A recently published study (pdf file) indicates that tagatose, a type of natural sugar already approved by the U.S. FDA as a low-calorie sweetener, may be an effective drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Tagatose is a sugar similar to fructose and can be found naturally in some dairy products. Only 20 percent of tagatose that is ingested is fully metabolized, principally in the liver, following a metabolic pathway identical to that of fructose. The FDA deemed it a safe sweetener for foods and beverages in 2001. The sugar substitute, marketed under the name Naturlose, is used in ready-to-eat cereals, sodas, mouthwash, toothpaste, lipstick and over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

"In addition to its potential for treating Type 2 diabetes, tagatose shows potential for promoting weight loss and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, both important ancillary effects in controlling diabetes," the authors say, adding that tagatose is also an antioxidant and a prebiotic, both of which are considered important to good health.

Phase III clinical trials are currently underway.

Source: University of Maryland Medical Center