New England study

[argohauler]

My wife caught an article on the news yesterday morning. They found anti oxidants in syrup from all the sunlight exposure and anti diabetic properties and something else as well. Anybody else know anything?

[argohauler]

Sweet News: University of Rhode Island Researcher Finds Anti-Cancer, Anti-Bacterial And Anti-Diabetic Compounds in Pure Maple Syrup
EmailWritten by altonparrish3 on Mar-22-10 7:52am
From: nanopatentsandinnovations.blogspot.com
University of Rhode Island researcher Navindra Seeram, who specializes in medicinal plant research, has found more than 20 compounds in maple syrup from Canada that have been linked to human health, 13 of which are newly discovered in maple syrup. In addition, eight of the compounds have been found in the Acer (maple) family for the first time.


The URI assistant professor of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences in URI's College of Pharmacy presented his findings on March 21st at the American Chemical Society's Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The project was made possible by Conseil pour le développement de l'agriculture du Québec (CDAQ), with funding provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program.


Several of these anti-oxidant compounds newly identified in maple syrup are also reported to have anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties.


Prior to the study, the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers already knew that its product was full of naturally occurring minerals such as zinc, thiamine and calcium. But it enlisted Seeram to research the presence of plant anti-oxidants. The Federation awarded Seeram a two-year, $115,000 grant with the help of the CDAQ and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His research continues to determine if the compounds exist in beneficial quantities.


Serge Beaulieu, president of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, said Seeram's lab is but one in an expanding multi-national network of research facilities dedicated to the study of maple products from Canada.


"We are proud that our producers are generously supporting this research, bringing to light a greater understanding of the gastronomic and health benefits of maple products. It is not just for Canada, but for the welfare of consumers around the world," Beaulieu said.


Geneviève Béland, federation marketing director, said the group has learned that maple products are much more than sugars with only calories to contribute.


"Recent research findings, such as those by Dr. Seeram, reveal a whole array of bioactive compounds that promise to offer many health benefits," she said. "Our journey to understanding these benefits has just begun."


Seeram, who was named the 2009 Young Scientist of the Year by the American Chemical Society's Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, said his goal is to educate the research community and the public about the many benefits of a variety of plant and berry foods, as well as natural products. His message is receiving widespread attention. Seeram had two of the Top Ten Most Accessed Articles in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2008.


"We know that plants must have strong anti-oxidant mechanisms because they are in the sun throughout their lives," Seeram said. "We already know that berries, because of their bright colors, are high in anti-oxidants.


"Now we are looking at maple syrup, which comes from the sap located just inside the bark, which is constantly exposed to the sun."


During his maple syrup research, Seeram and his research team found phenolics, the beneficial class of anti-oxidant compounds also found in berries. "We speculated that the sugar maple is wounded when it is tapped for its sap, and that it secretes phenolics as a defense mechanism."


Seeram said the sap probably has low concentrations of these native phenolics. "But when you boil the sap down, there could be higher levels because syrup is a highly concentrated liquid. Plus, the natural plant bioactives could remain intact or undergo process-induced chemical changes during the heating process resulting in further–derived bioactive compounds."


The biomedical scientist said such early research is exciting because many people would not associate such a sugary product with healthy biological properties.


"At this point, we are saying, if you choose to put syrup on your pancakes, it may be healthier to use real maple syrup," he said. "The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers found that 50 percent of consumers don't know whether the syrup they consume is real maple syrup."


Seeram acknowledges that real maple syrup is pricier than commercial brands with maple flavoring or even those with no or very little maple syrup. "But you pay for what you get and you get what you pay for, meaning there are consequences for what you eat.


"We know that anti-oxidants are present in the leaves, bark and twigs of the maple tree, so looking at the sap make sense."


Seeram now has a sugar maple tree trunk sitting in his lab so he can begin a more comprehensive study of the entire tree.


"In a certain sense, people view sap as the life blood of the tree," Seeram said. "Maple syrup is unique in that it is the only commercial product in our diet that comes from a plant's sap. This is a niche resource for northeast North America. Canada is the biggest producer of maple syrup and the United States is the biggest consumer."


Contact: Dave Lavallee
dlavallee@advance.uri.edu
401-874-2116
University of Rhode Island

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

This is great! Research to back up claims. Wish the funding had come from somewhere besides the maple industry as that would make it even more credible. We need copies of that paper in all the little "Natural Food" stores.

[Dill]

I'd disagree with the "anti diabetic" properties. :lol: As a sugarmaker who shoots insulin into his body. And the fact that I know quite a few other boilers who do the same.
I'd say that article looks like a crock.

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Dill,
I agree, sugar is sugar and is not good for diabetics. However we do not know exactly what is meant by anti diabetic properties. I would want to read the details of the study before saying it is a crock. Perhaps there are properties that slow or help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

[Dill]

Perhaps, but I've read a lot of articles like that which are all as basically vague.
For now I wouldn't stake a major upgrade in syrup making on that study. Think about the pomegranate producers.

[briduhunt]

I agree with Dill the anti-diabetic is a crock. I myself am a insulin dependant sugar maker (insulin pump) that has had several doctors advise me that maple syrup is a sugar even if it is a natural sugar. Diabetic's are people who's body does not make enought insulin or any insulin. If researchers can find out what prevents diabeties they would have by now and anti-diabetic help from maple is bogus.

I also agree that the research should be done my someone who has no ties to the maple business as it would give creditability to the research.

Just my 2 cents.

[Acer]

anti bacterial = kills bacteria
anti diabetic = kills diabetics

[argohauler]

I don't think that they're actually trying to claim that syrup is anti-diabetic. Just that some of the compounds found in syrup have anti-diabetic properties. In the article they actually say that they've yet to determine if any of these compounds are present in high enough levels to do any good to anyone.

[3rdgen.maple]

Wow anti-cancer also. I am willing to wager a bet that there are not many people that consumed more maple syrup than my grandparents. They had no sugar in the house. Anything and everything that required a sweetener they substituted maple syrup. They both passed away from cancer.

[Dill]

anti bacterial = kills bacteria
anti diabetic = kills diabetics

Now that I will agree with. :lol:

I've been meaning to start a thread on how many sugar makers are diabetic. Nice to know I'm not alone. I know some friends of mine find it hilarious and it baffles a couple of my doctors.

[argohauler]

My aunt and uncle make syrup and are diabetic. It's pretty much their livelihood though.

[Acer]

one wiff of my sap tank would put to rest any anti-bacterial claims:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Russell Lampron]

You got that right Dean... My tanks are getting a good scrubbing tomorrow for the same reason.