Rutgers study shows high fibre diet is antidote to diabetes

JAIPUR: A new study published in journal Science shows that a diet high in diverse fibres has a beneficial effect on

type 2 diabetes

, while promoting weight loss and better lipid levels. The study, by researchers at

Rutgers University

, was underway for six years and conducted in China.

The research offers evidence that eating more of the right dietary fibers may rebalance gut microbiota or the ecosystem of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract that help digest food. This is important for overall health.

Liping Zhao

, professor in the department of biochemistry and microbiology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, lead author of the study, is quoted on Science Daily website: “Our study lays the foundation and opens the possibility that fibers targeting this group of gut bacteria could eventually become a major part of your diet and your treatment.”

About 50 million Indians suffer from Type 2 diabetes, characterized by low production of insulin – the hormone that helps glucose enter cells for use as energy. Type 2 diabetes could also be because the body is unable to use what insulin is produced. India is home to the largest number of diabetics in the world. This new research offers hope that diet could form part of the course of treatment.

“In the gut, many bacteria break down carbohydrates, such as dietary fibers, and produce short-chain fatty acids that nourish our gut lining cells, reduce inflammation and help control appetite. A shortage of short-chain fatty acids has been associated with type 2 diabetes and other diseases. Many clinical studies also show that increasing dietary fiber intake could alleviate type 2 diabetes, but the effectiveness can vary due to the lack of understanding of the mechanisms,” Science Daily explained.

Zhao, along with scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Yan Lam, a research assistant professor in Zhao’s lab at Rutgers, divided patients with type 2 diabetes into two groups. While one group received standard patient education, the other group was given large amount of many types of dietary fibers. Both groups took the drug acarbose to control blood glucose.

“After 12 weeks, patients on the high-fiber diet had greater reduction in a three-month average of blood glucose levels. Their fasting blood glucose levels also dropped faster and they lost more weight,” Science Daily reported.