Flaxseed Lignan Increased Glucose Uptake by Human Red Blood Cells

The objective of this study was to determine if flaxseed lignan (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, SDG) would improve glucose uptake by human red blood cells (RBCs). To measure glucose uptake of RBCs, the RBCs were pretreated, in vitro, with SDG (0, 10, 50, or 100 M) and then were incubated with or without insulin (100 U/ml). After incubation, 3-O-( 3 H-Methyl)-D-glucose uptake by the RBCs was measured. RBCs pretreated with 50 or 100 M SDG showed an increase in glucose uptake compared to control (0 M SDG) or RBCs pretreated with 10 M SDG (p<0.0001). In addition, glucose uptake was increased in RBCs with insulin stimulation compared to RBCs without insulin stimulation (p<0.0001). An interaction between SDG and insulin was also observed (p<0.0001). Pretreatment of RBCs with SDG (50 or 100 μM) and insulin increased glucose uptake compared to those without insulin stimulation (p<0.0001). The results indicate potential beneficial effects of SDG on glycemic control by increasing glucose uptake of RBCs.