attività di ricerca staff progetti internazionali contratti events pubblicazioni formazione servizi contatti

New findings on the virtues of Caiapo

ISIB logo




ISIB logo Home









cnr logo
Caiapo


The Institute of Biomedical Engineering (ISIB) of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), Bioengineering branch of Padova (Responsible Dr. Giovanni Pacini) participated with the Third Medical Clinic of the University of Vienna, Austria (Responsible Prof. Bernhard Ludvik) in studies on the beneficial effects in patients with type-2 diabetes (T2DM) of an extract from the skin of a sweet potato cultivated in Japan. This study is part of an ongoing cooperation with several European institutions aimed to assess through sophisticated mathematical/statistical techniques the effects of pharmacological agents and of other compounds on T2DM. In 2010 there will be 215 million T2DM worldwide (prevalence in Italy 4-5%) with high social costs (98 billion dollars in the USA in 1997 for medicines, disabilities and mortality).

A great deal of attention is therefore devoted to prevention and cure of this disease, almost considered an epidemic. The major pharma companies are investing large amount of energy in research and development of new drugs, but during the last years, attention has been directed also to evaluate the efficacy of natural products on diabetes control. However, as recently pointed out by the American Diabetes Association only very few compounds have shown their efficacy in randomized trials.

A variety of white sweet potato of South American origin, ipomoea batatas, cultivated in a mountainous region in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, has been eaten raw for many years in the belief that it is effective for anemia, hypertension and diabetes. The skin extract, Caiapo, is commercialized in Japan (Fuji-Sangyo), without medical prescription (http://www.caiapo.com). With these randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studies, we have investigated the efficacy and tolerability of Caiapo given for a limited time to Caucasian type 2 patients whose pharmacological antidiabetic medication has been withdrawn. The study has been carried out in Vienna, Swiss Canton Ticino and Dresden area in Germany.

The clinical experiments have been oral and intravenous glucose tests with measurement of blood concentrations of glucose, amino acids, lipids and hormones. Data have been analyzed with mathematical models and sophisticated statistical approaches developed at ISIB (formerly LADSEB) during the last 20 years. Metabolic parameters, characterized by elevated accuracy and precision, have been obtained with these methods.

The results showed a reduction of basal glycemia, cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin, with a general amelioration of the diabetic state of the patients. In addition, it has been demonstrated a reduction of insulin resistance, without body weight increase and augmented insulin secretion, thus limiting the pancreatic stress. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that a natural product such as Caiapo can be regarded as an effective compound in the treatment of T2DM. Other studies are still in progress to univocally identify the substance responsible for the antidiabetic effect of Caiapo.


Scientific Publications on the Studies on CAIAPO

Clinical Advisor
    Prof. Bernhard Ludvik
    Dept. Internal Medicine 3
    University of Vienna Medical School
    AKH-Wien
    Waehringer Guertel 18-20
    A 1090 Vienna, Austria
    send mail
Contact Person for Fuji-Sangyo Co.
    Dr. Osami AKI
    Fuji Sangyo co., Ltd.
    13-01 Tamura-Cho Marugame
    Kagawa-Pref.
    Japan 763
    send mail
Study Responsible