Abscisic Acid: The Science Behind Figs and Their Metabolic Benefits
Introduction
Figuring Out the Facts
As unsubstantiated health advice proliferates, the humble fruit faces unwarranted criticism owing to its natural sugar content. Contemporary dietary movements have marked fruit as being harmful to one’s health. This adverse perception has resulted in misunderstandings, particularly regarding specific plants such as the fig, Ficus carica L., which have a moderate to high ranking on the Glycemic Index (GI). However, this generalised approach falls short of recognising the nuanced benefits of the fig, which are supported by remarkable plant compounds such as Abscisic Acid (ABA).
The Role of Abscisic Acid (ABA) in Plant Physiology
In plant physiology, ABA functions as a pivotal plant hormone responsible for regulating diverse aspects of plant growth and development [1]. Its primary role within plants is associated with their responses to stress, particularly concerning drought tolerance, seed dormancy, and seedling growth [1, 2]. ABA facilitates the plant’s ability to navigate adverse conditions by coordinating physiological adjustments, such as the closure of stomata to minimise water loss, and the modulation of gene expression to bolster stress resilience [2].
From Plants to People: ABA’s Role in Human Physiology
Yet, the role of ABA extends far beyond plant stress responses, hinting at intriguing possibilities for its effects on human physiology. In mammals, some amount of ABA is produced endogenously, meaning that it is naturally produced within the human body [3] and is involved in many physiological processes [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The communication between ABA and its receptor, LANCL2, is at the core of these functions. LANCL2 has been identified as a crucial mediator of ABA effects within human cells [5]. Research at the molecular level has shown that ABA specifically binds to LANCL2, triggering a series of internal processes that affect metabolic functions [3, 5]. This binding is essential for the regulation of glucose and energy metabolism, especially in muscle and fat tissues [5]. For example, studies have demonstrated that ABA’s interaction with LANCL2 enhances glucose uptake in fat cells by activating GLUT4, a major transporter of glucose into cells [3, 5, 6]. Moreover, ABA impacts energy regulation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in muscle cells, a mechanism distinct from insulin, which typically inhibits AMPK and promotes fat storage [5].
Glycemic Control and Metabolic Benefits of ABA
Additionally, ABA has a positive impact on glycemic control. For example, a study in 2018 [6] found that taking ABA-rich supplements daily led to significant decreases in blood sugar levels after consuming a carbohydrate-rich meal. This was indicated by a lower area under the curve (AUC) for glycemia, showing reduced glucose exposure over time. Participants experienced substantial improvements over 75 days, including a 20.6% reduction in fasting blood glucose, a 5.7% decrease in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), as well as notable decreases in total cholesterol and body mass index. These findings underscore ABA’s effectiveness in stabilising blood sugar levels and improving metabolic health. Another study also demonstrated that ABA can notably lower peak plasma glucose and insulin levels after glucose intake [7]. By enhancing cellular insulin sensitivity, ABA seems to enhance glucose utilisation, reducing the need for high insulin secretion to manage blood sugar levels. Higher ABA doses resulted in greater reductions in both glycemic and insulinemic indices, suggesting a dose-dependent effect that supports improved blood sugar management and insulin efficiency.
The Fig Connection: A Natural Source of ABA
These insights support ABA as a promising candidate for managing metabolic syndrome. Groundbreaking, right? ABA is present in various plants, albeit typically in smaller amounts, though, some plants yield higher quantities, cue, the fig. The extract from fig fruit is a noteworthy source of ABA, delivering this beneficial compound to the human body in a natural, and effective way [3, 7]. The consistent use of ABA-enriched fig fruit extract has resulted in significant enhancements in various health indicators [3, 7]. Moreover, higher ABA doses from fig fruit extract have been shown to decrease glycemic load and insulinemic indices, indicating a dose-dependent enhancement in metabolic control [7]. In-depth analysis suggests that ABA-rich fig fruit extract enhances glycolytic and mitochondrial ATP production in human skeletal muscle cells, and, when combined with insulin, it notably increases glycogen synthesis rates [3], thus improving the energy available to muscle cells and enhancing their ability for glucose storage and utilisation. Once again, this indicates that fig fruit extract, through its ABA content, holds potential in supporting improved metabolic health and energy regulation, particularly in situations where glucose uptake and storage are crucial.
Beyond Blood Sugar: Additional Health Benefits of Figs
Moreover, we can see that ABA-enriched fig fruit extract demonstrates potential benefits in managing glucose metabolism, and inflammation without inducing hyperinsulinemia (an excess of insulin in the blood), which could be advantageous in the prevention, and management of type 2 diabetes and reducing pancreatic stress. These insights boast significantly of the fig, and rightly so. Figs have a vast array of additional health benefits, yielding antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties [9]. Beyond these findings, figs, due to their fibre content can be a useful therapy in alleviating constipation. In a recent clinical study [9] involving individuals with irritable bowel syndrome with predominant constipation, patients were given either 45 g of dried figs or 30 g of dried flixweed. The findings indicated significant changes in IBS symptoms, such as decreased frequency of pain, bowel movements, and hard stool, following the consumption of figs or flixweed in comparison to the control group–proving that figs really do know how to ‘fig-ure’ things out!
Rethinking Fruit: A Call for Evidence-Based Decisions
Thus, we can argue the importance of making well-informed decisions about the inclusion or exclusion of certain plant foods and suggest that your decisions are grounded in scientific evidence rather than anecdotal or unverified claims. This information shows the need to move away from generalised approaches, and instead explore the core value of figs and fruit alike and focus on the merit that they hold within a balanced diet. Debunk the unfounded criticisms against plants based on their natural sugar content and celebrate their nuanced benefits, rather than unfairly stigmatising them based on their GI load alone.
References
[1] Chen, K., Li, G. J., Bressan, R. A., Song, C. P., Zhu, J. K., & Zhao, Y. (2020). Abscisic acid dynamics, signaling, and functions in plants. Journal of integrative plant biology, 62(1), 25–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/jipb.12899
[2] Muhammad Aslam, M., Waseem, M., Jakada, B. H., Okal, E. J., Lei, Z., Saqib, H. S. A., Yuan, W., Xu, W., & Zhang, Q. (2022). Mechanisms of Abscisic Acid-Mediated Drought Stress Responses in Plants. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(3), 1084. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031084
[3] Leber, A., Hontecillas, R., Tubau-Juni, N., et al. (2020). Abscisic acid enriched fig extract promotes insulin sensitivity by decreasing systemic inflammation and activating LANCL2 in skeletal muscle. Scientific Reports, 10, 10463. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67300-2
[4] Han, T., Xu, Y., Liu, H., Sun, L., Cheng, X., Shen, Y., & Wei, J. (2024). Function and mechanism of abscisic acid on microglia-induced neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(9), 4920. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094920
[5] Magnone, M., Sturla, L., Guida, L., Spinelli, S., Begani, G., Bruzzone, S., Fresia, C., & Zocchi, E. (2020). Abscisic acid: A conserved hormone in plants and humans and a promising aid to combat prediabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Nutrients, 12(6), 1724. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061724
[6] Magnone, M., Leoncini, G., Vigliarolo, T., Emionite, L., Sturla, L., Zocchi, E., & Murialdo, G. (2018). Chronic intake of micrograms of abscisic acid improves glycemia and lipidemia in a human study and in high-glucose fed mice. Nutrients, 10(10), 1495. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101495
[7] Atkinson, F. S., Villar, A., Mulà, A., Zangara, A., Risco, E., Smidt, C. R., Hontecillas, R., Leber, A., & Bassaganya-Riera, J. (2019). Abscisic acid standardized fig (Ficus carica) extracts ameliorate postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in healthy adults. Nutrients, 11(8), 1757. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081757
[8] Sandhu, A. K., Islam, M., Edirisinghe, I., & Burton-Freeman, B. (2023). Phytochemical Composition and Health Benefits of Figs (Fresh and Dried): A Review of Literature from 2000 to 2022. Nutrients, 15(11), 2623. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112623
[9] Pourmasoumi, M., Ghiasvand, R., Darvishi, L., Hadi, A., Bahreini, N., & Keshavarzpour, Z. (2019). Comparison and assessment of flixweed and fig effects on irritable bowel syndrome with predominant constipation: A single-blind randomized clinical trial. Explore, 15(3), 198–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2018.09.003