Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Both dietary fiber and polyphenols have been reported to exert antihyperglycemic effect. Potato peel (PP), a waste by product of potato processing, is found to be a good source of both dietary fiber and polyphenols. The current study examined the attenuating influence of dietary potato peel (PP) powder on hyperglycemia and various oxidative stress-associated biochemical parameters in diabetic rats.

METHODS:

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats were used as experimental models. The rats were divided into nondiabetic (control), diabetic, potato-peel-supplemented (5% and 10%) and diabetic-PP (5% and 10%)-supplemented groups and were maintained for 4 weeks on the experimental regime. The modulatory role of PP was assessed by determining its effect on blood glucose, urine output, body weight gain, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, serum aminotransferases, lipid profiles, selected antioxidant enzymes in liver/kidney and selected eye lens parameters.

RESULTS:

Diabetic rats fed with PP-powder-supplemented diet for 4 weeks showed a significant decrease in blood glucose levels. Incorporation of PP powder reduced significantly the hypertrophy of both liver and kidney of STZ-diabetic rats and also normalized the activities of serum ALT and AST, hepatic and renal MDA and GSH, as well as activities of various antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney of diabetic rats. Furthermore, PP powder in the diet also appeared to attenuate the eye lens damage associated with the diabetic condition.

CONCLUSION:

Potato peel powder supplementation in diet was found to effectively attenuate diabetic alterations in rats.