OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qiyao Xiaoke Capsule (QXC, a Chinese preparation for invigorating qi and nourishing yin) on glycolipid metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscle of rats with catch-up growth (CUG) induced by high-fat diet.

METHODSCUG model rats were made by limiting forge followed by high-fat diet, and intervened with different dosages [1.8 (g/kg x d), 0.6 g/(kg x d)] of QXC. And the experiment was controlled with pioglitazone. Levels of blood glucose, serum free fatty acid (FFA), serum insulin (Fins), plasma adiponcetin (AC) and insulin resistance index (IRI) as well as the weights of peri-epididymis and peri-renal fat and their ratio to body weight were observed 8 weeks later. The contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and liver were also determined.

RESULTSInsulin resistance in CUG rats can be induced by high-fat diet. Compared with the un-treated model rats, levels of Fins and AC were higher, IRI and FFA were lower in CUG rats after intervened by QXC (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, QXC at large dose showed the effects of reducing TG content in liver and skeletal muscle, advancing the glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, displaying an efficacy similar to that of pioglitazone (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQXC could improve the glycolipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced CUG rats through different pathways of intervention to alleviate/delay the occurrence and development of insulin resistance in the liver and skeletal muscle.