A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytosterols in Insulin Resistance: A Mechanistic Approach

Abstract

Natural products in the form of functional foods have become increasingly popular due to their protective effects against life-threatening diseases, low risk of adverse effects, affordability, and accessibility. Plant components such as phytosterol, in particular, have drawn a lot of press recently due to a link between their consumption and a modest incidence of global problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In the management of diet-related metabolic diseases, such as T2DM and cardiovascular disorders, these plant-based functional foods and nutritional supplements have unquestionably led the market in terms of cost-effectiveness, therapeutic efficacy, and safety. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder categoriszed by high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which influence major metabolic organs, such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. These chronic hyperglycemia fallouts result in decreased glucose consumption by body cells, increased fat mobilisation from fat storage cells, and protein depletion in human tissues, keeping the tissues in a state of crisis. In addition, functional foods such as phytosterols improve the body’s healing process from these crises by promoting a proper physiological metabolism and cellular activities. They are plant-derived steroid molecules having structure and function similar to cholesterol, which is found in vegetables, grains, nuts, olive oil, wood pulp, legumes, cereals, and leaves, and are abundant in nature, along with phytosterol derivatives. The most copious phytosterols seen in the human diet are sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which can be found in free form, as fatty acid/cinnamic acid esters or as glycosides processed by pancreatic enzymes. Accumulating evidence reveals that phytosterols and diets enriched with them can control glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as insulin resistance. Despite this, few studies on the advantages of sterol control in diabetes care have been published. As a basis, the primary objective of this review is to convey extensive updated information on the possibility of managing diabetes and associated complications with sterol-rich foods in molecular aspects.

[Retracted] Beta‐Sitosterol Facilitates GLUT4 Vesicle Fusion on the Plasma Membrane via the Activation of Rab/IRAP/Munc 18 Signaling Pathways in Diabetic Gastrocnemius Muscle of Adult Male Rats

“…ese results agree with our previous findings that β-sitosterol has a strong influence on the regulation of hyperglycemia. In accordance with the present findings, we have recently reviewed the potential role of phytosterols particularly β-sitosterol and its perspectives on the translocation of GLUT4 containing vesicles on the PM, which is crucial for the glucose uptake and oxidation in insulin-sensitive tissues such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and in reducing the diabetes risk and/or insulin resistance [69]. Our current research, being the rst of its kind, has attempted to prove the mechanisms by which β-sitosterol (a potent phytosterol) is involved in the regulation of glucose absorption and translocation of signaling molecules involved in the GLUT4 containing vesicle fusion on the PM in HFD and sucroseinduced T2DM (Figure 12).…”

Self-care practice and its associated factors among diabetic patients attending public hospitals in Gurage zone southwest, Ethiopia

“…The total population with diabetes is predicted to reach 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Diabetes-related disasters 6.7 million fatalities and at least 966 billion USD in medical costs [ 7 ]. Ethiopia has 800,000 diabetes patients in 2000, and the figure is predicted to rise to 1.8 million by 2030 [ 8 ].…”

Therapeutic Properties and Use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Clinical Nutrition: A Narrative Review and Literature Update

“…A meta-analysis of clinical trials found that phytosterols reduce insulin resistance, but not enough to generate clinically significant improvements in glucose metabolism [ 273 ]. This is backed by in vitro studies that demonstrated increased expression levels and activation of different components of the insulin receptor signaling pathway by phytosterols [ 274 , 275 ]. Cardiovascular risk.…”