I saw a "nutrition" program on television yesterday where the expert said
that apples are great for controlling blood sugar in diabetics–something
to do with pectin.
Anyone familiar with this bit of wisdom? Sounds like utter nonsense to
me, but I was curious to know if there is some history to the apple
theory and blood glucose control.
R. Harwood
rharw…@utk.edu
In article <40nbma$…@martha.utk.edu>, "Richard L. Harwood" <rharw…@utk.edu> writes…
>I saw a "nutrition" program on television yesterday where the expert said
>that apples are great for controlling blood sugar in diabetics–something
>to do with pectin.
>Anyone familiar with this bit of wisdom? Sounds like utter nonsense to
>me, but I was curious to know if there is some history to the apple
>theory and blood glucose control.
>R. Harwood
>rharw…@utk.edu
It sounded like total nonsense to me, too, but it turns out that
at least one laboratory study has attributed hypoglycemic effects
to pectin in the specific case of rats. In particular:
%A Gomathy-R
%A Vijayalekshmi-NR
%A Kurup-PA
%D 1990
%T HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF THE PECTIN PRESENT IN THE JUICE OF THE INFLORESCENCE
STALK OF PLANTAIN (MUSA-SAPIENTUM) – MECHANISM OF ACTION
%J JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES
%V 15
%N 4
%X The pectin isolated from the juice of the inflorescence stalk of plantain
(Musa sapientum) has been found to show significant hypoglycemic effect both in
normoglycemic and alloxan diabetic rats. After its administration at a dose of
20 mg/100 g body weight, there was increase in the concentration of hepatic
glycogen, increased glycogenesis as evident from the increased activity of
glycogen synthetase and in normoglycemic rats increased incorporation of
labelled glucose into hepatic glycogen. Glycogenolysis and glyconeogenesis
were lower as was evident from the decreased activity of glycogen phosphorylase
and gluconeogenic enzymes.
%K GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE
%K DIETARY FIBER
%K RATS
%K MUSA-SAPIENTUM
%K HEPATIC GLYCOGEN
%K GLYCOGEN SYNTHETASE
%K GLYCOGENOLYSIS
%K GLUCONEOGENESIS
%K GLYCOGEN PHOSPHORYLASE
%P 297-303
On the other hand, a study is mentioned in the following article
(a "well-controlled" study using humans,
not rats) which claims that there are no beneficial effects of pectin
in humans:
%A Nuttall-FQ
%D 1993
%T DIETARY FIBER IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES
%J DIABETES
%V 42
%N 4
%X It generally is accepted that a diet high in fiber, particularly soluble
fiber, is useful in the management of the plasma glucose concentration in
individuals with diabetes. This is one of the reasons several national diabetes
associations have recommended that diabetic individuals ingest a diet high in
fiber-containing foods. However, more recent data obtained in carefully
controlled studies with more definitive end points, indicate this may not be
the case. It has been shown clearly that addition of water-soluble,
gel-forming fiber in the form of guar gum and perhaps gum tragacanth to an
ingested glucose solution or to a mixed meal will reduce the expected rise in
glucose concentration. This has been demonstrated in both normal subjects and
subjects with IDDM and NIDDM. However, it is only observed when large amounts
of fiber are added. The fiber also must be mixed with the administered glucose
or food. Other less viscous soluble fiber sources such as the pectins and
psyllium powder are not effective. In long-term, well-controlled trials, guar
gum, pectin, beet fiber, or cereal bran fiber ingested with meals has been of
little or no value in controlling the plasma glucose concentration in
individuals with NIDDM. Several studies have been conducted in which a
high-carbohydrate diet has been reported to reduce the plasma glucose
concentration. In these diets, foods with a high fiber content have been
emphasized. In general, they were not well controlled, and several confounding
variables such as weight loss, decreased food energy intake, different food
sources with potential for differences in starch digestibility, and decreased
dietary fat content were present. Thus, it has not been possible to determine
if dietary fiber was playing a significant role. The results of studies in
which specific, defined fibers have been added to the diet would suggest that
the naturally occurring fiber in foods is likely to play only a minor role.
%K INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETICS
%K GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE
%K GUAR GUM
%K GLYCEMIC RESPONSE
%K METABOLIC CONTROL
%K HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE
%K PLASMA-GLUCOSE
%K SERUM-INSULIN
%K PECTIN
%K SUPPLEMENTATION
%P 503-508
Tim. (sho…@altair.krl.caltech.edu)
In article <14AUG199509530…@almach.caltech.edu>, sho…@almach.caltech.edu (Timothy D. Shoppa) writes:
=%X The pectin isolated from the juice of the inflorescence stalk of plantain
=(Musa sapientum) has been found to show significant hypoglycemic effect both in
=normoglycemic and alloxan diabetic rats. After its administration at a dose of
=20 mg/100 g body weight,
Note that for a human being, this would work out to around 10-20 grams of
pectin. Rather a substantial amount.
—————————————————————————
I try very hard to say exactly what I mean. I’d appreciate it if you’d
bear that in mind and not try to "interpret" my posts to fit your own
preconceived notions if I’m posting in a serious thread. Remember: If you
throw a strawman into a heated debate, flames are likely to be the result.