Eating freeze-dried strawberries every day could help people with prediabetes avoid developing type 2 diabetes, a new study has revealed.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, found that consuming the equivalent of 2.5 servings of fresh strawberries daily for 12 weeks can lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation.
The research, published in the journal Antioxidants, shows that strawberry powder helped improve fasting glucose levels in adults who were at risk of developing diabetes.
The findings suggest strawberries might offer a tasty way to boost the body's natural defences against oxidative stress.
Strawberry powder may help improve fasting glucose levels
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Twenty-five adults with prediabetes took part in the 28-week crossover trial, where each person tried both the strawberry intervention and a control period without strawberries.
Participants consumed 32 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder daily during the intervention phase, with a four-week break between the two phases. They also kept their usual eating habits and exercise routines throughout the study.
The powder contained the same nutrients you'd find in fresh strawberries - dietary fibre, polyphenols, flavonols and anthocyanins.
Researchers took blood samples at several points to check glucose levels, antioxidant activity and inflammation markers.
More than 85 per cent of participants stuck with the programme, confirmed by checking ellagic acid levels in their blood.
The results revealed that people who ate the strawberry powder showed better antioxidant activity, including higher levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione and beta-carotene.
Their fasting blood sugar dropped compared to when they weren't taking strawberries, with the strawberry group also showing lower levels of molecules that cause blood vessel inflammation, specifically ICAM and VCAM.
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These improvements suggest the antioxidants in strawberries help protect against the damage that can lead to diabetes.
It's worth noting that only minor side effects were reported, including mainly mild stomach discomfort and headaches in a few participants.
The study found small connections between better antioxidant levels and reduced blood vessel inflammation, showing how these benefits may work together.
The research team believes strawberries could offer an accessible way to help prevent the progression from prediabetes to full-blown type 2 diabetes.
Powdered strawberries contain the same nutrients you'd find in the fresh fruit
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The study's crossover design - where each participant served as their own control - strengthens the findings, as does the 12-week duration for each phase and the use of objective biomarker tests.
However, the researchers noted their sample was small and mostly female, which might limit how widely the findings apply.
They did suggest that incorporating freeze-dried strawberries into daily diets could be a practical approach to support better blood sugar control and reduce inflammation in people with prediabetes.
The trial was funded by the California Strawberry Commission.
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