Not all diets consumed by fish are created equal . . . neither are foods eaten by humans.
A research team headed up by Stephanie Venn-Watson at the National Marine Mammal Foundation set out to explore how diabetes might be prevented in dolphins. Along the way, they may have unearthed a critical link to preventing diabetes in humans as well.
It turns out some dolphins, which are mammals just like humans, can also develop early onset diabetes known as prediabetes. And because of the popularity of fish-based omega-3 fatty acids as a human health supplement, the marine mammal researchers took a deeper look at specific diets of dolphins because not all dolphins were experiencing metabolic syndrome.
It turns out not all fish consumed by dolphins are created equal. In their anaylsis, the San Diego-based research team looked at fatty acid levels in 49 captive and wild dolphins. It's the fatty acids that help curb diabetes. Of the 55 specific fatty acids studied, "the saturated fat heptadecanoic acid appeared to have had the most beneficial impact on dolphin metabolism," said Venn-Watson in an interview with Science Daily.
As the dolphin nutrition study ensued, they found some fish eaten by the marine mammal had high levels of heptadecanoic acid while other types of fish virtually had none. It was that group of dolphins - the ones consuming low levels of heptadecanoic acid - that the research team took a closer look at because these animals were in the greatest danger of developing diabetes.
To reverse their metabolic fortunes, researchers began feeding dolphins a diet of fish high in the beneficial compound for six months. The net result was that overall health improved - insulin, glucose and triglycerides blood levels all normalized. That caused concerns regarding prediabes to fall.
Aside from certain types of fish, what other foods are high in heptadecanoic acid?
Dairy, rye and some fish.
However, not all dairy products are created equal even though they may be the highest source of heptadecanoic acid.
The research team found that there was no detectable level of heptadecanoic acids in nonfat dairy products or even some low-fat dairy products for that matter. However, whole milk yogurt, and especially butter, were high in the compound that is believed to prevent diabetes.
"We hypothesize that widespread movement away from whole fat dairy products in human populations may have created unanticipated heptadecanoic acid deficiencies," said Venn-Watson, "and, in turn, this dietary deficiency may be playing a role in the global diabetes pandemic."
"This study is a good example of how improving dolphin health can have an added benefit to human health, too," added the National Marine Mammal Foundation President Sam Ridgway.
Currently, that organization is partnering with children's hospitals to see if children with metabolic syndrome and diabetes could benefit from these findings, reported Science Daily.
If proven accurate, butter could be the antidote for diabetes.
