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2018 Abstracts

Identifying the Effects of Cocoa Flavanols on Cellular Respiration of β-Cells

Matt Austin; Brooke Smyth; Lauren Manwaring; Moroni Lopez, Brigham Young University

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of pancreatic β-cells, which secrete insulin, to regulate blood glucose levels. The glucose-regulating mechanisms of these dysfunctional β-cells exhibit a gradual insensitivity to insulin, caused by prolonged hyperglycemia. Treatment for individuals suffering from Type 2 diabetes is limited to supplementary insulin injections. However, recent studies have revealed that powerful anti-oxidants called flavanols, which are found in cocoa, affect insulin secretion and glucose tolerance of β-cells. We isolated three fractions from the whole cocoa extract: monomeric catechin-rich, oligomeric procyandin-rich and polymeric procyandin-rich flavanols. Because cellular respiration is closely related to insulin secretion, we hypothesize that these fractions may exert their anti-diabetic effects by enhancing cellular respiration. To determine the effects of cocoa flavanols on β-cell respiration, we performed respiration assays on INS-1 β-cell lines incubated with increasing concentrations of whole cocoa extract, monomeric, polymeric and oligomeric catechin fractions or a control. We present data demonstrating the effect of these compounds on β-cell respiration. Advancements based on our research could provide an innovative therapeutic alternative to current diabetes treatment and new insight into the respiratory pathways of β-cells, affording new targets for a multitude of potential gene therapies.