Fasting diet could reverse diabetes by regenerating pancreas

Fasting diet could reverse diabetes
by regenerating pancreas

The pancreas can be triggered to regenerate
itself through a type of fasting diet,
say US researchers.

health-and-fitness Updated: Feb 24, 2017 20:37 IST

IANS
New York

People with diabetes could one day be treated with an FDA-approved Fasting Mimicking Diet for a few days each month.(Shutterstock)

A type of fasting diet may reprogramme pancreas cells, promote the growth
of new insulin-producing pancreatic cells and reduce symptoms
of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, a study has showed.
In the study, led by researchers from the University of Southern California,
mice were placed on fasting mimicking diet (FMD) for four days each week
which showed remarkable reversal of diabetes.
The mice regained healthy insulin production, reduced insulin resistance
and demonstrated more stable levels of blood glucose -- even in the later stages
of the disease, the researchers said in the paper published in the journal Cell.
The genes normally active in the developing pancreas of embryonic/foetal mice
are reactivated in diabetic adult mice when cycling FMD with normal diets.
This increases production of the protein neurogenin-3 (Ngn3) and, as a result,
promotes the creation of new, healthy insulin-producing beta cells.

Researchers also examined pancreatic cell cultures from human donors and found
that, in cells from Type 1 diabetes patients, nutrients mimicking fasting also
increased expression of the Ngn3 protein and insulin production.
“These findings warrant a larger FDA trial on the use of the
Fasting Mimicking Diet to treat diabetes patients,” said Valter Longo
from the University of Southern California.
“People with diabetes could one day be treated with an FDA-approved
Fasting Mimicking Diet for a few days each month, eat a normal diet for the rest
of the month, and see positive results in their ability to control their blood sugar
by producing normal levels of insulin and improving insulin function,” Longo added.

..............................................................................................................

Fasting periods in Hinduism

Hinduism is marked by several periods of fasting.

The most commonly-observed fast, Ekadashi, is respected approximately twice a month,
on the eleventh day of each ascending and descending moon.
During the months of July and August, many Hindus adopt a vegetarian diet and
fast on Mondays and Saturdays until the evening.

medical news from internet

Friday, February 24, 2017