Fruits - Banana Health Benefits and Side Effects

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Banana
Banana is the common name of a genus of tropical herbaceous plants. It can grow from 3 to 9 m and belongs to the family of the lily and the orchid.

Nutritional supplement
1. Vitamin B6
2. Vitamin C
3. Fiber
4. Potassium
5. Magnesium
6. Iron

7. Etc.

Health Benefits
A. Health benefits according to studies
1. Weight loss and insulin sensitivity
In the investigation of the effects of native banana starch (NBS) and soy milk (control) on body weight and insulin sensitivity in obese type 2 diabetics found that patients on NBS lost more body weight than when they were on control treatment. Plasma insulin and HOMA-I were reduced after NBS consumption, compared with baseline levels, but not significantly when compared to the control treatment. Results support the use of NBS as part of dietary fiber supplementation, according to "Effects of native banana starch supplementation on body weight and insulin sensitivity in obese type 2 diabetics" by Ble-Castillo JL, Aparicio-Trápala MA, Francisco-Luria MU, Córdova-Uscanga R, Rodríguez-Hernández A, Méndez JD, Díaz-Zagoya JC.(a)

2. Prostate gland enlargement
In the assessment of methanol extract of banana peel (BPEx, 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and its effect on prostate gland enlargement found that BPEx inhibited dose-dependently testosterone-induced cell growth, while the inhibitory activities of BPEx did not appear against dehydrotestosterone-induced cell growth. These results indicate that methanol extract of banana peel can inhibit 5alpha-reductase and might be useful in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia, according to "Banana peel extract suppressed prostate gland enlargement in testosterone-treated mice" by Akamine K, Koyama T, Yazawa K.(b)

3. Antioxidants
In the observation of banana flower (BF) and pseudostem (PS) of banana and theirs antioxidant capacity found that the presence of phenolic acids in hemicellulose A and B fractions of BF. These results indicate that BF and PS are rich sources of dietary fiber associated with polyphenols, which could promote health beneficial effects, according to "Banana ( Musa sp. var. elakki bale) Flower and Pseudostem: Dietary Fiber and Associated Antioxidant Capacity" by Bhaskar JJ, S M, Chilkunda ND, Salimath PV.(c)

4. Diabetes
In the identification of Methanol and aqueous extracts of banana flower and pseudostem
found that Banana flower and pseudostem extracts are able to promote glucose uptake into the cells, presumably through glucose transporters 1 and 3, which could be beneficial in diabetes. Glucose uptake is likely promoted by phenolic acids besides other bioactives. It can be hypothesized that consumption of nutraceutical-rich extract of banana flower and pseudostem could replace some amount of insulin being taken for diabetes, according to "Stimulation of glucose uptake by Musa sp. (cv. elakki bale) flower and pseudostem extracts in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells" by Bhaskar JJ, Salimath PV, Nandini CD.(d)

5. Etc.

B. Health benefits according to concentration
1. Vitamin B6
a. Memory Improvements
In the investigation of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and Memory Improvements found that The multivitamin improved speed of response on a measure of spatial working memory, according to ""Memory improvements in elderly women following 16 weeks treatment with a combined multivitamin, mineral and herbal supplement : A randomized controlled trial" by Macpherson H, Ellis KA, Sali A, Pipingas A.(I)

b. Anti cancer effects
In the observation of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and its anti cancer effects found that vitamin B6 is involved in the methyl donor cycle ant thus, some of the antitumor properties of vitamin B6 may involve an indirect effect on the level of DNA or histone methylation. according to ""Vitamin B6 and cancer: from clinical data to molecularly mechanisms" by Sujol G, Docquier A, Boulahtouf A, Castet-Nicolas A, Cavaillès V.(II)

2. Vitamin C
In the evaluation of pulmonary dysfunction. and it effects on pulmonary dysfunction found that At present, evidence from randomised-controlled trials is insufficient to recommend a specific role for vitamin C in the treatment of asthma. Further methodologically strong and large-scale randomised controlled trials are needed in order to address the question of the effectiveness of vitamin C in children with asthma but some outcome data showed effectiveness on lung function, symptom scores, IgE levels and inhaled steroid use. One small study showed a significant difference in % drop in FEV1 post-exercise, according to the study of "Vitamin C supplementation for asthma" by Kaur B, Rowe BH, Arnold E.(III)

3. Manganese
It is one of important trace in preventing osteoporosis, according to the study of "[Study of estrogen deficiency impact on manganese levels in teeth and mandible of rats after ovariectomy]. [Article in Polish]" by Rahnama M, Błoniarz J, Zareba S, Swiatkowski W.(IV) and regulating blood sugar level, according to the study of "[An inadequate intake of manganese may favour insulin resistance in girls]. [Article in Spanish]" by Rodríguez-Rodríguez E, Bermejo LM, López-Sobaler AM, Ortega RM.(V)

4. Dietary fiber
Daily intake of right amount of fibers can prvent and treata. Diabetes, as Increased consumption of vegetables, whole grains, and soluble and insoluble fiber is associated with improved glucose metabolism in both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals. Improvements in insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis were more evident in participants following a plant-based diet compared with other commonly used diets, according to the study of "Efficacy of high-fiber diets in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus" by Wolfram T, Ismail-Beigi F.(VI)

5. Potassium
Potassium beside is important in maintaining the regular contraction and relaxation of the muscle, that helps to reducing the risk of hypokalemia, it also helps the lymphatic system in regulating the levels of fluid in the body, thus lessening the risk of lymphedema, swelling caused by the accumulation of lymph fluid. In a study of "Narrative review: evolving concepts in potassium homeostasis and hypokalemia" by Greenlee M, Wingo CS, McDonough AA, Youn JH, Kone BC., posted in PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19414841), researchers found that recent experimental insights into the participation of feedback and feedforward control mechanisms in potassium homeostasis. New data make clear that feedforward homeostatic responses activate when decreased potassium intake is sensed, even when plasma potassium concentration is still within the normal range and before frank hypokalemia ensues, in addition to the classic feedback activation of renal potassium conservation when plasma potassium concentration decreases.

6. Etc.

C. Other health benefits
1. Antacid
Banana contains antacids, which are alkaline used to neutralize the gastric and secreted by the stomach to digest food and promote ulcer healing by reducing expression of EGF, according to "Antacid talcid activates in gastric mucosa genes encoding for EGF and its receptor. The molecular basis for its ulcer healing action" by Tarnawski AS, Tomikawa M, Ohta M, Sarfeh IJ.(1)

2. Heart diseases
Fiber in banana helps to reduce the risk of heart diseases by binding to bad cholesterol (LDL) and leaving good cholesterol untouched, thus reducing the risk of bad cholesterol cause of plaque building up on the arterial walls, according to "Role of dietary supplements in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a review" by Nijjar PS, Burke FM, Bloesch A, Rader DJ.(2)

3. High blood pressure
Banana contains high amount magnesium which is essential for blood vessel to constrict and relax, that increase the proper blood flow, leading to lessening the risk of high blood pressure, according to "A comparison of magnesium sulphate and sildenafil in the treatment of the newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension: a randomized controlled trial" by Uslu S, Kumtepe S, Bulbul A, Comert S, Bolat F, Nuhoglu A.(3)

4. Constipation
Fiber in banana promotes the movement of the digestive track by binding the hardening waste in large intestine in stool expelling, according to "A dietary fiber mixture versus lactulose in the treatment of childhood constipation: a double-blind randomized controlled trial" by Kokke FT, Scholtens PA, Alles MS, Decates TS, Fiselier TJ, Tolboom JJ, Kimpen JL, Benninga MA.(4)

5. Lymphatic enhancers
Magnesium enhances the potassium minerals in promoting the lymphatic function in regulating the fluid in the body that decreases the risk of water retention.

6. Osteoporosis
Magnesium plays an vital role in promoting the absorption of calcium, by maintaining the proper ratio of them that helps to prevent the loss of bone density, according to "Magnesium deficiency and osteoporosis: animal and human observations" by Rude RK, Gruber HE.(5)

7. Etc.

Side effects
1. Allergic effect Chitinases in banana may cause latex allergic effect in some people.
2. Etc.

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Sources
(a) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20623003
(b) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19734683
(c) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22122826
(d) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21384381

(I) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22006207
(II) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22001823
(III) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19160185
(IV) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12870295
(V) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22072339
(VI) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20713332

(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10791688
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21122657
(3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20923790
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18979582
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15607643