Buckwheat 'controls diabetes'

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Buckwheat 'controls diabetes'

Jan 14, 2004 13:35 PST

 

 

Buckwheat 'controls diabetes'-A new treatment for diabetes?

 

A type of herb called buckwheat may be beneficial in the management

of diabetes, say researchers.

 

Extracts of the seed lowered blood glucose levels by up to 19% when

it was fed to diabetic rats.

 

Scientists at the University of Manitoba in Canada say diabetics

should consider including the grain in their diet, or taking dietary

supplements.

The study, part funded by the food industry, is published in the

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

 

A food that could actively reduce blood glucose levels could be a

real breakthrough.

 

Diabetes UK

 

Lead researcher Dr Carla Taylor said: " With diabetes on the rise,

incorporation of buckwheat into the diet could help provide a safe,

easy

and inexpensive way to lower glucose levels and reduce the risk of

complications associated with the disease, including heart, nerve

and

kidney problems. " Buckwheat won't cure diabetes, but we'd like to

evaluate its inclusion in food products as a management aid. "

 

More work needed

 

However, Dr Taylor said human studies were needed to determine how

much buckwheat - in flour or extract form - must be eaten to obtain

a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels.

 

The researchers focused on rats with Type 1 diabetes caused by a

lack of the hormone insulin, which is needed to break down sugar in

the blood.

 

The rats were given a single dose of buckwheat extract or a dummy

preparation.

 

The researchers believe the key component of buckwheat is a compound

called chiro-inositol.

 

The compound, which is relatively high in buckwheat and rarely found

in other foods, has been previously shown in animal and human

studies to play a significant role in glucose metabolism and cell

signalling.

 

Researchers do not know exactly how it works, but preliminary

evidence suggest that it may make the cells more sensitive to

insulin or may act as an insulin mimic.

 

Although the research concentrated on Type 1 diabetes, the

researchers

believe that buckwheat will have a similar glucose-lowering effect

when given to rats with the Type 2 form of the condition.

 

Type 2 diabetes is more common and is caused by a failure of the

body's cells to respond properly to insulin.

 

A spokesman for Diabetes UK said: " A healthy diet is a vital part of

managing diabetes and a food that could actively reduce blood

glucose levels could be a real breakthrough.

 

" However, we need to see if this will work for people and what

amounts would be necessary to have an effect.

 

" The required doses could also have side effects. We look forward to

seeing more research. "

 

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Diabetes UK

University of Manitoba