Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) Extract Improves Biometric, Plasmatic and Hepatic Parameters of Rats Fed a High-Carbohydrate Diet

GB (goji berry) has bioactive components capable of reversing the metabolic syndrome. This work investigated systemic, biometric and metabolic parameters of male rats fed with standard diet (group CD) or high-carbohydrate diet (group HC). At 90 days of age the HC group was subdivided: one was given vehicle solution (HCD) and the other was given GB extract (HCDGB), for 60 days. The vehicle was also given to the CD group. At 150 days of age, glucose tolerance test, tissue collection, plasmatic determinations, lipid content, in situ perfusion and oxidative stress of the liver were carried out. The GB supplementation improved the parameters of the metabolic syndrome caused by the HC diet, including decreased body weight gain, adiposity index, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, NAFLD, liver oxidative stress and gluconeogenesis. Together with the diminished insulin resistance, these results indicate the GB extract is an important adjuvant in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome.