Beneficial effects of green banana biomass consumption in patients with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.

Diabetes mellitus is a global epidemic, characterised as a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders associated with high risk of CVD. Green banana biomass, which is composed of resistant starches (RS) and cannot be hydrolysed by amylases, delays gastric emptying and modulates insulin sensitivity, thus contributing to improve metabolic disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of consumption of RS from green banana biomass on body composition, fasting plasma glucose, glycated Hb (HbA1c) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in subjects with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes on top of treatment. Middle-aged subjects (n 113) of both sexes with pre-diabetes (HbA1c: 5·7-6·4 %) or diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6·5 %) were randomised to receive nutritional support plus green banana biomass (40 g) (RS: approximately 4·5 g, G1, n 62) or diet alone (G2, n 51) for 24 weeks. Body composition, biochemical analyses and dietary intake were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study. In the experimental group (G1), consumption of RS was associated with reduction in HbA1c (P = 0·0001), fasting glucose (P = 0·021), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0·010), body weight (P = 0·002), BMI (P = 0·006), waist and hip circumferences (P < 0·01), fat mass percentage (P = 0·001) and increase in lean mass percentage (P = 0·011). In controls (G2), reductions were observed in waist and hip circumferences (P < 0·01), HbA1c (P = 0·002) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P = 0·020). In pre-diabetes or diabetes, non-significant differences were observed in the percentage reduction in HbA1c and fasting glucose in exploratory analyses. Our results indicate that the consumption of bioactive starches is a good dietary strategy to improve metabolic control and body composition.

Green-banana biomass consumption by diabetic patients improves plasma low-density lipoprotein particle functionality.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 6-months consumption of green-banana biomass on the LDL particle functionality in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Subjects (n = 39, mean age 65 years old) of both sexes with diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6·5%) were randomized to receive nutritional support plus green-banana biomass (40 g) (n = 21) or diet alone (n = 18) for 6-months. Non-linear optical responses of LDL solutions from these participants were studied by Z-scan technique. UV-visible spectrophotometer was used to measure the absorbance of the LDL samples. Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Dynamic Light Scattering experiments were used to look for any structural changes in LDL samples and to determine their size distribution. The Lipoprint test was used to determine the LDL sub-fractions in terms of distribution and size. Consumption of green-banana biomass, reduced total- (p = 0.010), non-HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.043), glucose (p = 0.028) and HbA1c (p = 0.0007), and also improved the protection of the LDL particle against oxidation, by the increase in carotenoids content in the particles (p = 0.007). This higher protection against modifications may decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These benefits of the green-banana biomass encourage the use of resistant starches with potential clinical applications in individuals with pre-diabetes and diabetes.