Diabetes – The Botanical Alternative

In a 2003 analysis review accomplished by harvard medical school researchers, 108 clinical trials examined no much less than 36 various botanicals with prospective anti-diabetic properties. Together with yet another 9 trials performed making use of supplements, these studies tested 4,565 diabetic patients. The review concluded that 76% of 58 controlled studies showed improved glucose control. Numerous a lot more studies have been added because 2003 as botanical research has intensified.
New Mechanisms
The mechanisms for NIDDM have also undergone vigorous research over the past couple of years. Primary mechanisms of the past focused on insulin and glucose sensitivity at the cell membrane and the health of pancreatic beta-cells. Recent research has revealed Many new complexities. Originally linked to obesity, leptin is now thought to be involved in hypothalamic energy regulation, stimulation of glucose transport, and the inhibition of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells. Two extra recently-found hormones are resistin and adiponectin. Resistin has been linked to glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin resistance. Adiponectin is linked to glucose regulation and lipid metabolism. Produced in fat cells, both resistin and adiponectin also apparently mediate PPAR-gamma: Resistin upgrades and adiponectin downgrades insulin resistance by way of PPAR modulation. Enzymes are now thought to be a critical component of the mechanism. One enzyme seemingly instrumental to leptin regulation tangential to PPAR-gamma repression is SIRT1. Sirtuins have been implicated in the diabetic mechanism since of their capability to affect genetic expression related to problems of degenerative glucose and insulin metabolism.
SIRT1 appears to balance glucose levels by modulating the PGC-1alpha molecule. PGC-1alpha is a transcriptional co-activator. When SIRT1 was inhibited in vivo this increased hypoglycemia, increased glucose and insulin sensitivity as well as increased totally free fatty acids and cholesterol. On the other hand increased SIRT1 expression reversed these effects, but only in the presence of PGC-1alpha throughout fasting. Yet an additional recently-found hormone implicated in both forms of diabetes is amylin. Amylin is co-secreted with insulin and complements insulin’s actions together with offering a feedback-response mechanism. Other components complicating these mechanisms contain glucocorticoids and circulating lipids. These diverse mechanisms compound to make NIDDM associated with tension, hypertension, visceral adiposity, elevated triglycerides, tiny dense low-density lipoproteins, reduced HDL, and of course diets high in refined sugars and low in fiber.
Entire Foods and Exercise
Most physicians now recognize that eating Entire foods and exercising is one of the most beneficial methods to stabilize blood glucose levels. Entire foods consist of different soluble fibers which includes pectin and beta-glucans, recognized to slow glucose absorption rates and bind LDL cholesterol.
Oats: Avena sativa L.
Oats are one of the greatest fiber sources and potent sources of beta-1,3-d-glucan and beta-1,4-d-glucan, as well as avenanthramides-polyphenols shown in studies by Tufts University and USDA Human Nutrition Center as antioxidant and LDL-oxidation protective. In a Finnish randomized controlled analysis of twelve NIDDM patients, eating higher beta-glucan oat snacks showed lower glucose fasting and load tolerance levels than controls. The mechanism consists of a slowing of digestive enzyme activity and lipid modulation. Other studies have illustrated oat bran’s capacity to decrease total cholesterol and LDL levels on top of lowered post-meal glucose and insulin. There are Lots of items that offer higher fiber versions of oats. Bran concentrate can offer up to 50% beta-glucan. Nature can step up the beta-glucan as well. A new selection of high beta-glucan/high avenanthramide oats referred to as HiFi oat was bred by the North Dakota State University over the past couple of years. HiFi® can be up to 50% higher in beta-glucan than most other oats.
Mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms include beta-1,3-d-glucans with beta-1,6-d-glucan and alpha-1,4-glucans-contributing to their glycemic and immune function advantages. In addition to the prized beta-d-glucan, mushrooms include distinctive enzymes, sterols and triterpenes. Improved insulin sensitivity, increased glucose uptake and binding, insulin-like activity and enhanced immune effects have been seen in among the multitude of mushroom studies. Research has discovered anti-diabetic action among oyster mushroom, maitake, cordyceps, Tremella fuciformis, Agaricus blazei Murrill, and Jelly Ear fungus Auricularia. Maitake appears to have the most research. Glycemic advantages have been shown in a host of mushrooms.
Pinus pinaster
An extract from the bark of the French marine pine tree-a tree indigenous to France. It has been the subject of much more than 200 studies, 50 of which were human. The mechanism appears to be related to slower glucose uptake, improvement in blood lipids, and increased micro-circulation. The significant procyanidin molecules inhibit alpha-glucosidase-the enzyme important for glucose absorption.
Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum is indigenous to west Asia, southeast Europe and north Africa. It is also cultivated in Numerous other areas. A conventional herb used for glucose control, fenugreek has a lengthy history of success. The crushed plant’s seeds consist of alkaloids, coumarins and saponins. Its principle active constituent is 4-hydroxyisoleucine. In one research 17 of 21 NIDDM patients had blood glucose reductions averaging 30 mg/dl after being administered 15 grams of ground seed of fenugreek. In yet another, 60 NIDDM volunteers decreased fasting blood glucose levels from an average of 151 mg/dl to 112 mg/dl after 24 weeks making use of a 12.5 mg dosage twice a day. Other studies have confirmed fenugreek’s action of decreasing fasting blood sugar levels together with total cholesterol and triglycerides.
Caiapo
Ipomoea batas is a white sweet potato indigenous to South America and cultivated especially Japan. The extremely glycoprotein skin of I. batas has been shown to have anti-diabetic action in both animals and humans. In 2002 18 male NIDDM subjects were treated either with placebo, low (2 grams/day) or high (4 grams/day) doses of caiapo powdered tablets for six weeks. The high-dose group showed 13% reduction in fasting glucose, a 42% increase in insulin sensitivity and a 72% increase in glucose tolerance. In yet another analysis, 61 NIDDM subjects were given either 4 grams of caiapo or placebo every day for 12 weeks. Fasting glucose levels reduced from 143 mg/dl to 128 mg/dl averages in the caiapo group whilst remaining unchanged in the placebo group. Two-hour glucose levels were also considerably decreased in the caiapo group.
Gurmar
Gymnema sylvestre has been in use for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. Its leaves consist of gurmarin, gynmenic acids, stigmasterol, quercitol, and different glycosides, resins and saponins. Both the Entire plant and its GS4 water-soluble extract fraction have been noted for increased glucose sensitivity and uptake, higher beta-cell count and increased insulin levels. G. sylvestre has been used traditionally for both NIDDM and IDDM (sort-1). Interestingly, G. sylvestre has an apparent capacity to suppress sweet taste stimuli by blocking taste receptors. This apparently comes from its saponins. Its anti-sweetness effect was shown to decrease sweet snack consumption. G. Sylvestre’s diabetic research appears solid. In a 1990 research 27 insulin-dependent IDDM patients were given 400 grams per day of GS4 over a 10-12 month period. Insulin requirements and glycosylated hemoglobin levels both reduced substantially as compared with control subjects. Other smaller studies have shown G. sylvestre’s capacity to lower fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin. In vitro G. sylvestre appears to stimulate insulin release by growing pancreatic beta-cells’ membrane permeability.
“Cinnamon”
Cinnamomum cassia shouldn’t be confused with “true” Ceylon cinnamon Cinnamomum verum-the selection used for cinnamon sticks. C. cassia is by far additional active and also the most used on retail shelves. C. cassia contains cinnamaldehyde, coumarin, cinnamyl acetate and 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde. In vitro analyses reveal the extract and a water-soluble flavanoid polyphenolic polymer contains insulin-like activity, showing glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and increased phosphorylation of the insulin receptor. Other bioactives have stimulated autophosphorylation of truncated insulin receptors, apparently inhibiting PTP-1-recognized to shut down the insulin receptor. In a 2003 double-blind analysis of 60 NIDDM volunteers C. cassia decreased mean fasting serum glucose by 18-29% with huge lipid reductions after forty days at unique dosages(31). In a 2006 random double-blind research of 79 NIDDM, patients took either water-extracted cinnamon equivalent to 3 grams daily for four months or a placebo. Fasting glucose levels decreased 10.3% for the cinnamon group as opposed to 3.4% for the placebo group. Though a 2006 analysis of postmenopausal NIDDM ladies curiously showed tiny effect(33), a 2007 research of 14 healthy subjects taking 6 grams of cinnamon in pudding after meals considerably delayed food stomach emptying and decreased post-prandial glucose levels.
Garcinia Cambogia
The rind of this tiny fruit grown in Asia contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which has undergone Many human and in vivo studies showing appetite reduction, increased fat oxidation, lower triglycerides, reductions in body weight(35), considerably reduced leptin levels and a lot more recently, lower fasting glucose levels.
Bitter Melon
Mormordica charantia is an additional conventional botanical medicine. Constituents charantin, vincin and polypeptide-p from the juice of the unripe fruit have been reported to have anti-diabetic activity. Though still under debate, mechanisms for bitter melon appear to be related to polypeptide-p’s insulin-like behavior along with glucose absorption inhibition, regulation/stimulation of insulin and improved glycogen-synthesis. Though human studies have been scant, Several in vivo studies have shown bitter melon to have a 30% to 48% lowering effect on blood glucose levels.
Prickly pear cactus
Opuntia streptacantha and Opuntia ficus indicaenus-also known as nopal-grows primarily in the arid climates of Mexico and the Southwestern U.S. In reviewing the literature on both human and animal studies, it appears that nopal’s action glucose tolerance effects appears to stem from its capability to modulate LDL cholesterol. Different clinical trials performed in Spain with NIDDM patients concluded that nopal decreased serum glucose levels following dextrose challenges.
Coccina indica
C. indica is a creeper increasing primarily in India and Bangladesh. Extracts from the roots and leaves are used. C. indica appears considerably high in pectins, chitooligosaccharide-particular lectin and Quite a few other components. In a 1998 research, 500 mgm/kg body weight of dried extract was given to 30 NIDDM patients for six weeks. Increased-glucose control was concluded. From the data it appeared that C. indica’s insulin-like activity was related to modulating Many glyolytic and lipolytic enzymes, and the repression of the glucose-6-phosphatase enzyme. In a six-week trial of 32 NIDDM patients, 10 of the 16 patients taking C. indica showed big improvement in glucose tolerance although none of the 16 control group showed improvement. Many in vivo studies have shown C. indica’s capability to lower fasting glucose levels, some as low as 24%.
Aloe vera
The dried gel from the Aloe vera (family:Aloeaceae) plant has been shown helpful in 3 studies on NIDDM. Five phytosterols lophenol, 24-methyl-lophenol, 24-ethyl-lophenol, cycloartanol, and 24-methylene-cycloartanol together with water-soluble fiber glucomannan, appear to be the active constituents. Blood sugar reduction of up to 55% has been shown in in vivo research. The mechanism is thought to be related to its beta-cell protective effects, inhibitory effects on glucose-absorption speed and a modulation of liver enzymes. A half-teaspoonful of aloe every day for 4-14 weeks reduced fasting glucose levels from a mean of 273 mg/dl to 151 mg/dl for five NIDDM patients. Two other human studies have confirmed comparable effects with one teaspoon every day.
Pterocarpus marsupium
One of the most illustrative studies showing botanicals’ NIDDM effects was published in 2005. In a double-blinded randomized analysis comparing Pterocarpus marsupium with the common diabetes drug tolbutamide, 365 newly-diagnosed or untreated NIDDM patients were treated either with P. marsupium or tobutamide for 36 weeks. 86% of the Pterocarpus treatment group achieved glycemic control even though 94% of the 177 tolbutamide-treated patients achieved control, based on fasting and post-prandial blood glucose (with average reduction ranges of 23-31% and 28%-34% respectively). As other trials of this botanical have confirmed, there were no adverse effects of Pterocarpus.
Pterocarpus has a very lengthy history of use in India for diabetes. The Entire tree bark is used as a powder or cut piece. Occasionally it is administered as a cup carved from the tree’s bark. Water soaks in the cup overnight to absorb the extract and consumed the next morning. The mechanism for Pterocarpus-with constituents thought to be epicatechin, marsupin and pterosupin-is not well understood.
Other Botanicals
Other botanicals with limited research but a lot of anecdotal and historical standard use for in blood sugar management consist of Solomon seal, Eucommia, Rehmannia; plum extract, miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), litchi fruit, cornus fruit (cornelian cherry or dogwood fruit), goji berry, black rice extract, stevia, Astragalus sp., Rhodiola crenulata and Lo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenori). Spice extracts from the Labiatae family-which includes sage, oregano, rosemary, and lemon balm-also apparently inhibit alpha glucosidase. Neem (Azadirachta indica) has also shown anti-diabetic effects in research and conventional use. In 2007 a research of 10 NIDDM patients showed neem’s large hypoglycemic effects.
For references, please contact the author at cadams@realnaturalhealth.com
Copyright 2009, Realnatural, Inc.
About the Author: Dr. Casey Adams holds a Ph.D. in Natural Health Sciences, a Physician of Sciences in Integrative Health, a degree in Naturopathy, and is board certified as an Option Medical Practitioner and practices at the Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Watsonville, CA. He is the author of Total Harmonic: The Healing Power of Natures Remedies and Body Harmonic: The Conscious Anatomy He can be reached at RealNatural Health
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