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Monday Dec 15, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Researchers from Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India reported in the Jun 2014 issue of Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry that the hydro-alcoholic extract of Caralluma fimbriata can help prevent insulin resistance and oxidative stress in rats fed a high fat diet.  This report suggests that caralluma fimbriata may help  prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus.

According to the U.S. government, more than 25 million people in the United States live with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is a condition characterized by insulin resistance and more than 25 million people live with pre-diabetes, which is a less severe condition of insulin resistance.

In the study, rats were fed a high fat diet and also supplemented with caralluma fimbriata extract in a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight per day for three months.  Rats were free of type 2 diabetes mellitus before the trial.

Feeding with the high fat diet without caralluma fimbriata resulted in hyperglycemia (high glucose), hyperinsulinemia (high insulin), hyperleptinemia (high leptin), hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fat) and impaired insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance).  Supplementation with caralluma fimbriata extract significantly improved the parameters include serum glucose, insulin sensitivity, leptin, and triglycerides.

Caralluma fimbriata extract also improved the antioxidant status in rats fed the high fat diet.  High fat diet fed rats had higher levels of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and lower GSH concentrations and lower activities of antioxidant enzymes.  Supplementation with caralluma significantly improved the status.  Reduction in oxidative stress is important for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  Insulin resistance leads to high glucose, which in turn leads to high oxidative stress, which can worsen the diabetic condition.

The researchers concluded "intake of CFE (caralluma fimbriata extract) may be beneficial for the suppression of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and oxidative stress."

In the United States, high fat diets are commonly used.  As a result, many people live with metabolic syndrome including type 2 diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance.  To overcome insulin resistance, exogenous insulin is often used.  This study suggests that caralluma fimbriata may be used an alternative to insulin therapy to help people who like to eat a high fat diet.

Caralluma fimbriata is often sold as a dietary supplement for weight management.  Obesity is a metabolic condition and anything that can help obesity may also help other parameters of metabolic syndrome such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high glucose (insulin resistance). The current study suggests that Caralluma fimbriata may render other benefits such as an antidiabetic effect. (David Liu PHD)

Sudhakara G, Mallaiah P, Sreenivasulu N, Sasi Bhusana Rao B, Rajendran R, Saralakumari D.  Beneficial effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Caralluma fimbriata against high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and oxidative stress in Wistar male rats.  J Physiol Biochem. 2014 Jun;70(2):311-20.