Herring Milt and Herring Milt Protein Hydrolysate Are Equally Effective in Improving Insulin Sensitivity and Pancreatic Beta-Cell Function in Diet-Induced Obese- and Insulin-Resistant Mice

Although genetic predisposition influences the onset and progression of insulin resistance and diabetes, dietary nutrients are critical. In general, protein is beneficial relative to carbohydrate and fat but dependent on protein source. Our recent study demonstrated that 70% replacement of dietary casein protein with the equivalent quantity of protein derived from herring milt protein hydrolysate (HMPH; herring milt with proteins being enzymatically hydrolyzed) significantly improved insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. As production of protein hydrolysate increases the cost of the product, it is important to determine whether a simply dried and ground herring milt product possesses similar benefits. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the effect of herring milt dry powder (HMDP) on glucose control and the associated metabolic phenotypes and further to compare its efficacy with HMPH. Male C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet for 7 weeks were randomized based on body weight and blood glucose into three groups. One group continued on the high-fat diet and was used as the insulin-resistant/diabetic control and the other two groups were given the high-fat diet modified to have 70% of casein protein being replaced with the same amount of protein from HMDP or HMPH. A group of mice on a low-fat diet all the time was used as the normal control. The results demonstrated that mice on the high-fat diet increased weight gain and showed higher blood concentrations of glucose, insulin, and leptin, as well as impaired glucose tolerance and pancreatic β-cell function relative to those on the normal control diet. In comparison with the high-fat diet, the replacement of 70% dietary casein protein with the same amount of HMDP or HMPH protein decreased weight gain and significantly improved the aforementioned biomarkers, insulin sensitivity or resistance, and β-cell function. The HMDP and HMPH showed similar effects on every parameter except blood lipids where HMDP decreased total cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol levels while the effect of HMPH was not significant. The results demonstrate that substituting 70% of dietary casein protein with the equivalent amount of HMDP or HMPH protein protects against obesity and diabetes, and HMDP is also beneficial to cholesterol homeostasis.

Dietary casein, egg albumin, and branched-chain amino acids attenuate phosphate-induced renal tubulointerstitial injury in rats

Dietary phosphate intake is closely correlated with protein intake. However, the effects of the latter on phosphate-induced organ injuries remain uncertain. Herein, we investigated the effects of low (10.8%), moderate (23.0%), and high (35.2%) dietary casein and egg albumin administration on phosphate-induced organ injuries in rats. The moderate and high casein levels suppressed renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and maintained mitochondrial integrity in the kidney. The serum creatinine levels were suppressed only in the high casein group. Phosphate-induced muscle weakness was also ameliorated by high dietary casein. The urinary and fecal phosphate levels in the early experiment stage showed that dietary casein did not affect phosphate absorption from the intestine. High dietary egg albumin showed similar kidney protective effects, while the egg albumin effects on muscle weakness were only marginally significant. As the plasma branched-chain amino acid levels were elevated in casein- and egg albumin-fed rats, we analyzed their effects. Dietary supplementation of 10% branched-chain amino acids suppressed phosphate-induced kidney injury and muscle weakness. Although dietary protein restriction is recommended in cases of chronic kidney disease, our findings indicate that the dietary casein, egg albumin, and branched-chain amino acid effects might be reconsidered in the era of a phosphate-enriched diet.

Herring Milt and Herring Milt Protein Hydrolysate Reduce Weight Gain and Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Pancreatic Beta-Cell Function in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Objectives The present study was designed to examine the effect of herring milt dry powder (HMDP) on glucose homeostasis and related metabolic phenotypes and compare its efficacy with herring milt protein hydrolysate (HMPH) in diet-induced obese and insulin resistant mice. Methods Male C57BL/6 J mice were pretreated with a high-fat diet for 7 weeks were divided into 3 groups where one group continued on the high-fat diet and used as the obese and insulin resistant control (HFC) and the other two groups were fed a modified HFC diet where 70% of casein was replaced with an equal percentage of protein derived from HMDP or HMPH. A group of mice fed a low-fat diet all the time was used as the normal or low-fat control (LFC). Body weight was obtained weekly and food intake was recorded daily. Semi-fating (4–6 hr) blood glucose was measured every other week using a glucometer using the blood from tail vein. Oral glucose tolerance was measured twice during weeks 5 and 9, respectively, and insulin tolerance was determined during week 7 of the treatment. At the end of the experiment, serum was obtained following overnight fasting for the measurement of fasting insulin, leptin, free fatty acids and lipids as well as other glucose metabolism-related biomarkers. Results During the 9-week treatment period, mice on the high-fat diet maintained significantly higher body weight and semi-fasting blood glucose levels and exhibited impaired oral glucose tolerance and insulin resistance relative to mice on the low-fat diet. At the end of the study, the analysis of fasting blood samples revealed that mice on the high-fat diet had increases in serum insulin, leptin, free fatty acids and cholesterol levels. Mice fed the high-fat diet also showed an increase in insulin resistance index and a decrease in β-cell function index. Compared to mice on the high-fat diet, the 70% replacement of dietary casein with an equal percentage of protein derived from HMDP or HMPH reversed or markedly improved these parameters, and HMDP and HMPH showed similar effects. Conclusions The results demonstrate that replacing dietary casein with the same amount of protein derived from either HMDP or HMPH prevents and improves high-fat-diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Funding Sources Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency through the Atlantic Innovation Fund grant (no. 193,594) and National Research Council of Canada – NHP program.

Herring Milt Protein Hydrolysate Improves Insulin Resistance in High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obese Male C57BL/6J Mice

Protein consumption influences glucose homeostasis, but the effect depends on the type and origin of proteins ingested. The present study was designed to determine the effect of herring milt protein hydrolysate (HPH) on insulin function and glucose metabolism in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with a low-fat diet or a high-fat diet for 6 weeks. Mice on the high-fat diet were divided into four groups where one group continued on the high-fat diet and the other three groups were fed a modified high-fat diet where 15%, 35%, and 70%, respectively, of casein was replaced with an equal percentage of protein derived from HPH. After 10 weeks, mice that continued on the high-fat diet showed significant increases in body weight, blood glucose, insulin, and leptin levels and exhibited impaired oral glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Compared to mice fed the high-fat diet, the 70% replacement of dietary casein with HPH protein reduced body weight, semi-fasting blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and cholesterol levels and improved glucose tolerance, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) indices. The 35% replacement of dietary casein with HPH protein showed moderate effects, while the 15% replacement of dietary casein with HPH protein had no effects. This is the first study demonstrating that replacing dietary casein with the same amount of protein derived from HPH can prevent high-fat-diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Protein quality in experimental diets and amino acid digestibility

Digestibility of AA in feed ingredients for pigs has been generally determined by feeding semipurified diets containing test ingredients as a sole source of nitrogen. However, malnutrition caused by feeding semi-purified diets may affect the digestibility of AA. Therefore, the hypothesis of this study was that the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are not affected by the addition of casein in experimental diets. In Exp. 1, 20 growing pigs were allotted to dietary treatments including 2 diets containing either 480 g/kg DDGS or 308 g/kg DDGS and 60 g/kg casein. The SID of Lys and Phe for DDGS in the diet containing casein were greater (P < 0.05) than those without casein. Exp. 2 was conducted with 20 growing pigs assigned to dietary treatments containing 0, 55, 110, or 165 g/kg casein while the concentration of DDGS decreased at 466.8, 311.2, 155.6, or 0 g/kg. The SID of most indispensable AA in DDGS linearly (P < 0.05) decreased with increasing concentration of casein. Experiment 3 was conducted to verify that the results of Exp. 1 were affected by the addition of casein or by the concentration of DDGS or both. Twenty growing pigs were assigned to dietary treatments prepared as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the concentration of DDGS at 466.8 or 155.6 g/kg and casein at 0 or 110 g/kg. The SID of most indispensable AA in DDGS at 466.8 g/kg were greater (P < 0.01) than in DDGS at 155.6 g/kg regardless of dietary casein. Overall, the addition of 60 g/kg casein to experimental diets may increase the SID of AA in low-protein quality ingredients but the addition of higher concentration of casein and low concentration of dietary protein from test ingredients may decrease the SID of AA.

Differential effects of dietary whey, casein and soya on colonic DNA damage and large bowel SCFA in rats fed diets low and high in resistant starch

Feeding higher levels of dietary animal protein (as casein or red meat) increases colonic DNA damage and thins the colonic mucus barrier in rats. Feeding resistant starch (RS) reverses these changes and increases large bowel SCFA. The present study examined whether high dietary dairy (casein or whey) or plant (soya) proteins had similar adverse effects and whether dietary RS was protective. Adult male rats were fed diets containing 15 or 25 % casein, whey or soya protein with or without 48 % high amylose starch (as a source of RS) for 4 weeks. DNA damage was measured in isolated colonocytes using the comet assay. Higher dietary casein and soya (but not whey) increased colonocyte DNA damage. DNA damage was highest with soya when fed at 15 or 25 % protein without RS. Dietary RS attenuated protein-induced colonocyte DNA damage in all groups but it remained significantly higher in rats fed 25 % soya compared with those fed 15 % protein. Dietary protein level did not affect colonic mucus thickness overall but the barrier was thinner in rats fed high dietary casein. This effect was reversed by feeding RS. Caecal total SCFA and butyrate pools were higher in rats fed RS compared with digestible starch. Caecal and faecal SCFA were unrelated to genetic damage but correlated with mucus thickness. The present data confirm that higher dietary protein affected colonocyte DNA and colonic mucus thickness adversely but that proteins differ in their effects on these indices of colon health. The data show also that these changes were reversed by RS.