Key Findings:
The control of blood sugar and lipids is very important in order to alleviate some the negative consequences of diabetes. In this research, extracted flaxseed gum was baked into chapattis and fed for 3 months. Significant hypoglycaemic and hypocholesteraemic effects were found following consumption of only 5 g of the fiber daily. Diabetes is of growing prevalence in India and flaxseed offers an inexpensive and easy addition to the diet.
ABSTRACT:
The effects of ingestion of flaxseed gum on blood glucose and cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, in type 2 diabetes were evaluated. Flaxseed gum was incorporated in wheat flour chapattis. Sixty patients of type 2 diabetes were fed a daily diet for 3 months, along with six wheat flour chapattis containing flaxseed gum (5 g), as per the recommendations of the American Diabetic Association. The control group (60 individuals) consumed an identical diet but the chapattis were without gum. The blood biochemistry profiles monitored before starting the study and at monthly intervals showed fasting blood sugar in the experimental group decreased from 154 ± 8 mg/dl to 136 ± 7 mg/dl (P=0.03) while the total cholesterol reduced from 182 ± 11 mg/dl to 163 ± 9 mg/dl (P=0.03). Results showed a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol from 110 ± 8 mg/dl to 92 ± 9 mg/dl (P=0.02). The study demonstrated the efficacy of flax gum in the blood biochemistry profiles of type 2 diabetes. (Authors Abstract)
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