Previous research has found eating broccoli may help fight harmful oxidation in people with diabetes. The good news is researchers may have discovered another reason to eat broccoli: sulforaphane—a sulfur compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli—may hold the key to better blood sugar control. Published in Science Translational Medicine, the double-blind study included 97 patients with either poorly managed type 2 diabetes (those with a glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] above 50 mmol/mol) or well-managed type 2 diabetes. Ninety-four of the patients were using metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes. Researchers randomly assigned the patients to receive a placebo or a powdered broccoli sprout extract providing 150 µmol of sulforaphane daily for twelve weeks. At the beginning and end of the twelve weeks, researchers measured participants’ fasting glucose levels and HbA1c, and administered an oral glucose tolerance test. In the patients with poorly managed type 2 diabetes, they found:

• A significantly greater reduction in fasting glucose levels in participants receiving the broccoli sprout extract compared with those receiving the placebo.
• In a subgroup of participants with obesity, those given the broccoli sprout extract had greater improvement in HbA1c than those given the placebo; this effect was not seen when all the patients with poorly managed type 2 diabetes were considered.

Researchers selected sulforaphane for blood sugar regulation using a process that sounds straight out of science fiction: they took genes from tissues affected by type 2 diabetes and identified a genetic “signature”—a pattern of gene expression uniquely associated with diabetes. Then, they searched a database of the genetic effects of over 3,800 compounds to find the one most likely to reverse the clinically relevant aspects of diabetes’ genetic signature, eventually landing on sulforaphane. While this futuristic process has not yet been vetted by clinical research, it is exciting to find that, at least in this case, it did match the clinical trial’s findings.

Source: Science Translational Medicine

Research suggests that curcumin may have yet another health benefit—that of boosting cognitive performance in older, healthy adults. The study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, administered 400 mg of Longvida®, a supplement containing 80 mg of curcumin, to participants between the ages of 60 and 85. Researchers measured the effects of curcumin on cognitive function and mood when administered acutely (1 and 3 hours after a single dose), chronically (following 4 weeks of supplementation), and both acutely and chronically (1 and 3 hours after a single dose, following 4 weeks of supplementation). Here are the benefits the researchers uncovered:

• Performance on tasks that required sustained attention and working memory significantly improved 1 hour after a single dose of curcumin.
• Working memory, mood, energy levels, and feelings of calmness all improved significantly after 4 weeks of supplementing with curcumin.
• Alertness and contentedness significantly increased after a single dose of curcumin, following 4 weeks of supplementation.

This is among one of the first studies to examine how curcumin affects cognition in healthy, older adults; nevertheless, other research has already shown that curcumin offers a wide range of health benefits, including for depression, inflammation, and arthritis.

Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology

Don’t let diabetes get in the way of your holiday travel plans. Here are some helpful guidelines to control your condition, keep supplies and medications safe, and be prepared in case of an accident:

• Keep diabetes medications, syringes, testing supplies, batteries, and extra food and sugar sources in a purse or backpack. Bring two times as many medications and testing supplies as you think you’ll need.
• Wear your diabetes ID bracelet or carry your diabetes ID card.
• If the weather is cold, wear insulin pumps and continuous glucose meters close to your body and cover with clothing to keep them from freezing, and keep glucose meters in a protective case.
• Keep insulin cool, but protect it from freezing, as it can lose its potency.
• Check your blood sugar regularly.
• Dress for the weather: wearing layers is a good idea in case the weather changes. Also, wear comfortable shoes and check your feet daily for any cuts or sores.
• Keep your gas tank full and have the following on hand for emergencies: jumper cables, an ice scraper, flares, a small shovel, blankets, kitty litter or sand for icy patches, food and water, a compass, maps, a flashlight, a battery-operated radio, and extra batteries.
• See your doctor before you go to make sure your diabetes is under control and get any necessary immunizations (at least one month before traveling). They can also provide you with a letter stating your condition and explaining the supplies and medications you need to have with you, and write any necessary prescriptions in case you run out while traveling.

Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in the human body that live primarily in the stomach and intestines. According to an article on The New York Times Well blog, probiotics play an important role in immune function, digestion, the production of vitamins, and resistance to bad bacteria, among other things. However, probiotics should not be confused with “prebiotics,” which are carbohydrates found in some foods (such as oats, wheat, garlic, and honey) and supplements that stimulate the growth of probiotics in the gut. When prebiotics are combined with probiotics, the resulting formula is called a “synbiotic.” Clinical research supports the use of certain probiotic foods and supplements, such as Dannon’s Activia yogurt, DanActive drink, Culturelle, and Align. While more research is needed on other probiotic brands, trying probiotic supplements from a reputable manufacturer does not appear to be harmful.

Source: The New York Times Well blog

Chromium, an essential mineral, has already shown some promise as a supplement in helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. Now, another study adds to chromium’s résumé, finding a link between chromium supplementation and lower blood sugar levels in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, the study randomly divided 71 people with type 2 diabetes who had elevated markers for long-term, poorly managed blood sugar into two groups: the first group received 600 micrograms of supplemental chromium picolinate per day, and the second group received a placebo. All patients were given nutritional guidance in accordance with the American Diabetes Association and were directed to continue using any prescribed medications. Researchers looked for changes in the participants’ blood sugar by testing after-meal and fasting blood sugar levels at the beginning of the study and after four months. They also monitored changes in cholesterol levels. Here is what they found:

• The chromium group experienced statistically significant reductions in fasting blood sugar levels (which dropped by 31.0 mg/dL) and in after-meal blood sugar levels (which dropped by 37.0 mg/dL) compared with the placebo group (which dropped by 14.0 mg/dL and 11.5 mg/dL, respectively).
• There were no changes in cholesterol levels in the chromium group; however, cholesterol levels were reduced in the placebo group.
• While chromium levels increased in the chromium-supplemented group, ferritin, a marker of iron status, decreased. The researchers explained that chromium might affect iron status, but the clinical importance of this is still uncertain.

This study is intriguing because it shows that chromium supplementation could aid in blood sugar management without affecting cholesterol levels in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. More research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of chromium supplementation in people with type 2 diabetes, as well as the ramifications, if any, on iron status.

Source: Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology