In vitro evaluation of the antidiabetic and antiadipogenic potential of Amaranth protein hydrolysates

Obesity, which is a major recognized risk factor for type-2 diabetes, is rapidly increasing in prevalence resulting in a "diabesity" epidemic. Diabesity represents one of the major public health problems in the 21st century. Some of the strategies that have shown to be effective in reducing type-2 diabetes incidence are exercise and a healthy diet. New drugs that have as a target the inhibition of the enzyme dipeptidyl dipeptidase IV (DPPIV) have been released. However some of these drugs have secondary effects; for that reason, the food industry is exploring the aspects related to the components present in food that promote a healthy life, such as the bioactive peptides encrypted in the proteins of several foods. Amaranth is a plant native from North, Central and South America which contains antihypertensive, antioxidant and cancer preventive peptides. Also there is evidence that amaranth has some hypoglycemic action; however, the antidiabetic potential and the effect upon body weight of the seed proteins have not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to identify the ability of amaranth peptides to inhibit the DPPIV activity and the effect of these peptides upon fat accumulation in mouse adipocyte cultures.