Research confirms that broccoli extract can lower blood sugar

Doctors often tell people to eat more vegetables, and soon they may prescribe broccoli A concentrated powder extracted from cauliflower has been shown to be very effective in patients with type 2 diabetes The extract reduced blood sugar levels by 10% in patients with diabetes Studies have shown that a drug containing the equivalent of 5 kg broccoli extract can significantly reduce the level of blood sugar in diabetes Photo source: Adam Gault / Getty type II diabetes usually occurs in middle age, especially in overweight people Their bodies stop responding to insulin, a substance that controls glucose levels in the blood Abnormal insulin regulation leads to increased blood glucose levels, which increases the risk of heart attack, blindness or kidney disease People with the disease usually take metformin, which lowers blood sugar levels However, 15% of people cannot use this treatment because of the potential risk of kidney damage A chemical called sulforaphane, found in broccoli buds, has previously been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic rats Anders Rosengren and colleagues at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden want to know if this principle applies to the human body To test the theory, the team gave 97 patients with type 2 diabetes a concentrated dose of sulforaphane or a placebo for three months Only three of them continued to take metformin Those who did not take metformin were also able to control their blood sugar levels relatively without drugs The concentration of sulforaphane is about 100 times that of cauliflower in nature "It's equivalent to five kilograms of broccoli a day." Rosengren said On average, blood sugar levels in patients taking sulforaphane were 10% lower than those taking the control The effects of these extracts were most pronounced in obese participants with "dysregulation" diabetes, who had higher basal blood sugar levels from the start "We are very excited about the effects of these new discoveries and are eager to bring these extracts to patients." "We see a reduction in blood sugar levels of about 10 percent, which is enough to reduce symptoms in the eyes, kidneys and blood," Rosengren said Further investigation shows that metformin and sulforaphane can reduce blood sugar, but they have different ways of action Metformin makes cells more sensitive to insulin, so they can absorb more blood sugar in the blood like a sponge Sulforaphane, on the other hand, can reduce blood glucose by inhibiting liver enzymes that stimulate blood glucose production For this reason, Rosengren believes that broccoli extract is a beneficial supplement to metformin, rather than a competitive one He pointed out that many diabetics can't take metformin because of kidney syndrome, in which case, broccoli extract will be a potential alternative Rosengren and colleagues have worked with the Swedish farmers' Association and are applying to the regulatory agency for approval to use the drug, which could take up to two years.