RT Journal Article
T1 Silicon-enriched functional meat enhances colonic barrier function by regulating tight junction protein expression, oxidative stress, and inflammation responses in a diabetic dyslipidemia model
A1 Hernández Martín, Marina
A1 Bocanegra De Juana, Aranzazu
A1 Garcimartín Álvarez, Alba
A1 Macho González, Adrián
A1 Redondo Castillejo, Rocío
A1 García Fernández, Rosa Ana
A1 Apaza Ticona, Luis Nestor
A1 Bastida Codina, Sara
A1 Benedí González, Juana María
A1 Sánchez Muniz, Francisco José
A1 López-Oliva Muñoz, María Elvira
AB Western diets are linked to metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic dyslipidemia, which involve hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, high plasma cholesterol levels and altered lipoprotein profiles. The T2DM progression also involves glucolipotoxicity, wherein elevated glucose and fatty acid levels induce oxidative stress and inflammation. Excessive intake of saturated fats and/or cholesterol can trigger dysbiosis, which weakens the colonic barrier, increases its permeability, and promotes chronic low-grade inflammation, thereby accelerating the progression of T2DM. Silicon, an essential trace element, has demonstrated antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting its potential as a nutritional adjuvant in therapeutic management of T2DM and the maintenance of gut health. In this study, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: (1) an early-stage T2DM group (ED) fed a control meat incorporated into a high saturated-fat diet; (2) a late-stage T2DM group (LD) fed a control meat incorporated into a high-saturated fat and high cholesterol diet combined with streptozotocin and nicotinamide injection; and (3) a late-stage T2DM group fed a silicon enriched meat (LD-Si). Microbiota composition, lipoperoxidation and concentrations of fat, cholesterol, oxysterols and short-chain fatty acids and silicon were assayed in feces. The colonic tissue morphology, barrier integrity, antioxidant capacity and inflammatory markers were measured to evaluate the impact of silicon on colonic health and intestinal barrier function. Silicon enriched meat (Si-RM) consumption increased faecal fat and cholesterol excretion and reduced toxic luminal environments by modulating oxysterols. Si-RM consumption also enhanced colonic barrier integrity, increasing tight junction proteins and goblet cells, and exhibited antioxidant effects via the pNrf2 pathway and superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, silicon reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6, likely through inhibition of the TLR4/NFκB pathway. The results suggest that silicon's ability to enhance intestinal barrier integrity, reduce oxidative stress, and prevent inflammation could slow down T2DM progression, making it a promising nutritional adjuvant for managing the disease
PB The Royal Society of Chemistry
SN 2042-6496
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120493
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120493
LA eng
NO Hernández-Martín, M., Bocanegra, A., Garcimartín, A., Macho-González, A., Redondo-Castillejo, R., García-Fernández, R. A., Apaza-Ticona, L., Bastida, S., Benedí, J., Sánchez-Muniz, F. J., & López-Oliva, M. E. (2025). Silicon-enriched functional meat enhances colonic barrier function by regulating tight junction protein expression, oxidative stress, and inflammation responses in a diabetic dyslipidemia model. Food & function, 16(10), 4085–4103. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4fo06277a
NO Beca FPU20/0 2920 del Ministerio de Universidades de España.
NO This work was supported by the Spanish Projects with references AGL2014–53207-C2–2-R and PR75/18–21603 Santander-UCM Project and PID2019–103872RB-I00 and /AEI/10.13039/501 100 011 033. Rocío Redondo–Castillejo was supported by grant FPU20/0 2920 from the Spanish Ministry of Universities. We thank Dr. María José González-Muñoz for her scientific assessment. Special thanks go to Christopher Mulhern for editing the English language manuscript. None of the authors received reimbursement, honoraria, or stipends for their participation in the development of these experiments. The research was designed, executed, analysed and communicated only by the authors of this work
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España)
NO Universidad Complutense de Madrid 
NO Ministerio de Universidades (España)
NO Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 15 dic 2025