Melatonin increases magnesium concentrations in white adipose tissue and pancreas of diabetic obese rats

Abstract

Melatonin is a natural bioactive compound, whose intake by obese diabetic Zucker (ZDF) rats improves this pathology. Hypomagnesaemia has also been observed in diabetes, and magnesium (Mg) is known to play an essential role in carbohydrate metabolism. In this study we have determined the effect of melatonin intake on Mg concentrations in white adipose tissues and organs in ZDF rats. This study reveals for the first time that melatonin intake increases Mg concentrations in subcutaneous lumbar, visceral, omentum, and gonadal adipose tissue and in the pancreas. These findings may be related to an improvement in the homeostatic regulation of adipocytokines produced by white adipose tissues, and to a reduction in plasmatic oxidative stress, which would lead to a decrease in insulin resistance and improvement in glucose homeostasis. These results open up the beneficial use of melatonin for the development of functional foods to ameliorate glucose homeostasis in obesity-associated diabetes.