Fruit ingredient could aid type 2 diabetes management

[DCUK NewsBot]

An ingredient found in mulberries could help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, a study has revealed. The fruit contains a compound called rutin that leads to fat reduction, boosts the metabolism and improves glucose levels, researchers in China have discovered. This process occurs because rutin activates brown fat, which burns energy and produces heat unlike ordinary white fat. The study, published in FASEB Journal, examined the impact of brown fat, also referred to as brown adipose tissue or BAT, on two groups of mice: one which was genetically obese; the second has diet-induced obesity. Rutin was added to the drinking water of both groups during the experiment. There was improved glucose homeostasis - a balance of insulin and glucagon to maintain blood glucose - in both groups, and the researchers also concluded that the compound improved metabolic functions in the mice. The researchers believe that rutin helps increase the activity of a gene called UCP1 and the number of mitochondria in brown fat. Therefore, it could offer a novel treatment approach to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Dr Wan-Zhu Jin, study co-author from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "The beneficial effects of rutin on BAT-mediated metabolic improvement have evoked a substantial interest in the potential treatment for obesity and its related diseases, such as diabetes. "In line with this idea, discovery of more safe and effective BAT activators is desired to deal with obesity and its related diseases." Thoru Pederson, FASEB Journal Editor-In-Chief, said: "Unlike hibernating animals, we humans have only a small spot of brown fat, and yet its importance in human metabolism has only recently come into view. "In this study, the philosophy of ancient Chinese medicine's exploitation of plant materials has conjoined in the modern era with a very able physiology research team to evoke a promising lead."

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[Indy51]

Hmnn, they used to sell rutin tablets for leg pain, if I'm remembering correctly. Wonder if it's still available?

 

[ickihun]

Just back from my local 24hr Asda and no berries on shelves, just grapes. I fancied a bit fruit to kick start my lchf after my carby holiday. Mulberry wine might get a revival?

 

[Robbity]

Hmnn, they used to sell rutin tablets for leg pain, if I'm remembering correctly. Wonder if it's still available?

Yes there's a variety of brands sold on Amazon (UK).

For @ickihun - Had a look online and Waitrose/Ocado stock dried mulberries, but they are (obviously) very high in carbs because of this.

Another berry to add to my list??

Robbity

PS I just remembered we bought a white mulberry tree (morus alba) for my boss - a keen gardener - on her retirement many years back. Looking this up in Wikipedia came up with the information that its fruit is actually used (amongst other things) as a diabetic treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

And a leaf extract: "Morus alba leaf extract help restore the vascular reactivity of diabetic rats. Free radical-induced vascular dysfunction plays a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular disease found in chronic diabetic patients."
(Mulberry leaf extract restores arterial pressure in streptozotocin-induced chronic diabetic rats Naowaboot J., et al. Nutrition Research 2009 29:8 (602-608))

And: "An ethanolic extract of mulberry leaf had antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and antiglycation effects in chronic diabetic rats, which may suggest its use as food supplement for diabetics."
(Antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and antiglycation activities of mulberry leaf extract in streptozotocin-induced chronic diabetic rats Naowaboot J. et al. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 2009 64:2 (116-121))