A new study has revealed that a particular compound present in vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage can reduce blood sugar levels. Researchers believe that this potentially can be an inexpensive, affordable way to prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.
The study involved 74 people aged between 35 and 75 with rising blood sugar levels that categorize them as prediabetic. All the participants were also overweight or obese, Science Alert reported.
“The treatment of prediabetes is currently lacking in many respects, but these new findings open the way for possible precision treatment using sulforaphane extracted from broccoli as a functional food,” Anders Rosengren, a molecular physiologist at the University of Gothenburg said as quoted by Science Alert.
According to the researchers, there is a possibility that gut bacteria is also playing a crucial role. “The results of the study also offer a general model of how pathophysiology and gut flora interact with and influence treatment responses – a model that could have broader implications,” Rosengren as quoted by Science Alert.
Rosengren also maintained that lifestyle factors remain the foundation of any treatment for prediabetes, including exercise, healthy eating, and weight loss. The researchers emphasised that there is an urgent need to prevent the transition from one condition to the next.
It is noteworthy that prediabetes often goes undiagnosed or untreated. These new findings could certainly help, but the researchers also emphasise the importance of a holistic approach in reducing diabetes risk.
The findings of the study were published in Nature Microbiology journal.