Scientists document at the anti-obesity effects of tomato and broccoli

Increased levels of resistin, an adipocyte hormone that regulates glucose metabolism, may cause obesity leading to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine reveals that tomato and broccoli can reduce resistin levels and restores insulin sensitivity.

• Researchers at Helwan University and Modern Sciences and Arts University in Egypt evaluated the effects of tomato and broccoli extracts in regulating blood glucose level and the potential role of resistin in the maintenance of glucose.
• They also assessed the nutritional values of tomato and broccoli to evaluate their potential as functional foods.
• For the study, they fed mice with a high-fat diet for two months to induce obesity.
• Then, they treated the animals every day for a month with 200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of tomato extract, 400 mg/kg of tomato extract, 200 mg/kg of broccoli extract, 400 mg/kg of broccoli extract, or 400 micrograms (mcg) per kg of Chromax (a commercial chromium supplement).
• Results revealed that the treatment with tomato and broccoli extracts greatly decreased glucose levels in obese mice.
• The tomato and broccoli extracts also improved the lipid profile, the adipose tissue index, and adiponectin and leptin levels in obese mice.
• The 400 mg/kg tomato extract reduced glucose and leptin and increased adiponectin more effectively compared with broccoli and Chromax.
• These effects can be attributed to the improvement of insulin resistance.
• The researchers also recommended both tomato and broccoli as a functional food with nutritional and therapeutic values.

The researchers concluded that tomato and broccoli extracts can decrease resistin levels and reinstate insulin sensitivity. They also indicated that tomato and broccoli are functional foods.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference:

Aborehab NM, El Bishbishy MH, Waly NE. RESISTIN MEDIATES TOMATO AND BROCCOLI EXTRACT EFFECTS ON GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS IN HIGH FAT DIET-INDUCED OBESITY IN RATS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 18 July 2016; 16(225). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1203-0