Medicinal Food Diet Prevents Type 1 Diabetes In Study

An international study has discovered a diet yielding two short-chain fatty acids that protect against the onset of type 1 diabetes.

The specialized diet contains digestive resistant starches that are not broken down by gut bacteria until reaching the colon. The break down of these starches in the colon produces the short-chain fatty acids acetate, and butyrate. Together, these fatty acids protect against type 1 diabetes development.

Researcher Dr. Eliana Marino at Monash University points out that our Western diet affects the bacteria in our digestive tract, which in turn impacts the production of these short-chain fatty acids.

“Our research found that eating a diet which encourages the gut bacteria that produce high levels of acetate or butyrate improves the integrity of the gut lining, which reduces pro-inflammatory factors and promote immune tolerance,” said Marino. “We found this had an enormous impact on the development of type 1 diabetes.”


These findings were presented at the International Congress of Immunology last year, and recently published in the journal Nature Immunology.

The study’s initiator, professor Charles Mackay, emphasizes that special diets influencing gut bacteria could become preventative treatments for autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes. “The findings illustrate the dawn of a new era in treating human disease with medicinal foods,” says Mackay.

Foods containing digestive resistant starches are a normal part of our diet. However, replicating the research results requires more than just eating plenty of vegetables and high-fiber edibles. Specific foods and a special process are involved that need to be supervised by nutrition and medical professionals.

Future research will test the effects of this specialized diet on obesity, and other inflammatory conditions such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, food allergies, and cardiovascular disease.


Source: Science Daily
Photo credit: Sharon Mollerus


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...