Sweet Potato for Blood Sugar Regulation

Research suggests that sweet potato and its various components — including anthocyanins from purple varieties, polyphenols from the leaves, soluble dietary fiber, and small-molecule fractions from white-skinned varieties — may support blood sugar regulation through several complementary mechanisms, such as improving insulin sensitivity, stimulating GLP-1 release, reducing liver glucose production, and favorably shifting gut microbiome composition. Studies indicate these effects have been observed across multiple biological targets and sweet potato preparations, with a systematic review of roughly 23 studies and a supporting 2022 review of clinical and preclinical literature both finding consistent directional evidence for glucose-lowering effects. However, the large majority of available evidence comes from animal models and laboratory experiments, with very limited human trial data, meaning it remains unclear how well these findings translate to people or what forms and amounts might be relevant. The overall body of evidence points in a supportive direction, but readers should recognize that robust clinical trials in humans are still needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about sweet potato's role in blood sugar management.