• Alpha-lipoic Acid: Research suggests that alpha-lipoic acid stimulates insulin activity, reduces insulin resistance in diabetics, and enhances the burning of glucose.
• Chromium: In patients taking large doses of chromium—1,000 mcg daily for four months—glucose and insulin levels dropped to near normal, according to Richard Anderson, Ph.D., of the USDA.
• Magnesium: A study of elderly patients found that magnesium supplements improved glucose handling.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: In a recent animal experiment, Margaret T. Behme, M.D., of University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada, found that insulin resistance decreased after omega-3 fatty acids were substituted for omega-6 fatty acids.
• Taurine: Diabetics have below-normal blood levels of taurine, an amino acid. In a study of 73 patients, Flavia Franconi, M.D., of the University of Sassari, Italy, reported that taurine supplements reduced platelet aggregation.
• Vitamin A: Gerald M. Reaven, M.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine, in Palo Alto, CA, administered glucose and insulin to 52 Type II diabetics. Those who consumed foods with large amounts of vitamin A were the most efficient users of insulin.
• Vitamin C: Glycosylation is the non-enzymatic bonding of sugar and protein molecules. Doctors measure glycosylated hemoglobin to assess diabetic control. In an experiment with 12 volunteers at the University of Surrey, England, researchers found that vitamin C reduced protein glycosylation.

Insulin injections are often required for the treatment of diabetes. Nutritional supplementation is essential for optimal management of diabetes.

References: Crapo, P.A. "Dietary Management." In Kahn, C.R. & Weir, G.C. (eds), Joslin's Diabetes Mellitus, 13th edition: 415-30, 1994. Fuller, C.J., Chandalia, M., et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63: 753-9, 1996.

3 Herbs Soothe The Nervous System

Virtually all internal glands and organs, as well as the heart and blood vessels, function in response to counterbalancing signals from the two opposing branches of the autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic subdivisions.

Poor endocrine, cardiac, and neural health result when either of these two nervous systems get the upper hand and imbalances neural control. Tonic herbs have an amazing ability to restore and maintain balance among all of the factors involved in the give and take relationships between neural impulses, endocrine function, and tissue response to neural and hormonal signals.

Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is best know as a mild sedative, especially useful for helping to alleviate insomnia and other sleep disorders; it may be surprising to learn that valerian root can function just as well as a daytime relaxant which will improve concentration and reaction time and elevate the mood.

The most common applications for valerian root, dating back centuries, involve: calming upset nerves; balancing mood problems; and relieving muscle and emotional tension, pain, and headaches.Because of its tonic nature, passion flower combines well with valerian root in sedative compounds, anti-stress agents, and PMS aids.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is truly one of the most remarkable plant medicines to emerge in this century. Ginkgo is extremely tonic to the nervous system, especially the brain. Virtually all brain neurotransmitters are affected positively with ginkgo, and blood flow to the brain is enhanced significantly.

People with sleep or stress disorders will find that these herbs produce a deep, relaxing effect without producing a hangover the next day.

References: Leathwood, P.D. and Chaffard, F. Pharmacol. Biochem. and Behav. 17:65-71, 1982. Taillandier, J., et al. Presse Med. 15(31):1583-87, 1986.

Better Health With Vitamin E

At the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 32nd Research Symposium, a discussion centered on vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid helping to prevent life-threatening diabetic complications. The theme of the symposium, which was held in November, 1996, was The Role of Oxidants and Antioxidant Therapy in Diabetic Complications.

In a study conducted at the University of Tubingen, Stephen Jacob, M.D., administered 600 mg or more of alpha-lipoic acid per day to 74 diabetics. The results showed a reduction in the amount of glucose and improved glucose tolerance.

In a separate study conducted by Ishwarlal Jialal, M.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 21 healthy patients were given 1,200 IU of natural vitamin E per day. After 14 weeks, results showed a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and a reduction in the adherence of foam cells, which reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Jialal also cited a recent British study in which 2,002 heart patients had a 77% reduction in non-fatal heart attacks after consuming 400-800 IU of natural vitamin E per day.

According to John M.C. Gutteridge, Ph.D., D.Sc., of London's Royal Brompton Hospital, "Diabetics are under tremendous oxidative stress." And the best way to view antioxidants like alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins E and C and glutathione, according to Lester Packer, Ph.D., professor of cellular and molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, is as part of an "antioxidant network." Packer also said that antioxidants work more effectively as a group than individually.

The scientific symposium sponsored by the ADA was attended by 235 researchers from around the world. Several of these researchers acknowledged that they take 400 IU of vitamin E per day to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. Angelo Azzi, Ph.D., an antioxidant expert from the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bern, Switzerland, added, "Natural vitamin E is twice as effective as synthetic vitamin E."

Reference: American Diabetes Association Press Release, November 29, 1996.

Vitamin B6

"...is effective in relieving the severity of nausea in early pregnancy," according to a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Based on this study of 343 pregnant women supplementing with 30 mg. daily of vitamin B6 or a placebo, "we recommend the use of [vitamin B6] as a first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy," writes Teraporn Vutyavanich, M.D., M.Sc.

Reference: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 173:881-4, 1995.

Without A Trace

While the major minerals are needed by the body in gram amounts each day, trace minerals are needed in only fractions of grams each day. The problem is that many people aren't getting the amounts of trace minerals their bodies need each day. Inadequate intake of both the major and trace classes of minerals can have equally devastating effects on health.

The Total Diet Study found that intakes of iron, zinc, copper, and manganese were less than 80% of the RDA or below the low end of the Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Dietary Intake range. Adult women meet as little as 59% of RDA levels for iron, 80% for zinc, and 63% for copper. Adult men, while generally doing better, still average only 76% of their copper requirements.

Other research indicates that nine out of 10 diets are marginal in chromium, and 20% of women in general and up to 80% of active women are iron deficient. Although the average body only contains two to three grams of zinc at any one time, zinc takes part in many essential functions. A major biochemical function of zinc includes the maintenance of membrane structure and function, as well as having a special role in skin and connective tissue metabolism and in wound healing.

Surveys show that as many as one-third of adults in the over-50 age group have an undiagnosed zinc deficiency. It appears that only 10% of the overall population consumes their recommended intake for zinc.

Even a marginal deficiency of zinc lowers defenses against infection, while supplementing with low doses of zinc has been shown to improve immune function in zinc-deficient individuals.Another important trace mineral is chromium. Poor dietary intake of chromium may contribute to the development of adult-onset diabetes. Some evidence suggests that chromium supplementation may help prevent diabetes.

Chromium has been shown to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. A person who eats a lot of sugar or exercises strenuously may have higher than normal urinary losses of chromium and be at higher risk for developing a deficiency.

Clearly, trace minerals are important contributors to health, even in the small amounts required by the body. They are more than worth their weight in achieving and maintaining good health.

References: Anderson, R., et al., Amer. J. of Clin. Nutrition, 1985;41:1177-83. Bagchi, D., et al., Nutritional Perspective, July, 1996. Ozturk, G., et al., General Pharmacology, 1994;25(7):1499-1503.

Soy Isoflavones And Your Health

As understanding of the soy bean grows, we learn that this staple may provide important medicines. It already is the source of many dietary supplements including the isoflavones genistein and daidzein.

Much of this attention can be attributed to the interesting epidemiological observations of cultures that consume large amounts of dietary soy. In the Far East, for example, soy diets are hypothesized to play a role in the lower incidence of certain cancers, heart disease, and the symptoms often associated with menopause.

These epidemiological observations suggesting the benefits of soy are backed by a solid base of scientific evidence.A study from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX, concluded that genistein and daidzein suppressed two key indicators of carcinogenesis, which may be the reason for soy's protective effect against endocrine cancers.

A study from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY published in 1996 demonstrated that genistein inhibited the formation of a DNA damaging substance following exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The researchers concluded that the potent inhibition of UV light-induced DNA damage by genistein suggests its potential anticarcinogenic role in photocarcinogenesis.

Similar to the case with cancer, scientists have observed that cultures with diets rich in soy demonstrate significantly lower rates of cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have shown that the addition of soy protein to the diet results in lower cholesterol levels. Some researchers believe that one of the key reasons for this effect is the presence of isoflavones in soy.

In his book, Soya for Health, Stephen Holt, M.D., points out that the administration of oral estrogens or the weak estrogen tamoxifen has been shown to decrease both serum LDL and cholesterol levels. Holt also cites studies that indicate that soy isoflavones may be responsible for up to three quarters of the measurable cholesterol lowering effect and that the addition of isoflavones to the diet may lower blood cholesterol by as much as 35%.

For a detailed, accurate depiction of the current science of soy, Holt's book Soya for Health is highly recommended.

References: Fotsis, T., et al., "Genistein, a dietary ingested isoflavonoid, inhibits cell proliferation and in vitro angiogenesis," J. Nutr. 125:790S-797S, 1995. Holt, S., Soya for Health, Mary Ann Liebert Inc., Larchmont, NY, p. 35, 1996.

Nutrition And Childhood Behavioral Problems

The physical effects of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency—dry hair and skin, dandruff, excessive thirst, and excessive urination—are well-recognized by the scientific community. Now a recent study from Purdue University links low blood levels of the essential fatty acid omega-3 to behavioral and learning disorders in young boys.

In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers reported finding a correlation between low omega-3 blood levels and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in young boys. In a follow-up study published in Physiology and Behavior, the researchers more extensively observed and tested the original group of 100 boys ages 6 to 12, some without ADHD. The children underwent blood testing and kept diet records while their parents and teachers completed behavior questionnaires and learning and health assessments.

Study participants who exhibited low omega-3 blood levels reported more physical symptoms such as dry skin and hair and excessive thirst. They also ranked higher in behavioral tests that gauged anxiety, hyperactivity, and impulsivity—all elements of ADHD. Reports by parents showed that low omega-3 children experienced more frequent and more excessive temper tantrums and problems getting to sleep and getting up in the morning compared to the group with higher blood levels of omega-3. A group with omega-6 deficiencies showed physical symptoms of EFA deficiency rather than behavioral problems.

Since omega-3s are primarily concentrated in the brain, they may be inferred to have a relationship to behavior, according to study co-author Laura Stevens. The fatty acids linoleic acid, an omega-6, and linolenic acid, an omega-3, are synthesized in the body to form long-chain fatty acids.

"We have good reasons to think EFA deficiencies may affect behavior," Stevens says.

Omega-3 is considered an essential fatty acid because it isn't produced by the body. It must be obtained from dietary sources such as canola, soybean, and flaxseed oils; cold-water fatty fish including salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring; walnuts; and some beans. It is also available in supplement form.

References: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 62, 1995. Physiology and Behavior, vol. 59, 1996.