Does eating sesame help control blood sugar?
Consumption of sesame seeds and sesame products has favorable effects on blood glucose levels but not on insulin resistance: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled clinical trials
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Sesame products significantly lowered fasting glucose and HbA1c but had no meaningful effect on fasting insulin or HOMA-IR.
Commonly, lowering blood sugar is associated with improved insulin function. Here, glucose dropped without any change in insulin levels or resistance, pointing to an alternative mechanism.
Practical Takeaways
Consider incorporating sesame oil, tahini, or whole sesame seeds into your daily diet (e.g., 1-2 tablespoons of tahini or oil) as a potential aid for blood sugar management.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Sesame products significantly lowered fasting glucose and HbA1c but had no meaningful effect on fasting insulin or HOMA-IR.
Commonly, lowering blood sugar is associated with improved insulin function. Here, glucose dropped without any change in insulin levels or resistance, pointing to an alternative mechanism.
Practical Takeaways
Consider incorporating sesame oil, tahini, or whole sesame seeds into your daily diet (e.g., 1-2 tablespoons of tahini or oil) as a potential aid for blood sugar management.
Publication
Journal
Phytotherapy Research
Year
2022
Authors
M. Sohouli, Niloufar Haghshenas, Á. Hernández-Ruíz, F. Shidfar
Related Content
Claims (6)
Eating sesame seeds doesn't seem to change insulin resistance in adults, according to a study that combined results from 8 experiments.
Eating sesame seed products like sesame oil, sesamin, or tahini for about 6 weeks to 2 months can lower your fasting blood sugar by an average of 21 points, according to a review of 8 studies.
Eating sesame seed products can lower a blood sugar marker called HbA1c by about 0.75% over a few months, which means better blood sugar control.
Eating sesame products doesn't change your fasting insulin levels. Researchers combined 8 smaller studies and found no significant effect.
Eating tahini can lower your blood sugar after a meal within an hour and also help your body make more testosterone by changing how it processes estrogen, which is something most supplements don't do.