DOI: 10.22270/jmpas.VIC2I2.1833 ISSN NO.

2320–7418

Review article
Potential health benefits of millets as dietary supplement for diabetics
Nardev Singh*1, Pankaj Nainwal1, Archana Dhyani1, Shatakshi Lall1, Sanjay Kumar2
1
Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
2
Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
ABSTRACT
Whole grains like millet, brown rice, oatmeal, barley is part of the human diet since long, and they are shown to have a rich fiber content in
them that results in slowing down the process of digestion which further helps in maintaining optimum level of sugar in the blood. They are rich
source of phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, dietary fibers which help in the prevention of diabetes. The bioactive compounds present in millets
could improve health by means of their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic activities. It is also alkaline forming grains that play an
important role in the body immune system. Millets are underutilized grains despite the presence of high nutritional components as compared to other
cereals. It would be worth to add millets in our daily diet to improve the health of diabetics of developing as well as developed countries. As millets
have potential for preparation of healthy foods it required a promotion regarding their utilization. The objective of the present study is to collect the
available information related to benefiting properties of millets to manage the diabetes.

Keywords: Whole grains, Millets, Nutrients, Bioactive compounds, Diabetes

Received - 03-09-2021, Accepted- 24/12/2021
Correspondence: Nardev Singh*  nardev71@yahoo.co.in
Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

INTRODUCTION
Regular consumption of whole grains, maize, oats, barley
and millets protect against development of chronic disease like,
cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes [1-5]. Such grains
are known to have a rich number of fibers, minerals, different
vitamins and various phenolic compounds [6-9].
Whole grains are shown to have a beneficial effect of the
health on the humans as they are a rich source of antioxidants. They
are beneficial in improving sensitivity towards insulin, inhibition of
inflammation and humanizing lipid profile [10 -12].
The common millets are Sorghum (Jowar) and Pearl
(Bajra) while smaller millets comprise Finger millet (Ragi), Foxtail
millet (Korra), Proso millet (Variga), Barnyard millet (Jhingora),
Kodomillet (Varagu) and little millet (Sama) [13]. Millet is known to
be cultivated from the past 10,000 years in Eastern Asia and is a
widely eaten food in the history of human civilization. In the entire
world India stands at the first place as the most gigantic producer of
millets [14]. Over 58% of global production is millets, but very few
Indians are acquiring the knowledge of its health benefits and their
nutritional value [15]. Reports shown that more than around 1/3rd of
the total population in the world consumes millets and therefore it is a
cereal grain of much importance. India, China, Africa, Egypt and
Journal of medical pharmaceutical and allied sciences, Volume Int. Conference 2 – Issue 2, 1833, January February 2022, Page – 224-227
Greece is the leading producer of the millets. They are chief
food component specially the underprivileged section of the societies.
It is used to prepare diverse types of conventional food items and
beverages like bread, millet nutrition powder, snack, porridge, millet
wine and roti [16].
BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF MILLETS
Phytoconstituents which are present in millet includes like
phenol, sterol, dietary fiber, lignan, inulin, β-glucan, tocopherol and
carotenoids. Flavonoids and Polyphenols that have an antioxidant
characteristic and is present in very small amount. It has a vital role
in building the body’s immunity [16].
It also helps in reducing the weight and packed with fibers,
protein and iron. Policosanols which is present in millets helps in
reducing the level of cholesterol [17].
Millets are rich in vitamins, minerals such as calcium, zinc,
iron and phytochemical with antioxidant properties [18].
Ragi which is also known as Finger Millets has a great
amount of Calcium in it. Little as well as Kodo millets are known to
contain about 37-38% dietary fibers and this amount is amongst the
greatest among various cereals and they are also high in
polyunsaturated fatty acids [19]. It also contains a high amount of the
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essential amino acids required by the humans like lysine and valine
[20].
Foxtail millet
Millets have high content of folic acid, phosphorous, iron, potassium
and vitamin B. Finger millet contains about 16 percentages more
Calcium as compared to Maize. It is also reported that the mount of
Proso millet
Niacin id much greater in Pearl Millet as compared to all other
cereals. Millets are also a great source of antioxidants and easy to
digest due to absence of gluten [21].
The vitamin B such as riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, thiamin, beta Barnyard millet
carotene, antioxidants, essential amino acids & fatty acids are there in
millets in high number which further has an important role in
synthesizing energy in the body [22].
Kodo millet
NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF MILLETS
All the millets are three to five times higher in their
nutrition content when compared to nutritional content of widely used
rice and wheat grains. Wheat and rice provide with security of food
Little millet
while millets give many securities like food, health, nutrition,
livelihood, animal feed etc, making millets as yield of agricultural
security. Millets are having nutritional and health benefits and they MILLETS V/S DIABETES
Diabetes is found in millions of people throughout the
also help in managing health problems like diabetes mellitus,
world. Millets play an important role in prevention of type II diabetes
hyperlipidemia, etc [13].
due to presence of the magnesium in abundance which helps in
As compared to wheat and rice nutritional value of millets
increasing the efficiency of insulin and glucose receptors by
are way ahead. Millets has more fibre than wheat and rice, finger
producing many carbohydrate digesting enzymes [17].
millets have 30 times more calcium than rice while other millets have
Researchers find out that millets reduce the α-glucosidase and
at least double amount of calcium to rice [23]. The issue of
pancreatic amylase thereby reducing the hydrolysis of various
malnutrition can be solved if the health of the humans and their
carbohydrates by the enzymes and further causing a reduction in
fitness is maintained by keeping the quality of dietary food in mind
postprandial glucose level [26].
[24].
It has been reported that blood sugar level of diabetic
Table 1: nutrition content
Millets Protein Fat Dietary Iron Calcium person was decreased due to regular consumption of millets: wheat
(g) (g) fiber(g) (mg) (mg)
Sorghum (Jowar) 10.00 1.70 10.20 3.95 27.60 flour in the ratio of 30:70 respectively [27].
Pearl millet (Bajra) 11.00 5.40 11.50 8.00 42.00
Finger millet (Ragi) 7.20 1.90 11.20 4.62 364 Potential health benefit of millets includes anti diabetic
Foxtail millet (Korra) 12.30 4.30 …… 2.80 31.00
property and low glycemic index may be helpful in reducing the
Proso millet (Variga) 12.50 1.10 …… 0.80 14.00
Barnyard millet (Jhingora) 6.20 4.40 …… 5.00 20.00 postprandial blood glucose level and glycosylated hemoglobin. [28].
Kodo millet (Varagu) 8.90 2.60 6.40 2.34 15.27
Little millet (Sama) 10.40 3.90 7.70 1.26 16.06 Phenolic compounds which are present in millet are known to inhibit
Source: Nutritive value of Indian foods. [25] enzymes known as inhibit pancreatic amylase and α glucosidase, that
Figure 1: photograph of millets is known to decrease the glucose level of which is known to be
caused by reduction in carbohydrate hydrolysis by different enzymes.
Sorgam An enzyme known as Aldose reductase helps in preventing the
accumulation of sorbitol which further reduces the risk of cataract
induced by diabetes. [29]

Pearl millet A decline in diabetes has been reported in people who

consumed millets. Phenolic compounds present in millets usually
inactivate pancreatic amylase, alpha glucosidase and it also reduces
hyperglycemia by inhibiting the enzymatic hydrolysis of
Finger millet
carbohydrates [30,31].

It is reported that the diabetic animals when given finger

Journal of medical pharmaceutical and allied sciences, Volume Int. Conference 2 – Issue 2, 1833, January February 2022, Page – 224-227 225
DOI: 10.22270/jmpas.VIC2I2.1833
millets as food for a period of four weeks are known to have a control
on the levels of glucose and also improves the status of antioxidants
[26].
Millets provide a lot of health benefits if taken in the daily
diet and helps in the control of conditions such as obesity, diabeties
mellitus and hyperlipidemia [13].
CONCLUSION
Major portion of the millets is utilized traditionally as food
in developing countries. Previous studies have shown that millet is
healthy, nutritious and regular consumption is related with less risk of
developing chronic disease such as diabetes. Foods’s products
prepared from millets are considered healthy choices however their
consumption remains well below in developed countries.
Millets have many healthy nutrients required for proper
functioning of the body. It contains vitamin B which helps in
breakdown of carbohydrate and fats. High amount of fiber in millets
helps in preventing overeating and also in management of weight.
Peoples are facing many health problems because of fiber-less foods.
Different types of diseases caused due to the lifestyle may be cured
just by eating millets in breakfast, lunch and dinner. People should be
made aware about the healthy dietary intake as the world is facing
large number of health problems due to poor dietary intake. As
millets have potential for preparation of healthy foods it required a
promotion with regard to their utilization. It would be worth to add
millets in our daily diet to improve the health of the people of
developing as well as developed countries.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors would like to thank and express sincere gratitude
towards the School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand for providing great support and guidance.
DECLARATIONS
Funding: Nil
Conflict of interest: Nil
Ethical approval: NA
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How to cite this article
Nardev Singh, Pankaj Nainwal, Archana Dhyani, Shatakshi
Lall, Sanjay Kumar, 2022. Potential health benefits of millets
as dietary supplement for diabetics. J. Med. P’ceutical Allied
Sci., VIC 2 – I 2, P- 224-227. doi : 10.22270/jmpas.VIC2I2.
1833

Journal of medical pharmaceutical and allied sciences, Volume Int. Conference 2 – Issue 2, 1833, January February 2022, Page – 224-227 227