Grapefruit Juice Could Help To Lower Glucose Levels Of Diabetic Patients

Treatments for diabetes can be difficult to successful determine during the initial phases.

Now, recent findings published in the journal PLOS ONE show that grapefruit juice in mice models had similar effects to metformin, a diabetes drug that was helpful in reducing blood glucose levels.

"It was very surprising," said study co-author, Joseph Napoli, PhD, professor and chair of nutritional sciences and toxicology at the University of California, Berkeley, via TIME.

For the study, researchers found that mice on a high-fat diet who consumed grapefruit lost 18 percent more weight when compared to a group that had the same diet but drank sweetened water. The high-fat diet, grapefruit juice of mice also experienced a 13 to 17 percent reduction in their blood glucose levels and had a threefold decrease in insulin levels in comparison to mice from the high-fat diet, sweetened water group.

For the study, researchers divided mice into groups based on the kind of liquid they consumed and the diets they followed, including sweetened diluted grapefruit juice, sweetened water and water mixed with metformin. They were also fed either a high-fat or low-fat diet.

Researchers noted that the amount of grapefruit juice given to the mice would be equivalent to about four cups a day for people, which is pretty high. Though many diabetic patients could benefit from drinking grape fruit juice, they should also consult first with their doctor before trying it.

"We were very clear in telling them, you're going to get the data we get. We can't guarantee you're going to like what you see," Napoli concluded. "It might be nothing."