Jack Challem
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 The chief supplements for improving glucose tolerance and insulin function are alpha-lipoic acid, chromium picolinate, vitamin E, vitamin C, and silymarin (an antioxidant extract of the herb milk thistle). If you are taking any drug for controlling glucose, be aware that your medication requirements may decrease.
Alpha-lipoic acid, a natural substance made by the body and found in beef and spinach, is used extensively in Germany to treat diabetic nerve disorders. In daily dosages of 600 mg it can improve insulin function and lower glucose levels in people with diabetes. |
| The company also manufactures Diachrome, a proprietary combination of chromium picolinate and biotin (a B vitamin), which also helps control blood sugar levels. You may find the name Chromax in fine print on the back of supplements. The Nutrition 21 brand of Diachrome can be purchased by calling 800-343-3082 or 914-701 -4500, ext. 517.
PharmaNord
This Scandinavian company markets Bio-Sport, which contains antiinflammatory fish oils and antioxidants. The product has been used extensively in Europe, particularly by the Danish Olympic team to ease inflammatory injuries. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 Tahoma Clinic in Kent, Washington, has found that higher doses of chromium in the form of chromium polynicotinate work much more rapidly to lessen the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.
"By prescribing a high dosage, I've found that my patients' sugar cravings go away a lot more rapidly, so they're able to make the switch to a healthy diet much more easily and quickly," Dr. Wright says. "I've also found that their more severe symptoms disappear faster."
Dr. |
Jack Challem
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| Diachrome, a proprietary combination of chromium picolinate and biotin, a B vitamin, have been shown to further enhance glucose control.
Vitamins E and C improve glucose tolerance and have the added benefit of lowering levels of CRP and interleukin-6. The effect of these vitamins on easing diabetic complications may be greater than their glucose-lowering properties.
Silymarin can have significant glucose-lowering effects in people with diabetes. |
Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S.
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 The other pair of ingredients often found in these formulas are tyrosine, an amino acid helpful for improving mood, and phenylalanine, an essential amino acid that can be converted into tyrosine. Both of these are precursors to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel peppy and bright. Tyrosine is needed for the making of thyroid hormone, but it is highly unlikely that tyrosine will boost low thyroid, even though some supplement makers claim it does.
The important thing is to read the ingredients on the labels of the products you are considering. |
Gary Null
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| The condition is also related to a lack of trace minerals, such as chromium and zinc; overconsumption of refined carbohydrates; genetics, when there is a family history of diabetes; and a sedentary lifestyle.
Being overweight, particularly the abdominal obesity associated with an overabundance of insulin, is a risk factor for several diseases and conditions associated with aging, such as type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, impotence, and cancer.
How can you work to normalize your insulin situation? |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Doses of 200 micrograms of chromium chloride and 100 mg of nicotinic acid per day over a period of several months can reduce serum cholesterol levels.
Treatment of Turner's syndrome patients with 30 g of brewer's yeast containing 50 micgrograms of chromium per day for eight weeks produced a reduction in cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well.
Citrus Bioflavonoids
Studies indicate that citrus bioflavonoids such as nobiletin and tangeretin are likely involved in cancer chemoprevention. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
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 The mighty five. chromium, copper, fluoride, manganese, and molybdenum are five trace minerals you'll find in common foods and drinks. They are responsible for everything from strong teeth (fluoride) to your blood-sugar level (chromium). They are so important that nutritionists have set daily requirements for each of them to make sure you get enough.
Experts are also investigating a handful of other minerals to see how essential they are to your body. Boron is one that seems promising as an important ingredient in bone and joint health. |
| Research shows that not getting enough chromium in your diet can make diabetes worse. That's because chromium helps your body process sugar. In the United States, people eat an average of 6 to 20 micrograms (meg) of this essential element. But you should be eating 50 meg per day. Good sources include liver, whole grains, cheeses, and nuts.
Biotin. This B-vitamin helps you digest fats and carbohydrates — important for diabetics. A deficiency can cause hair loss, a red rash, loss of appetite, depression, and a swollen tongue. But biotin is easy to get in a healthy diet. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Yet, there is no mention of chromium in the RDAs. The point is that when a supplement like chromium is omitted from the RDAs, it does not mean that it could not be of great benefit to millions of people. All it means is that the RDAs are hopelessly outdated.
If you eat a well-balanced diet, do you need to take supplements?
In an ideal world, everyone would be able to eat a "well-balanced" diet that would eliminate the need for supplements. We would carefully plan out each meal so that we would have just the right amount of each micronutrient. But we don't live in an ideal world. |
| Many physicians also use chromium picolinate to treat Type II diabetes, or insulin resistance, a condition in which the body produces enough insulin but the cells do not use it efficiently, resulting in a rise in blood sugar. About 25 percent of all adults over 40 will develop some form of insulin resistance. Obesity and a diet high in refined sugar increase the likelihood of developing Type II diabetes, but taking chromium picolinate may help prevent or reverse this condition. According to studies performed by the U.S.D.A. |
Jean Carper
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 One analysis found that one cup of broccoli contained 22 micrograms of chromium, ten times more than any other food. Barley is also rich in chromium, perhaps helping explain the grain's longtime use in Iraq as a diabetes remedy. In animal experiments, barley helps suppress insulin surges.
Thumbs Up: THE POWER OF CURRY SPICE
Don't overlook the power of fenugreek seeds, long used in the Middle East and India to treat several diseases, including diabetes. Now there's evidence the seeds may indeed help control diabetes. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| For these reasons, I recommend chromium to anyone who wants a sleeker, stronger body. Take between 200 and 600 meg. of chromium picolinate daily.
Chitosan
"Fat blockers" are hot new supplements designed to shed pounds by preventing the absorption of fat. Several pharmaceutical companies are working to develop fat blockers as diet aids, but there are already several natural products being sold over the counter.
One of them is chitosan, which is made from chitin, a substance found in the exoskeletons of shell fish such as shrimp and crabs. |
Lendon H. Smith, M.D.
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| The rest of the body consists of boron, chlorine, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, sulfur, tin, and zinc.
All of these minerals have important functions in the work of the body's enzymes. Vitamins, amino acids, and specific minerals are used to make the enzymes. The enzymes need a substrate like a cupboard with a constant supply of the proper items in the right concentrations and ratios. (Without chromium insulin cannot make dextrose function. Without iodine thyroxin is worthless. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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 Two hundred micrograms a day of chromium is adequate to improve glucose levels of those who are mildly glucose intolerant. However, people with more extreme cases of glucose intolerance (diabetes, for example) usually require more than 200 micrograms a day. Daily intake of 8 micrograms per kilogram of body weight was shown to be more effective than 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight in women with gestational diabetes. To determine how much chromium you will need to reach 8 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, divide your body weight by 2. |
| The requirement for chromium is related to the degree of glucose intolerance. Two hundred micrograms a day of chromium is adequate to improve glucose levels of those who are mildly glucose intolerant. However, people with more extreme cases of glucose intolerance (diabetes, for example) usually require more than 200 micrograms a day. Daily intake of 8 micrograms per kilogram of body weight was shown to be more effective than 4 micrograms per kilogram of body weight in women with gestational diabetes. |
Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier
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 Whether the chromium content of the bean pods is responsible for the (weak) antidiabetic action requires further investigation [2].
Wording of the package insert German Standard License
(St. Zul. 8th Suppl, Published October 1993)
6.1 Indications for use
For increasing the amount of urine; for preventing the formation of gravel and urinary calculus.
6.2 Dosage and Mode of administration
Briefly decoct about 1 tablespoonful (ap-prox. 5 g) of seedless kidney bean pods in 150 ml water. After about 15 min, pass through a tea strainer. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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 A Look at Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF)
As you can see GTF is a trivalent chromium surrounded by two molecules of B3 (niacinamide) and three amino acids of glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine. Remember, these three amino acids make up glutathione, probably the most important antioxidant in the body.
Unfortunately, modern widespread agricultural practices have led to widespread chromium deficits in the food supply. Buying organically grown foods will help with higher nutrient levels in our foods. |
Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier
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| Further research is required to determine whether the chromium content of the dried leaf is responsible for an antidiabetic action [13]. A decrease of elevated plasma glucose levels and also plasma triglyceride has been observed in streptozotocin-dia-betic rats following oral administration of a dried hydroalcoholic extract of the leaf [14]. Follow-up studies are needed to determine whether the flavonoids present in the leaves can be used for the treatment of diabetic circulatory disorders. |
Gary Null
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| Lipotropic factors help control blood sugar, as does chromium picolinate.
Adrenal support is also very important. The adrenal glands secrete stressor hormones. Vitamin C (in a large dosage) and pantothenic acid are important adrenal supporters; they also support the pancreas, which, involved as it is in insulin creation, plays a central role in sugar-level balancing.
A hypoglycemic individual definitely needs emotional support. If you have this condition, try different methods of calming yourself, from meditation to exercise to talking with supportive friends. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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| In fact, most fresh foods in their natural state are a good source of dietary chromium complexes. Nutritional yeast has been shown to be the highest source of GTF. Refined and processed foods may have as much as 80 percent of their naturally occurring chromium removed.
GTF along with insulin make it easier for carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids to pass from the blood into the cells of various tissues. It also promotes the metabolism of nutrients within the cells. When GTF is lacking, more insulin is needed to perform these jobs. |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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 Some diabetes specialists believe that a 200-microgram tablet of chromium picolinate, which can be bought without a prescription, helps control blood sugar levels. (The beneficial effect of broccoli on diabetes is probably due in part to its high content of chromium and the fact that it is rich in complex carbohydrates. This is not a food that can be forced. Just eat as much as you like! There is no upper limit!)
The American Diabetic Association can provide you and your doctor with a specific diet plan based on caloric requirements tailored to your height, weight, and age. |
Marion Nestle
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 Chromium High Beverage (Saratoga Fruit for Thought): Apple, guava, and banana mixed with chromium picolinate, a naturally occurring element believed to have metabolizing and energizing qualities.d Chocolate Almond Fudge Bar (Clif): Formulated supplementary sports food.
Source of antioxidants. The natural energy bar.d
Herbal-supplemented
Ginkgo Biloba Rings (Robert's American Gourmet): Herbal snack. Yes, a memory snack . . . Gingko biloba has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain which can increase MEMORY AND ALERTNESS.4
Ginseng Crunch Cereal (New Morning): Low fat. |
Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
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 K phospholipase A2 argenase
• increases brain glutamate absorption.
• is neurotoxic when combined with fluoride.
• activates microglia.
• is associated with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
• is active in formation of neurofibrillary tangles.
• depletes brain lipids.
TABLE 5.3
While this would seem to settle the controversy, it didn't. The picture was further clouded by yet more accurate analysis using highly sophisticated laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMA 500), which can analyze components of the neuron itself. |
C. P. Khare
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 At the end of the 2-month test period, the group (25 persons) taking the Malabar tamarind-derived HCA (with chromium added) lost an average of 11.1 pounds per person. In the placebo group (25 persons), the weight loss was only 4.2 pounds.
Research showed that (-)-hydroxycitric acid curbs the appetite, thus reducing food intake. HCA is said to inhibit an enzyme (ATP-citrate lyase), responsible for converting carbohydrates into fat for storage, through competitive inhibition. |
| Trace elements reported in the grain include aluminium, manganese, copper, zinc, arsenic, boron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, iodine (more than 65 % of the iodine is found in the bran fraction), fluorine, selenium, titanium, molybdenum, vanadium lead, tin, strontium, barium, rubidium and lithium.
The enzymes present in rice include alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, amylosynthetase, catalase, protease, lipase, phenolase, oxidase, peroxidase; and an inhibitor which interferes with the oxidation of pyrogallol. |
Robyn Landis
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 Supplementing with this mineral may reduce blood glucose by binding with GTF—glucose tolerance factor—which helps insulin bind to certain cell receptors to allow glucose to enter cells. chromium may also improve tissue responsiveness to insulin. Scientific views on its effectiveness are mixed, but since chromium is not known to be toxic even at high levels, a daily supplement of the picolinate or nicotinate forms (designed to be more bioavailable, or easily absorbed) is a good idea. |
Glenn W. Geelhoed, M.D. and Jean Barilla, M.S.
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 When raw cane sugar is refined into white sugar, almost 93 percent of the chromium is removed. And when whole wheat flour is turned into white flour, almost 75 percent of the chromium is removed.
That's why it's important to eat a variety of whole, unrefined foods including molasses, wheat germ and "raw" sugar.
Panaceas
History is filled with stories about the search for a magical cure. The ancient Greeks prayed to Panacea, the mythical daughter of the god of medicine, believing her touch could cure anything. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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| In its biologically active form (natural foods), chromium is part of the hormone-like GTF; it functions primarily as an insulin cofactor.13 GTF aids insulin's ability to transport glucose and amino acids inside cells for energy and tissue production. Deficiency has been shown to lead to insulin resistance (inability to utilize insulin).
Figure 10.2
A Look at Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF)
As you can see GTF is a trivalent chromium surrounded by two molecules of B3 (niacinamide) and three amino acids of glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine. |
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