Revealed – how a fibre-rich diet prevents diabetes and obesity

It has been known for year that a fibre-rich diet protects the organism against obesity and diabetes, and not a French-Swedish team of researchers has succeeded in elucidating this mechanism, which in

By: Agencies | | Published: January 16, 2014 6:36 pm

It has been known for year that a fibre-rich diet protects the organism against obesity and diabetes, and not a French-Swedish team of researchers has succeeded in elucidating this mechanism, which involves the intestinal flora and the ability of the intestine to produce glucose between meals. The study also clarified the role of the intestine and its associated microorganisms in maintaining glycaemia. (Read: Obesity behind rising bone diseases in children)

They will give rise to new dietary recommendations to prevent diabetes and obesity. Most sweet fruit and many vegetables such as salsify, cabbage or beans are rich in so-called fermentable fibres. Such fibers cannot be digested directly by the intestine but are instead fermented by intestinal bacteria into short-chain fatty acids such as propionate and butyrate, which can in fact be assimilated by our bodies.

The protective effect of these fibers is well known to researchers: animals fed a fiber-rich diet become less fat and are less likely to develop diabetes than animals fed a fiber-free diet. Nevertheless, the mechanism behind this effect has until now remained a mystery. (Read: Eat tree nuts to counter obesity)

The team headed by Gilles Mithieux, CNRS researcher in the “Nutrition et Cerveau” unit (Inserm / Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1), wondered whether this mechanism could be linked to the capacity of the intestine to produce glucose.

The researchers subjected rats and mice to diets enriched with fermentable fibers, or with propionate or butyrate and observed a strong induction of the expression of genes and enzymes responsible for the synthesis of glucose in the intestine. They showed that the intestine of these animals used propionate as precursor to increase the production of glucose. (Read: Fish oil helps reduce diabetes risk)

Mice fed a fat- and sugar-rich diet, but supplemented with fibers, became less fat than control mice and were also protected against the development of diabetes thanks to significantly increased sensitivity to insulin.

The work sheds light on the role of the intestinal flora which, by fermenting dietary fiber, provides the intestine with precursors to produce glucose and also demonstrates the importance of the intestine in the regulation of glucose in the body. The study is published in the journal Cell. (Read: Study shows 800-calorie crash diet could reverse diabetes!)

Source: ANI

For more articles on Fitness check out our Fitness Section and for videos check out our YouTube Channel. Don’t miss out on the latest updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Published: January 16, 2014 6:36 pm

Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

Muscle protein that may up diabetes risk later in life discovered

6 yoga asanas to beat arthritis

About The health Site

Useful Links