Effects of thiol antioxidant β-mercaptoethanol on diet-induced obese mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with increased oxidant stress. However, treatments of obese subjects with different types of antioxidants often give mixed outcomes. In this work, we sought to determine if long-term supplementation of a thiol antioxidant, β-mercaptoethanol, to diet-induced obese mice may improve their health conditions.

Main methods

Middle-age mice with pre-existing diet-induced obesity were provided with low concentration β-mercaptoethanol (BME) in drinking water for six months. Animals were assessed for body composition, gripping strength, spontaneous physical and metabolic activities, as well as insulin and pyruvate tolerance tests. Markers of inflammation were assessed in plasma, fat tissue, and liver.

Key findings

BME-treated mi

SUBMITTER: Wong S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4327985 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature