The study was co-authored by David Schubert PhD, professor and head of the CNL, and Pam Maher PhD, a senior staff scientist. The findings were published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Strawberries contain fisetin, which is classified as a flavonol, compounds that belong to the flavonoid group in polyphenols. They give colour to plants and fruits. The greener a plant is, the more flavonols it contains.
Foods such as onions, grapes, spinach, kale, apples, and tomatoes are high in flavonols. These substances have been shown in numerous studies to reduce the risk of a variety of illnesses, from cancer to cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer’s.
The study conducted by the CNL used Akita mice with Type 1 diabetes, a form of diabetes that usually develops in childhood and requires regular insulin supplementation.
In the long-term, the disease is associated with a variety of complications, including loss of vision, kidney failure, neuropathy and heart disease. The Akita mice used in the study showed symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. They were given dietary supplements of fisetin, the flavonol found in strawberries. Those who received the fisetin experienced reduced kidney enlargement.
Where they had high urine protein levels before (a symptom of diseased kidneys), their urine protein levels dropped once placed on the fisetin-enriched diet. It also reduced symptoms of anxiety in the mice.
Source: Salk Institute
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