Adding jackfruit powder to a menu of rice and wheat dishes for three months helps substantially reduce the sugar level of diabetic patients. A medical report that came to this conclusion was presented at a conference of the American Diabetic Association recently.
The association also published the placebo-controlled study report of the research in its medical journal called Diabetes.
The study was conducted by Dr A Gopal Rao, associate professor at Srikakulam Medical College, in Andhra Pradesh; Dr Sunil Nayak; and James Joseph, CEO of jackfruit 365.
A group of 40 people — 24 men and 16 women — with type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups. One group was given idli made of normal rice for breakfast and chapati made of normal wheat for dinner. The second group was given the same breakfast and dinner but with 30 grammes of jackfruit powder added to the rice and wheat.
After three months, the group that had jackfruit powder showed remarkable fall in pre- and post-breakfast sugar levels as indicated by HBAC1 count, which provides the average measure of sugar level of three months.
The study also compared the sugar level on the 84th day (12 weeks) with that on the first day. It found jackfruit powder could be combined with the medical diet for diabetes and that it helps reduce the dosage of insulin and tablets needed to control the disease.
Those who are pre-diabetic can delay diabetes by including jackfruit powder in their meals, the study said.
Jackfruit is rich in fibre compared to rice and wheat. At the same time, it has lower starch, energy and also glycemic load — an indicator of sugar levels In the blood. The study used three tablespoons (30g) of jackfruit powder twice a day with meals.
The standards and guidelines of the American Diabetic Association are followed the world over to manage and treat diabetes. James Joseph of Jackfruit 365 presented the study during the association’s international conference that was held online recently.