Insights & Discussion
Discover Related Insights
Consumption of sesame seeds and its products positively influences human glucose metabolism, potentially making it a beneficial addition to glucose-lowering diets.
2022 Phytotherapy Research Consumption of sesame seeds and sesame products has favorable effects on blood glucose levels but not on insulin resistance: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled clinical trials Sohouli MH, Haghshenas N, Hernández‐Ruiz , Shidfar F
Systematic Review Blood Sugar Sesame
The methodology involved conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of sesame seeds consumption on blood glucose and insulin resistance in adults. The researchers gathered data from recognized academic resources like PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and EMBASE, which included controlled clinical trials up until February 2021. The sesame products in these trials ranged from sesame oil, sesamin, and tahini, with the intervention period lasting from 45 days to 9 weeks.
The results illustrate that the intake of sesame and its products significantly improved fasting blood glucose and Hemoglobin A1c levels. Nonetheless, the results regarding fasting serum insulin and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance were not found to have any significant relation. Hence, the consumption of sesame might be a beneficial supplement for managing glucose levels in humans.
The studies assessed showed that sesame could have a significant effect on oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system, being considered a food with an important antioxidant function in the different populations studied.
2016 Journal of Medicinal Food Effects of the Intake of Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) and Derivatives on Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review Gouveia Lde A, Cardoso CA, de Oliveira GM, Rosa G, Moreira AS.
Systematic Review Sesame
In conclusion, despite the limitations and biases of this systematic review, the studies assessed showed that sesame could have a significant effect on oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system, being considered a food with an important antioxidant function in the different populations studied (individuals with dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension), as well as in its different presentations (oil, seed flour, and capsule). However, better-controlled studies still lack to assess the positive effects on different populations.
There are few clinical trials assessing the effect of sesame on oxidative stress. The studies included in this review, mainly those with sesame oil and black sesame meal capsules administered to hypertensive and prehypertensive populations, respectively, showed an increase in enzymatic (SOD, GSH, GPx, and CAT) and nonenzymatic antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene), as well as a reduction in oxidative stress markers (TBARS and MDA).
Although several studies have reported that the exact mechanisms of oxidative stress reduction remain to be fully explained, this review showed that sesame can have a significant positive impact on the health of different popula- tions.