Monomeric cocoa procyanidins enhance functional β‐cell mass

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing at an alarming rate world wide. As T2D progresses individuals have decreased insulin secretion and loss of β‐cells, resulting in decreased functional β‐cell mass. Enhancing functional β‐cell mass could be leveraged as a treatment for T2D. There is much interest regarding cocoa flavanols to prevent and ameliorate T2D. Animals fed a high fat diet supplemented with cocoa procyanidin oligomers demonstrated improved glucose tolerance. These animals, as well as animals fed cocoa procyanidin monomers, presented decreased serum insulin and endotoxin levels. Here we present data looking at the effect of cocoa procyanidin extract, monomers, oligomers and polymers on β‐cell function, survival and proliferation. Our data demonstrates that cocoa monomers significantly enhance glucose stimulated insulin secretion in the 832/13 β‐cell line and primary rat islets. Interestingly, cocoa oligomers and polymers do not induce the same increase in GSIS. Furthermore, cocoa monomers significantly enhance β‐cell proliferation. These data demonstrate that cocoa monomers may enhance functional β‐cell mass, and highlight their potential as a T2D therapeutic intervention.