Antihyperglycemic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Low-molecular-weight Carrageenan in Rats

This study investigated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of low-molecular-weight carrageenan (LC) on rats fed a high-fat diet. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: normal control group (NC), high-fat diet control group (HC), carrageenan-treated control group (CC), 1% LC group (1% LC), and 3% LC-groups (3% LC). Body weight, food intake, fecal weight, blood glucose, and serum lipid levels were measured. After 30 days, body weight significantly decreased in the LC-treated groups than in the HC group. Moreover, in the LC-treated groups, postprandial blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased. From this study, our data suggest that LC has antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects when compared to carrageenan, likely related to its increased absorption due to its lower molecular weight.