The Modifying Effects of Galactomannan from Canadian-Grown Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on the Glycemic and Lipidemic Status in Rats

Using high sucrose-fed male Sprague-Dawley rats, a study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding Galactomannan (GAL), a soluble dietary fiber extracted from Canadian-grown fenugreek seeds, on blood lipid and glucose responses. Rats (n = 8, 175–200 g) were randomly assigned to one of three high sucrose diets containing 10% cellulose (control), 7.5% cellulose + 2.5% GAL, and 5% cellulose + 5% GAL, respectively for 4 weeks. After 3 weeks, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on each rat. A week later blood samples were collected to determine the effect on blood lipids. A significant reduction in glycemic response was observed only in 5% GAL group at 120 min following OGTT, when compared with that of control and 2.5% GAL groups. The plasma level of insulin was also significantly reduced (p<0.001) in 5% GAL-fed rats but at all times during OGTT. These animals also showed a reduction in body weight gain (p<0.05) in parallel with less food intake (p<0.05). All GAL-fed (2.5% and 5.0%) rats had significantly reduced plasma levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol in association with a reduction in epididymal adipose weight. Overall, this study demonstrated that feeding GAL from Canadian-grown fenugreek seeds has the potential to alter glycemic and lipidemic status and reduce abdominal fat in normal rats

Update 2008: The Esophagus

The entire field of gastroenterology is primed to take an enormous step forward, with scientific and endoscopic advances which will be tothis decade what the treatments of peptic ulcer disease and viral hepatitis conditions were for the 80's and 90's. So also in the area of esophagology there are numerous emerging techniques and scientific advances in our understanding of the motor and sensory function of the esophagus. These contribute to our better understanding of common conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) including erosive esophagitis (EE), normal endoscopy reflux disease (NERD), Barrett's epithelium (BE), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (ECA), as well as the less common esophageal motility disorders, oro-pharyngeal dysphagia and eosinophilic esophagitis