DIETARY CONJUGATED LINOLEIC-ACID NORMALIZES IMPAIRED GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN THE ZUCKER DIABETIC FATTY FA FA RAT/

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid whi ch has anti-carcinogenic and anti-atherogenic properties, CLA activate s PPAR alpha in liver, and shares functional similarities to ligands o f PPAR gamma, the thiazolidinediones, which are potent insulin sensiti zers, We provide the first evidence that CLA is able to normalize impa ired glucose tolerance and improve hyperinsulinemia in the pre-diabeti c ZDF rat, Additionally, dietary CLA increased steady state levels of aP2 mRNA in adipose tissue of fatty ZDF rats compared to controls, con sistent with activation of PPAR gamma, The insulin sensitizing effects of CLA are due, at least in part, to activation of PPAR gamma since i ncreasing levels of CLA induced a dose-dependent transactivation of PP AR gamma in CV-1 cells cotransfected with PPAR gamma and PPRE X 3-luci ferase reporter construct, CLA effects on glucose tolerance and glucos e homeostasis indicate that dietary CLA may prove to be an important t herapy for the prevention and treatment of NIDDM. (C) 1998 Academic Pr ess.