Eating pumpkins helps diabetics

Pumpkin can help repair damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and insulin levels in the blood, Lisa Richards writes in Chemistry & Industry

Recent studies show that pumpkin can help repair damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic rats, boosting levels of insulin-producing beta cells and insulin levels in the blood. Diabetics and those prone to diabetes should, therefore, consider adding pumpkin or a pumpkin product to their daily diet, the researchers said.

Pumpkin extract is potentially a very good product for pre-diabetic persons, as well as those who have already developed diabetes,' said lead author Tao Xia, of the East China Normal University. He added 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.

A total of 12 diabetic rats and 12 normal rats were divided into two groups of six each and fed a normal diet or a diet supplemented with pumpkin extract for 30 days. A 36% increase in plasma insulin was observed in diabetic rats fed pumpkin compared to the untreated rats; this is only 5% lower than the control group. The percentage of insulin- positive cells (beta-cells) in pumpkin-fed diabetic rats fed was just 8% lower than in normal rats (Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2007, 87, 1753).

The diabetes-induced 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. Xia said that the protective effect of the pumpkin may be due to the presence of D-chiro-inositol, a molecule that mediates insulin activity. 'We believe that the pumpkin fruit extracts should have a hypoglycaemic role in both Type I and II diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and increasing plasma insulin levels,' he said.

Because pumpkin has a hypoglycaemic effect, it may also reduce oxidative damage by free radicals to beta cells. Hyperglycaemia generates reactive oxygen species that damage the lipids in beta-cell membranes. The fact that pumpkin is hypoglycaemic 'may partly lead to a cytoprotective effect on the beta-cells, preventing further degeneration and allowing for some regeneration,' said Xia. He added, however, that the absolute value of beta cells in the diabetic rats will never reach that of controls, because some of the cells will havebeen damaged beyond repair.

David Bender, sub-dean at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, said 'this research is very excitingŠ the main finding is that feeding pumpkin extract prevents the progressive destruction of pancreatic betacells.' But, he added that while the paper is exciting, pumpkin should not be promoted as a prevention or treatment for diabetes until largescale human trials are completed and it is impossible to say whether pumpkin extract would promote regeneration in humans. 'I think the exciting thing is that this may be a source of medicine to take by mouth (rather than injections),' Bender said.

Diabetes affects more than 230m people, almost 6% of the world's adult population, according to the World Diabetes Foundation. Around 5% of the NHS budget is currently spent on treating diabetes and its complications, Diabetes UK told C&I. This is equivalent to £3.5bn a year and these costs are expected to increase by more than 25% in the next 20-30 years.

Types of diabetes

Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a disorder in which the body has trouble regulating blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. There are two major types: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells produce insulin, a hormone that metabolises sugar. Without beta cells no insulin can be produced. Without insulin, sugar remains in the blood where it can cause serious damage to all the organs in the body, People with type I diabetes must take insulin injections.

Diabetes type II, or late onset diabetes, is the most common form. In type II, the beta cells do produce insulin, but the body is unable to use it effectively because the cells of the body are resistant to the action of insulin. People with type II diabetes can have very high glucose levels, but most do not require insulin injections. In about 80% of cases, the condition can be managed with diet and exercise.

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