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May 24, 2005
HCA may have role in diabetes prevention, suggests animal research
A synthetic version of the plant compound hydroxycitric acid (HCA) strongly delayed glucose absorption in rats suggesting that it could help regulate blood sugar levels in people at risk of diabetes, reports Dominique Patton.
HCA, extracted from a South Asian fruit called Garcinia cambogia, is already a popular food supplement in the US for weight loss and appetite control.
However the new research is thought to be first to show the supplement’s effects on blood sugar control, which may explain the weight loss effects, say the Dutch researchers. Their findings also open up a new application area for supplement makers looking to help tackle the rise in type 2 diabetes.
Posted by Diabetologica at May 24, 2005 5:43 AM