Dietary Betaine Supplementation Increases Fgf21 Levels to Improve Glucose Homeostasis and Reduce Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2016-04-01Keywords
Cellular and Molecular PhysiologyEndocrine System Diseases
Endocrinology
Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases
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Show full item recordAbstract
Identifying markers of human insulin resistance may permit development of new approaches for treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes. To this end, we analyzed the fasting plasma metabolome in metabolically characterized human volunteers across a spectrum of insulin resistance. We demonstrate that plasma betaine levels are reduced in insulin-resistant humans and correlate closely with insulin sensitivity. Moreover, betaine administration to mice with diet-induced obesity prevents the development of impaired glucose homeostasis, reduces hepatic lipid accumulation, increases white adipose oxidative capacity, and enhances whole-body energy expenditure. In parallel with these beneficial metabolic effects, betaine supplementation robustly increased hepatic and circulating fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)21 levels. Betaine administration failed to improve glucose homeostasis and liver fat content in Fgf21(-/-) mice, demonstrating that Fgf21 is necessary for betaine's beneficial effects. Together, these data indicate that dietary betaine increases Fgf21 levels to improve metabolic health in mice and suggest that betaine supplementation merits further investigation as a supplement for treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes in humans.Source
Diabetes. 2016 Apr;65(4):902-12. doi: 10.2337/db15-1094. Epub 2016 Feb 8. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.2337/db15-1094Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/28823PubMed ID
26858359Notes
Full author list omitted for brevity. For full list of authors see article.
Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.2337/db15-1094