Early Blood Glucose Responses to Konjac Glucomannan and Metformin in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Female Wistar Rats in Kenya: An Exploratory Study
Ouma Brian
*
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Shiundu Meshack
Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya.
Akinyi Ochola Florence
Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya.
Gikunju Joseph
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
Adem Samuel
Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya.
Opii Omoite Joel
Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya.
Afuma Francis Maero
Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya.
Omondi Collins
Kombewa Sub County Hospital, Kisumu, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been investigated for glycaemic modulation, but early responses to KGM, metformin, and their combinations remain insufficiently characterised in alloxan-exposed rats. Objective: To describe early blood glucose concentrations and within-animal changes among metformin, KGM, and combination-treated groups. Methods: Twenty-one female Wistar rats were allocated to seven groups (n = 3/group): one non-induced control group, two monotherapy groups, and four combination groups. Alloxan (130 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was administered to Groups II–VII. Glucose concentrations at pretreatment baseline, 1.5 h, and 3 h were available for all animals; subsequent observation intervals differed by group. Group means, sample standard deviations, and 3-h within-animal changes were calculated. An exploratory one-way analysis of variance compared changes among the six alloxan-exposed groups. Results: Mean (SD) 3-h glucose concentrations in Groups I–VII were 7.57 (0.21), 13.27 (5.22), 20.97 (11.93), 5.73 (2.63), 6.57 (1.63), 16.77 (12.30), and 8.47 (1.20) mmol/L, respectively. Mean changes from baseline were +2.13, −7.37, −0.73, −7.10, −3.17, −3.67, and −1.47 mmol/L. The between-group analysis was not statistically significant, F(5, 12) = 1.755, p = .197. One combination-treated rat had a 3-h glucose concentration of 2.7 mmol/L. Conclusions: Unequal baseline concentrations, limited group sizes, the absence of an untreated diabetic control, and uncertain intermediate-dose assignments prevent causal inferences about comparative efficacy or pharmacological interactions. The observations are hypothesis-generating and highlight the need for controlled efficacy and safety studies.
Keywords: Alloxan, blood glucose, experimental diabetes, konjac glucomannan, metformin, Wistar rats