Quercetin Supplementation Reduces Maternal Hyperglycemia in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mouse Model
J. Claudio Gutierrez *
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
M. Renee Prater
Department of Biomedical Sciences, E. Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Steven D. Holladay
Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Pregnancy may be complicated by diabetes mellitus. The use of natural antioxidants may alleviate the increased glucose levels in the diabetic pregnancy.
Methodology: The combination of high Fat Diet (HFD) and streptozocin (STZ) was used pre-breeding in CD1 female mice to generate maternal hyperglycemia. A subgroup of the females received quercentin (Q) supplementation in their HFD.
Results: Hyperglycemic females supplemented with Q displayed significantly decreased blood glucose levels at gestation days 10 and 17.
Conclusion: These results suggest quercetin could have utility as a supplement for diabetic women during pregnancy, and could represent a protection for the offspring of diabetic mothers.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetes and pregnancy, quercetin, mouse models of diabetes, hyperglycemia.