Fucoidan protects the pancreas and improves glucose metabolism through inhibiting inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in T2DM rats

It is important to maintain the normal function of the pancreas in the prevention and intervention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was undertaken to explore the protective effects of fucoidan on the pancreas in T2DM rats induced by using a high fat diet (HFD) and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The results showed fucoidan remarkably decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and glycated serum protein, and increased the level of glucagon-like peptide-1 in T2DM rats. Also, fucoidan improved insulin sensitivity and reduced the postprandial blood glucose level. Meanwhile, fucoidan alleviated pancreas damage and improved the islet β cell function in T2DM rats. Additionally, fucoidan activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and regulated glucose homeostasis, which seemed to be related to the protection of the pancreas from damage by inhibiting inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress in T2DM rats. Collectively, these results indicated that fucoidan had a potential protective effect on the pancreas, which enriched ideas for the use of fucoidan as a nutritional agent in the cure of T2DM.