Blood Lipids - Blood Sugar - Antioxidant Balance
High levels of blood fats and blood sugar interfere with each other's proper regulation and metabolism. On the other hand, the presence of excess glucose in the blood interferes with the use of fat for energy and, through the action of the liver, elevates the level of triglycerides and their storage as fat. On the other hand, the presence of excess fats in the blood interferes with the disposal of glucose. To optimize the regulation of blood sugar, both blood glucose levels and blood fat levels must be taken into account. This is why Glucose Optimizer® provides a unique combination of ingredients designed to address both of these issues while simultaneously protecting the body against the oxidative stress associated with elevated levels of blood glucose and insulin.
Chromium
Chromium is the mineral most associated with blood sugar control because in its trivalent form it appears to improve the absorption of glucose into the cells. Chromium potentates the effects of insulin by improving its ability to bind to its cellular receptor. If a lack of chromium is responsible for the suboptimal clearance of blood sugar by insulin, supplemental chromium will mean that less insulin is needed to control blood sugar levels. Energy levels therefore can be stabilized and the extreme fluctuations of hunger associated with hypoglycemia can be avoided because there is no longer an excess release of insulin.
The usefulness to the dieter and those with tendencies to high blood sugar is obvious. Just as important, however, is the fact that chromium has been shown to help moderately decrease unwanted blood lipid levels, both of LDL cholesterol and of triglycerides, while actually raising the levels of the desirable HDL fraction of the blood.
Glucose Optimizer Advantages
Contemporary research has identified compounds that have much stronger effects directly upon glucose transport than trivalent chromium, such as alpha-lipoic acid. Niacinamide is another nutrient which significantly modulates glucose metabolism, in part by improving both insulin response and insulin release. All four of these nutrients are found in Glucose Optimizer® and are broadened by the inclusion of herbal extracts that improve the pancreatic beta-cell functioning.
Alpha Lipoic Acid: The Antioxidant Glucose Regulator
Known primarily as an antioxidant that protects both water-based and fat-based tissues, alpha-lipoic acid is also a potent regulator of blood sugar. It has a direct effect upon one or more of the cellular glucose transporters, proteins found inside cells which transport glucose across the cell membrane.
Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits the inappropriate release of glucose by the liver, such as when the liver releases yet more glucose into the blood even as the pancreas is releasing insulin to help clear the glucose already present. Of all the nutritional glucose modulators available, alpha-lipoic acid is the most powerful, most versatile, and most extensively tested. Gymnema Sylvestre The herb Gymnema sylvestre has been used in Indian/Ayurvedic medicine for 2000 years to positively modulate carbohydrate metabolism. Animal studies have confirmed that the herb does indeed reduce blood sugar levels.
Other studies demonstrate that gymnema extracts increase liver and pancreas functions, which tend to be weakened in those who are overweight or experience blood sugar regulatory problems.
Another significant factor to dieters is the fact that gymnema is claimed traditionally to reduce cravings for sweet foods; it does this by mildly affecting the taste receptors. Western-style researchers have determined that Gymnema sylvestre may work by repairing or regenerating the actual insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and thereby increase insulin output. Source: Jarrow Formulas
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Scientific References
- Guthrie JF, Morton JF. Food sources of added sweeteners in the diets of Americans. J Am Diet Assoc 2000 Jan; 100(1):43-51, quiz 49-50.
- Gittleman AL. Get the Sugar Out. (New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1996): Steward HL, et al. Sugar Busters (1995); U.S. Department of Agriculture figures.
- Brand JC, Nicholson PL, Thorburn AW, Truswell AS. Food processing and the glycemic index. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Dec; 42(6): 1192-6.
- Lipetz P. The Good Calorie Diet. (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994) 28.
- Felber J-P, Acheson KJ, Tappy L. From Obesity to Diabetes. (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1993), Chapter 4. "Insulin Resistance."
- Gatti E, Now , Pazzucconi F, Gianfranceschi G, Porrini M, Testolin G, Sirtori CR. Different effect of unsaturated oils and butter on blood glucose and insulin response to carbohydrate in normal volunteers. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1992 Mar;46(3): 161-6.
- Preuss HG, Anderson RA. Chromium update: examining recent literature 1997-1998. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 1998 Nov;1(6): 509-12. Review.
- Packer L, Witt EH, Tritschler HJ. Alpha-lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med. 1995. Aug;19(2): 227-50. Review.
- Jacob S, Hennriksen EJ, Tritschler HJ, Augustin HJ, Dietze GJ. Improvement of insulin-stimulated glucose-disposal in type 2 diabetes after repeated parenteral administration of thioctic acid. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1996;104(3): 284-8.
- Khamaisi M, Potashnik R, Tirosh A, Demshchak E, Rudich A, Tritschler H, Wessel K, Bashan N. Lipoic acid reduces glycemia and increases muscle GLUT4 content in streptozoticin-diabetic rate. Metabolism. 1997 Jul;46(7): 763-8.
- Blumenthal SA. Inhibition of gluconeogenisis in rat liver by lipoic acid. Evidence for more than one site of action. Biochem J. 1984 May 1;219(3): 773-80.
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