Protective effect of rosiglitazone, quercetin, and their combination on fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

OBJECTIVES: Quercetin exhibits a wide range of biological functions. The present study aimed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of rosiglitazone, quercetin as well as their combination on metabolic and biochemical changes associated with the fructose-induced metabolic syndrome (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of rats were fed on fructose-enriched diet for 14 weeks. One group served as fructose-enriched diet control, while the remaining groups were treated with rosiglitazone (4 mg/kg/day), quercetin (50 mg/kg/day), and their combination during the last 4 weeks. A fifth group was fed on normal laboratory diet. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were withdrawn for the estimation of markers of MS. RESULTS: Rosiglitazone or quercetin attenuated the biochemical and metabolic changes associated with MS. The combination of rosiglitazone and quercetin nearly normalized these changes. CONCLUSION: Quercetin, as well as its combination with rosiglitazone, showed beneficial protective effects against metabolic and biochemical changes associated with MS.