Effects of dietary inclusion of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruit on body weight, insulin level and glycemic status of hamsters.

The aim of present experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary supplemented CCF on body weight, serum glucose and insulin in healthy condition. In present experiment, 36 one-month-old male hamsters (94 +/- 1 g) were divided into four groups; group 1 (control): fed basal diets without fruit supplementation, group 2: fed daily 5 g CCF only at first daily meal, group 3: fed daily 10 g CCF, at first and second daily meals and group 4: fed daily 15 g CCF, at first, second and third daily meals, for 20 days. Dietary CCF caused significant decreases in final body weight. Based on serum biochemical analysis, a significant glucose decrease in groups fed only one supplemented meal and it's correlated with elevation of insulin level. Supplementation of CCF (two or three times daily) was not efficient for more hypoglycemic effect and there was no significant difference with glucose level of control group. Also, there was no any difference between insulin levels of group 2 and 3, whereas there was considerable elevation in insulin level for groups fed CCF in comparison with control rate. It was concluded that supplemented cornelian cherry fruit for one, two or three daily meal can decreases weight gain and for only one daily meal can cause considerable hypoglycemic effect, whereas supplemented for two or three times daily was not more efficient that may be due to glycemic regulation of healthy animals.