What is caiapo?

Caiapo is a nutraceutical made from the extract of a variety of white sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) that has been eaten raw in Japan for treatment of anemia, hypertension, and diabetes.

Can sweet potatoes cure diabetes?

The fiber in the sweet potato is also hypothesized to be beneficial for diabetes management. The sweet potato is a high fiber food, which has been shown to lower the blood sugar levels of individuals suffering from type I diabetics (9).

Is Batata good for diabetes?

Eating too many potatoes can present problems for blood sugar control in people with diabetes. However, potatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and people with diabetes can enjoy them as part of a healthful diet.

What was the objective of the caiapo study?

OBJECTIVE —To investigate the tolerability, efficacy, and mode of action of Caiapo, an extract of white sweet potatoes, on metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients.

How is caiapo extract used to treat diabetes?

Eaten raw, these sweet potatoes are a folk remedy for anemia, high blood pressure — and diabetes. Caiapo extract prevented diabetes in rat studies. Fuji-Sangyo funded human tests at the University of Vienna in Austria. The results of those studies, led by Bernhard Ludvik, MD, appear in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

What kind of sweet potato is caiapo extracted from?

So, despite the great sounding headlines, these studies are done on people taking a specific extract called caiapo (not the whole sweet potato). And caiapo is extracted from white-skinned sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) typically only grown in Japan (although caiapo has been found in some NC-grown sweet potatoes).

Is there a medical prescription for caiapo in Japan?

Caiapo ( Ipomoea batatas) is commercialized in Japan without medical prescription as a food additive (neutraceutical) for the prevention and care of type 2 diabetes ( 14, 15 ).