IMPRESSIVE BENEFITS OF TURNIP AGAINST DIABETES

Turnip is the edible root vegetable with impressive nutritional profile. Could it be a good addition to diabetic diet? There is common belief in Pakistan that root vegetable should not be consumed by diabetics. Is it true? Let’s discuss the worth of turnip for diabetics.

ABOUT TURNIP
Turnip belongs to Brassicaceae family or mustard family which includes others cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, sprouts. It is known as SHALJAM in Pakistan. I have already discussed the high health profile of cabbage for diabetic’s people in my previous article as importance of cabbage in prevention and treatment of the diabetes. It is available mostly as creamy white in color with purple top. However, some varieties have green tinted top and some has yellow skin. Most of us are not very fond of turnip. The bulb and leaves of the turnip have promising health promoting effects.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TURNIP
Potassium, nitrates, calcium, fiber, folate, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, Vitamin C, tannins, low fat or cholesterol  carbohydrates, protein, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, flavonoids as kaempferol glycoside,
quercetin glycoside and isorhamnetin glucoside, sulforaphane, indole alkaloids

ABOUT DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder which is characterized by high blood sugar or in simple words by hyperglycemia due impaired insulin secretion or action which may result in many health consequences such as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy , depression, kidney or cardiovascular diseases. With the sedentary life style and unhealthy diet choices (less fiber diet, processed, soft drink and junk food consumption) the diabetes cases are increasing day by day across the world and putting a global burden to health care system. Now the focus of the world for diabetes management is toward plant based bioactive components. Among them, hepatoprotective effects of turnip against diabetes due to its few valuable bioactive components is gaining the positive attention in different animals’ studies. Let’s delve anti diabetic properties of aqueous extract of turnip.

TURNIP IS A LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX AND HIGH FIBER VEGETABLE
Be low in calories and carbohydrates and rich in fibers, turnip may provide good sugar control. It has low glycemic index (prevent sudden spike of blood sugar rather allows slow release of sugar into blood stream) which remain stable weather is boiled or steamed.

PROMOTE WEIGHT LOSS
Obesity is important risk factor of diabetes and high fiber diet like turnip promote weight loss which will be beneficial in managing diabetes.

ANTI INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF TURNIP
According to HEALTH LINE , the break down products of glucosinolates (indoles and isothiocyanates) exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. Arvelexin in the turnip blocks pro- inflammatory compounds responsible for inflammation and also reduces the inflammation of human colon cells.

REDUCTION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS
High nutritional profile of turnip makes it effective against oxidative stress which is one of the strong risk factors of diabetes. Vitamin C along with others powerful antioxidant not only scavenges free radicals but also improve overall immunity.

IMPORTANCE OF POLYPHENOLS AND FLAVONOIDS IN TURNIP FOR SUGAR CONTROL
Traditionally turnips have been consumed in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes due to its medicinal and therapeutic properties. Anti- diabetic or antihyperglycemic effects of turnip are mainly due to its high concentration of polyphenol, flavonoids and tannins through the following actions,
1. GLUT4 (glucose transporter type 4) is an insulin regulated protein transporter which transport glucose through facilitated diffusion into the cells. With low insulin or during insulin resistance it located within the cells as intracellular vesicles while under the influence of insulin through signaling pathways GLUT4 vesicles translocate to cell membrane and stimulates uptake of glucose into muscle and adipocytes. GLUT4 is found in skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles and adipose tissue. Turnip helps to improve peripheral glucose uptake into muscles and adipose tissue by moving GLUT4 to cell membrane.
2. Production of glucose from non-carbohydrate substrate such as protein and fat mainly in liver and kidney is referred as gluconeogenesis. In normal condition, insulin by reducing phosphor, endol pyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) enzymes activity causes the down regulation of liver glucokinase which inhibit gluconeogenesis but during insulin resistance, insulin fails to suppress gluconeogenesis resulting in fasting hyperglycemia. However, turnip by lowering hepatic gluconeogenesis via dysregulating enzymes PEPCK and G6Pase exhibit its anti-hyperglycemic potential.
3. According to NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION turnip aqueous extract inhibit alpha glucosidase and alpha amylase enzymes which digest carbohydrates of diet into glucose thus helpful in managing hyperglycemia by reducing or delaying intestinal absorption of glucose and beneficial in controlling postprandial sugar spikes.
4. Quercetin is helpful in decreasing plasma glucose level and in increasing insulin release by protecting beta pancreatic cells from oxidative stress damage.
5. Kaempferol exhibits hypoglycemic effects by stimulating uptake of glucose into cells.
6. Turnip showed hepatoprotective effects by reducing liver damage and by protecting beta pancreatic cells against oxidative stress damage. It also improves liver functions and may regenerate pancreatic cells.
7. Flavonoids Isorhamnetin inhibit aldose reductase and helpful in reducing diabetes complications. Let’s discuss about the link between aldose reductase and diabetic complications.

ROLE OF POLYOL PATHWAY IN DIABETES COMPLICATIONS
Polyol pathway is a minor pathway of glucose metabolism under normal condition with aldose reductase enzyme ( AR enzyme), a multi-functional enzyme which is also involved in conversion of glucose into sorbitol but in chronic hyperglycemia, overactivation of Polyol pathway leads to accumulation of sorbitol within the cells along with reactive oxygen species and responsible for oxidative stress and subsequent cellular toxicity. AR enzyme is located in the kidneys, liver, eye including retina, lens and cornea, peripheral nerves, blood vessels, adrenal glands and seminal vesicles due to which long term damage to organs secondary to diabetes like neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and cataract formation are supposed to be associated with it.

CONCLUSION
In the light of aforementioned discussions, we can say that  animal studies are supporting antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic potential of turnip despite of the fact that it is a root vegetable. It is safe to use in diabetic patients. However, moderation is the key to prevent someone from any harmful effects. Care must be taken if someone is allergic to it or having kidney issues because of presence of potassium which may be harmful.