Fenugreek Improves Blood Sugar Control

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Fenugreek Improves Blood Sugar Control

 

Fenugreek has been used in connection with the following conditions

(refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

 

Diabetes

Hypoglycemia

Atherosclerosis

High triglycerides

High Cholesterol

 

Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a

substantial health benefit.

 

A wide range of uses were found for fenugreek in

ancient times. Medicinally it was used for the treatment of wounds,

abscesses, arthritis, bronchitis, and digestive problems.

Traditional Chinese herbalists used it for kidney problems and conditions

affecting the male reproductive tract.

 

Fenugreek was, and remains, a food and a spice commonly eaten

in many parts of the world.

 

Active constituents: Fenugreek seeds contain alkaloids (mainly

trigonelline) and protein high in lysine and L-tryptophan.

 

Its steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin, and

neotigogenin) and mucilaginous fiber are thought to account for many

of the beneficial effects of fenugreek.

 

The steroidal saponins are thought to inhibit cholesterol absorption and

synthesis, while the fiber may help lower blood sugar levels.

 

One human study found that fenugreek can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar

levels in people with moderate atherosclerosis

and non-insulin-dependent (type 2)

diabetes. Preliminary and double-blind trials have found that fenugreek helps

improve blood sugar control in patients with insulin-

dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes.

 

Double-blind trials have shown that fenugreek lowers elevated

cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood,

 

This has also been found in a controlled clinical trial with diabetic patients

with elevated cholesterol. Generally, fenugreek does not lower HDL

( " good " ) cholesterol levels.

 

How much is usually taken?

 

Due to the somewhat bitter taste of fenugreek seeds, de-bitterized seeds or

encapsulated products are

preferred. The German Commission E monograph recommends a daily

intake of 6 grams.

 

The typical range of intake for diabetes or cholesterol-lowering is 5–30 grams

with each meal or 15–90 grams all at once with one meal. As a tincture, 3–4 ml

of fenugreek can be taken up to three times per day.

 

Are there any side effects or interactions?

 

Use of more than 100 grams of fenugreek seeds daily can cause intestinal upset

and nausea.

Otherwise, fenugreek is extremely safe. Due to the potential uterine

stimulating properties of fenugreek, which may cause miscarriages,

fenugreek should not be used during pregnancy.

 

 

 

References:

 

1. Escot N. Fenugreek. ATOMS 1994/5;Summer:7–12.

 

2. Sauvaire Y, Ribes G, Baccou JC, Loubatieres-Mariani MM.

Implication of steroid saponins and sapogenins in the

hypocholesterolemic effect of fenugreek. Lipids 1991;26:191–7.

 

3. Ribes G, Sauvaire Y, Da Costa C, et al. Antidiabetic effects of

subfractions from fenugreek seeds in diabetic dogs. Proc Soc Exp Biol

Med 1986;182:159–66.

 

4. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Effect of ginger (Zingiber

officinale Rosc) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L) on blood

lipids, blood sugar, and platelet aggregation in patients with

coronary artery disease. Prostagland Leukotrienes Essential Fatty

Acids 1997;56:379–84.

 

5. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood

glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr

1990;44:301–6.

 

6. Madar Z, Abel R, Samish S, Arad J. Glucose-lowering effect of

fenugreek in non-insulin dependent diabetics. Eur J Clin Nutr

1988;42:51–4.

 

7. Raghuram TC, Sharma RD, Sivakumar B, Sahay BK. Effect of fenugreek

seeds on intravenous glucose disposition in non-insulin dependent

diabetic patients. Phytother Res 1994;8:83–6.

 

8. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Dayasagar Rao V. Hypolipidaemic effect of

fenugreek seeds. A clinical study. Phytother Res 1991;5:145–7.

 

9. Prasanna M. Hypolipidemic effect of fenugreek: A clinical study.

Indian J Phramcol 2000;32:34–6.

 

10. Sharma RD, Sarkar DK, Hazra B, et al. Hypolipidaemic effect of

fenugreek seeds: A chronic study in non-insulin dependent diabetic

patients. Phytother Res 1996;10:332–4.

 

11. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete

Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines.

Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, 130.

 

12. Brinker F. Herb Contradictions and Drug Interactions. Sandy, OR:

Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998, 70–1.

_________________

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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