The current study investigated the effects of exogenous free Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) from daily diet on diabetic-model Goto-Kakizaki rats. Rats were fed with free CML (2 mg/kg body weight) for 8 weeks, then metabolomics evaluation was performed on serum and urine, and biochemical and histopathologic examinations were conducted to verify metabolic results. Diabetic rats fed with free CML showed significantly increased (P < 0.05) fasting blood glucose (11.1 ± 1.07 mmol/L) and homeostasis model assessment values (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance: 16.0 ± 4.24; homeostatic model assessment of beta cell function: 6.66 ± 2.01; and modified beta cell function index: 11.5 ± 2.66) and a significantly altered (P < 0.05) oxidative stress level when compared to the control group. Serum and urine metabolomics showed a significantly altered (P < 0.05) level of aminomalonic acid, 2-oxoadipic acid, l-malic acid, β-alanine, 2-oxoglutaric acid, d-threitol, N-acetyl-leucine, methylmalonic acid, l-cysteine, thymine, glycine, l-alanine, 4-hydroxyproline, hexadecane, succinic acid, l-ornithine, gluconolactone, maleic acid, l-lactate, tryptophan, 5-methoxyindoleacetate, γ-aminobutyric acid, homoserine, maltose, and quinolinic acid. Our results indicated that these metabolites altered by exposure to exogenous free CML were mapped to the citric acid cycle and amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, which might be related to increased progression of diabetes and some other diabetic complications, including diabetic brain and neurological diseases, retinopathy, nephropathy, and impaired wound healing.
Keywords: Nε-carboxymethyllysine; advanced glycation end-products; diabetes; diabetic complications; serum and urine metabolomics.