Pumpkin: A Fairytale End To Insulin Injections?

[Guest guest]

Pumpkin: A Fairytale End To Insulin Injections?

 

Science Daily — Compounds found in pumpkin could potentially replace

or at least drastically reduce the daily insulin injections that so

many diabetics currently have to endure. Recent research reveals that

pumpkin extract promotes regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in

diabetic rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and

insulin in the blood, reports Lisa Richards in Chemistry & Industry,

the magazine of the SCI.

Ads by Google

Advertise on this site

Type 2 Diabetes Cure?

Find Out What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes-Matters.info

Lower Blood Sugar

Safe, Dr. Recommended, All natural No Drug Interactions. Guaranteed.

www.naturesinventory.com

Free Diabetes Management

100% effective, take control now! Improve your health immediately

www.Dhealth.com

Type II Diabetes Diet?

In-depth review of Diabetes diet plans including pricing and more.

www.easydietreviews.com

A Diabetes Breakthrough

Lower your Blood Sugar w/ Zero Side Effect. Fight Diabetes Safely.

Diabetes.RealFoodNutrients.com

 

A group, led by Tao Xia of the East China Normal University, found

that diabetic rats fed the extract had only 5% less plasma insulin and

8% fewer insulin-positive (beta) cells compared to normal healthy rats

(Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 87(9) 1753-7 2007).

 

Xia says: 'pumpkin extract is potentially a very good product for

pre-diabetic persons, as well as those who have already developed

diabetes.' He adds that although insulin injections will probably

always be necessary for these patients, pumpkin extract could

drastically reduce the amount of insulin they need to take.

 

David Bender, sub-dean at the Royal Free and University College

Medical School, London, says: 'this research is very exciting... the

main finding is that feeding pumpkin extract prevents the progressive

destruction of pancreatic beta-cells... but it is impossible to say

whether pumpkin extract would promote regeneration in humans.' He

added: 'I think the exciting thing is that this may be a source of a

medication that could be taken by mouth.'

 

The protective effect of pumpkin is thought to be due to both

antioxidants and D-chiro-inositol, a molecule that mediates insulin

activity. Boosting insulin levels has the effect of lowering blood

sugar levels, which reduces levels of oxidative oxygen species that

damage beta-cell membranes, preventing further damage and allowing for

some regeneration. Beta cells levels in the diabetic rats are,

however, unlikely ever to reach that of controls, because some of the

cells will have been damaged beyond repair.

 

Diabetes affects more than 230m people, almost 6% of the world's adult

population, according to the World Diabetes Foundation. The rats used

in this study represent type I diabetes, but the researchers believe

the pumpkin extract may also play a role in type II diabetes.

 

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by

Society of Chemical Industry.