Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease (90% of cases). It would concern 4.5% of the French population. It is due to improper use of insulin by the body’s cells. To avoid or slow down its progression, it is recommended to have a healthy lifestyle. It will then be a matter of losing weight if necessary, having regular physical activity and eating a balanced diet. Among the foods that could help the body regulate blood sugar and positively influence the composition of intestinal bacteria: carrots, reveals a new study published in December 2024 in the journal Clinical and Translational Science.
To come to this conclusion, Swedish researchers studied the effects of carrots for 16 weeks on mice with type 2 diabetes. The animals were put on a high-fat diet to mimic an unhealthy human lifestyle. They were divided into two groups. The first received a diet supplemented with 10% freeze-dried carrot powder and the other did not eat any carrots. On the other hand, the two diets were equivalent in calories.
Glucose tolerance tests showed that the group receiving carrot powder had better blood sugar regulation. For information, a glucose tolerance test measures the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar after consuming a large quantity of sugar.
“A healthier balance of intestinal bacteria”
“Our study showed that carrots changed the composition of the gut microbiome, the billions of microorganisms living in the gut that play a crucial role in digestion and health. Mice that ate carrots had a healthier balance of gut bacteria,” explains project coordinator Morten Kobæk Larsen, associate professor at the Department of Clinical Research at SDU (University of Southern Denmark).
What’s more, carrot-eating mice had more short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. These small molecules that form when bacteria break down dietary fiber help regulate energy metabolism and blood sugar levels while promoting gut health.
“Everything we eat affects the composition of gut bacteria, explains Larsen. Eating carrots changes the balance of gut bacteria, which is beneficial for mice with type 2 diabetes.”
Soon clinical trials?
“We see carrots as a potential component of future dietary strategies for type 2 diabetes “, comments Lars Porskjær Christensen, professor of analytical chemistry and natural product chemistry at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy at SDU. “Other vegetables in the carrot family could have similar properties,” he continues.
However, for now, researchers are cautious about directly applying their findings to humans. “Our study used an animal model and the next step is to conduct clinical trials. » The objective being to carry out animal studies with purified bioactive compounds and to “thus proving the preventive effects of carrots against type 2 diabetes”.
Many unsuspected virtues…
Because carrots contain bioactive compounds improving the ability of cells to absorb sugar, thus promoting the regulation of blood sugar. These bioactive substances are found in other vegetables of the same family such as parsley, celery and even parsnips. Their concentration, however, varies from one variety to another. The Night Bird, a purple carrot, would be full of them, for example. In addition, the way of cooking it could play a role. “It is better to eat it raw, because its glycemic index is higher when cooked,” explained Franck Dubus, doctor of pharmacy, to Top Santé in an article on the benefits of carrots published in August 2024.
Indeed, in addition to its potential power on type 2 diabetes and the myth according to which it puts you in a good mood, the carrot is a superfood. It would treat diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness in children, have anti-cancer properties, protect against cardiovascular diseases (in particular by reducing the level of bad cholesterol), purify the skin and even help fight against eye aging.
Source: www.topsante.com
