Chayote Found to Lower Blood Sugar and Fight Oxidative Stress in Elderly with Diabetes
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Apr 18, 2025 1 day, 4 hours, 3 minutes ago
Medical News: Natural Plant Offers Hope for Older Adults Battling Type 2 Diabetes
A team of researchers from the Research Unit on Gerontology and the Hematopoiesis and Leukemia Laboratory of the Faculty of Higher Studies Zaragoza at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has made a promising discovery—an edible plant known as Sechium edule, commonly called chayote, could significantly help elderly individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Chayote Found to Lower Blood Sugar and Fight Oxidative Stress in Elderly with Diabetes
This
Medical News report focuses on a recent study that showed how taking capsules made from a dry extract of chayote not only reduced blood sugar levels in elderly diabetic patients but also improved their antioxidant defenses, which are often weakened due to age and disease-related oxidative stress.
What the Study Was About
Type 2 diabetes is marked by high blood sugar, which over time causes severe damage in the body through a process known as oxidative stress. This condition worsens as people age, making elderly patients particularly vulnerable to complications. Seeking a natural and affordable intervention, the researchers studied chayote—a fruit known in Mexican folk medicine for its health benefits.
In the study, 33 elderly participants with type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups: one took placebo capsules, while the other consumed three capsules daily (500 mg each) containing powdered chayote extract over a three-month period. Blood samples were taken before and after the treatment to measure a range of markers related to blood sugar and oxidative stress.
Key Findings That Matter
The most impressive finding was a significant drop in HbA1c levels (a key measure of long-term blood sugar control) among the chayote group—from an average of 8.9% down to 7.8%. This suggests the plant extract had a tangible blood sugar-lowering or hypoglycemic effect.
But the benefits did not stop there. The participants who took chayote also showed marked improvements in oxidative stress markers:
-Lipoperoxides (LPO) dropped by 8.6%, indicating less damage to fats in the body
-Protein carbonylation (PC), a marker of protein damage, decreased by a remarkable 34%
-Total Oxidant Status (TOS) was cut by 48%
-Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) went down by 64%
-Meanwhile, Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) jumped by 30%
-Antioxidant Gap, a marker of antioxidant reserve, surged by 54%
None of these changes were observed in the placebo group. In fact, their condition either remained unchanged or worsened slightly, with a decline in key antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD).
What’s in the Chayote Capsules
The capsules used in the st
udy were packed with natural plant compounds known for their health properties. These included:
-Cucurbitacins (E, B, D, I) – powerful anti-inflammatory agents
-Flavonoids such as quercetin, rutin, myricetin, and naringenin – known to help regulate blood sugar and reduce cell damage
-Phenolic acids like gallic, caffeic, and ferulic acid – potent antioxidants
These compounds work together to regulate glucose metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce the harmful by-products of oxidative stress in the body.
Many of them have been previously studied in laboratory and animal models, and this trial shows they can have similar effects in humans, especially older adults.
How Does It Work
Flavonoids like quercetin and rutin help the body by enhancing insulin production, improving how cells use insulin, and protecting cells from inflammation. Gallic acid, found in the capsules, helps regulate key enzymes in fat and sugar metabolism. Myricetin works by reducing carbohydrate absorption and boosting insulin secretion.
Together, these natural compounds not only help bring down high blood sugar but also prevent or slow down the cell damage that often leads to diabetic complications such as kidney damage, nerve problems, and cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions and Real-World Impact
The study suggests that a simple natural supplement made from Sechium edule can offer elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes both blood sugar control and antioxidant protection. This dual action makes it especially valuable, considering that older adults often struggle with both issues at once.
While the trial was limited in size and duration, the findings are strong enough to support further research and possibly pave the way for this plant-based remedy to be used more widely as a complementary treatment in diabetes care. Not only is it effective, but also accessible and affordable, particularly in countries like Mexico where the fruit is already a dietary staple.
The research reinforces the growing interest in functional foods and plant-based medicine as part of mainstream healthcare, especially in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. This could be a game-changer for millions of older adults seeking safer, natural ways to manage their disease.
The study findings were published on a preprint server and are currently being peer reviewed.
https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202503.1198/v1
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Medical News.
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