UNAIR NEWS – If all this time we think that eating sweet foods excessively can cause diabetes, it does not mean that those who ‘anti-sweet’ can be free from diabetes risk. A research has proven, diabetes risk also haunts the fries lovers.

Fries or mendoan are one of the favorite snacks of Indonesian society. They are fried using palm oil, which is known to contain a lot of palmitic acid.

The palmitic acid effect greater than sugar. So concluded by Soebagijo Adi Soelistijo dr., SpPD., K-EMD, FINASIM, FACP, who recently obtained his doctorate degree in Medical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine UNAIR.

In his dissertation, the man who was born on April 1, 1958 found the fact that palmitic acid contained in coconut oil can trigger damage to pancreas.

Referring to previous studies, new palmitic acid will affect people already exposed to diabetes risk, including those who are overweight, have insulin resistance, pre diabetes, and have a family history of diabetes.

The adverse effects of palmitic acid have been widely studied. However, Soebagio managed to uncover new facts that palmitic acid also harms healthy people. Palmitat directly damages the glucose transporter in the muscle bypass.

“So it enters itself to cause insulin resistance and ultimately impair the function of the pancreas,” he said.

Basically the body requires free fatty acids such as palmitate, but in small amounts. It works to solve vitamins A and E. Palmitic acid is found in coconut oil (92 percent), palm oil (60 percent), also in cheese, margarine, butter, corn oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, and breast milk.

“Palmitic acid is everywhere. Most easily found in fried foods using palm oil. Be careful, ” he said.

Regarding the doses, Soebagio has not been able to ensure the safe limit of consuming palmitic acid. ” I have not studied further the the exact limit of the dose. There will be further research, “he said.

In addition to palmitic acid, myristic and stearic acid also include saturated types of saturated fatty acids. Other types of unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid can also cause insulin resistance.

“Oleic acid is widely contained in vegetable and animal oils. But not all fat is evil yes. there are still good omega 3 and 6 fats. We can get from fish oil and olive oil, “he said.

Soebagijo realized, it is not easy to avoid processed foods such as fried foods. Fries became a favorite snack, because the savory taste that makes addicted. From his findings, Soebagio stressed the importance of limiting the consumption of free fatty acids, especially saturated fatty acids. “Limit the use of oil and avoid fatty foods,” he said.

Sugar and fat both potentially damage the pancreas if consumed excessively. This is commonly known as glucose toxicity which means sugar can cause toxicity to the pancreas. While the term lipotoxicity means excessive fat will adversely affect the muscle cells and pancreas. Thus, both lead to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is the beginning symptom of type 2 diabetes. Insulin is tasked to bring glucose into the muscle cells and other cells. If insulin resistance occurs, it means that insulin fails to bring sugar into the muscle and fat cells.

“Imagine when healthy people over-consume palmitic acid, it can disrupt health. It may cause diabetes, ” he said.

Oil in its original form is actually harmless. But after going through the heating process repeatedly, trans fatty acid happens and it endangers the heart.

“The more often oil is used repeatedly, the more dangerous. We do not know the quality of oil used for frying mendoan sold by the streets. It must be used more than once, ” he said.

The research was conducted by giving treatment of palmitic acid on healthy muscle cell, then do the observation for 16 hours. As a result, palmitic acid damages the glucose transporter in the muscle.

Outside the laboratory test process, the palmitic acid actually causes longer time and long process to get to the cell.

“Consumed food must go through the digestive process first, then go to the circulation stage. The longer the more it is accumulated, “he explained.

Head of the Indonesian Diabetes Association (PERSADIA) Surabaya Branch as well as Head of the Association of Internal Disease Doctors in Indonesia (PAPDI) Surabaya Branch concerned with Indonesia being ranked seventh in the world with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world.

“For 17 years Indonesia has never been able to get out of the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world. Why? There may be something wrong with the diet of our society so far, “he said.

For prevention, it is important to pay attention to diet and food. “We must still be able to enjoy but there must be limit,” he said. (*)

Author: Sefya Hayu Istighfaricha

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh