If new animal research pans out, a common food additive could one day make cheeseburgers and pizza less likely to promote diabetes.The compound, known as HPMC, is a form of fiber known as soluble cellulose that is currently used as a thickener in a range of processed foods, such as sauces and glazes. In experiments with hamsters, scientists found that when they added HPMC to the animals’ high-fat diets, it prevented them from developing insulin resistance.Insulin resistance is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, in which the body loses its sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which helps move sugar from the blood and into cells to be used for energy. This causes blood sugar levels to remain chronically high, which over time can lead to complications such as heart disease, kidney failure and nerve damage.If the new findings can be translated to humans, HPMC could become part of the recipe for fast-food hamburgers, pizza and other all-American favorites, said lead study author Dr. Wallace H. Yokoyama, a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Albany, California.He presented the findings Tuesday at the 229th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego.
