Elsevier

Maturitas

Volume 62, Issue 3, 20 March 2009, Pages 263-269
Maturitas

Review
Functional foods for health: Focus on diabetes

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2009.01.011Get rights and content

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing public health problems worldwide. Menopause may present additional challenges for women who have diabetes by increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and making blood glucose control more difficult. Functional foods may have the potential to improve glycemic control, but little evidence is known about the efficacy of these foods. The purpose of this literature review is to establish a recommendation for the intake of functional foods in a healthy diet – such as nuts, omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) and cinnamon – for the glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Nuts and omega-3 FAs appear to have an overall beneficial effect on CVD; however, their effect on glucose homeostasis is uncertain. In addition, cinnamon appears to inconsistently improve glycemic parameters in diabetic patients. Overall, more research on the potential effect of all of these functional foods on patients with type 2 diabetes is needed to able to make specific recommendations. In conclusion, there is reason to consider the inclusion of nuts and fish, as a source of omega-3 FAs, in the diets of individuals with diabetes in view of their potential to reduce CVD risk, even though their ability to influence overall glycemic control remains to be established.

Section snippets

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting almost 6% of the world's population. The number of diabetic patients will reach 300 million in 2025 [1]. More than 97% of these patients will have type 2 diabetes. Research shows that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is more common in females than in males [2]. In addition, the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the most common complication attributable to diabetes, is more serious among women then men. Notably,

Nuts

Nuts, including peanuts, are documented as having the potential to improve the blood lipid profile in humans [8]. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that people who consume nuts regularly are less likely to suffer from CVD [9], [10]. More recently, interest has developed in the potential value of including nuts in the diets of individuals with diabetes. Data from the Nurses Health Study indicate that there are benefits to consuming higher nut and peanut butter consumption to lower

Omega-3 fatty acids

Dietary or supplemental omega-3 polyunsaturated FAs, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3), have well documented potent triglyceride (TG) lowering effects in healthy and diabetic subjects. An epidemiological study estimated that replacing 2% of energy from trans-isomer FAs isoenergetically with polyunsaturated fat would lead to a 40% lower risk for type 2 diabetes [20]. Another prospective cohort study of 35,988 older women supported this inverse

Cinnamon

Cinnamon extracts containing polyphenol type-A polymers, have demonstrated insulin-mimetic properties. In vitro and in vivo animal studies have reported strong insulin-like or insulin-potentiating effects after cinnamon administration [36], [37], [38]. A summary of recent studies with cinnamon extracts is made in Table 3. The first clinical trial by Khan showed that relatively low amounts of cinnamon powder supplementation (1 g/d) reduced FBG concentration and improved the blood lipid profile in

Conclusion

In overweight and obese insulin-resistant individuals, modest weight loss has been shown to improve insulin resistance [3], [4], [5], [6]. Thus, weight loss is recommended for all such individuals who have, or are at risk for diabetes. In addition, people with diabetes are encouraged to consume a variety of fiber-containing foods. Studies also show that in individuals consuming a high-glycemic index diet, low-glycemic index diets can produce a modest benefit in controlling postprandial

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