Animal experiment:

Rats[1]Male ZDF rats are treated with oral Calcitonin salmon (sCT: 0.5, 1.0 or 2 mg/kg) or oral vehicle twice daily from age 8 to 18 weeks. Zucker lean rats serve as control group. Fasting and non-fasted blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and levels of pancreas and incretin hormones are determined. Oral glucose tolerance test and i.p. glucose tolerance test were compared, and beta-cell area and function were evaluated[1].

Calcitonin salmon, a calcium regulating hormone, is a dual-action amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist, could stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption.

Oral Calcitonin salmon treatment dose-dependently attenuates fasting and non-fasted hyperglycaemia during the intervention period. At the end of the study period, oral Calcitonin salmon treatment by dose decreases diabetic hyperglycaemia by ~9 mM and reduces HbA1c levels by 1.7%. Furthermore, a pronounced reduction in glucose excursions is dose-dependently observed for oral Calcitonin salmon treatment during oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, oral Calcitonin salmon treatment sustains hyperinsulinaemia and attenuates hyperglucagonaemia and hypersecretion of total glucagon-like peptide-1 predominantly in the basal state. Lastly, oral Calcitonin salmon treatment dose-dependently improves pancreatic beta-cell function and beta-cell area at study end[1].

[1]. Feigh M, et al. Oral salmon calcitonin attenuates hyperglycaemia and preserves pancreatic beta-cell area and function in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Br J Pharmacol. 2012 Sep;167(1):151-63.