• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.703-707
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the effect of silk protein hydrolysates hydrolyzed by protease on blood glucose level, serum insulin and leptin secretion in the OLETF rats. Twenty seven week-old-male OLETF rats were divided in three groups: diabetic control, 0.5% and 0.8% silk protein hydrolysates groups that were fed daily for 19 weeks. Body weight increased in the 0.5% and 0.8% silk protein hydrolysates fed groups compared with diabetic control group. Food and water intake were not different among diabetic and silk protein hydrolysates groups. In random state, the blood glucose levels in silk protein hydrolysates fed groups were lower than diabetic control group; however, the blood glucose in the three groups were not different in fasting state. Also silk protein hydrolysates improved the glucose tolerance in OLETF rat. The silk protein hydrolysates did not influence serum lipids while serum insulin and leptin levels were increased in the experimental OLETF rats. These results suggested that the administration of silk protein hydrolysates solution reduced significantly (p<0.05) an increasing rate of blood glucose level by stimulating the insulin secretion and increasing the serum leptin level.