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Objective: To investigate how allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor) improves insulin action of rats fed with high-fructose diet. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and each group was fed one of the following diets for 4 weeks: standard chow diet, high-fructose diet, and high-fructose diet plus allopurinol. A part of rats in the high-fructose diet plus allopurinol group were infused with a NOS inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-Larginine (L-NMMA), during the euglycemic clamp studies (insulin infusion rate: 3.0mU/kg/min). Insulin sensitivity index was assessed from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Results: Serum uric acid and plasma insulin concentrations were significantly decreased with allopurinol treatment. High-fructose feeding produced a marked decrease in insulin sensitivity index compared with standard chow diet feeding. Allopurinol treated high-fructose fed rats showed a significant increase in insulin sensitivity index, reaching a similar level as that of the standard chow diet feeding. Infusion of L-NMMA did not change the glucose infusion rate of high-fructose fed rats with allopurinol in the euglycemic clamp. Conclusion: Improvement of insulin action with allopurinol in fructose-fed rats may not be associated with increase in production of nitric oxide.

OBJECTIVE : To understand the characteristics of diets, nutrients, eating habits, and physical activities of obese young men. METHODS : We surveyed the food and nutrient intakes of participants using three-day dietary records. Physical activities and activity energy expenditure were estimated based on the data obtained by a pedometer (lifecoder). RESULTS : The mean daily energy intake (2,594±809 kcal) was appropriate, while the mean daily animal protein intake was excessive. Varied levels of animal fat intake were observed across the subjects, ranging from extremely low to high levels. Breakfast skippers had lower daily energy intake (1,975±554 kcal) than those who had a breakfast regularly (2,841±767 kcal). Fifty percent of the skippers had their dinner after ten o’clock in the night, in contrast to ten percent among non-skippers. The average daily steps of participants were 8,724±3,250, but those numbers varied substantially. CONCLUSION : Eating and exercise habits of obese young Japanese men are significantly different across individuals.

Objective: To investigate whether water filled with super-hybrid gas (SGW) can improve insulin sensitivity of rats fed high-fructose diets. Methods: Male Wistar rats fed high-fructose diets were randomly and blindly assigned to take SGW or pure water without super-hybrid gas filling (Control) for 4wks. Insulin action was assessed with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the euglycemic clamp (insulin infusion rate: 3.0 and 30.0mU/kg/min). Results: The OGTT 30-minutes blood glucose level was significantly lower in the SGW group. The euglycemic clamp study also showed the improvement of glucose infusion rate (GIR) in rats of the SGW group compared with the control group. Conclusion: SGW may improve insulin action in high-fructose induced insulin resistant rats.