Effect of fruit juices from Myrtaceae family on postprandial glycemia in individuals with metabolic syndrome and dysglycemia

Abstract

Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has taken epidemic proportions in recent years, reaching billions of people worldwide, and is continuously growing. Accordingly, innovations in science, capable of preventing and / or treating this disease, become relevant to mitigate their impacts on public health, considering the low adherence to therapy. Studies have shown that bioactive phenolic compounds may be able to influence the metabolism of carbohydrates and is thus an alternative to population with this disease. Some native Brazilian fruit can be considered excellent sources of bioactive compounds of phenolic nature. We highlight, among them the fruits of the Myrtaceae family, such as guava, cambuci, jaboticaba, camu-camu, and cagaita, whose phenolic compounds are able to inhibit the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, a-amylase and-aglucosidase in vitro and clarified juices which are capable of reducing postprandial glucose levels by about 20 to 60% in healthy subjects (results in FAPESP 2009/14654-7). The aim of this project is to extend the previous study evaluating the effect of two native Brazilian fruit juices, family Myrtaceae, namely cagaita and cambuci, on postprandial glucose and antioxidant capacity in pre-diabetic human patients after consumption of 25 g of available carbohydrate from white bread (about 50 g), using only commercial fruit plantations, with confirmation of the safety of use by historical consumption by the population.Possible adverse gastrointestinal effects (associated with the use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors) will be evaluated by a specific questionnaire and monitoring of volunteers within 24 hours of testing. (AU)