Determining the Mechanism of Cocoa-Derived Epicatechin Enhancement of Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion

Authors

Benjamin Bitner, Brigham Young University
Jeffery Tessem, Brigham Young University

Keywords

cocoa-derived epicatechin, glucose stimulated insulin secretion, global epidemic

College

Life Sciences

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science

Abstract

Due to recent increases in incidence, diabetes is now classified as a global epidemic. Diabetes results from the eventual destruction of β-cell mass, which causes decreased insulin secretion. Increasing functional β-cell mass may provide a cure for diabetes. A previous study has shown that oligomeric procyanidins were effective in preventing weight gain, fat mass, impaired glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance in a mouse obesity model¹. This was the first long-term feeding study to examine the activities of cocoa constituents on diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Recommended Citation

Bitner, Benjamin and Tessem, Jeffery (2017) "Determining the Mechanism of Cocoa-Derived Epicatechin Enhancement of Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2017: Iss. 1, Article 225.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2017/iss1/225