Aronia and Diabetes
Aronia is a fruit thoroughly researched for its therapeutic properties in many studies, particularly for its ability to combat oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia and the macrovascular complications of diabetes, including cardiovascular diseases. Although Aronia is native to the eastern regions of North America, it has been widely planted in Europe and Asia as well. Several in vivo studies have presented the antioxidant properties of aronia juice, in experiments conducted on both humans and rats.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of the endocrine system and is currently considered a global problem. The disease is present in all parts of the world. People with diabetes mellitus are unable to produce or properly use insulin in the body, resulting in high glucose levels.
From an oxidative stress perspective, it has been shown that plant-based products rich in anthocyanins exhibit a multitude of pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant activities. These properties have scientifically demonstrated beneficial effects in mitigating hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and complications. Aronia is a fruit that has been extensively researched for its antidiabetic properties. Due to the astringent taste of these fruits and their specific aroma, aronia juice is not very popular among consumers.
Aronia preparations are sometimes consumed as complementary and alternative therapy for conditions such as achlorhydria, vitamin deficiencies, convalescence, and hemorrhoids. The high anthocyanin content of aronia has led to research into its derivatives. Aronia juice has been shown to have a strong effect on glucose in healthy subjects. Additionally, aronia has been shown to reduce the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV, $alpha$-glucosidase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in a dose-dependent manner.
Although the number of published aronia studies is increasing daily, only a few have been conducted to clinically evaluate its therapeutic effects. However, all studies have shown significant improvements in clinically observed parameters. The initial use of aronia fruits and their juice by Native Americans was for treating colds, but its popularity grew after its introduction in Russia and Eastern Europe, where it was widely used as an antihypertensive medicine.
The antihypertensive potential of aronia was demonstrated in a 4-week study in which patients received 200 ml of aronia fruit juice. The patients had untreated hypertension and stage I hypertension. In this study, a significant decrease in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed.
Another study also demonstrated significant reductions in blood pressure after 2 months of consuming 300 g of fruit per day in individuals with metabolic syndrome. All these studies have shown the potential of long-term consumption of aronia juice; however, periods of continuous use should be accompanied by a period of abstinence to prevent the body from becoming accustomed to the effects.
The therapeutic potential of aronia has been proven to be greater among individuals at increased cardiovascular risk, leading to the conclusion that they should consume aronia and its derivatives as frequently as possible. One of the therapeutic mechanisms of aronia is the stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide formation in the coronary arteries. Several researchers have shown that in spontaneously hypertensive rats, a diet based on dried aronia or aronia juice significantly reduces blood pressure, due to the anthocyanidins and flavonoids in the composition of this fruit.
A series of studies have revealed similar beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome-related parameters in rats that received aronia juice and aronia cookies. The main conclusion of these studies was that anthocyanins are the bioactive components responsible for the beneficial effects observed from aronia consumption.
Another therapeutic potential of aronia is the modulation of the lipoprotein profile. It is important to mention that regular consumption of aronia is recommended even for individuals already undergoing statin therapy.
The anti-inflammatory potential of aronia juice has been demonstrated in studies on patients with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. It has been shown that the chronic inflammatory response associated with diabetes mellitus improves under the action of polyphenols from aronia, particularly due to its ability to decrease TNF-$alpha$ and IFN-$gamma$.
Thus, aronia in solid form or as juice offers numerous health benefits, being a real help for diabetics.