Review: Sesame-Based Ingredients May Reduce Oxidative Stress

The article "Effects of the Intake of Sesame Seeds (Sesamm indicum L.) and Derivatives on Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review" includes further discussion of the potential positive effects of sesame on different populations. It is available free on the Journal of Medicinal Food website until June 17, 2016.

 

Luciana de Almeida Vittori Gouveia and coauthors from Rio de Janeiro State University and Rio de Janeiro Federal University, assessed the published evidence on the effects of consuming sesame-based ingredients on markers of oxidative stress in people with high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes.

 

Multiple clinical trials reported increased levels of antioxidants and a reduction in oxidative stress with sesame consumption, particularly for individuals with hypertension and also with Type 2 diabetes.

 

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is mainly composed of fats, being considered a rich source of antioxidants. Sesame belongs to the Pedaliaceae family, and, of its nutrients with antioxidant function, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and lignans, such as sesamin, sesamolin, and sesamol, stand out. It ranks ninth among the worldwide oilseed crops. Its major producers are India, China, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Pakistan.

 

There were limits to the research, including varying length of intervention which may affect the results found. Most of the studies found involved a small number of participants with some kind of chronic disease, therefore sample size was also considered a limiting factor for this review.

 

In conclusion, despite the limitations and biases of this systematic review, the studies assessed showed that sesame could have a significant effect on oxidative stress and the antioxidant defense system, being considered a food with an important antioxidant function in the different populations studied (individuals with dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension), as well as in its different presentations (oil, seed flour, and capsule).

 

However, better-controlled studies still lack to assess the positive effects on different populations.

 

"In addition to the clinical trial results reviewed in this article, preclinical studies have also shown that sesame oil is very effective in preventing atherosclerosis," says Journal of Medicinal Food Editor-in-Chief Sampath Parthasarathy, MBA, PhD, Florida Hospital Chair in Cardiovascular Sciences and Interim Associate Dean, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida.