Effects of fat and cinnamon feeding on the diabetogenic state after rat injection with dexamethasone

Consumption of high levels of dietary fat is thought to be a major factor in the promotion of obesity and insulin resistance Several environmental factors, including high-fat diet, are reported to activate the functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis [HPA].Frequently evoked HPA-axis secretes excessive amount of cortisol and elevated cortisol level is implicated in the development of entire spectrum of the metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance, visceral obesity and dyslipidemia as well as the kinds of [10]. Normal levels of glucocorticoids are important for glucose metabolism. In a fasting state, normal concentrations of cortisol stimulate several processes, which collectively serve to maintain normoglycemia, excessive levels of cortisol are characterized by the symptoms of abdominal obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance or diabetes and dyslipidemia, all of these features are shared by the condition of insulin resistance [5]. In vitro [3] and in vivo [1,9] studies have shown that cinnamon enhances glucose uptake by activating insulin receptor kinase activity, autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor, and glycogen synthase activity. The ability of cinnamon to reduce lipid levels in fructose-fed rats, potentially via inhibiting hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity [2].