Effects of high sucrose or starch-bran diets on glucose and lipid metabolism of normal and diabetic rats.

Normal and streptozotocin-diabetic rats were fed a low carbohydrate diet or one of two high carbohydrate diets (sucrose or starch-bran). High carbohydrate diets were associated with slightly higher plasma glucose levels in both control and diabetic rats. However, glucose tolerance tests were not altered by the diets in either the control or diabetic rats. Plasma and liver triglyceride values for control and diabetic rats fed the high sucrose diet were similar to those of rats fed the low carbohydrate diet. The starch-bran diet was associated with lower plasma and liver triglyceride values in both control and diabetic rats. Plasma triglyceride values of diabetic rats fed the high sucrose diet or the low carbohydrate diet were significantly higher than values of control rats fed the same diets. On the other hand, plasma triglyceride values of diabetic rats fed the starch-bran diet were similar to values for control rats fed the same diet. These studies suggest that a high carbohydrate diet containing starch and wheat bran is associated with a reduction in plasma triglyceride values in both normal and diabetic rats. Liver glycolytic enzyme activities were significantly lower in diabetic rats than in control rats in all three dietary groups.