Sweetener Used in Tequila May Help Diabetics

According to new research, a sweetener created from the plant used to make tequila could lower blood glucose levels for those with type 2 diabetes, and help diabetics and the obese lose weight.

In a study, investigators from Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados, Biotechnology and Biochemistry Irapuato in Guanajuato, Mexico fed a group of mice a standard diet, adding agavins to their daily water. The researchers weighed the mice daily, and checked their glucose blood levels weekly. Most mice that drank agavins ate less, lost weight, and their blood glucose levels decreased when compared to other sweeteners such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, agave syrup, and aspartame.

RELATED CONTENT
Cutting Out Sugar to Cut Down Cardiovascular Risk
Another Great Reason to Eat Chocolate

 

The biggest reason why the sweetener may be valuable for diabetics is that agavins—a natural form of sugar found in the agave plant—are non-digestible, and can act as a dietary fiber, the study authors explained. As such, agavins would not raise blood glucose.

The study found that agavins also increase the amount of insulin as a result of reducing glucose levels and increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that slows the stomach from emptying, thereby stimulating production of insulin, according to Mercedes G. Lopez, PhD, a researcher at Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados, Biotechnology and Biochemistry Irapuato, and co-study author.

Agavins also have no known side effects, except for the few who cannot tolerate them, says Lopez, adding that agavins are the best sugars to help support growth of healthful microbes in the mouth and intestines.

“Agavins can be used as a sweetener or supplement without any secondary effects,” says Lopez. “Just taking from 10 grams to 15 grams a day may have a benefit [for] diabetic people, mainly lowering glucose levels and secreting more insulin after higher levels of GLP-1. We know that diabetes can be controlled easily by medicament, but they are expensive and may have bad secondary effects.”

The study findings were presented at the 247th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, held March 16 – 20 in Dallas.

—Mark McGraw