Shellfish intake and impact on type 2 diabetes

Epidemiological studies indicate that an association between a high intake of shellfish and risk of type-2 diabetes may exist. To investigate a possible direct relationship, we here aim to determine the effect of dietary shellfish on obesity development and glucose tolerance. Reduced glucose tolerance is often associated with obesity. The results from this study will be used to determine if a high intake of certain types of shellfish aggravate development of obesity and/or glucose tolerance. The effects will be evaluated by exchanging the protein source in a standard western diet with proteins from different types of shellfish in C57BL/6J mice. We will use 90 male C57BL/6J mice, as a whole organism is necessary to include the impact from the whole body metabolism that is involved in diet induced obesity development and glucose metabolism. All animal handling will be performed by experienced staff, and care is taken to minimize stress imposed on the animals. No invasive procedures are planned during the experiment. The experimental set-up is performed in order to minimize the stress of the animals and reduce animals to lowest possible number.