Blood Glucose and Triglyceride Changes following the Administration of Commercial Enteral Nutrition Solutions with Differing Glucose and Fat Contents

Abstract

Objective. To clarify whether reducing the energy ratio of carbohydrates and increasing the ratio of fats contribute to suppressing blood glucose elevation not only under normal conditions, but also under the effects of glucocorticoids.

Methodology. Three test enteral nutrition solutions, differing in energy ratios and used in actual clinical settings, were given to rats: HINEX E-Gel (ST) with 20% fat and 64% carbohydrate content; HINEX E-Gel LC (LC) with 34% fat and 50% carbohydrate content; and HINEX Renute (RN) with 50% fat and 26% carbohydrate content. The time course data of plasma glucose, triglyceride, and insulin levels after a single oral administration of the test EN solution were obtained in normal rats (Experiment 1) and hyperglycemia model rats treated with dexamethasone (Experiment 2).

Result. In both normal and dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemic rats, plasma glucose levels were lower in the groups given RN than in the groups given ST. The differences in EN solutions did not significantly affect plasma triglyceride and insulin levels in both rat models.

Conclusion. This study suggested that the EN solution that is high in fat and low in carbohydrate suppressed the post-administration increase of blood glucose levels even in a state of steroid-induced hyperglycemia with insulin resistance.