Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review
The worldwide prevalence of obesity is increasing along with its comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). From a pathophysiological perspective, T2DM arises as a consequence of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, which together induce chronic hyperglycemia. The pha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/2/300 |
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| author | Rao Raahim Kashif Nathan M. D’Cunha Duane D. Mellor Natalie I. Alexopoulos Domenico Sergi Nenad Naumovski |
| author_facet | Rao Raahim Kashif Nathan M. D’Cunha Duane D. Mellor Natalie I. Alexopoulos Domenico Sergi Nenad Naumovski |
| author_sort | Rao Raahim Kashif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The worldwide prevalence of obesity is increasing along with its comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). From a pathophysiological perspective, T2DM arises as a consequence of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, which together induce chronic hyperglycemia. The pharmacological treatment of T2DM specifically focuses on its management, rather than remission, with a lack of pharmacological agents to prevent the onset of the disease. Considering the role of unhealthy dietary patterns on the development of T2DM, identifying novel food ingredients and bioactive substances may provide new avenues by which to address the T2DM epidemic. In this brief review, we have summarized the latest findings on the consumption of the prickly pear (PP; <i>Opuntia</i> spp.) cladode as a potential nutritional tool for the management of hyperglycemia. The consumption of prickly pear cladodes was reported to exert hypoglycemic effects, making it a potential cost-effective nutritional intervention for the management of T2DM. Several studies have demonstrated that the consumption of prickly pear cladodes and the related products reduced post-prandial glucose levels. The cladodes’ high fiber content may be implicated in improving glycemic control, by affecting glucose absorption and effectively slowing its release into the blood circulation. Given these potential hypoglycemic effects, prickly pear cladodes may represent a potential functional food ingredient to improve glycemic control and counter the negative metabolic effects of the modern Western diet. Nonetheless, in consideration of the lack of evidence on the chronic effects of the prickly pear cladode, future research aimed at evaluating its long-term effects on glycemic control is warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:28:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-59ee33bca1ec491cb87af2a12c6fdefe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:28:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-59ee33bca1ec491cb87af2a12c6fdefe2023-11-23T21:01:12ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442022-02-0158230010.3390/medicina58020300Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative ReviewRao Raahim Kashif0Nathan M. D’Cunha1Duane D. Mellor2Natalie I. Alexopoulos3Domenico Sergi4Nenad Naumovski5Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaDiscipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaAston Medical School, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UKChiron Organic Health, Wedderburn, VIC 3158, AustraliaDepartment of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDiscipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaThe worldwide prevalence of obesity is increasing along with its comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). From a pathophysiological perspective, T2DM arises as a consequence of insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, which together induce chronic hyperglycemia. The pharmacological treatment of T2DM specifically focuses on its management, rather than remission, with a lack of pharmacological agents to prevent the onset of the disease. Considering the role of unhealthy dietary patterns on the development of T2DM, identifying novel food ingredients and bioactive substances may provide new avenues by which to address the T2DM epidemic. In this brief review, we have summarized the latest findings on the consumption of the prickly pear (PP; <i>Opuntia</i> spp.) cladode as a potential nutritional tool for the management of hyperglycemia. The consumption of prickly pear cladodes was reported to exert hypoglycemic effects, making it a potential cost-effective nutritional intervention for the management of T2DM. Several studies have demonstrated that the consumption of prickly pear cladodes and the related products reduced post-prandial glucose levels. The cladodes’ high fiber content may be implicated in improving glycemic control, by affecting glucose absorption and effectively slowing its release into the blood circulation. Given these potential hypoglycemic effects, prickly pear cladodes may represent a potential functional food ingredient to improve glycemic control and counter the negative metabolic effects of the modern Western diet. Nonetheless, in consideration of the lack of evidence on the chronic effects of the prickly pear cladode, future research aimed at evaluating its long-term effects on glycemic control is warranted.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/2/300prickly pearcladode<i>Opuntia</i> spp.hypoglycemiahyperglycemiatype 2 diabetes mellitus |
| spellingShingle | Rao Raahim Kashif Nathan M. D’Cunha Duane D. Mellor Natalie I. Alexopoulos Domenico Sergi Nenad Naumovski Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review Medicina prickly pear cladode <i>Opuntia</i> spp. hypoglycemia hyperglycemia type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| title | Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review |
| title_full | Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review |
| title_short | Prickly Pear Cacti (<i>Opuntia</i> spp.) Cladodes as a Functional Ingredient for Hyperglycemia Management: A Brief Narrative Review |
| title_sort | prickly pear cacti i opuntia i spp cladodes as a functional ingredient for hyperglycemia management a brief narrative review |
| topic | prickly pear cladode <i>Opuntia</i> spp. hypoglycemia hyperglycemia type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/2/300 |
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