Guest guest Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:23:01 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson Mineral Rights Mineral Rights Health Sciences Institute e-Alert June 16, 2004 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, It almost sounds like a late-night commercial: A simple combination of one vitamin and one mineral - when taken together - may help diabetics regulate blood sugar levels, manage cholesterol, and even control carbohydrate cravings. How can that be? ----------------------------- Multitasking supplement ----------------------------- In a study presented last month at an American Heart Association (AHA) Conference, Chicago researcher Jeffrey Geohas, M.D. (medical director of Radiant Research), examined the effect of a chromium picolinate (CP) and biotin formula on 24 type 2 diabetics. For 30 days, half the group took a daily dose of 600 mcg of CP and 2 mg of biotin, while the other half took a placebo. All of the subjects had previously taken antidiabetic drugs, but still had difficulty managing sugar levels. Before and after the trial, researchers measured each subject's fasting blood glucose, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, and levels of apolipoprotein A (apo A) and apolipoprotein B (apo B). As I've noted in previous e-Alerts, apo A is the protein component of HDL, and apo B is the protein component of LDL. Studies have shown that the ratio between apo A and apo B may be more accurate in revealing heart health than the HDL- LDL ratio. Dr. Geohas' team found that subjects who took the CP and biotin supplement improved in all of the categories measured: * Apo B decreased by an average of more than 5 mg per deciliter (mg/dL) * Ratio of Apo A to Apo B improved * Fasting blood glucose was reduced, on average, by more than 26 mg/dL * More than 70 percent of the supplement group experienced significant drops in fasting blood glucose * LDL cholesterol levels decreased by more than 10 mg/dL on average LDL and apo B both increased in the placebo group, and less than 30 percent of the placebo subjects recorded appreciable drops in fasting blood glucose. ----------------------------- One-two punch ----------------------------- The Radiant Research trial used a CP and biotin supplement called Diachrome. And it should be noted that the research was funded by Nutrition 21, the company that manufactures Diachrome and owns the patent on chromium picolinate. But you don't necessarily need supplements to get the full benefits of chromium and biotin. Biotin - part of the complex of B vitamins - has been shown to help metabolize fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The two best food sources are cooked eggs and liver. (Raw eggs contain a protein that prevents biotin absorption.) According to the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI), biotin research on rats indicates that this vitamin may stimulate insulin secretion in the pancreas. And one study - cited on the LPI web site - showed that a group of 43 type 2 diabetics had significantly lower biotin levels compared to non-diabetic subjects. Chromium is a component of insulin, and previous research has already shown that this mineral may help regulate blood sugar levels. Broccoli is particularly rich in chromium, as is turkey meat, liver, seafood, whole grains and oysters. But there is an apparent advantage in taking a chromium picolinate supplement. Picolinic acid (which is naturally produced in the body) is believed to improve absorption of trace metal ions. And studies show that absorption of minerals is significantly enhanced when the minerals are in picolinate form. In addition to Diachrome, chromium picolinate supplements (presumably using Nutrition 21's patented product) are available from many Internet sources and health food stores. ----------------------------- Constant craving ----------------------------- According to naturopathic doctor Joseph Mercola, some people find that chromium may also help control sugar and carbohydrate cravings. This was confirmed in a recent study presented this month at a National Institute of Mental Health conference. Researchers recruited more than 110 subjects with atypical depression. (One of the most common symptoms of atypical depression is the craving of carbohydrates.) About two- thirds of the subjects took a daily supplement of chromium picolinate for eight weeks. The other subjects received a placebo. Subjects who took the CP supplement reported an overall drop in their carb cravings compared to the placebo group. Many subjects in the CP group also reported significantly less depression. Scientists know that people who are depressed are almost twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as those who are not. Many researchers believe that the link between these two conditions is carbohydrate intake. For most people, removing a craving for carbs may not be as simple as taking a daily CP supplement, but a little help from a natural source certainly couldn't hurt. Actually, mega-doses of chromium might be harmful for some. But most people don't get large amounts of chromium in their diets anyway, so a daily supplement of 600 mcg should not be a problem. As always, though, it's a good idea to consult with your doctor or healthcare advisor before beginning any new supplement regimen. ************************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopy.html Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert. ************************************************************** .... and another thing The splendor of nature does not include Splenda. In response to the e-Alert " The Sweet Lowdown " (6/3/04), an HSI member named Sharon had this question: " Why didn't you mention Splenda as a sweetener? " Good question, Sharon. In fact, several members wrote to ask why Splenda wasn't included. The simple reason is that the e- Alert only addressed natural alternatives to sugar and aspartame. And the processing of Splenda is anything but natural. We'll start with the plus side: Splenda does not cause a spike in sugar levels, so it's considered an acceptable sweetener for diabetics. It's also the sweetener used in many Atkins products. But Splenda is a brand name for sucralose, which is chlorinated table sugar. Representatives for Johnson & Johnson (the makers of Splenda) claim that chlorine processing is not a problem because sucralose passes through the human body without being absorbed. A similar claim is also made on the Atkins Web site, which states that sucralose is " inert " in the digestive system, and passes quickly through the body without accumulating in tissues. According to the sucralose " Final Rule " issued by the FDA, however, the body may absorb from 11 to 27 percent of ingested sucralose. But research from the Japanese Food Sanitation Council doesn't agree; it estimates that perhaps as much as 40 percent is absorbed. In addition, the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center (STIC) has determined that once sucralose is absorbed, as much as 20 to 30 percent may be metabolized by the body where it could accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the liver and kidneys. And what it may be doing there, over a long period of time, with more added daily, is the unknown factor of sucralose. STIC research in the '90s demonstrated that years of sucralose use may lead to immune system and neurological disorders. The only real complaint that most people have about sucralose is that it sometimes causes stomach pains and gas. But only time will tell if daily sucralose use might lead to more serious problems. I don't know about you, but I don't like the idea of being a guinea pig in these worldwide experiments. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopya.html Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert. ************************************************************** Sources: " Supplement May Lower Diabetes Heart Risks " Jennifer Warner, WebMD Medical News, 5/10/04, my.webmd.com " Chromium Plus B Vitamin Lower Coronary Risk Factors " Life Extension Foundation, 5/10/04, lef.org " Biotin " Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center, lpi.oregonstate.edu " Chromium (From Picolinate) " Health-Marketplace.com " Calcium May Cut Carb Craving in Depression " Daniel DeNoon, WebMD Medical News, 6/3/04, my.webmd.com " The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center " Holistic Healing Web Page, holistic.med.com " The Potential Dangers of Sucralose " Dr. Joseph Mercola, 12/3/00, mercola.com Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.