Insulin resistance is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). These abnormalities have been aggravated because of imbalanced and excess nutrition in developed countries, and rapid nutritional and lifestyle transition occurring in developing countries. This review presents evidence linking dietary nutrients with insulin resistance and its metabolic correlates, and also describes these issues from a Asian Indians and South Asian perspective. Despite possible influences from genetic and perinatal factors, diet and physical activity are likely to have greater and often overriding influence in pathogenesis of the insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome, and T2DM. In animal studies, a link has been established between dietary nutrients and insulin resistance. However, in human studies evidence is not as strong as in animals. Data suggest that dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) improve lipid profile and may have beneficial effect on insulin resistance. Dietary saturated fatty acids intake is positively associated with insulin resistance. Also, low glycaemic index foods and whole grain intake decrease insulin resistance. Importantly, high carbohydrate diets increase plasma triglycerides, cause hyperinsulinaemia and decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Among micronutrients, high magnesium and calcium intake have been reported to decrease insulin resistance. High intake of dietary carbohydrate and omega-6 PUFAs, low intake of omega-3 PUFAs and fiber, and high omega -6/omega-3 PUFAs ratio have been reported in South Asians. Our recent investigations have shown that increased dietary omega-6 PUFAs and saturated fat intake are significantly associated with fasting hyperinsulinaemia and sub-clinical inflammation, respectively. Such imbalanced diets contribute to high prevalence of insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome and T2DM in South Asians and Asian Indians.

The antibacterial and synergistic activity of the ethanol extract from Hyptis martiusii Benth. was assayed by microdillution. The growth of two isolates of Escherichia coli tested was inhibited by the extract. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) values ranged from 512 and >1024 microg/ml for the E. coli 27 and 1024 and > 1024 microg/ml for the E. coli ATCC8539, respectively. A synergism between this extract and all aminoglycosides assayed was demonstrated. In the same form synergism between chlorpromazine and kanamycin, amikacin and tobramycin was observed, indicating the involvement of an efflux system. Extracts from H. martiusii could be used as a source of plant derived natural products with modifying antibiotic activity and these products may interact and affect multidrug resistance systems (MDR) as efflux pumps.