Palm Juice for Sugar Reduction

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Background: Numerous studies have suggested regular consumption of plant-derived bioactive phytochemicals may be able to delay or prevent the onset of serious cardiovascular and metabolic diseases through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Palm fruit juice (PFJ), the water-soluble by-product after oil extraction from the fruit during the milling process, is surprisingly a natural source rich in phytochemicals, in particular, bioactive phenolic compounds (“oil palm phenolics” or OPP). Our invention is the use of OPP from PFJ as prophylactic or therapeutic dietary supplements in humans and animals. We have discovered OPP possesses anti-hyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties when provided in the regular diets of animals genetically prone to developing type II diabetes.1 Following 12-weeks of consumption, diets supplemented with PFJ lowered fasting blood glucose levels ~5.4 fold in older diabetic animals (i.e. 650 mg/dL vs. 120 mg/dL) and resulted in overall levels near those of their non-diabetic controls fed either water or PFJ (i.e. <100 mg/dL). Similarly, these diabetic animals had severely elevated triglycerides, high VLDL levels, and low HDL levels while those in the diabetic group given PFJ had plasma lipid profiles essentially normal and nearly identical to their non-diabetic controls. At necropsy, additional differences in organs, such as increased kidney size, increased liver size, and the wasting of fat deposits associated with advanced diabetes were observed in the diabetic animals given water. However, these changes were not observed in the diabetic group fed PFJ which had organs and fat deposits similar to those in the non-diabetic control group. Regular long-term consumption of PFJ over a 9-month period also prevented the onset of diabetes and had no detrimental effects when fed to healthy young animals with normal blood glucose levels. This is not surprising as extracts from boiled palm fruit in the Elaeis genus have long been regularly consumed by African populations, resulting in an OPP intake on the order of ~300 mg/d, predominantly added as an ingredient for soups and stews.2 We are seeking partners to commercialize this technology with marketing claims including methods for treating diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 1.5 and type 2), gestational diabetes, genetic defects of β-cell function or insulin action, pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Summary:  PFJ is a cost-effective source of dietary phenolics including cinnamate and benzoate derivatives  Proven effective in reducing blood glucose and lipid levels when tested in the Nile rat model  Reduces glucose absorption, improves insulin sensitivity, and enhances insulin secretion in vivo  Shows no ill effects in animals and was tested in Phase I clinical trial by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board  Darker brown in color with a sweet yet slightly bitter taste easily masked by sweetening agent  Easily incorporated as a functional ingredient into foods for in humans, pets and farm animals