Punna Ramulu, Nappan Veettil Giridharan, Paruchuri Udayasekhararao and Marasanapalle Kalle Janardanasarma
Aims: To establish the insulin sensitization and resistance interrelationship through the quantitative modeling of number of insulin receptor molecules per molecule of insulin as response to plasma glucose levels.
Methods: Fenugreek seeds (FGS) powder and its soluble dietary fiber (SDF) were fed through diet to 50 day old prediabetic obese rats (WNIN/GR-Ob) for nine weeks. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels and number of erythrocyte insulin receptors (NO-EIR) were determined. Data were analyzed for a) homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IRS), b) total number of insulin molecules in the plasma, c) total NO- EIR in one ml of blood and d) ratio of NO-EIR per molecule of FPI.
Results: The results showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in FPG and the number of insulin molecules in plasma and a significant (p<0.05) increase in NO-EIR in one ml of blood of experimental rats compared to control rats. The NO-EIR per molecule of FPI was significantly (p<0.05) higher in all experimental rats ranging from 9 to 71 fold in males and 17 to 199 fold in females as comparison with control rats. Feeding of the SDF/FGS showed improved efficacy of insulin receptor molecules per molecule of insulin. Among them the NO-EIR per molecule of insulin was significantly (p<0.05) greater in rats fed with SDF in both the genders when compared to rats fed with FGS. This effect was seen in the HOMA–IRS levels.
Conclusions: It appears that insulin sensitivity could be defined as molar ratio of available NO-EIR molecules per molecule of FPI. When the molar ratio of receptor per molecule of insulin was higher, the sensitization was greatest. If the number of insulin receptors per molecule of insulin is least, it is resistance. Obese rats fed with FGS/SDF showed improvement in plasma glucose levels by increasing the insulin sensitivity.
