Recently, Prof. Xin Li (first author) and Prof. Xiangfei Li (corresponding author) from Prof. Yingjian Lu's team at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (NUFE) published a scientific paper titled "Broccoli Improves Lipid Metabolism and Intestinal Flora in Mice with Type 2 Diabetes Induced by HFD and STZ Diet" online in Foods (IF=5.2). Broccoli Improves Lipid Metabolism and Intestinal Flora in Mice with Type 2 Diabetes Induced by HFD and STZ Diet".

Globally, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is on the rise. As a common vegetable in the daily diet, broccoli possesses physiological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. We established a mouse model of type 2 diabetes and conducted a systematic study to elucidate the function of broccoli in alleviating the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and controlling intestinal flora. The results showed that broccoli successfully reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), attenuated insulin resistance, regulated lipid metabolism, lowered TC, TG, LDL-C, and MDA levels, blocked the expression of IL-1β and IL-6, and reduced the harmful effects of diabetes on organs and tissues such as the pancreas, liver, and fat. In addition, broccoli altered the intestinal flora composition of T2DM mice. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Allobaculum decreased and the relative abundance of Odoribacter and Oscillospira increased; at the family level, the relative abundance of Odoribacteraceae, Rikenellaceae, and S24-7 decreased, and the relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and At the family level, the relative abundance of Odoribacteraceae, Rikenellaceae and S24-7 decreased, while that of Erysipelotrichaceae and Rikenellaceae increased.