A B S T R A C T
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich yogurt is a novel type of functional fermented-dairy product
in the market. This study investigated the anti-diabetic effects of GABA-rich yogurt fermented
by Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophiles fmb5 on streptozotocin-induced diabetic
mice (SIDM). SIDM was administered orally GABA-rich yogurt for six weeks.The results showed
that oral administration of GABA-rich yogurt improved both hyperglycaemia and impaired
glucose tolerance of SIDM with a dose-dependent effect. Notably, GABA-rich yogurt significantly
decreased the concentrations of serum total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG),
whereas remarkably increased the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C) and insulin in serum of SIDM. Furthermore, GABA-rich yogurt normalised hypertrophy
of liver and kidney and restored pancreas islet in SIDM. These results suggest that
GABA-rich yogurt may be effective in improving type 1 diabetes (T1D) and delaying the progression
of diabetes complications. GABA-rich yogurt could be a great functional dairy product
with benefit for T1D patients.