Insights & Discussion
Recent findings suggest that the molecular background to the development of insulin resistance may be related to vitamin D deficiency.
Taken together, the results of basic and clinical studies reveal that vitamin D deficiency may be a key factor triggering the insulin resistance. In this review, a large body of findings on vitamin D and its association with disorders related to insulin resistance such as obesity, T2D, MS, and PCOS has been analyzed, with controversial results.
Discover Related Insights
Theabrownin from dark tea can potentially reverse insulin resistance and regulate glycolipid metabolism, with longer fermented samples showing greater effects.
2023 Nutrients Theabrownin from Dark Tea Ameliorates Insulin Resistance via Attenuating Oxidative Stress and Modulating IRS-1/PI3K/Akt Pathway in HepG2 Cells Liu J, Wang X, Zhu Y, Deng H, Huang X, Jayavanth P, et al.
Experimental Study Insulin Resistance Oxidative Stress Theabrownin
The study focused on TB1 and TB2, theabrownin isolated from dark tea. TB1 was fermented for 7 days whereas TB2 was fermented for 14 days. The research used HepG2 cells for the experiment. Various techniques such as Western blot and real-time PCR experiments were employed to measure the effects of TB on oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and glycolipid regulation, which are key components of insulin resistance.
The results suggest TB can significantly improve oxidative stress conditions by enhancing mitochondrial function. TB unveiled its potential in improving glycogen synthesis and glucose consumption. Furthermore, TB was found to inhibit harmful processes like gluconeogenesis and fatty acid synthesis via the regulation of various enzymes and proteins. The researchers investigated this by focusing on a signaling pathway (IRS-1/PI3K/Akt). Verification of the effects of TB on glycolipid metabolism was done using a PI3K inhibitor, highlighting a positive correlation between PI3K activation and TB's activity. Notably, the experiment showed TB2, which was fermented longer, was more effective in improving insulin resistance.
In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, cinnamon reduced insulin resistance and testosterone levels similar to metformin, and ginger decreased follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
2022 Frontiers in Nutrition A comparison of the effects of cinnamon, ginger, and metformin consumption on metabolic health, anthropometric indices, and sexual hormone levels in women with poly cystic ovary syndrome: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial Dastgheib M, Barati-Boldaji R, Bahrampour N, Taheri R, Borghei M, Amooee S, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Ceylon Cinnamon Cinnamon FSH
In the methodology of the study, 100 women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome were divided into four groups. Each group received a different treatment: cinnamon, ginger, metformin, or placebo. The dosage for these treatments was 500 mg, three times a day, administered over a period of 8 weeks. The participants' sex hormones, weight revelations, along with glycemic and lipid markers were monitored before and after this period. Several participants were disqualified because of unspecified factors, resulting in a final sample size of 83.
In terms of results, all groups saw a decrease in weight and body mass index. The metformin and cinnamon groups specifically had notably decreases in their insulin resistance, meaning that these treatments were effective in improving metabolic health. Additionally, the ginger group experienced a reduction in follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels unlike the other groups. Testosterone levels were lowered in the metformin and cinnamon groups, but no significant changes in dehydroepiandrosterone were observed in any of the groups. These results indicate the potential use of cinnamon and ginger as alternative treatments in managing polycystic ovary syndrome.
Pomegranate extract supplement shows potential in improving glycemic indicators, serum lipids, anthropometrics, and blood pressure in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
2021 Phytotherapy Research The effect of pomegranate extract on anthropometric indices, serum lipids, glycemic indicators, and blood pressure in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized double‐blind clinical trial Goodarzi R, Jafarirad S, Mohammadtaghvaei N, Dastoorpoor M, Alavinejad P
Randomised Controlled Trial Blood Sugar Cholesterol Diastolic Blood Pressure
The study involved 44 patients who had been diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. These individuals were randomly assigned to two groups, with one group receiving two pomegranate extract tablets daily over a period of 12 weeks, and the other a placebo. The researchers measured anthropometric values, serum lipid levels, blood pressure, and glycemic indicators before and after the intervention.
In their analysis of the outcomes, the researchers found that the group which received the pomegranate extract showed reductions in total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, resistance to insulin, diastolic blood pressure, weight, body mass index, and waist circumference when compared to the placebo group. Additionally, an increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed within the pomegranate group, indicating the potential utility of this supplement in a treatment regimen for this condition.
Citrus species are valuable natural sources of flavonoids and a promising source for future treatments aimed at the prevention and management of diabetes and related complications.
2020 Nutrients Citrus Flavonoids as Promising Phytochemicals Targeting Diabetes and Related Complications: A Systematic Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies Gandhi GR, Vasconcelos ABS, Wu DT, Li HB, Antony PJ, Li H, et al.
Review Article Insulin Resistance
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review that summarizes the effects of major citrus flavonoids on the vital physiological pathways and biochemical parameters related to diabetes.
Citrus flavonoids regulated biomarkers of glycemic control, lipid profiles, renal function, hepatic enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes, and modulated signaling pathways related to glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity that are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its related complications. Citrus flavonoids, therefore, are promising antidiabetic candidates, while their antidiabetic effects remain to be verified in forthcoming human studies.
Synbiotic pomegranate juice (containing inulin and lactobacillus) can improve insulin resistance, reduce testosterone level, and aid weight loss in women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
2019 Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases Effect of synbiotic pomegranate juice on glycemic, sex hormone profile and anthropometric indices in PCOS: A randomized, triple blind, controlled trial Esmaeilinezhad Z, Babajafari S, Sohrabi Z, Eskandari MH, Amooee S, Barati-Boldaji R
Randomised Controlled Trial Insulin Resistance Obesity PCOS
In this randomized, controlled, triple-blind, parallel trial study, patients diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (92 in total) were grouped into four groups of 23. The three treatment groups received 2 litres of synbiotic pomegranate juice (SPJ), pomegranate juice (PJ), and a synbiotic beverage (SB) on a weekly basis. The control group was given a placebo beverage weekly. The primary focus of this trial was to observe any changes in insulin resistance, with secondary outcomes including fasting blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, body mass index, and waist and hip circumference comparisons, from baseline to the end of the trial.
After finishing the trial, analyses of the remaining 86 patients indicated noticeable improvement in insulin resistance, mainly in the SPJ and SB groups. The same groups also showed a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and an overall decrease in insulin. The SPJ and SB groups also saw significant reductions in body mass index, weight, and waist circumference. Lastly, there was a noteworthy decrease in testosterone levels within the SPJ and SB groups. However, no significant changes were found in fasting plasma glucose, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone in any of the groups.
Sign In
Users not signed in are limited to viewing the 5 most recent items of content.