Addition of a Snack of Lupinus mutabilis Sweet to the Conventional Treatment with Metformin in the Control of Type‐2 Diabetes

Abstract

Like other developing countries Ecuador is experiencing an epidemiological nutrition transition characterized by under‐ and over‐nutrition. An indication of this phenomenon is the recent increment of non‐communicable chronic diseases. Currently type‐2 diabetes (T2D) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country. It is necessary to implement novel strategies to decrease the prevalence of this pathology and its consequences in the Ecuadorian population. Studies with animal models of T2D and clinical studies with humans show that consumption of the legume lupin decrease abnormal serum levels of glucose in individuals with dysglycemia. Present study assessed the efficacy of the addition of a healthy snack based on Andean Lupinus mutabilis Sweet in the treatment of T2D. Eighty‐one diabetic patients with poor glycemic control were divided into 2 treatment groups: patients in G1 (n=44) received twice the dose of metformin (Mt) that were consuming in the previous 30 days prior to the beginning of the study and G2 (n=37) received the same dose of metformin that were consuming during the previous 30 days plus 10g of a L. mutabilis Sweet‐based snack for 6 months. Participants had a complete nutritional evaluation before and after treatment period that included a clinical evaluation, anthropometry, and laboratory analysis. The IRB of “Universidad de las Americas” approved the study. At the beginning of the study, both groups were comparable for socio‐demographic characteristics except age since patients in G2 were older. Results indicated that both groups improved their metabolic control at the end of the study period. Patients in G1 showed significant lower levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and total cholesterol while patients in G2 had significant lower serum levels in HbA1c and decreased body mass index after treatment. Patients in G1 also had an improvement in the sensitivity of insulin receptor shown by decreased levels of HOMA. In conclusion, data showed that addition of a healthy Andean snack to Mt‐treatment had a positive effect in the control of glycemia in individuals with poor control of T2D. Further studies are needed to establish the ideal dose of lupin snack in the treatment of T2D.Support or Funding InformationUniversidad Tecnológica EquinoccialUniversidad de las AméricasUnidad Municipal de Salud Norte Patronato San JoséInstituto Nacional Autónomo de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIAP