Help came from nowhere: sea cucumbers could prevent type 2 diabetes

Australian scientists conducted a study showing that sea cucumbers may have key properties to avoid type 2 diabetes. New Atlas reports that they can also reduce the complications that accompany this disease.

In Asia, people have long recognized the health benefits of eating sea cucumbers, distant relatives of starfish. For example, the Chinese call sea cucumber “sea ginseng”, which once again demonstrates its healing properties.

In previous studies, scientists had already found that sea cucumbers can thin the blood, lowering blood pressure. They also have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and healing properties. Now researchers have tested whether sea cucumbers can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Science has long known that when fats and/or proteins combine with sugars in the bloodstream in a process called glycation, harmful glycation end products (AGEs) are produced. High AGE levels are often associated with heart disease, kidney failure, and Alzheimer’s disease. Diabetics also produce large amounts of AGEs in their bodies and they tend to accumulate.

“We know that the accumulation of AGEs causes complications of type 2 diabetes, so a new treatment can reduce the risk of developing diabetic complications. Sea cucumbers are known to have a number of therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Considering all that, sea cucumbers are derived from sea cucumbers.” We wanted to test bioactive compounds as AGE inhibitors,” said Permal Deo, co-author of the study.

Sea cucumber Holothuria scabra species was selected for the study. Several copies were prepared in different ways: some were sun-dried without salt, others were dried with salt, and still others were dried and smoked.

After that, each sea cucumber was ground into powder. After that, the researchers extracted collagen from the powder and added it to each experimental drug.

In conclusion, it was found that sun-dried cucumber together with salt caused the strongest AGE inhibition (suppression, – ed.). According to the researchers, this indicates that the method of preparation of the sea cucumber plays a decisive role.

Researchers remind that up to 58% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and eating a healthy diet. Now scientists do not exclude that Holothuria scabra can also be used to slow the development of type 2 diabetes.

“These results suggest that sea cucumbers can be used as a dietary supplement to help combat diabetes and its complications,” the scientists wrote.

Recall that nanoparticles recently discovered an efficient and stable pathway for insulin delivery. According to scientists, the new technology will help people with type 1 diabetes.