The low calorie juice Aronia melanocarpa (
sugar free, with
artificial sweeteners) could be a valuable adjunct to the complex
therapy of patients with
diabetes mellitus. In this study no increased
blood glucose levels were established 60 min. following ingestion of 200 ml Aronia juice. On the contrary, lower fasting
blood glucose concentrations were measured in 16 patients with
insulin dependent diabetes and in 25 patients with non-
insulin dependent diabetes (25 women and 16
men, 3 to 62 years of age, median age 38.8 +/- 4.7) with duration of the disease from 1 month to 13 years. Serial
blood glucose measurements showed: 14.23 +/- 1.32 mmol/l at baseline and 11.4 +/- 0.89 mmol/l
blood glucose level after 60 min., the difference being statistically significant (p<0.05). The ingestion of 200 ml Aronia juice combined with a standard breakfast produced similar results (the basal concentration of
glucose was 13.43 +/- 1.12 mmol/l; it decreased to 11.94 +/- 1.02 mmol/l at 60 min., the difference did not reach statistical significance. The daily intake of 200 ml Aronia juice over a period of 3 months was effective in lowering fasting
blood glucose levels from 13.28 +/- 4.55 mmol/l to 9.10 +/- 3.05 mmol/l (p<0.001) in 21 patients with non-
insulin dependent diabetes--13 women and 8 men aged from 42 to 62 (median age 53.6 +/- 3.65) with disease duration from 6 to 17 years. Aronia had a beneficial effect on HbA1c, total
cholesterol and
lipid levels. They dropped from 9.39 +/- 2.16% to 7.49 +/- 1.33% (p<0.001), from 6.45 +/- 1.59 mmol/l to 5.05 +/- 0.96 mmol/l (p<0.001) and from 2.92 +/- 2.15 mmol/l to 1.7 +/- 1.07 mmol/l (p<0.001), respectively. Results were compared with those obtained in 23 patients with non-
insulin dependent diabetes (15 women and 8 men aged from 48 to 67 years, median age 54.9 +/- 3.34) with disease duration from 6 to 17 years. The above mentioned parameters remained unchanged in these patients. Accumulated data illustrated the
hypoglycemic potential of Aronia juice. The precise mechanism of its action is unknown but its beneficial effects and good taste make it a valuable adjunct to the dietary treatment of patients with
diabetes mellitus.