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| From: | CShine (adsl-074-167-202-207.sip.hsv.bellsouth.net)
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| Subject: | Study shows that eating pumpkin dramatically reduces the need for insulin injections |
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Date: | July 9, 2007 at 6:51 pm PST |
The pumpkin could end the need for diabetics to have insulin injections, a study suggests. Compounds in the flesh could drastically cut or even replace the daily jabs.
Researchers found that pumpkin extract promotes regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetic rats, boosting levels of insulinproducing beta cells and insulin in the blood.
Diabetic rats fed the extract had only 5 per cent less plasma insulin and 8 per cent fewer insulin-positive (beta) cells than healthy rats.
The protective effect of pumpkin is thought to be due to both antioxidants and D-chiroinositol, a molecule that regulates insulin activity.
The research, carried out at East China Normal University in Shanghai, was reported in the journal Chemistry and Industry.
The rats used all had type 1 diabetes, but researchers believe pumpkin may also play a role in the more common type 2 form.
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