Investigating Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption effects on fasting blood glucose in animals and humans

Yazun Jarrar; Ruba Balasmeh; Wisam Naser; Rami Mosleh; Amin A Al-Doaiss; Mohammed Ali AlShehri

doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2024-0049

Article

Investigating Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption effects on fasting blood glucose in animals and humans

Yazun Jarrar , Ruba Balasmeh , Wisam Naser , Rami Mosleh , Amin A Al-Doaiss and Mohammed Ali AlShehri

Published/Copyright: April 29, 2024

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From the journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology Volume 35 Issue 3

Abstract

Objectives

Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera), renowned for its premium taste and texture, is extensively consumed in the Islamic world, particularly during Ramadan. Despite its popularity, concerns persist regarding its potential to induce diabetes in non-patients. This study aims to explore the diabetogenic effects of prolonged Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption, the widely used fruit in the Islamic world, through animal experiments and human clinical data.

Methods

Medjool dates were processed into an ethanolic extract for the animal experiment. Then, 21 Balb/c mice received varying doses of the extract for one month. The fasting blood glucose levels were analyzed at the beginning and after one month of consumption of the Majhool date extract. For the clinical study, 387 healthy participants were recruited, with fasting blood glucose levels assessed before and after Ramadan, a period of heightened Majhool date consumption.

Results

all groups of the experimental animals exhibited a significant (p<0.05) weight increase after Majhool date consumption, while no significant (p>0.05) alteration in fasting blood glucose levels among groups. In addition, it was found that fasting blood glucose levels remained statistically unchanged (p>0.05) after heightened Majhool date consumption among humans.

Conclusions

The study challenges the belief that Majhool date induces diabetes, supported by both animal and human data. Findings suggest that Majhool date consumption, even at higher doses, does not induce diabetes. Further investigations could explore the impact of other date varieties on the fasting blood glucose levels.

Keywords: diabetes; fasting blood glucose; Phoenix dactylifera ; Majhool date

Corresponding author: Yazun Jarrar, Ph.D, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt 19117, Jordan, E-mail: yazan.jarrar@bau.edu.jo

Funding source: Deanship of Scientific Research, King Khalid University

Award Identifier / Grant number: RGP2/8/45

Funding source: King Khalid University

Award Identifier / Grant number: Unassigned

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientifc Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Larg Groups Project under grant number (RGP. 2/11/44).

Research ethics: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies at King Khalid University for funding this work through Large Research Project under grant number RGP2/8/45.
Data availability: Data are availble with the corresponding author upon request.

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Received: 2024-04-02

Accepted: 2024-04-11

Published Online: 2024-04-29

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2024-0049

Keywords for this article

diabetes; fasting blood glucose; Phoenix dactylifera; Majhool date