The effect of the fruit juice on rats fed a hyperinsulinaemic high-fat
diet was investigated. In a dose–response study (0.375, 0.75 and 1.5%
freeze-dried juice administered in rations), oral glucose tolerance was improved
in rats fed a high fat (30%) diet supplemented with freeze-dried
juice at a dose of 0.75% or higher (p < 0.05). At the highest dose, treated
rats had lower energy efficiency (p < 0.05) and tended to have a lower
visceral fat mass (p = 0.10). In a subsequent experiment, rats habitually fed
a high fat diet either continued to consume the diet or were switched to a
high fat + fruit juice, low fat (7%), or low fat + fruit juice (0.75%) diet for
7 weeks. Rats which had been switched to the high fat + fruit juice diet
gained less weight and had less visceral fat than those fed the high fat diet
(p < 0.05). Supplementation of the high fat diet with the crude drug improved
insulin resistance, lowered serum insulin and leptin, but raised
free fatty acid concentration in the serum (p < 0.05)