Report: Oral sebacic acid reduces postprandial hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 Diabetes

A report by Dr. Mingrone from Catholic University of Rome, Italy, and his colleagues revealed that Oral sebacic acid, a naturally occurring medium chain dicarboxylic acid, reduces postprandial hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Dr. Mingrone said, “The addition of sebacic acid to a meal greatly reduces plasma glucose levels. Thus, it might be used to help keep glycemia under control, especially in patients with decompensated diabetes."

As a part of the study, the researchers investigated the effect of oral administration of sebacic acid on postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and glucose rate of appearance (Ra) in 10 obese Type 2 Diabetes and 10 healthy volunteers.

Following results were observed: 

• In Type 2 Diabetes, when 10g sebacic acid was taken with the meal, incremental glucose was reduced by 42%. 
• In Type 2 Diabetes, when 23g sebacic acid was taken with the meal, incremental glucose was reduced by 70%. 
• Incremental glucose in healthy controls was significantly reduced only with the 23g sebacic acid dose. 
• Incremental insulin after meals was reduced by 39% in both diabetes and controls given 10g sebacic acid and by similar amounts in diabetes (64%) and controls (71%) given 23g sebacic acid. 
• Glucose Ra declined among controls and diabetic patients after 23g sebacic acid, whereas glucose clearance (an index of peripheral insulin sensitivity) increased significantly only among controls given 23g sebacic acid. 
• Insulin-dependent glucose uptake from L6 myoblasts in culture increased more in the presence of sebacic acid (38.7%) than in its absence (11.4%), and this increase was associated with a 1.74-fold increase in expression of GLUT4. 

Dr. Mingrone concluded that “Sebacic acid might be used in obesity and in other diseases where the intake of other substrates have to be reduced, such as in chronic renal failure where proteins, but also lipids (due to hyperlipidemia), must be lowered in the diet. In other words, this new substrate class represents a further option and a novel approach for physicians helping to manage their patients' metabolic conditions.”