Effects of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) extract on glucose and lipid metabolism in high‐fat fed C57BL/6N mice

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sorghum extract (SE) on glucose and lipid metabolism in high‐fat fed C57BL/6N mice. Mice were fed four different diets for 6 weeks: normal diet (ND), high‐fat diet (HD), high‐fat diet supplemented orally with 0.5% sorghum extract (HD + 0.5% SE), or 1% sorghum extract (HD + 1% SE). The area under the curve of incremental blood glucose after glucose load and insulin concentration were significantly smaller and lower in mice with HD + 0.5% SE and HD + 1% SE than with HD, but not with ND. Total cholesterol levels were also significantly lower in mice with HD + 0.5% SE and HD + 1% SE than with HD, and that in mice with HD + 1% SE was significantly lower than that in mice with ND. LDL‐cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in mice with HD + 0.5% SE and HD + 1% SE than with HD and ND. Triglyceride and HDL‐cholesterol concentration did not significantly differ among mice with different diets. In addition, perinephric fat weight was significantly lower in mice with HD + 0.5% SE and HD + 1% SE than with HD, but body and other organ weights did not significantly differ between diets. These results suggested that SE supplementation had improved glucose and lipid metabolism, but the effect was not does‐dependent. This work was supported by a grant from the Korea Research Foundation funded by the Korea Rural Development Administration.