Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute researchers have led an international study that found- for the 1st time- That a diet yielding high amounts of the Short chain fatty acids acetate and butyrate provided beneficial effect on the immune system and protected against type 1 / Juvenile diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes:
Occurs when immune cells called autoreactive T cells attack and destroy the cells that produce insulin- the hormone that regulates our blood sugar levels.
Diabetic diet:
The specialized diet developed by CSIRO and Monash University researchers uses starches – found in many foods including fruit and vegetables – that resist digestion and pass through to the colon or large bowel where they are broken down by microbiota (gut bacteria). This process of fermentation produces acetate and butyrate which, when combined, provided complete protection against type 1 diabetes.
The western diet affects our gut microbiota and the production of these short-chain fatty acids. The research focuses on producing high levels of acetate or butyrate improves the integrity of the gut lining, which reduces pro-inflammatory factors and promote immune tolerance.
The findings, which attracted considerable interest at the International Congress of Immunology in Melbourne last year, were published today in the prestigious journal Nature Immunology.
The materials used consists of natural products such as resistant starches as a part of normal diet. It releases beneficial metabolites. They are described as Extreme superfood, said Professor Mackay.
The researchers are hoping to gain funding to take the findings into type 1 diabetes into clinical research. Professor Mackay, Dr Mariño and collaborators around Australia are expanding their research to investigate diet’s effect on obesity and other inflammatory diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, food allergies and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
This research was supported by JDRF, the Diabetes Australia Research Trust and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.