Food that divides opinion better for diabetes than pills, study shows

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that scoffing down just two tins of sardines weekly could be the secret weapon in the battle against type 2 diabetes, with the benefits far surpassing those of nutrient supplements in pill form.

In the UK, someone falls prey to diabetes every two minutes, with a staggering 4.8 million people currently living with this life-altering condition. The virtues of consuming oily fish like sardines are no secret, given their rich content of taurine, omega 3, calcium, and vitamin D.

Not only do these fish boast a high level of unsaturated fats that aid in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and staving off heart disease, but researchers at the Open University of Catalonia in Spain have now unearthed even more reasons to make sardines a staple in your diet.

Professor Diana Rizzolo, an author of the study, enthused: "Not only are sardines reasonably priced and easy to find, but they are safe and help to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. This is a huge scientific discovery."

She added, "It is easy to recommend this food during medical check-ups, and it is widely accepted by the population.", reports the Manchester Evening News.

The study involved 152 patients from three Primary Care centres who were on the cusp of diabetes, with blood sugar levels teetering between 100 and 124 milligrams per decilitre. These individuals were then introduced to a diet specifically designed to diminish their risk of developing the full-blown disease.

In a surprising twist, some participants were given two cans of sardines in olive oil each week, totalling 200 grams (seven ounces). The advice was to consume the small fish whole, bones and all, due to their high calcium and vitamin D content.

The study found that the number of high-risk diabetes individuals who didn't receive weekly sardines dropped from 27 per cent to 22 per cent over a year. However, those at high risk who incorporated the oily fish into their diet saw a dramatic decrease, from 37 per cent to just eight per cent in the same period.

The consumption of these oily fish also had additional health benefits such as improving insulin resistance, increasing good cholesterol levels, and boosting hormones that aid in glucose breakdown and blood pressure reduction. Professor Rizzolo stated: "As we get older, restrictive diets in terms of calories or food groups can help to prevent the onset of diabetes."

"However, the cost-benefit ratio is not always positive, as we found in other studies. However, the results lead us to believe that we could obtain an equally significant preventive effect in the younger population."

While nutrient-dense sardines can help guard against diabetes, consuming them alone might not yield the same results. Professor Rizzolo explained: "Nutrients can play an essential role in the prevention and treatment of many different pathologies, but their effect is usually caused by the synergy that exists between them and the food that they are contained in."

"Sardines will therefore have a protective element because they are rich in the aforementioned nutrients, whereas nutrients taken in isolation in the form of supplements won't work to the same extent."

The team is now turning their attention to the impact of sardines on gut bacteria, with Professor Rizzolo stating: "Since it affects the regulation of many biological process, we need to understand if they have played a part in this protective effect against diabetes 2."

The role of specific genes in the development of type 2 diabetes and other diseases will also be under the microscope. The study was published in the Clinical Nutrition journal.