New Approach to Chew On — In the March 30 online issue of Diabetologia, Drs. Preeti Kishore and Meredith Hawkins report that xylitol, a sugar derivative found in chewing gum, can help prevent metabolic complications associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Circulating fatty acids (FA), a breakdown product from fat, are increased in obesity. These FAs hasten the progression of T2D by contributing to skeletal muscle insulin resistance, where the body’s inability to respond to insulin prevents glucose uptake by cells. The investigators found that xylitol was able to prevent FA-induced insulin resistance and had a renewing effect on cell uptake and conversion of glucose for energy, suggesting a potentially exciting therapeutic approach for treating T2D. Drs. Kishore and Hawkins are both members of Einstein's Diabetes Research and Training Center.
Posted on: Wednesday, April 04, 2012