Vinegar is a traditional remedy for ailments including diabetes. This study was conducted to investigate the beneficial effects of
vinegar in
streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administered with white rice
vinegar (WRV, 2 ml/kg
body weight per day, n = 6) or with an equal volume of
drinking water (n = 6) for 1 month. Fasting and random
blood glucose was measured from tail vein samples.
Body weight, 24-h food and water intake were monitored 1 week and 1 month after STZ injection. Fasting serum
insulin concentrations were assayed using ELISA. Pancreatic beta- and alpha-cell proportions were measured using immunofluorescence microscopy.
Periodic acid Schiff staining was performed to access
glycogen contents and histological changes in liver tissues. Compared with control animals, the WRV-treated rats had less
weight loss, lower fasting and random
blood glucose, higher fasting serum
insulin and higher beta-cell proportion. The WRV treatment also improved fatty changes and
glycogen storages in the liver of STZ rats. Oral intake of WRV improved fasting
hyperglycemia and
body weight loss through attenuating
insulin deficiency, pancreatic beta-cell deficit, and
hepatic glycogen depletion and fatty changes in STZ-induced diabetic rats.