A recent study has revealed promising news for millions of Nigerians battling diabetes.
Research shows that incorporating onions into the diet can significantly lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, potentially lowering blood sugar levels by as much as 50%.
The study was presented at the Endocrine Society's 97th Annual Meeting in San Diego.
“Onions are cheap and available and have been used as a dietary supplement. ” said lead researcher Anthony Ojie, MBBS, MSc, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
“It could potentially be used to treat diabetic patients.”
Allium cepa, an extract of onion bulbs, significantly reduced hyperglycemia (sugar) and total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats treated with the antidiabetic drug metformin.
Research highlights and findings
In this study, diabetic rats were divided into groups and given metformin alone, metformin in combination with various doses of onion extract, or neither.
- Ojieh et al. gave metformin and various doses of onion extract (200, 400, and 600 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg/day) daily) to three groups of rats with medically induced diabetes. We investigated whether it would improve the symptoms of diabetes. Effects of drugs.
- They also gave metformin and onion extract to three groups of nondiabetic rats with normal blood sugar levels for comparison.
- Two control groups, one non-diabetic and one diabetic, received neither metformin nor onion extract.
- Two other groups (one with diabetes and one without) received only metformin and no onion extract. Each group contained five rats.
Two doses of onion extract, 400 mg/kg/day and 600 mg/kg/day, significantly reduced fasting levels in diabetic rats compared to “baseline” levels at the beginning of the study, prior to administration to the rodents. Blood sugar levels significantly decreased by 50 and 35 percent, respectively. onion extract, Ogier reported.
Allium cepa was also reported to lower total cholesterol levels in diabetic rats, again with two high doses having the greatest effect.
- Onion extract caused an increase in average body weight in non-diabetic rats, but not in diabetic rats.
- “Onions are not high in calories.” Ogier said. “However, it appears that the metabolic rate increases and the appetite increases accordingly, leading to increased food intake.” Histological studies of pancreas removed from individual diabetic rats showed that neither metformin nor onion extract healed the damage resulting from drug-induced diabetes.
- “We need to investigate the mechanism by which onions led to lower blood sugar levels,” Auger said.
- “No explanation yet.”
The onion extract used in the experiment was a crude preparation from onion bulbs available in the local market. If it were to be administered to humans, it would typically be purified so that only the active ingredient was quantified for proper administration, Auger said.
What you need to know
However, as Nigeria faces a rising prevalence of diabetes, the World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking results from studies like Ogier's that could inform public health strategies aimed at prevention and control. Including this, the diabetes rate in Nigeria is estimated to be 4.3%.
- Ogier's research shows that onion extract could be pivotal in improving health outcomes for millions of people living with diabetes by providing a cost-effective and accessible supplement to traditional diabetes treatments. I have high hopes for Nigeria because he has the potential to play a role.
- Educating the public about the potential benefits of onion extract may lead to increased awareness and use, contributing to improved diabetes management at the community level.
Further research into this natural therapy may lead to enhanced management strategies and improved overall health of the population.
