appears to be a distinct change in gene expression associated with soy diets as compared with C‐based diets and rosiglitazone treatment.