Diabetics benefit from safflower oil

A new study published in this months Clinical Nutrition suggests  patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may be better off using some safflower oils daily.

The study led by Michelle L. Asp and colleagues of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio showed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with eight grams daily of safflower oil had decreased HbA1C, C-reactive protein and increased QUICKI.

HbA1C is a standard test doctors often order to measure the amount of glycated hemoglobin in diabetes patients.  

C-reactive protein is indicative of inflammation.

QUICKI is an index of insulin sensitivity.

The researchers assert safflower oil improves glycemic and inflammatory markers after accumulations of linoleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid or CLA isomers in the blood of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

For the study study, Asp assigned eight grams of CLA and SAF 55 daily to postmenopausal pbse women with type 2 diabetes mellitus for 16 weeks each.  

Thirty five complete the randomized double masked crossover study.

The researchers found CLA did not have an impact on metabolic parameters.

Safflower oil not only improves HbA1C, C-reactive protein and QUICKI, but also increases good cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol at 12 weeks of treatment.

Asp concluded "eight grams of SAF daily improved glycemia, inflammation, and blood lipids indicating that small changes in dietary fat quality may augment diabetes treatments to improve risk factors for diabetes-related complications."

An estimated 23.6 million Americans or 7.8 percent of the population live with diabetes, with most suffering type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus can lead a series of severe complications including heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disease, amputations, dental disease, complications of pregnancy and other complications such as inability to walk a quarter of a mile, climb stairs or do housework.

David Liu, Ph.D. and editing by Aimee Keenan-Greene

Photo credit: wikipedia