Title:Plant- and Nutraceutical-based Approach for the Management of Diabetes and its Neurological Complications: A Narrative Review
Volume: 25
Issue: 33
Author(s): Yusuf Öztürk*Nilgün Öztürk
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Tepebasi 26120, Eskisehir,Turkey
Keywords:
Diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, prebiotics, probiotics, nutraceuticals, plants, microbiome, antioxidants.
Abstract: Diabetes is an important metabolic disease affecting many organs and systems in the body. The nervous
system is one of the body systems affected by diabetes and neuropathic complications are troublesome in
diabetic patients with many consequences. As diabetes has deleterious influences almost on bodily systems, an
integrative approach seems to be necessary accepting the body as a whole and integrating body systems with
lifestyle and living environment. Like some traditional health systems such as Ayurveda, integrative approach
includes additional modalities to overcome both diabetes and diabetic complications. In general, these modalities
consist of nutraceuticals and plant products. Prebiotics and probiotics are two types of nutraceuticals having active
ingredients, such as antioxidants, nutrient factors, microorganisms, etc. Many plants are indicated for the cure
of diabetes. All of these may be employed in the prevention and in the non-pharmacological management of mildto-
moderate diabetes. Severe diabetes should require appropriate drug selection. Being complementary, prebiotics,
probiotics, plants and exercise may be additive for the drug therapy of diabetes. Similarly, there are complementary
approaches to prevent and cure neurological and/or behavioral manifestations of diabetes, which may be
included in therapy and prevention plans. A scheme is given for the prevention and therapy of comorbid depression,
which is one of the most common behavioral complications of diabetes. Within this scheme, the main criterion
for the selection of modalities is the severity of diseases, so that personalized management may be developed
for diabetic patients using prebiotics and probiotics in their diets, plants and drugs avoiding possible interactions.
