Fish oil and Vernonia amygdalina Leaves-Supplemented Biscuits Increased Insulin Secretion and Suppressed Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Type 2 Diabetic Wistar Rats

This research determined the effect of fish oil and Vernonia amygdalina-enriched biscuits (FVSB) on insulin sensitivity and inflammatory cytokines in type 2 diabetic rats. Forty-nine male rats were grouped into seven, i.e. A-G. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was induced in groups B-G by administering 230 mg/kg body weight [BW] NAD (ip) and 65 mg/kg BW streptozotocin (ip). Group A represented the control (Non-diabetic + unsupplemented biscuit), B (untreated diabetic), C (diabetic + 120 mg/kg BW metformin), D-F (diabetic + FVSB at 1g, 2g and 3g leaf inclusion respectively), and G (diabetic + conventional biscuit). The experiment lasted 35 days, and rats were monitored for changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin levels, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). FVSB reduced FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, IL-6, CRP and TNF-α but increased HOMA-β score in comparison with untreated diabetic groups. FVSB reduced FBG in an exposure duration-dependent manner. At 3g leaf inclusion level, FVSB reduced insulin and HOMA-IR to levels comparable to metformin. At 2g leaf inclusion, FVSB reduced IL-6 to levels comparable with the sham control. At all the leaf inclusion levels, FVSB reduced CRP and TNF-α, while also increasing HOMA-β score to levels comparable to either the sham control or the metformin-treated groups. In conclusion, FVSB elicited insulin sensitivity-improvement activity by reducing FBG and insulin concentrations and also anti-inflammatory properties by reducing IL-6, CRP and TNF-α in diabetic rats. The 3g leaf inclusion biscuit is the most potent and may be considered for the management of T2DM.