High Molecular Weight Cocoa Procyanidins Possess Enhanced Insulin-Enhancing and Insulin Mimetic Activities in Human Primary Skeletal Muscle Cells Compared to Smaller Procyanidins

Dysregulation of glucose metabolism is a primary hallmark of metabolic disease (i.e. diabetes, obesity, etc.). Complementary non-pharmaceutical strategies are needed to prevent and/or ameliorate dysregulation of glucose metabolism and prevent progression from normoglycemia to prediabetes and type-2 diabetes across the lifespan. Cocoa compounds, particularly the procyanidins, have shown promise for improving insulin sensitivity and blood glucose homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cocoa procyanidins exert these functions remain poorly understood.

Source: The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry - October 10, 2016 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Suzanne M. Bowser, William T. Moore, Ryan P. McMillan, Melanie R. Dorenkott, Katheryn M. Goodrich, Liyun Ye, Sean F. O'Keefe, Matthew W. Hulver, Andrew P. Neilson Source Type: research