What do you know about ABC?

The ABC Story

The seed for the vision of the American Botanical Council (ABC) germinated back in the 1970s when ABC Founder and Executive Director, Mark Blumernthal, was selling bulk herbs and herbal products via his business, Sweethardt Herbs. Mark realized that his customers had little knowledge regarding the herbal medicine options that exist around the world, and this pushed him in the direction of education.

In 1977 when he was a founding member and one-time president of the Herb Trade Association, Mark began publishing Herb News, an industry newsletter that evolved six years later into HerbalGram. The first 17 issues of HerbalGram were black and white, and the first few issues were only 8-12 pages, but as the public demand for more herbal education resources grew, so did the publication. Former HerbalGram Managing Editor, Barbara Johnston, began working with Blumenthal in 1983 on the second issue of HerbalGram using an early Macintosh computer and a Daisy Wheel printer. She believes the growth of the herbal medicine movement has directly been encouraged and sustained through the exhaustive efforts and energy level of Blumenthal. “Mark has always had a passion and determination for compiling reliable, scientific herbal data that could be reviewed on a professional level.”

As the herbal industry grew in the US and began facing growing opposition from federal regulatory agencies, Mark saw a need to provide reliable, scientifically sound information about medicinal herbs not only to professionals in healthcare industries, but also to an increasingly confused public. On November 1, 1988 the American Botanical Council was incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit educational and research organization. Much of the attention and activity generated in the early days of ABC was demand for Mark as a speaker or as an editor and writer of herbal research articles.

In the summer of 1993, ABC received funding for a first of its kind project that would involve the testing of hundreds of Ginseng products, the Ginseng Evaluation Program. In 1994, ABC developed the HerbClip™ Educational Mailing Service which currently involves sending selected articles with summaries and critical reviews written by ABC writers every two weeks to industry leaders, research scientists, and healthcare professionals.

In 1998, ABC implemented yet another educational resource, internship program that brings dietitian and pharmacy students to ABC for one- through six-week rotations. As part of its educational mission, ABC started early on in its history to promote hard-to-find, scientific publications through ads in HerbalGram. The Herbal Education Catalog continues to be one of the best sources of a variety of well-referenced and well-researched herbal publications.

Summer of 1998 saw the completion of one of ABC’s most important projects, the publication of the English translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs—Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. The late Distinguished Professor of Pharmacognosy Emeritus Varro Tyler called the Commission E monographs “the most accurate information available in the entire world on the safety and efficacy of herbs and phytomedicines.” Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs, the expanded and updated version of the core Commission E material, intended to enhance the value and convenience of the monographs for quick referral and everyday use was published in 2000.

As part of its mission to educate healthcare professionals about herbal medicine, ABC leads ethnobotanical tours that provide attendees with the opportunity to earn continuing education credits in various locations around the world. ABC has also produced four continuing education modules for healthcare professionals. 2003 will see the publication of ABC’s fifth continuing education module, The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs.

For most of its first 10 years, ABC operated out of Mark’s home. Bedrooms became offices for the various departments, shipping was done out of the garage, staff meetings took place around the kitchen table until staff grew so large it took over the living room for its meetings, and an elaborate filing system developed on the pool table. As the size and scope of ABC grew, the search began for a new, permanent home for the organization. In July of 1998, ABC moved to its new home, the Case Mill Homestead.

Thank you for reading our story. It’s not over yet, so we hope you will visit again soon. If you like what you’ve learned so far, we hope you will consider supporting ABC in its educational mission by becoming a member today.

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Cinnamon for Blood Sugar

Cinnamon may lead to slower emptying of the stomach reducing the rise in blood sugar after eating, a 2006 study reports.

Researchers from the University of Lund in Sweden explained that previous studies of patients with type 2 diabetes showed that cinnamon lowers fasting serum glucose (sugar), triacylglycerol and LDL (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol concentrations.

The study investigated the effect of cinnamon on the rate of gastric (stomach) emptying, the post-meal blood sugar response and satiety in healthy subjects.
Researchers measured the gastric emptying rate (GER) using standardized real-time ultrasonography. The 14 healthy subjects were examined after an eight-hour fast to determine if they had normal fasting blood glucose concentrations. The participants consumed 300 grams of rice pudding or 300 grams rice pudding plus 6 grams cinnamon.
The study found that the addition of cinnamon to the rice pudding reduced gastric emptying from 37 to 34.5 percent as well as delayed the rise in blood glucose levels after eating. No effect of cinnamon was found on satiety.

The study authors concluded that the intake of 6 grams cinnamon with rice pudding reduces post-meal blood sugar and delays stomach emptying without affecting satiety.
Integrative therapies with good scientific evidence in the treatment of diabetes include beta-glucan, bitter melon, ginseng, gymnema and stevia.

1. Hlebowicz J, Darwiche G, Björgell O, et al. Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1552-6.
2. Natural Standard Research Collaboration: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com. Copyright © 2007.

Herbs fight fat and diabetes

Herbs Used for Improving Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome
Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. February 2005;

Obesity is a public health concern in the United States, and millions of people try to lose weight each year through diet, exercise, hypnotherapy, and other means. Being overweight stresses the body in various ways. People who are overweight have imbalances in their endocrine system that lead to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. Insulin is a hormone responsible for moving carbohydrates, the principle energy source for the body, into cells where it can be utilized. When cells are unable to use insulin, blood sugar rises. When blood sugar is elevated and the cells are unable use the sugar to make energy, sugars are converted by the liver into fat. Botanical supplements can help restore insulin sensitivity and improve the metabolic syndrome.

Four plants that increase insulin sensitivity are mentioned in this article. They are fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre), banaba (Lagerstroemea spp.), and bitter melon (Momordica charantia).

Fenugreek helps control blood sugar by stimulating the release of insulin, and is used extensively in the treatment of diabetes. Supplementing with 15 g/day fenugreek "significantly reduced glucose levels after meals" in
one human study.

Gymnema is also called gur-mar, or "sugar destroyer." It has the interesting ability to temporarily wipe out the ability to taste sugar when placed on the tongue, and to control blood sugar levels when ingested. It is native to India, where it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Gymnema leaves reduce blood glucose and stimulate insulin secretion.

Similarly, banaba leaf also reduces blood glucose. Unlike fenugreek and gymnema, however, banaba does not appear to increase insulin secretion. Rather, it increases the ability of the body to use the insulin it naturally produces. Banaba leaf contains corosolic acid, "reduced serum glucose in people with type 2 diabetes, but did not reduce serum glucose in healthy individuals." The recommended dose of banaba is 16–48 mg of corosolic acid daily. Animal studies have shown that banaba leaf reduces triglycerides, fat mass, serum insulin and urinary glucose excretion.

Bitter melon is also known as African cucumber, balsam pear, and bitter gourd. It has traditionally been used in Asian cultures to regulate blood sugar in diabetics, "and for colitis, dysentery, intestinal worms, jaundice, and fever." Bitter melon fruit contain chemicals, such as insulin-like peptides and alkaloids. Two herbs are mentioned specifically for weight loss when combined with other herbs- yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and guarana (Paullinia cupana). Both originate in South America.

Yerba mate is cultivated in Paraguay, Brazil, and northern Argentina, while guarana is native to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Both are stimulants. Yerba mate leaves contain 0.56% caffeine and 0.03% theobromine, central nervous system (CNS) stimulant alkaloids. Theobromine is also a stronger cardiac stimulant. Yerba mate is also an appetite suppressant and diuretic. Guarana contains 2.5–7% caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. Guarana is used extensively in South America in beverages. Traditionally, guarana was used "to relieve fatigue, boost energy, aid concentration and brighten mood." Approximately 15% of adults are sensitive to caffeine and have a low tolerance to these supplements.

The author reports, however, that in people who are not sensitive to caffeine, "up to 300 mg/day caffeine is generally safe and beneficial for most adults."


Kilham C. Herbs to fight fat and diabetes. Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. February
2005;

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Fenugreek and Diabetes

Fenugreek may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the School of Medicine in China examined fenugreek extract for its effects on general properties, blood glucose (sugar), blood lipid, and other parameters in experimental diabetic rats.

Fenugreek seeds have previously been shown to have blood sugar-lowering and cholesterol-lowering effects in type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients and experimental diabetic animals.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were administrated three different doses of fenugreek extract and metformin for six weeks.
Compared with the diabetic control group, rats treated fenugreek extract showed a dose-dependent lower blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total cholesterol and higher HDL (good cholesterol).

The study authors concluded that fenugreek extract can lower blood glucose, blood lipid levels and improve other properties in experimental diabetic rats following repeated treatment for six weeks.

Reference:

1. Xue WL, Li XS, Zhang J, et al. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) extract on blood glucose, blood lipid and hemorheological properties in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16 Suppl 1:422-6.View Abstract.
2. Natural Standard Research Collaboration: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com. Copyright © 2007.

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Do you need some Humor

HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam . Now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands

Take a look at HEMA's product page - just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens...

DON'T click on any of the items in the picture or move your mouse, just wait...

This company has a sense of humor and a great computer programmer, who has too much time on his hands...

http://producten.hema.nl/

FDA Rejects Highly-Anticipated Diet Drug Qnexa

Published October 29, 2010 Associated Press

Federal health regulators have decided not to approve an experimental diet pill called Qnexa, which had been touted by many experts as the most promising weight-loss drug in more than a decade.

The drug's maker, Vivus Inc., said in a statement Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration declined to approve the drug in its present form. The agency asked for more study results and additional information on its possible health risks, including major cardiovascular events and risks for women of childbearing potential.
The FDA did not ask for any new clinical studies, but more may be required if the agency's concerns aren't addressed, Vivus said.

The company plans to respond to the FDA in about six weeks.

"We remain confident in the efficacy and safety profile of Qnexa demonstrated in the clinical development program and look forward to continue working with the FDA towards the approval for the treatment of obesity," Vivus CEO Leland Wilson said in a statement.

Its shares added 5 cents to $6.18 in aftermarket trading Thursday. The stock added 5 cents to $6.13 during the regular session.

Vivus, based in Mountain View, Calif., is one of three small drugmakers racing to win approval for their weight-loss drugs. Many analysts picked Qnexa as the most promising contender because of the high level of weight loss reported in company studies: On average, patients lost more than 10 percent total body mass. That compared to weight loss of under 5 percent with drugs currently on the market, like Roche's Xenical.

But Qnexa's outlook took a significant hit in July, when a panel of experts assembled by the FDA voted 10-6 to not recommend the drug's approval. Panelists said the drug was associated with a number of dangerous side effects, including suicidal thoughts, heart palpitations, memory lapses and birth defects.

With rates of obesity and diabetes rising globally, doctors say new weight-loss drugs are needed, though the drug class has a history of safety problems.
Vivus is the second weight-loss drug rejected by the FDA in the past week. On Saturday, Arena Pharmaceuticals announced that the agency declined to approve its drug lorcaserin, citing tumors seen in rats during early stage testing. The San Diego-based company said it still hopes to win approval for the drug and would submit more detailed information, at the agency's request.

FDA's rejection of drugs from Vivus and Arena will focus new attention on the third competitor in the weight-loss drug race: Orexigen Therapeutics. The company's drug Contrave has shown weight loss between 5 and 10 percent with modest side effects, though FDA's decisions this week suggest a strict standard for safety.
One of the key researchers in the development of Qnexa warned that the FDA's negative decision on the drug could have a cooling effect on industry efforts.

"If there isn't any kind of path forward for this drug I think it is going to shut down all obesity drug development for a decade," said Dr. Tim Garvey of the University of Alabama. Garvey conducted two clinical trials of Qnexa and has consulted for Vivus.

"Why would a company put all that investment into developing a drug if the FDA signals they aren't willing to approve it," he said.

With U.S. obesity rates nearing 35 percent among adults, doctors and public health officials say new weight-loss therapies are desperately needed. And even a modestly effective drug could have blockbuster potential.

But the search for a drug that helps patients safely shed pounds has been largely unsuccessful. Two weeks ago Abbott Laboratories withdrew its pill Meridia from U.S. and Canadian markets after regulators said it increased the risk of heart attack and stroke.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/10/29/fda-rejects-highly-anticipated-diet-drug-qnexa/

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Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre)

Brief Background:

Gymnema leaves have been used for more than 2,000 years in India to treat madhu meha, or "honey urine." It has been used alone and as a component of the Ayurvedic medicinal compound, "Tribang shila," a mixture of tin, lead, zinc, Gymnema sylvestre leaves, neem leaves (Melia azadirachta), Enicostemma littorale, and jambul seeds (Eugenia jambolana).

Preliminary human evidence suggests that gymnema may be efficacious for the management of serum glucose levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as an adjunct to conventional drug therapy, for up to 20 months. Gymnema appears to lower serum glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels following chronic use, but may not have significant acute effects (1). Some of the available research has been conducted by authors affiliated with manufacturers of gymnema products. High-quality human trials are lacking in this area (2; 3; 4).

There is also early evidence suggesting possible efficacy of gymnema as a lipid-lowering agent. Gymnema was shown in one study to possess antimicrobial action against Bacillis pumilis, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus but not against E. coli and Proteus vulgaris (5).

One of the major side effects or actions of gymnema is taste alteration. Studies have shown that gymnema reduces the perception of sweetness inside the mouth and seems to increase the perception of bitterness by neural inhibition (6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12).

Expert Opinion and Folkloric Precedent:

Gymnema leaves have been used for more than 2,000 years in India to treat madhu meha, or "honey urine." It has been used alone and as a component of the Ayurvedic medicinal compound, "Tribang shila," a mixture of tin, lead, zinc, Gymnema sylvestre leaves, neem leaves (Melia azadirachta), Enicostemma littorale, and jambul seeds (Eugenia jambolana). Traditional healers observed that chewing the leaves of gymnema resulted in a reversible loss of sweet-taste perception.

The plant has also been used in African healing traditions; for example, Tanzanian healers used it as an aphrodisiac. Other traditional applications include use as an anti-malarial agent, digestive stimulant, laxative, diuretic, and snake venom antidote.

Gymnema sylvestre is a woody, climbing plant native to India. The leaves are most commonly used medicinally, although the stem is also believed to possess some pharmacological action. The leaves have been used for over 2,000 years in India to treat madhu meha, or "honey urine." Chewing the leaves was noted to diminish the ability to discriminate sweet tastes, which along with hypoglycemic properties may have prompted the Hindi name gurmar, or "sugar destroyer." Gymnema has a long history of use in individuals with diabetes.

Extracts of gymnema are widely used in Australian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indian folk medicine. Gymnema preparations modulate taste, particularly suppressing sweet taste sensations, and are used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and in food additives against obesity and caries. Gymnema has become a popular natural product used in the management of blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes and is believed by some to play a role in reducing serum lipids (41).

Reference
1. Baskaran, K, Ahamath, BK, Shanmugasundaram, KR, and et all. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharm 1990;30:295-305.
2. Cicero, A. F., Derosa, G., and Gaddi, A. What do herbalists suggest to diabetic patients in order to improve glycemic control? Evaluation of scientific evidence and potential risks. Acta Diabetol. 2004;41(3):91-98. View Abstract
3. Grover, J. K., Yadav, S., and Vats, V. Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81(1):81-100. View Abstract
4. Shapiro, K. and Gong, W. C. Natural products used for diabetes. J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash.) 2002;42(2):217-226. View Abstract
5. Satdive, R. K., Abhilash, P., and Fulzele, D. P. Antimicrobial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract. Fitoterapia 2003;74(7-8):699-701. View Abstract
6. Brala, P and Hagen, R. Effects of sweetness perception and caloric value of a preload on short term intake. Physiol Behav 1983;30:1-9.
7. Lawless, H. T. Evidence for neural inhibition in bittersweet taste mixtures. J Comp Physiol Psychol 1979;93(3):538-547. View Abstract
8. Meiselman, H. L. and Halpern, B. P. Effects of Gymnema sylvestre on complex tastes elicited by amino acids and sucrose. Physiol Behav. 1970;5(12):1379-1384. View Abstract
9. Meiselman, H. L. and Halperin, B. P. Human judgments of Gymnema sylvestre and sucrose mixtures. Physiol Behav. 1970;5(8):945-948. View Abstract
10. Min, B. C. and Sakamoto, K. Influence of sweet suppressing agent on gustatory brain evoked potentials generated by taste stimuli. Appl.Human Sci. 1998;17(1):9-17. View Abstract
11. Simons, C. T., O'Mahony, M., and Carstens, E. Taste suppression following lingual capsaicin pre-treatment in humans. Chem.Senses 2002;27(4):353-365. View Abstract
12. Warren, R. P., Warren, R. M., and Weninger, M. G. Inhibition of the sweet taste by Gymnema sylvestre. Nature 7-5-1969;223(201):94-95. View Abstract
13. Shimizu K and et al. Suppression of glucose absorption by extracts from the leaves of Gymnema inodorum. J Vet Med Sci 1997;59:753-757.
14. Preuss HG, Gondal JA, Bustos E, and et al. Effect of chromium and guar on sugar-induced hypertension in rats. Clin Neph 1995;44:170-177.
15. Preuss HG, Jarrell ST, Scheckenbach R, and et al. Comparative effects of chromium, vanadium and gymnema sylvestre on sugar-induced blood pressure elevations in SHR. J Amer Coll Nutrit 1998;17(2):116-123.
16. Kothe A and Uppal R. Antidiabetic effects of Gymnema sylvestre in NIDDM - a short study. Indian J Homeopath Med 1997;32(1-2):61-62, 66.
17. Khare AK, Tondon RN, and Tewari JP. Hypoglycaemic activity of an indigenous drug (Gymnema sylvestre, "Gurmar") in normal and diabetic persons. Indian J Physiol Pharm 1983;27:257-258.
18. Preuss, H. G., Garis, R. I., Bramble, J. D., Bagchi, D., Bagchi, M., Rao, C. V., and Satyanarayana, S. Efficacy of a novel calcium/potassium salt of (-)-hydroxycitric acid in weight control. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 2005;25(3):133-144. View Abstract
19. Shanmugasundaram ERB, Rajeswari G, Baskaran K, and et al. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharm 1990;30(3):281-294.
20. Srivastava Y, Bhatt HV, Prem AS, and et al. Hypoglycemic and life-prolonging properties of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in diabetic rats. Israel J Med Sci 1985;21:540-542.
21. Shanmugasundaram KR, Panneerselvam C, Samudram P, and et al. Enzyme changes and glucose utilisation in diabetic rabbits: the effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. J Ethnopharm 1983;7:205-234.
22. Okabayashi, Y., Tani, S., Fujisawa, T., Koide, M., Hasegawa, H., Nakamura, T., Fujii, M., and Otsuki, M. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1990;9(2):143-148. View Abstract
23. Shanmugasundaram ERB, Gopinath KL, Shanmugasundaram KR, and et al. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin-diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. J Ethnopharm 1990;30:265-279.
24. Chattopadhyay RR. Possible mechanism of antihyperglycemic effect of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract, Part I. Gen Pharm 1998;31(3):495-496.
25. Gupta SS and Variyar MC. Experimental studies on pituitary diabetes IV. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre and Coccinia indica against the hyperglycemia response of somatotrophin and corticotrophin hormones. Indian J Med Res 1964;52:200-207.
26. Tominaga M, Kimura M, Sugiyama K, and et al. Effects of seishin-renshi-in and Gymnema sylvestre on insulin resistance in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabet Res Clin Pract 1995;29:11-17.
27. Kamei, K, Takano, R, Miyasaka, A, and et al. Amino acid sequence of sweet-taste-suppressing peptide (gurmarin) from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre. J Biochem 1992;111:109-112.
28. Imoto, T, Miyasaka, A, Ishima, R, and et all. A novel peptide isolated from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre - I. Characterization and its suppressive effect on the neural responses to sweet taste stimuli in the rat. Comp Biochem Physiol A 1991;100(2):309-314.
29. Koch RB, Desaiah D, and Cutkomp LK. Inhibition of ATPases by gymnemic acid. Chem Biol Interact 1973;7:121-125.
30. Bishayee, A and Chatterjee, M. Hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic effects of oral gymnema sylvestre R. Br. leaf extract in albino rats fed a high fat diet. Phytother Res 1994;8:118-120.
31. Terasawa H, Miyoshi M, and Imoto T. Effects of long-term administration of Gymnema sylvestre watery-extract on variations of body weight, plasma glucose, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and insulin in Wistar fatty rats. Yonago Acta Med 1994;37:117-127.
32. Wang LF, Luo H, Miyoshi M, and et al. Inhibitory effect of gymnemic acid on intestinal absorption of oleic acid in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1998;76:1017-1023.
33. Persaud, S. J., Al Majed, H., Raman, A., and Jones, P. M. Gymnema sylvestre stimulates insulin release in vitro by increased membrane permeability. J Endocrinol 1999;163(2):207-212. View Abstract
34. Sinsheimer JE, Rao GS, and McIlhenny HM. Constituents from Gymnema sylvestre leaves V. Isolation and preliminary characterization of the gymnemic acids. J Pharm Sci 1970;59(5):622-628.
35. Yoshikawa, M., Murakami, T., Kadoya, M., Li, Y., Murakami, N., Yamahara, J., and Matsuda, H. Medicinal foodstuffs. IX. The inhibitors of glucose absorption from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. BR. (Asclepiadaceae): structures of gymnemosides a and b. Chem.Pharm Bull.(Tokyo) 1997;45(10):1671-1676. View Abstract
36. Murakami, N, Murakami, T, Kadoya, M, and et all. New hypoglycemic constituents in "gymnemic acid" from Gymnema sylvestre. Chem Pharm Bull 1996;44(2):469-471.
37. Ananthan, R., Baskar, C., NarmathaBai, V., Pari, L., Latha, M., and Ramkumar, K. M. Antidiabetic effect of Gymnema montanum leaves: effect on lipid peroxidation induced oxidative stress in experimental diabetes. Pharmacol Res 2003;48(6):551-556. View Abstract
38. Ananthan, R., Latha, M., Pari, L., Ramkumar, K. M., Baskar, C. G., and Bai, V. N. Effect of Gymnema montanum on blood glucose, plasma insulin, and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. J Med Food 2003;6(1):43-49. View Abstract
39. Gholap, S. and Kar, A. Effects of Inula racemosa root and Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts in the regulation of corticosteroid induced diabetes mellitus: involvement of thyroid hormones. Pharmazie 2003;58(6):413-415. View Abstract
40. Jiang, H. [Advances in the study on hypoglycemic constituents of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) Schult]. Zhong.Yao Cai. 2003;26(4):305-307. View Abstract
41. Porchezhian, E. and Dobriyal, R. M. An overview on the advances of Gymnema sylvestre: chemistry, pharmacology and patents. Pharmazie 2003;58(1):5-12. View Abstract

Source: Natural Standard

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Gymnema Sylvestre and Diabetes

Description
Gymnema is a plant used medicinally in India and Southeast Asia for treatment of “sweet urine” of what we refer to in the West as diabetes or hyperglycemia. In ancient Indian texts, gymnema is referred to as gurmar, which means “sugar killer” in Sanskrit. Gymnema leaves, whether extracted or infused into a tea, suppress glucose absorption and reduce the sensation of sweetness in foods – effects which may deliver important health benefits for individuals who want to reduce blood sugar levels or body weight.

Claims
· Reduce blood sugar levels
· Lowers blood cholesterol levels
· Balances insulin levels
· Promotes weight loss

Theory

Gymnema sylvestre leaves contain gymnemic acids, which are known to suppress transport of glucose from the intestine into the blood stream and a small protein, gurmar, that can interact with receptors on the tongue to decrease the sensation of sweetness in many foods. This dual action has been shown to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels in diabetic animals and humans and may provide some benefits in terms of regulating appetite control and food cravings.

Scientific
The hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) effect of gymnema has been known for centuries. Modern scientific methods have isolated at least nine different fractions of gymnemic acids which possess hypoglycemic activity. The effect of gymnema extract on lowering blood levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides is fairly gradual - typically taking a few days to several weeks. Very high doses of the dried gymnema leaves may even help to repair the cellular damage that causes diabetes (by helping to regenerate the insulin producing beta-cells in the pancreas). Several human studies conducted on gymnema for treatment of diabetes have shown significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (an index of blood sugar control) and insulin requirements (so insulin therapy could be reduced). Gymnema appears to increase the effectiveness of insulin rather than causing the body to produce more – although the precise mechanism by which this occurs remains unknown. As with other natural ingredients for control of blood sugar and insulin levels, such as banaba leaf, a common "side effect" is weight loss - probably due to a combination of appetite suppression and control of food cravings (especially for carbohydrates and sweets).

Safety

At typical recommended doses (see below), dietary supplements containing gymnema are not associated with significant adverse side effects. Mild gastrointestinal upset may occur if gymnema is taken on an empty stomach - so consumption with meals is recommended. Caution is urged, however, with extremely high doses, which may have the potential to induce hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar) in susceptible individuals. In those individuals with active diabetes, it is recommended to consult your personal physician before and during use of gymnema, as alterations to your dosage of insulin or other anti-diabetic medications may be warranted. Certain medications, including antidepressants (St. John's wort) and salicylates (white willow and aspirin) can enhance the blood sugar-lowering effects of gymnema sylvestre, whereas certain stimulants such as ephedra (Ma Huang) may reduce its effectiveness.

Value
As a dietary supplement to enhance control of blood glucose and insulin, gymnema sylvestre appears to be effective - particularly in the case of individuals with diabetes or hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar). As an agent to promote weight loss, gymnema may help control appetite and carbohydrate cravings - effects which may be helpful in some individuals attempting weight loss.

Dosage

Most human studies have been conducted in diabetic patients and have used 400mg of gymnema extract per day in conjunction with conventional oral anti-diabetic medications to lower blood glucose and reduce insulin requirements. In non-diabetics, smaller doses may be effective in helping to control blood sugar and insulin fluctuations - and the associated swings in appetite and food cravings. Because it acts gradually, gymnema extract should be consumed regularly with meals for several days/weeks and can be taken for months/years with no significant side effects.

References

1. Baskaran K, Kizar Ahamath B, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Shanmugasundaram ER. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct;30(3):295-300.
2. Chattopadhyay RR. Possible mechanism of anti hyperglycemic effect of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract. Gen Pharmacol. 1998 Sep;31(3):495-6.
3. Fushiki T, Kojima A, Imoto T, Inoue K, Sugimoto E. An extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves and purified gymnemic acid inhibits glucose-stimulated gastric inhibitory peptide secretion in rats. J Nutr. 1992 Dec;122(12):2367-73.
4. Khare AK, Tondon RN, Tewari JP. Hypoglycaemic activity of an indigenous drug (Gymnema sylvestre, 'Gurmar') in normal and diabetic persons. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1983 Jul-Sep;27(3):257-8.
5. Miyasaka A, Imoto T. Electrophysiological characterization of the inhibitory effect of a novelpeptide gurmarin on the sweet taste response in rats. Brain Res. 1995 Apr 3;676(1):63-8.
6. Murakami N, Murakami T, Kadoya M, Matsuda H, Yamahara J, Yoshikawa M. New hypoglycemic constituents in "gymnemic acid" from Gymnema sylvestre. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1996 Feb;44(2):469-71.
7. Okabayashi Y, Tani S, Fujisawa T, Koide M, Hasegawa H, Nakamura T, Fujii M, Otsuki M. Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1990 May-Jun;9(2):143-8.
8. Ota M, Shimizu Y, Tonosaki K, Ariyoshi Y. Role of hydrophobic amino acids in gurmarin, a sweetness-suppressing polypeptide. Biopolymers. 1998 Mar;45(3):231-8.
9. Ota M, Shimizu Y, Tonosaki K, Ariyoshi Y. Synthesis, characterization, and sweetness- suppressing activities of gurmarin analogues missing one disulfide bond. Biopolymers. 1998 Aug;46(2):65-73.
10. Shanmugasundaram ER, Gopinath KL, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Rajendran VM. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin-diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct;30(3):265-79.
11. Shanmugasundaram ER, Rajeswari G, Baskaran K, Rajesh Kumar BR, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Kizar Ahmath B. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct;30(3):281-94.
12. Shanmugasundaram KR, Panneerselvam C, Samudram P, Shanmugasundaram ER. The insulinotropic activity of Gymnema sylvestre, R. Br. An Indian medical herb used in controllng diabetes mellitus. Pharmacol Res Commun. 1981 May;
13(5):475-86. 13. Shimizu K, Abe T, Nakajyo S, Urakawa N, Atsuchi M, Yamashita C. Inhibitory effects of glucose utilization by gymnema acids in the guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle. J Smooth Muscle Res. 1996 Oct;32(5):219-28.
14. Shimizu K, Iino A, Nakajima J, Tanaka K, Nakajyo S, Urakawa N, Atsuchi M, Wada T, Yamashita C. Suppression of glucose absorption by some fractions extracted from Gymnema sylvestre leaves. J Vet Med Sci. 1997 Apr;59(4):245-51.
15. Shimizu K, Ozeki M, Tanaka K, Itoh K, Nakajyo S, Urakawa N, Atsuchi M. Suppression of glucose absorption by extracts from the leaves of Gymnema inodorum. J Vet Med Sci. 1997 Sep;59(9):753-7.
16. Srivastava Y, Nigam SK, Bhatt HV, Verma Y, Prem AS.Hypoglycemic and life-prolonging properties of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in diabetic rats. Isr J Med Sci. 1985 Jun;21(6):540-2.
17. Suttisri R, Lee IS, Kinghorn AD. Plant-derived triterpenoid sweetness inhibitors. J Ethnopharmacol. 1995 Jun 23;47(1):9-26.
18. Yoshikawa M, Murakami T, Kadoya M, Li Y, Murakami N, Yamahara J, Matsuda H. Medicinal foodstuffs. IX. The inhibitors of glucose absorption from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. BR. (Asclepiadaceae): structures of gymnemosides a and b. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1997 Oct;45(10):1671-6.
19.Yoshikawa M, Murakami T, Matsuda H. MediCinal foodstuffs. X. Structures of new triterpeneglycosides, gymnemosides-c, -d, -e, and -f, from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. Br.: influence of gymnema glycosides on glucose uptake in rat small intestinal fragments. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1997 Dec;45(12):2034-8. 2008

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Gymnema Sylvestre for Diabetes

Doctors in India have used the leaves of a herb called Gymnema Sylvestre to treat blood sugar problems for generations.

Several studies have shown that Gymnema Sylvestre lowers blood sugar and reduces your body’s need for insulin. Scientists also discovered an increase in the number of “beta cells” in the pancreas of test subjects. This means that Gymnema could actually help repair and regenerate new pancreas cells that produce insulin.

A single ingredient can help lower blood sugar, support your body’s ability to produce the insulin you need, and even repair your pancreas.

The Latin name for Gymnema Sylvestre is “The Sugar Destroyer.” The results of a study printed in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that the patients –
• Improved blood sugar control
• Enhanced insulin sensitivity
• Put an end to sugar cravings
• Improved blood sugar control
• Regulated fasting blood sugar levels
• Required less insulin

Researchers at India’s University of Madras discovered that high doses of Gymnema Syvlestre may actually help repair and grow new pancreatic beta cells.

For more information, visit www.DEPSYL.com

Preuss HG, et al. Comparative effects of chromium, vanadium and gymnema sylvestre on sugar-induced blood pressure elevations in SHR. J Am Coll Nutr. 1998 Apr;17(2):116-23.
Shimizu, K., et al, "Suppression of glucose absorption by some fractions extracted from Gymnema sylvestre leaves,"J Vet Med Sci (1997), 59(4):245-51
Sinsheimer, JE et al. Isolation and antiviral activity of gymnemic acids. Experentia, 24, 203 - 303, 1968.
Qayum A. et al. Pharmacological screening of medicinal plants. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, April, 103 - 105. 1982.
Wahi SP, KX Chukenar. Pharmcological studies of gymnema sylvestre R. Br. Journal Sci. Res. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, 15 205 - 210, 1964.
E.R.B. Shanmugasundaram, G. Rajeswari, K. Baskaran, et al, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1990; 30: 281-294.

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U of G prof developing holistic solutions to health issues

JOEY SABLJIC, FOR THE MERCURY

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second instalment of Mind and Bodies – a series that will look at University of Guelph research into improving people’s lives and health. These articles are written by participants in the Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge (SPARK) program at the university.

GUELPH — The natural-medicine industry has bloomed from a small, niche market two decades ago, to a multi-billion dollar industry today. Yet, despite plant-based supplements and medicines becoming increasingly mainstream, relatively little is known about their effects on human health — or, for that matter, how to safely cultivate and reap their medicinal rewards.

University of Guelph plant agriculture Prof. Praveen Saxena wants to change all that. In his Guelph lab, he and his research team are combining cloning, tissue culture and controlled environment greenhouses to grow and mass-produce medicinal plants that are renowned in different cultures and traditions around the world, starting with Ayurveda.

Ayurveda is a traditional medicine system native to India. It uses botanical and medicinal knowledge to help its practitioners select the most effective plants to treat and prevent sickness and disease. Saxena says Ayurveda offers people natural ways to fight signs of aging, boost their immune systems, reduce stress, combat depression and even prevent the progression of other related neurological disorders.
“If Canadians start growing (Ayurveda) plants which then became part of a regular diet, it could be really positive,” he says. “People’s enthusiasm in holistic lifestyle is increasing rapidly and they are starting to wake up to medicinal plants.”

One such plant being cultivated by Saxena is tulsi, or holy basil, a plant that has been used for thousands of years in sacred cultural and spiritual practices. Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is consumed on a daily basis as a tea, as a powder, and as a food additive in Southeast Asia, where it’s highly regarded for its reported antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal properties.

Research has shown that tulsi, along with many other Ayurvedic plants, popularly referred to as “brain tonic” can help improve certain brain functions and possibly delay the onset of some neurological diseases. .

Saxena says a plant’s medicinal content is drawn mostly from the phytochemicals it releases to repel insects and other predators, and to adapt to harsh climates. But in a natural field setting, no two plants are chemically identical, meaning that the amount of desirable medicinal compound in them can vary widely.

That’s where Saxena comes in. Through cloning and tissue culture growth in controlled environment chambers and in his greenhouse, he’s able to select plants with the highest amounts of medicinal compounds. Then, using tissue culture from one of the plants’ roots or leaves, he can generate thousands of genetically identical plants—all featuring the same medicinal content—in a safe and contamination-free greenhouse environment.

And thanks to the rich literature on Ayurvedic medicine, the best time to harvest, process, and eat certain plants for the ideal results has already been made widely available.

“Plant medicines are a big business today and introducing safe and reliable products from medicinal plants commonly consumed by growing ethnic populations can be profitable for the Canadian economy” says Saxena. “The key lies in the fact that we need to introduce novel plants that have been proven safe and effective over a period of time in many cultures and populations with proven benefits.”

Other plants being investigated in the Saxena lab include St. John’s wort (also known as “nature’s Prozac,” whose contents can help ease depression) and ginseng, which is reported to have anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties.
This research receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Ontario Research Fund and the Gosling Foundation

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The diabetes epidemic

Americans increasingly fighting a disease many brought on themselves
By Peggy O'Farrell • pofarrell@enquirer.com •
October 25, 2010

A study from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found a 10-fold increase in Type 2 diabetes among adolescents.

Authors of the study blamed an increase in obesity, and warned the spike in diabetes could have dire consequences as those youths hit adulthood.

That was in 1996.

The Cincinnati Children's study was one of the first that said America's weight problem was serious, and urged that calories be cut and physical activity increased.

Since then, the outlook has gotten worse for Americans. That was confirmed Friday in a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that said cases of diabetes are projected to double - even triple - in the next 40 years. According to the report, 1 in 10 U.S. adults have diabetes. By 2050, as many as 1 in 3 could have the disease.

It's a disaster in the making, experts say, and it's a disaster Americans helped make themselves.

"Our society is engineered to make us unhealthy," said Lisa Simpson, a pediatrician and the director of the Child Policy Research Center at Cincinnati Children's. "Diabetes is just one of the consequences of decades of choices that have led to the obesity epidemic."

Since the 1970s, diabetes incidence has doubled, with most of that increase linked to obesity.

In 2007, 23.6 million Americans had diabetes, and about 90 percent was Type 2 diabetes, a metabolic disorder in which the body can't effectively use insulin to convert glucose into energy.

In Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, health-care professionals and researchers are trying to reverse the spike in Type 2 diabetes with aggressive outreach to people at risk for the disease and by focusing on teaching patients and their health-care providers how to tightly manage diabetes.

That means teaching people to exercise more, eat healthy and lose weight - three lessons many won't learn until their lives depend on it.

In 2008, diabetes' total economic impact, including lost productivity, added up to $187 billion.

That figure doesn't tell the whole story: Diabetes is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S., and a leading contributor to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and a host of other ailments - all on the rise as baby boomers age.

To put it in perspective,
· diabetes kills about 72,000 Americans a year.
· Heart disease kills more than 630,000 Americans a year, and
· its economic impact is $316 billion –
· nine times the number of fatalities, but less than double the cost.

In 2004, 71,000 amputations were performed in the U.S. because of the damage done by diabetes.

Scientists have even identified a link between Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

In Type 2 diabetes, the body can't properly use the hormone insulin to convert glucose from food into energy. The glucose then builds up and begins damaging blood vessels.

Type 2 diabetes can take years to develop. Weight loss can prevent it, or reverse it once it develops.

Some people with Type 2 diabetes may need to inject insulin; others use medications that reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver or increase the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas.

Those medications aren't cheap.

Gary Breeden, 63, of Dry Ridge injects insulin four times a day to help control his Type 2 diabetes, and also takes other medications for his heart and kidney disease.

The insulin alone costs him $1,000 a month.

"No one can afford that," Breeden said. His doctors help him out with free samples.

Breeden was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes when he was in his "late 30s or early 40s," he said.

He ignored his doctor's advice to lose weight and eat better, and his diabetes spiraled out of control.

He now undergoes dialysis three days a week, and he's lost a leg and part of a foot to the disease. It's also done significant damage to his heart. He's had bypass surgery, and his heart function is at about 35 percent.

Doctors are used to seeing Type 2 diabetes in people Breeden's age. But an increasing number of Type 2 diabetes cases in children and teens has experts worried.

When the 1996 study came out from Cincinnati Children's, Type 2 diabetes was just appearing on the radar screen for pediatricians. The Cincinnati Children's study was one of the first looking at the incidence of the disease in white and African-American children; other studies looked at Native American and Canadian native
populations.

In the late 1980s and into the early 1990s, doctors at the Corryville hospital might diagnose two or three teenagers with Type 2 diabetes a year, said Larry Dolan, director of the hospital's endocrinology division. Today, they're making that diagnosis about 25 times a year, about 10 times as often. The increase seemed to happen
almost overnight, Dolan said.

"The big question is why all of a sudden did that change take place?" he asked.

The increase in obesity is one culprit, experts believe. Others also say that infants born to women who develop gestational diabetes are more at risk to develop Type 2 diabetes themselves.

While doctors are seeing more Type 2 diabetes in children and teens, Dolan won't call it an epidemic. Type 1 diabetes is still the predominant disease in children and teens.

"It's still a small percentage of kids who actually have Type 2 diabetes," he said. "It is a significant problem, and the numbers have increased significantly, and if we don't do something about it, the numbers will continue to increase, and the disease can have catastrophic effects on those individuals."

Dolan and his colleagues are trying to figure out the best way to manage diabetes in teens.

The problem, experts say, is that the longer youth live with the disease, the greater the risk they'll suffer serious consequences from it as they reach adulthood.

That could mean people who developed Type 2 diabetes as teens will be suffering heart attacks, amputations or kidney failure in their 30s and 40s.

That concerns Linda Hermiller, endocrinologist and director of the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Regional Diabetes Center in Covington.

"I often tell my patients, especially the younger ones who really aren't as focused on their diabetes as they need to be, '45-year-old you can't come back through time and tell 20-year-old you to fix this. It'll be too late. You can't undo the damage. You have to prevent it.' "

Something better than bypass

Researchers are looking for interventions that will stop Type 2 diabetes in its tracks.

Work at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has shown that gastric bypass surgery, which causes weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach and limiting the calories the body can absorb, is an effective cure in teens.

At the University of Cincinnati, researchers are trying to discover why the surgery works and how they can get its effects in a less invasive and less expensive way.

UC, Children's and University Hospital teamed up earlier this year to form the Cincinnati Diabetes and Obesity Center, which aims to improve diabetes care and treatment in the region.

In Type 2 diabetes, cells stop communicating properly. Researchers Randy Seeley and Matthias Tschoep are trying to pinpoint where that breakdown happens and find a way to prevent it.

Weight loss is probably the most effective treatment, though it's not an easy one.

Taylor Sutton, 21, learned she had Type 2 diabetes when she was 12.

In middle school, her weight ballooned to over 300 pounds. Sutton, now a student at Ohio State University, had to take insulin and other medications. She dropped some weight and changed her diet.

But it wasn't until her freshman year in college that she got serious about treating it.

Since then, she's shed about 70 pounds and has made exercise a priority. Her weight is now at about 190, and she hopes to get to 160.

And her Type 2 diabetes is gone.

"I'm definitely a lot healthier now, and I'm able to do a lot more activities without feeling embarrassed," she said.

DiAnn Jones, 56, of Bond Hill, has lost 17 pounds since she signed for the Healthy Leadership Initiative Challenge at her church, New St. John Baptist in Avondale, at the end of June.

She learned she had Type 2 diabetes about eight years ago.

Through the initiative, sponsored by the Center for Closing the Health Gap, churches challenge their members to eat healthier and lose weight.

At Jones' church, that's meant adding a weekly exercise class for members and bringing in a nutritionist to help "make over" favorite recipes. They've also slimmed down their weekly church supper menus, she said.

Jones said her blood pressure has improved, and she's hopeful that one day her diabetes will just be a memory.

"My goal is to get off all my medications," she said.

The best treatment for Type 2 diabetes is prevention.

For most people, that means preventing obesity - and that's a tall order, said Cincinnati Children's Simpson.

A culture of easy weight

American culture makes gaining weight easy: Fast food is cheap and plentiful, and in many communities, it's difficult to get fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods.

In suburban communities, there might not be sidewalks, making it difficult to walk or bike on errands.

In city neighborhoods, it might not be safe for children or adults to spend time outside playing or exercising, she said.

"We're at the end of the spectrum where it's easiest to do the wrong thing," Simpson said.

Initiatives are under way in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are under way to help the region slim down.

Hamilton County Public Health has received almost $8 million in federal grants for two initiatives aimed at preventing obesity by helping communities set up community gardens or improve access to spaces for physical activity.

The health department is also working with local schools to make their food offerings, including vending machines, healthier.

The Center for Closing the Health Gap offers its "Do Right" and "Take One Step" initiatives.

The "Go Vibrant" initiative aims to help the region eat healthier and exercise more.

"We have to redesign the community so making the right choice is easier," Simpson said. "We have to make the choices doable, so families can not only find but afford healthier options."


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Cinnamon for Diabetes

Cinnamon may turn out to be the next big treatment for diabetes, researchers have found that the spice can help increase insulin sensitivity. The active ingredient in cinnamon hydroxychalcone affects insulin receptors to help promote glucose uptake into cells and promote glycogen synthesis. In a December 2003 Diabetes Care study, cinnamon was found to improve glucose and lipids in people with diabetes. Sixty patients with type 2 who were taking a sulfonylurea (glyburide) were given doses of cinnamon or a placebo for 40 days. Fasting blood glucose declined by 18 to 29 percent after 40 days and 20 days after stopping use fasting glucose was still lower than at baseline. Several studies have reinforced these results; also in December 2003 a rat study found that cinnamon extract would improve insulin action via increasing glucose uptake in vivo through enhancing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle (1). In 2004, researchers at a USDA center in Maryland reported that polyphenols in cinnamon potentiate insulin action making them beneficial in the control of glucose intolerance and diabetes (2). Researchers have also found that cinnamon extracts can prevent the development of insulin resistance at least in part by enhancing insulin signaling and possibly via the NO pathway in skeletal muscle (3). German researchers found earlier this year that cassia extract (a species of cinnamon) has a direct antidiabetic potency as evidenced by an insulin release from INS-1 cells (4).

Cinnamon may turn out to be the next big treatment for diabetes, researchers have found that the spice can help increase insulin sensitivity. The active ingredient in cinnamon hydroxychalcone affects insulin receptors to help promote glucose uptake into cells and promote glycogen synthesis. In a December 2003 Diabetes Care study, cinnamon was found to improve glucose and lipids in people with diabetes. Sixty patients with type 2 who were taking a sulfonylurea (glyburide) were given doses of cinnamon or a placebo for 40 days. Fasting blood glucose declined by 18 to 29 percent after 40 days and 20 days after stopping use fasting glucose was still lower than at baseline. Several studies have reinforced these results; also in December 2003 a rat study found that cinnamon extract would improve insulin action via increasing glucose uptake in vivo through enhancing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle (1). In 2004, researchers at a USDA center in Maryland reported that polyphenols in cinnamon potentiate insulin action making them beneficial in the control of glucose intolerance and diabetes (2). Researchers have also found that cinnamon extracts can prevent the development of insulin resistance at least in part by enhancing insulin signaling and possibly via the NO pathway in skeletal muscle (3). German researchers found earlier this year that cassia extract (a species of cinnamon) has a direct antidiabetic potency as evidenced by an insulin release from INS-1 cells (4).

Cinnamon is a spice often used in food, beverages, chewing gums, toothpastes, mouthwash, liniments, nasal sprays and suntan lotions. Although cinnamon bark and flowers have been used medicinally in Asia for thousands of years. Cinnamon has been used for type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, infections, the common cold, menopausal symptoms, rheumatic conditions, hypertension, angina and kidney disorders. Although there are no serious side effects when using cinnamon anyone with hypoglycemia should be careful consuming it due to its apparent action on blood glucose levels. For more information on cinnamon, please visit Natural Standard's Herbs & Supplements database.

References:

1. Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y. Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin-regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling in rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2003 Dec;62(3):139-48. View Abstract.
2. Anderson RA, Broadhurst CL, Polansky MM, Schmidt WF, Khan A, Flanagan VP, Schoene NW, Graves DJ. Isolation and characterization of polyphenol type-A polymers from cinnamon with insulin-like biological activity. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jan 14;52(1):65-70. View Abstract.
3. Qin B, Nagasaki M, Ren M, Bajotto G, Oshida Y, Sato Y. Cinnamon extract prevents the insulin resistance induced by a high-fructose diet. Horm Metab Res. 2004 Feb;36(2):119-25. View Abstract.
4. Verspohl EJ, Bauer K, Neddermann E. Antidiabetic effect of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in vivo and in vitro. Phytother Res. 2005 Mar;19(3):203-6. View Abstract.

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Pain Series

A Matter of Lifestyle

Despite the results of GAIT, glucosamine and chondroitin remain popular alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as consumers continue to look for joint health products that “fit their active lifestyles,” said Micah Osborne, president, ESM Technologies.

“They are asking for supplements that work faster and require a lower dose,” he continued. “You can see an example of this in a leading pain relief manufacturer’s new marketing campaign touting fewer pills per day for the same results as its leading competitor. The same holds true for supplements; consumers want the same or better results in fewer and smaller dosages and with the safety of natural products. They are also asking for more convenient dosage forms. This would include beverages, bars or chews, which fit their active lifestyles.”

Sabinsa’s Dr. Prakash, agreed, saying, “As functional foods become more accepted, premixed beverages, granules, candies and other food forms are becoming popular for a variety of health conditions.”

Mr. Osborne reiterated that consumers are asking for convenient joint health products that offer results in less time with smaller doses. “Products made with NEM (Natural Eggshell Membrane) not only have been proven to be efficacious for improving joint comfort and flexibility in as little as 7 to 10 days, but they also come in a very convenient dosage of one small, 500 mg pill per day.”

Consumers are also looking for controlled clinical studies or comparisons with known analgesics, said Dr. Prakash. “Current trends favor supplements supported by sound clinical studies and safety information.” Pet care supplements in this category are also gaining attention, she added.

Referring to several natural ingredients supported by clinical evidence, Dr. Prakash said a recent clinical study showed ginger may support pain management in muscle injury after exercise, “offering athletes a natural option.” Ginger extract has also been shown to offer support in managing migraines and joint inflammation.

“Earlier studies established the healthful role of Boswellia serrata extract (Indian frankincense) in supporting the management of symptoms of osteoarthritis, including pain,” she added.

Sabinsa offers a proprietary, sustained release blend comprising Boswellin (Boswellia serrata extract), Curcumin C3 Complex (turmeric root extract), glucosamine and Bioperine (black pepper extract, a nutrient bioavailability enhancer), which showed significant improvement in subjects with knee OA, and reduced pain and swelling scores. “These are examples of supplements that function like NSAIDs without the associated gastrointestinal side effects,” said Dr. Prakash. “They are also suitable for topical use.”

In addition, capsaicinoids (from hot chili peppers) are often used to provide topical pain relief in over-the-counter creams, she noted. “Several botanical oils soothe and offer pain management support (e.g., celery seed oil, clove oil, lavender oil, olibanum oil and others). White willow bark, devil’s claw and other materials with a history of traditional use and scientific data, and nutritional approaches such as magnesium salts and omega 3 fatty acids, appear in supplements as well.”

Curcumin, a compound derived from the popular Indian spice turmeric, inhibits multiple inflammation pathways in the body, according to Europharma. Some of the benefits associated with curcumin include immune system modulation, protection from oxidative stress and support for the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. According to NBJ, sales of turmeric were up 38% in 2009 to $60 million.

EuroPharma’s Curamin combines BCM-95 bioavailable curcumin, “which has seven to 10 times the absorption of plain curcumin,” said the company’s Ms. Myers. “Known for its ability to balance the body’s natural inflammatory response, BCM-95 has been proven in published clinical studies to provide consistent, long-lasting effects. Curamin also contains a potent form of the anti-inflammatory herb boswellia, as well as Dl-phenylalanine (DLPA) for its ability to sustain endorphins and enkephalins in the brain, and the enzyme nattokinase, which supports healthy circulation so that important nutrients can be better carried to the areas of need, and waste materials more efficiently removed.”

Studies also indicate collagen can play a role in relieving pain associated with OA. According to BioCell Technology LLC, Newport Beach, CA, a new human study involving 80 patients supports previous evidence that its BioCell Collagen II improves various physical activities of subjects suffering from joint conditions associated with OA, including pain, stiffness, mobility and overall quality of life. The multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial indicated that a significant portion of OA patients experienced substantial improvement of their joint conditions, as measured by VAS and WOMAC scores.

Other popular joint pain ingredients include MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), which brought in $90 million in U.S. sales for 2009, according to NBJ. However, that figure is down 10% from the previous year. SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine), which was recently shown to help depressed patients who don’t respond to prescription antidepressant treatment, also helps reduce the pain associated with OA. SAMe generated $120 million in sales in 2009, up 11%.

Larry Kolb, president, U.S. operations, TSI Health Sciences, Inc., Missoula, MT, said he believes the most sought after indication areas will continue to include joint pain, headaches, lower back pain and muscle pain. However, he acknowledged a lack of innovation that has kept category growth down. “It’s a crowded marketplace with multiple brands and little innovation in terms of new ingredients that are proven. I believe the category will continue to grow in the single digits over the next five years, but it has matured and the large growth rates will not come until alternative ingredients bring innovation to the category.”

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Indian Herb for Diabetes

The traditional Indian herbal Salacia oblonga, a woody plant found in the forests of Sri Lanka and India, may lower blood sugar and insulin responses after eating in diabetic patients, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories in Columbus, Ohio and Radiant Research in Edina, Minnesota investigated the effect of an herbal extract of Salacia oblonga on postprandial glycemia (blood sugar) and insulinemia (insulin levels) in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingestion of a high-carbohydrate meal.

In the randomized, double-blinded crossover study study, 66 patients with diabetes were studied. In a fasted state, subjects consumed one of the following three meals: a standard liquid control meal, a control meal + 240 milligrams Salacia oblonga extract, and a control meal + 480 milligrams Salacia oblonga extract. Serum glucose and insulin samples were measured at baseline and at postprandial intervals up to 180 minutes.

The study found that both doses of the Salacia oblonga extract significantly lowered the postprandial positive area under the glucose curve: 14 percent for the 240 milligram extract and 22 percent for the 480 milligrams extract. The adjusted peak glucose response was also significantly lowered: 19 percent for the lower dose and 27 percent for the higher dose of extract, compared to the control meal.

The study also found that both doses of the herbal extract significantly decreased the postprandial insulin response, lowering both the positive area under the insulin curve and the adjusted peak insulin response (14 percent and 9 percent, respectively, for the 240 milligrams extract; 19 percent and 12 percent, respectively, for the 480 milligram extract) in comparison with the control meal.

The study authors concluded that the extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia and insulinemia in persons with type 2 diabetes after a high-carbohydrate meal and it may be beneficial to this population for postprandial glucose control.

REFERENCES:
1. Williams JA, Choe YS, Noss MJ, et al. Extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007 Jul;86(1):124-30. View Abstract
2. Natural Standard Research Collaboration: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com. Copyright © 2007.

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Spelling Relief to Pain

Spelling Relief to Pain

With more consumers focused on general health and wellness goals, demand for post-exercise recovery products has gained significant strength, according to ESM’s Mr. Haynes. “Aging population demographics are obvious and in front of us every day,” he said. “A natural extension of an aging population is more people are looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising later into their lives. With this exercise there is going to be more pain and stiffness related symptoms. Workout regimens are getting more intense. Pain and soreness levels become standard, but workout enthusiasts are looking for quicker recovery times so they can get back in the gym.” Consumers are also more educated about their options, he added. “The ingredients or products with the best scientific results—that can market those results—win.”

As established stars of the natural pain relief market, glucosamine and chondroitin have gained support from clinical evidence that confirms their efficacy in combating osteoarthritis. U.S. consumer sales of glucosamine/chondroitin in 2009 totaled $800 million, down 4% from the previous year, according to Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ), Boulder, CO.

Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in healthy cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate is a normal constituent of glycosaminoglycans in cartilage matrix and synovial fluid. According to the Natural Standard monograph for glucosamine, “Available evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the use of glucosamine sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee. It is believed that the sulfate moiety provides clinical benefit in the synovial fluid by strengthening cartilage and aiding glycosaminoglycan synthesis. If this hypothesis is confirmed, it would mean that only the glucosamine sulfate form is effective and non-sulfated glucosamine forms are not effective.”

Glucosamine is commonly taken in combination with chondroitin, a glycosaminoglycan derived from articular cartilage. But glucosamine may also treat OA in combination with other nutritional ingredients, such as omega 3 fatty acids, which have been recognized for their ability to combat inflammation.

Research published in Advances in Therapy in September 2009 studied a total of 177 patients with moderate to severe hip or knee OA who were tested during a period of 26 weeks in a two-center, two-armed, randomized, double-blind, comparison study. Researchers aimed to see if a combination of glucosamine sulfate (1500 mg/day) and the omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA would be more effective than glucosamine sulfate alone.

Pain, stiffness and function were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis index (WOMAC) score. Results indicated a therapeutic and statistical superiority for the combination product of glucosamine sulfate and omega 3 fatty acids in patients who complied with the study protocol.

Ben Winters, director of Christchurch-based Aroma New Zealand, said green lipped mussel powder is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, glucosamine sulfate and glycosaminoglycans, which reduce inflammation, pain and increase joint mobility.

“Our GlycOmega greenshell mussel powder is sourced from New Zealand greenshell mussel meat, Perna canaliculus, which is native to New Zealand and one of the most sustainable omega 3 fatty acid products in the world. We have been manufacturing and exporting GlycOmega for over 25 years into the joint care market and sales continue to increase every year as the positive pain relief effects take place. Joint pain is the biggest market for GlycOmega, for both humans and animals, as it provides natural anti-inflammatory activity.”

Research results for natural pain relief products have not always been positive. For example, glucosamine and chondroitin may have suffered somewhat of a setback following the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT). Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in February 2006.

The six-month study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) involved nearly 1600 OA patients who were given a placebo or daily doses of 1500 mg of glucosamine hydrochloride and/or 1200 mg of chondroitin sulfate or 200 mg of the common NSAID celecoxib (Celebrex).

Overall, those taking celecoxib experienced statistically significant pain relief versus placebo—about 70% of those taking celecoxib had a 20% or greater reduction in pain versus about 60% for placebo. There were no significant differences between the other treatments tested and placebo, according to researchers.

However, for a subset of participants with moderate to severe pain, glucosamine combined with chondroitin sulfate provided statistically significant pain relief compared with placebo—about 79% had a 20% or greater reduction in pain versus about 54% for placebo. These findings prompted an ancillary GAIT study that later investigated whether these dietary supplements could diminish structural damage from OA of the knee.

In the ancillary study, interested GAIT patients were offered the opportunity to continue their original study treatment for an additional 18 months, for a total of 2 years. At the end of the study, the team had gathered data on 581 knees. After assessing X-ray data, researchers concluded glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, together or alone, appeared to fare no better than placebo in slowing the loss of cartilage in OA of the knee. Interpreting the study results was complicated, however, because participants taking placebo had a smaller loss of cartilage, or joint space width, than predicted. Results were published in Arthritis & Rheumatism in October 2008.

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The Roots of Pain

By Sean Moloughney
Published October 1, 2010

As a warning signal following injury, inflammation and pain are normal. However, EuroPharma’s Ms. Myers said more consumers are realizing that chronic inflammation is not only a cause of pain and discomfort, but also a “root cause” of many serious, life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and arthritis. “Therefore, many individuals are looking for healthy alternatives to manage inflammation in their lives every day, whether they have pain or not.”

Inflammation is caused by the release of a hormone-like compound called prostaglandin (PGE1) and is sustained by the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Ideally, anti-inflammatory products would inhibit COX-2 without inhibiting COX-1, a good prostaglandin that protects blood vessels and the lining of the digestive tract.

Traditionally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen have dominated the pain management category. However, while NSAIDs effectively inhibit COX-2, many also inhibit COX-1. So while they may offer an effective solution with short-term use, they may also cause serious side effects with prolonged use.

Alongside NSAIDs, acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs in the U.S. for treating pain and fever. According to FDA, in 2005, consumers purchased more than 28 billion doses of products containing acetaminophen, and the hydrocodone–acetaminophen combination product has been the most frequently prescribed drug since 1997.

Acknowledging risks of liver damage and death from high doses of acetaminophen, the FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted in June of 2009 to recommend a ban on two of the most popular prescription painkillers, Vicodin (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) and Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen). Vicodin and its generic equivalents are prescribed more than 100 million times a year in the U.S. The problem is, patients taking opioids over a long period of time typically build a tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

To reduce the risk of liver damage, the committee also recommended that FDA lower the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen to less than 4 grams and the maximum single dose from 1000 mg to 650 mg.

Dean Mosca, president, Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. (PNI), Kearny, NJ, said concern regarding NSAIDs, as well as products containing acetaminophen, and their side effects has led to growing focus on preventative care, which positively impacts the dietary supplement market. “Pain management, overall, is growing tremendously. As one example, many chiropractors are extending their services to include therapeutic pain-management techniques. Pharmaceutical companies continue to launch and market all manner of pain-lessening drugs, and even yoga centers teach mental and physical exercise techniques to help the body adapt to and overcome pain.”

For example, in August the New England Journal of Medicine published a study that concluded the ancient Chinese practice of tai chi might be an effective therapy for fibromyalgia, a complex condition that affects 5 million Americans, mostly women, according to the CDC. After 12 weeks of tai chi, patients with fibromyalgia performed significantly better in measurements of pain, fatigue, physical functioning, sleeplessness and depression than a comparable group given stretching exercises and wellness education. Tai chi patients were also more likely to sustain improvement three months later.

In light of side effects associated with conventional NSAIDs and pain medications, Lakshmi Prakash, vice president of innovation and business development, Sabinsa Corporation, East Windsor, NJ, said, “Interest in natural approaches will continue to grow both in the human and pet supplement segments. Both nutritional and topical approaches will receive attention.”

Mr. Mosca agreed, noting that his company offers Celadrin, a proprietary blend of cetylated fatty acid esters and other active synergists, as a topical solution or oral supplement. “The topical form provides quick relief, in as few as 30 minutes, while the oral form provides more long-term joint support,” he said. “We see dietary supplements that address discomfort growing in the market as a non-invasive and non-side-effect-inducing part of an overall pain management strategy.”

Additionally, a clinical study of patients with knee pain showed PNI’s Perluxan, a hops extract, had a fast-acting effect on relieving discomfort—and significant improvement over placebo—after two hours following the first dose. Another pilot study demonstrated that Perluxan was comparable to ibuprofen in reducing pain-causing inflammatory enzymes, said Mr. Mosca.

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The Road to Pain Relief ......Series #1

Now more then ever, millions of people suffering from chronic pain need safe, effective products they can rely on.
By Sean Moloughney
Published October 1, 2010

Whether it’s aching knees, a bad back, a pounding migraine or the unrelenting effects of cancer, pain can be a debilitating quality of life issue that indiscriminately affects the physical and mental functioning of people from all walks of life.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), more than 76 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain—more than who suffer from diabetes (24 million), heart disease (23 million) and cancer (11 million) combined.

An estimated 46 million adults in the U.S. report some form of doctor-diagnosed arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus or fibromyalgia, according to the non-profit Arthritis Foundation. By 2030, that figure is projected to rise to about 67 million American adults. Interestingly, two-thirds of people who have doctor-diagnosed arthritis are under the age of 65.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. This breakdown causes the bones to rub against each other, resulting in stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint. Nearly 27 million adults have OA, a number expected to increase with longer life expectancies, the obesity epidemic and the first of the more than 78 million Baby Boomers reaching retirement age in 2011.

Pain is not an isolated health condition. While half of all adults will develop symptomatic OA of the knee at some point in their lives, that risk increases to two of every three obese adults. Weight loss of as little as 11 pounds reduces the risk of developing OA of the knee among women by 50%.

In 2003, the total cost attributed to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the U.S. was $128 billion (more than the GDP of New Zealand), up from about $86 billion dollars in 1997, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those figures include $81 billion in medical expenditures (direct costs), up from $51 billion in 1997, and $47 billion in earnings losses (indirect costs), up from $35 billion in 1997.

According to a report from Business Insights, the global pain management market generated more than $46 billion in sales in 2007, a 12.5% increase over 2006. The most prevalent forms of neuropathic pain are neuralgia/fibromyalgia and lower back pain, with about 16 million cases for each condition during 2008. Analgesics (narcotics and non-narcotics) account for 43% of the global pain management market, with revenues of nearly $20 billion in 2007.

Citing a recent ABC News/USA Today/Stanford University Medical Center poll, Cheryl Myers, chief of scientific affairs and education for EuroPharma, Green Bay, WI, said more than half of Americans suffer from chronic or recurrent pain, and nearly half (46%) reported pain in the last two weeks. “That means the market for effective pain relief may be one out of every two Americans,” she noted.

Chris Haynes, director of sales, ESM Technologies, Carthage, MO, said there are plenty of opportunities in today’s market, which he believes is destined for future growth. “Pain is something everyone has at some level at certain points in their life. We can’t escape it. Showing consumers ways to get quick relief, naturally, with clinically proven results is the key to success.”

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Obesity impacts health of nearly all body systems

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Blueberries Decrease Insulin Resistance

Practice Implications:

Blueberries are a new and attractive option to add to our current assortment of things that improve insulin sensitivity. The best-proven and safest ways to increase insulin sensitivity are still exercise and weight loss. Weight reduction reduces insulin resistance in both children and adults, especially in combination with exercise. 1, 2, 3

Adding large amounts of cereal fiber to the diet also increases insulin sensitivity. In one experiment, slightly more than 1 ounce a day of oat bran produced significant changes in insulin sensitivity after just 3 days.4 High-fiber rye breads have a similar beneficial action and have also been shown to lower cholesterol. 5, 6 Any weight gain during these experiments cancels out the benefit.6

Low vitamin D levels adversely affect insulin sensitivity.8 A study published in April 2010 calls into question whether vitamin D will be useful for the general population; low vitamin D levels were only associated with insulin sensitivity in African American women, not Caucasian.9 Obviously there is no reason not to supplement all patients with vitamin D, but it may prove to affect insulin sensitivity in a portion of patients.

The same might be true of chromium. For years we have given patients with blood sugar problems supplemental chromium. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in July 2009 by Yale University researchers calls this practice into question. After 6 months of supplementation at either 500 or 1,000 mcg/day, insulin sensitivity was no different than in those who had taken placebo. The authors concluded, “Chromium supplementation does not appear to ameliorate insulin resistance or impaired glucose metabolism in patients at risk for type 2 diabetes, and thus is unlikely to attenuate diabetes risk.”10 However, a paper published 2 months earlier from Louisiana State University reported that some people do respond to chromium. In this study clinical improvement was “more likely in insulin-resistant subjects who have more elevated fasting glucose and A(1c) levels.”11 The participants in the Yale study were only at high risk for type-2 diabetes. Those in the Louisiana study who responded already had diabetes, and the worse their disease, the better the response.

Until proven otherwise, let us assume that fresh or frozen blueberries will be as effective at improving insulin sensitivity as the powders utilized in the current study. Given that blueberries are thought to provide benefit against a wide range if health disorders, it will be reasonable to suggest daily consumption of blueberries to a large number of patients, especially those with reduced insulin sensitivity.12

References

1. Birkebæk N, Lange A, Holland-Fischer P, et al. Effect of weight reduction on insulin sensitivity, sex hormone binding globulin, sex hormones and gonadotrophins in obese children. Eur J Endocrinol. 2010 Sep 9. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Yoshida H, Ishikawa T, Suto M, et al. Effects of supervised aerobic exercise training on serum adiponectin and parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism in subjects with moderate dyslipidemia. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2010 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print]
3. Koo BK, Han KA, Ahn HJ, Jung JY, Kim HC, Min KW. The effects of total energy expenditure from all levels of physical activity vs. physical activity energy expenditure from moderate-to-vigorous activity on visceral fat and insulin sensitivity in obese Type 2 diabetic women. Diabet Med. 2010;27(9):1088-1092.
4. Weickert MO, Möhlig M, Schöfl C, et al. Cereal fiber improves whole-body insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese women. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(4):775-780.
5. Juntunen KS, Laaksonen DE, Poutanen KS, Niskanen LK, Mykkänen HM. High-fiber rye bread and insulin secretion and sensitivity in healthy postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77(2):385-391.
6. Leinonen KS, Poutanen KS, Mykkänen HM. Rye bread decreases serum total and LDL cholesterol in men with moderately elevated serum cholesterol. J Nutr. 2000;130(2):164-170.
7. Laaksonen DE, Toppinen LK, Juntunen KS, et al. Dietary carbohydrate modification enhances insulin secretion in persons with the metabolic syndrome. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82(6):1218-1227.
8. Takiishi T, Gysemans C, Bouillon R, Mathieu C. Vitamin D and diabetes. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2010;39(2):419-446.
9. Alvarez JA, Bush NC, Choquette SS, et al. Vitamin D intake is associated with insulin sensitivity in African American, but not European American, women. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010;7:28.
10. Ali A, Ma Y, Reynolds J, Wise JP, Inzucchi SE, Katz DL. Chromium effects on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in people at risk for diabetes. Endocr Pract. 2010:1-21.
11. Cefalu WT, Rood J, Pinsonat P, et al. Characterization of the metabolic and physiologic response to chromium supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2010;59(5):755-762.
12. Zafra-Stone S, Yasmin T, Bagchi M, Chatterjee A, Vinson JA, Bagchi D. Berry anthocyanins as novel antioxidants in human health and disease prevention. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007;51(6):675-683.


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Chromium picolinate may lessen inflammation in diabetic nephropathy

Supplement linked to decreased protein in the urine of diabetic mice
Bethesda, Md. (September 22, 2010) – Taking chromium picolinate may help lessen inflammation associated with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease), say researchers at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. In a study comparing diabetic mice treated with chromium picolinate with those that received placebo, the researchers found that mice who received the supplement had lower levels of albuminuria (protein in the urine), an indication of kidney disease.

The Study

To arrive at their conclusions, the researchers compared three groups of mice, one lean, healthy group and two groups genetically engineered to be obese and have diabetes. When the mice were 6 weeks old, the researchers separated them according to treatment plan. The healthy mice and one group of diabetic mice, the untreated diabetic group, were fed a regular rodent diet. The remaining group, the treated diabetic group, were fed a diet enriched with chromium picolinate.

Over the course of 6 months, the researchers measured glycemic control and albuminuria in all three groups. The untreated diabetic mice excreted nearly 10 times more albumin than the db/m mice, which was to be expected. However, the treated diabetic mice, who were fed the diet with chromium picolinate, excreted about half as much albumin compared to their untreated diabetic counterparts.
At the end of 6 months, the mice were euthanized and the researchers studied tissue samples from the mice's kidneys. They found that the untreated diabetic mice had marked immunostaining for interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 17 (IL-17), two cytokines associated with inflammation. These mice also had moderate immunostaining for indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an immunoregulatory enzyme that modulates the production of IL-6 and IL-17. However, the treated diabetic mice had intense immunostaining for IDO but reduced IL-6 and IL-17 compared to the untreated diabetic group. The implication is that the chromium picolinate may have reduced inflammation in the treated diabetic group by affecting IDO, IL-6, and IL-7.

Mahmood Mozaffari, DMD, PhD, professor in the Medical College of Georgia Department of Oral Biology and lead author of the study, noted that the results are preliminary and that further studies are necessary to tease out the effects of chromium picolinate. He is particularly interested in the relationship between IDO and chromium picolinate because IDO is involved in the metabolism of tryptophan, an amino acid, and one of the by-products of that metabolism is picolinic acid.
"This clearly raises an important question for us as to whether our observations are related to the provision of picolinic acid from the chromium picolinate or whether the formulation [chromium picolinate], in and of itself, is mediating the effects."

NOTE TO EDITORS:
Dr. Mozaffari discussed the study at the 2010 American Physiological Society conference, Inflammation, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, in Westminster Colorado. To arrange an interview with him, please contact Donna Krupa at 301.634.7209 or dkrupa@the-aps.org.

Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease. The American Physiological Society (www.The-APS.org/press) has been an integral part of this discovery process since it was established in 1887.

Chromium picolinate is one of the seven ingredients contained in DEPSYL

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Aging Metabolism Series

Additional Resveratrol Research

In an animal model study conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging,mice receiving supplemental resveratrol lived over 30% longer than those who did not receive resveratrol.Additionally, the resveratrol group experienced increased insulin control, improved motor function, and increasedmitochondria production versus the control group.14

In a recent study, resveratrol was found to have a positive impact on obesity. Resveratrol inhibited pre-fat cells from increasing and prevented them from converting into mature fat cells; it also hindered fat storage. In addition, resveratrol reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines (interleukins 6 and 8), associated with the development of obesity-related disorders, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis. Finally, resveratrol increased the formation of adiponectin, a protein known to decrease the risk of heart attack.15

Reference:

14. Baur JA, Pearson KJ, Price NL, et al. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature. 2006;444:337-42.
15. Red Wine's Resveratrol May Help Battle Obesity. Natural News web site. Available at
http://www.naturalnews.com/023777.html. Accessed November 5, 2008.

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C12H22O11

Sugar is a sweet, crystalline carbohydrate typically extracted from sugar cane and sugar beets. It is a non-nutritive empty calorie that robs the body of vitamins and minerals. Refined sugars have many different names, such as granulated (table) sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, raw sugar, turbinado sugar, and malt. Even much commercial fructose is really pure refined sugar.

Many people believe that sugar is only bad for you when ingested in enormous amounts, when actually "normal" amounts are damaging to the body.

Here is a partial list of physical conditions caused or exacerbated by sugar in the diet.

· Overweight
· heart disease
--raised blood triglycerides
--sticky blood platelets
· duodenal ulcers
--increased stomach acidity
· hypoglycemia
· diabetes
· hyperactivity
· kidney enlargement
· liver enlargement
· increase in uric acid in blood
· cancer
· hindered breakdown of dietary protein
· cavities
--calcium leached from teeth
· weakened immune system
· PMS
· yeast overgrowth
· dependency

Refined sugar consumption is often at the root of these lesser physical symptoms:

· intense sleepiness not caused by lack of sleep
· muscle fatigue
· lethargy
· pallor
· coated tongue and persistent thirstiness
· bad breath
· heartburn/sour stomach
· excessive and/or foul-smelling intestinal gas
· flu-like symptoms
--upset stomach
--body ache
--feeling run-down

Sugar is addicting. The more you get, the more you want! Some would say it is more addicting than heroin. It used to be only the rich could afford the luxury of sugar, but by 1840 the sugar pushers were handing out free samples. Now, the sugar industries have the largest advertising in the world. Less than 10 years ago the average American consumed something like 153 pounds of sugar a year, with a whopping 24% of their calories coming from sugar. No doubt today the figures would be even more astounding. Many wonderful people are hooked on the stuff, and those who attempt to quit the sugar habit find they have quite a struggle on their hands. Going off sugar, like quitting most drugs, invites withdrawal symptoms. The most common are headaches, chills, and body aches. Sugar, like alcohol, is intoxicating. It creates an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Mental and emotional disorders are often linked to sugar in the diet.

Below are some of the mental/emotional symptoms that may be linked to eating refined sugar:

· irritability
· manic-depressive tendencies
· chronic or frequent bouts of depression
· difficulty concentrating
· forgetfulness or absentmindedness
· lack of motivation
· increasing undependability
· loss of enthusiasm for plans and projects
· inconsistency in thoughts and actions
· situational personality changes
· irrational thoughts
· emotional outbursts
· eating disorders

Only one third of a person’s sugar consumption is purchased as packaged sugar. The rest is consumed in manufactured foods. Almost everything on store shelves has sugar in it, even salt and cigarettes. Some foods are even required to have sugar in them by the FDA. For instance, catsup cannot be called catsup if it does not contain sugar.

When sugar is eliminated from the diet, all foods start to taste better. Taste buds become more sensitive to the natural sweetness of foods. Soon, sugar cravings begin to dwindle and control over ones eating becomes easier and easier. Bodies start feeling better, calmer, and sleep improves.

Recommended Reading: Sugar Blues, by William Dufty

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