Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Four weeks of supplementation with 10 grams of broccoli sprouts significantly improved insulin levels and HOMAR-IR in participating subjects.
For the 25.8 million Americans with Type 2 Diabetes 1, a primary goal is to focus on controlling blood sugar 2. It’s also beneficial to focus on optimizing insulin levels since insulin transports sugar into cells. Research has found benefits to insulin levels with vitamin D supplementation 3, olive oil 4, and increased antioxidant levels 5.
A 2012 study in Iran 6 involved 63 type 2 diabetics (male/female breakdown not provided) between the ages of 47 and 60. The subjects received either 10 grams of broccoli sprouts (21 subjects), 5 grams of broccoli sprouts (22 subjects) or a placebo (5 grams corn starch powder = 20 subjects) per day for 4 weeks. The broccoli sprouts were a standardized product called Broccophane, which contained 22.5 micromoles of an antioxidant called sulphoraphane per gram of sprouts. Before and after the study, blood samples were taken to measure blood sugar control and insulin levels. Food diaries were kept by the subjects throughout the study.
After 4 weeks, researchers noted the following differences between groups, with only the 10 grams of sprouts per day producing statistically significant results across all three measurements, and no statistical significance reached in the placebo group for any of the measurements:
| 10 grams sprouts/day | 5 grams sprouts/day | Placebo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting blood sugar (mmol/L) | 20.3% decrease (9.38 to 7.48, p < 0.05) | 13.6% decrease (8.13 to 7.03, p < 0.05) | 8.4% decrease (8.10 to 7.42, p > 0.05) |
| Insulin (mU/L) | 16.4% decrease (5.20 to 4.35, p < 0.05) | 3.9% decrease (7.60 to 7.31, p > 0.05) | 20.1% increase (6.50 to 7.81, p > 0.05) |
| HOMA-IR | 29.9% decrease (2.21 to 1.55, p < 0.05) | 23.8% decrease (2.81 to 2.03, p > 0.05) | 22.2% increase (2.11 to 2.58, p > 0.05) |
When looking at the treatment effect between groups, statistical significance was reached for insulin levels (p < 0.05) and HOMA-IR (p < 0.01) but not fasting blood sugar (p > 0.05).
Previous research attributes these benefits to the antioxidant power of sulphoraphane 7,8. The researchers concluded that “four weeks supplementation with broccoli sprouts rich in sulphoraphane had favorable effects on decrease in blood levels of insulin and improvement of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes”. They added that “further studies with longer duration and different doses are needed to confirm these effects and their related mechanisms.”
Source: Bahadoran et al 2012. Effect. Effect of broccoli sprouts on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, November 2012; 63(7): 767-771; DOI: 10.3109/09637486.2012.665043
© 2012 Informa UK, Ltd.
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Posted March 20, 2017.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.
References:
- CDC. National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011. 2011.
- Association AD. Where Do I Begin with Type 2? 2017; The first steps for taking control of your type 2 diabetes. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/recently-diagnosed/where-do-i-begin/?loc=lwd-slabnav. Accessed March 10, 2017, 2017.
- Pham N, Akter S, Kurotani K, et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and markers of insulin resistance in a Japanese working population. European journal of clinical nutrition. 2012;66(12):1323-1328.
- de Bock M, Derraik JG, Brennan CM, et al. Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaf polyphenols improve insulin sensitivity in middle-aged overweight men: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. PloS one. 2013;8(3):e57622.
- Jennings A, Welch AA, Spector T, Macgregor A, Cassidy A. Intakes of anthocyanins and flavones are associated with biomarkers of insulin resistance and inflammation in women. The Journal of nutrition. 2014;144(2):202-208.
- Bahadoran Z, Tohidi M, Nazeri P, Mehran M, Azizi F, Mirmiran P. Effect of broccoli sprouts on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial. International journal of food sciences and nutrition. 2012;63(7):767-771.
- Tan Y, Ichikawa T, Li J, et al. Diabetic downregulation of Nrf2 activity via ERK contributes to oxidative stress–induced insulin resistance in cardiac cells in vitro and in vivo. Diabetes. 2011;60(2):625-633.
- Xue M, Qian Q, Adaikalakoteswari A, Rabbani N, Babaei-Jadidi R, Thornalley PJ. Activation of NF-E2–related factor-2 reverses biochemical dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by hyperglycemia linked to vascular disease. Diabetes. 2008;57(10):2809-2817.
