ARTICHOKE:Improves Digestion, Liver Function, and Cholesterol Levels

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ARTICHOKE:Improves Digestion, Liver Function, and Cholesterol Levels JoAnn

Guest Jul 11, 2005 16:39 PDT

ARTICHOKE CLEARS CHOLESTEROL CONCERNS

 

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/USA/HealthInformation/articles/

The Natural Health Report: September 2004

 

(NC)—High blood cholesterol, as measured by a lab test, is a concern for

many people because it is often a warning of oncoming heart disease, but

not all cholesterol is bad. The liver makes about 90% of what is found

in the blood and this is used for repair and maintenance of the brain

and glandular system. It is cholesterol from our diet that can be a

problem if it is excessive. Drugs that lower cholesterol do not

differentiate between what we need and what we don't. Keeping the

balance is the key to good health.

 

Artichoke is prized for its positive effect on the liver. This means

that artichokes also have a positive effect on cholesterol, the liver

being the main source. By stimulating bile acids in the liver,

artichokes lower the excess dietary cholesterol as bile moves it to the

intestines where it is eliminated from the body. German clinical studies

found that cholesterol was reduced significantly within 12 weeks of

using Artichoke. This method also protects the liver and keeps the

required, " good " , cholesterol.

 

Walther Schoenenberger found a way to preserve the best of the Artichoke

in a fresh, organic plant juice that is made by Salus Haus. Artichoke is

a best seller in the Salus line of plant juices, because of its positive

effects on digestion and the liver. Many natural health professionals

rely on it for its consistently good results. Look for Salus Artichoke

juice at your natural products retailer or call Flora at 1-888-436-6697.

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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:35 pm

ARTICHOKE EXTRACT:

Improves Digestion, Liver Function, and Cholesterol Levels

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http://www.doctormurray.com/articles/old/artichoke.htm

 

The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is not only a delicious nutritious

food it is also a valuable medicine. It’s historical and folk-use as a

digestive aid and liver remedy is being validated by detailed scientific

investigation including double-blind clinical studies. The modern use of

artichoke as a medicine utilizes extracts of the leaves of the plant

standardized for key components known as caffeoylquinic acids.

 

How does artichoke extract work?

 

Its basic mechanism of action centers around its affect on the liver.

First of all, artichoke extract has been shown to enhance detoxification

reactions as well as protect the liver from damage.1-3 This combination

of effects is very important to healthy liver function. During

detoxification of toxic substances in the liver the toxic substance is

often initially converted to an even more toxic form. Without adequate

protection, every time the liver neutralizes a toxin, it is damaged in

this process. Artichoke extract has been shown to provide this valuable

protection.

 

Once the liver has modified a toxin, it needs to be eliminated from the

body as soon as possible. One of the primary routes of elimination is

through the bile. However, when the manufacture of bile is reduced or

the excretion of bile is inhibited (a condition called cholestasis),

toxins stay in the liver and body longer. Another beneficial effect of

artichoke is that is acts as a choleretic.

 

What is a choleretic?

 

A choleretic is a substance that increases the formation and flow of

bile to and from the liver. Bile is a thick, yellowish-green fluid

excreted from the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into

the intestine to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. Bile

contains more than 97% water. Its most important components, however,

are bile acids (also referred to as bile salts). Bile acids are natural

emulsifying compounds that form complexes with fatty materials in the

gut to aid in their assimilation. Bile also plays an important role in

making the stool soft by promoting the incorporation of water into the

stool. Without enough bile, the stool can become quite hard and

difficult to pass. Bile also helps to keep the small intestine free from

microorganisms (parasites).

 

In experimental animal and human studies, artichoke extract has

increased the flow of bile by 90 to 150%!1 In one study, artichoke

extract administered as a single dose of 1.92 g produced a 127.3%

increase in bile secretion after 30 minutes; after 60 minutes, 151.5%;

and after another 60 minutes, 94.3%.4

 

Why is artichoke extract’s choleretic effect important?

 

Decreased bile flow is a common cause of digestive disturbance including

fat malabsorption, excessive flatulence (gas), bloating after eating,

and constipation (or diarrhea). Increasing bile flow is also very

important in treating a condition of the liver known as cholestasis.

 

Cholestasis has several causes, including obstruction of the bile ducts

and impairment of bile flow within the liver. The most common cause of

obstruction of the bile ducts is the presence of gallstones. Currently,

it is conservatively estimated that 20 million people in the U.S. have

gallstones. Nearly 20% of the female and 8% of the male population over

the age of 40 are found to have gallstones on biopsy and approximately

500,000 gallbladders are removed because of stones each year in the U.S.

The prevalence of gallstones in this country has been linked to the

high-fat, low-fiber diet consumed by the majority of Americans.

 

Impairment of bile flow within the liver can be caused by a variety of

agents and conditions, as listed in Table 1. These conditions are often

associated with alterations of liver function in laboratory tests (serum

bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, LDH, GGTP, etc.) signifying

cellular damage. However, relying on these tests alone to evaluate liver

function is not adequate, since, in the initial or subclinical stages of

many problems with liver function, laboratory values remain normal.

Among the symptoms people with enzymatic damage may complain of are

fatigue, general malaise, digestive disturbances, allergies and chemical

sensitivities, premenstrual syndrome, and constipation. Artichoke

extract may ultimately be shown to be helpful in all of these conditions

via improved liver function. Table 1. Causes of Cholestasis

 

Presence of gallstones

Alcohol

Endotoxins

Hereditary disorders such as Gilbert's syndrome

Hyperthyroidism or thyroxine supplementation

Viral hepatitis

Pregnancy

Certain chemicals or drugs:

Natural and synthetic steroidal hormones:

Anabolic steroids

Estrogens

Oral contraceptives

Aminosalicylic acid

Chlorothiazide

Erythromycin estolate

Mepazine

Phenylbutazone

Sulphadiazine

Thiouracil

 

 

 

 

Perhaps the most common cause of cholestasis and impaired liver function

is alcohol ingestion. In some especially sensitive individuals, as

little as 1 oz of alcohol can produce damage to the liver, which results

in fat being deposited within the liver. All active alcoholics

demonstrate fatty infiltration of the liver.

 

How does artichoke extract compare with milk thistle extract?

 

Artichoke extract is very similar to milk thistle extract - a popular

herbal liver remedy and detoxification enhancer. First of all, both

plants are members of the thistle family. Their active compounds,

cynarin and silymarin, respectively, are also quite similar. As far as

which is better, it really depends upon the patient. For patients with

viral hepatitis (acute or chronic), I think silymarin is a better

choice.

 

Milk thistle extract standardized for silymarin content (e.g., 70%) have

been shown to be effective in both acute and chronic viral hepatitis in

double-blind, controlled studies. Recently, a new form of silymarin has

emerged that may provide even greater benefit. The new form binds

silymarin to phosphatidylcholine (referred to as silymarin phytosome). A

growing body of scientific research indicates that silymarin phytosome

is better absorbed and produces better clinical results than unbound

silymarin.5-8 These benefits were demonstrated in one study involving

232 patients with chronic hepatitis (viral, alcohol, or

chemically-induced) treated with silymarin phytosome at either 120 mg

twice daily or 120 mg three times daily for up to 120 days.8 Liver

function tests were compared to a group of controls (49 treated with a

commercially available unbound silymarin; 117 untreated or given

placebo). Liver function returned to normal faster in the patients given

silymarin phytosome in all patients and in all subtypes compared to both

the commercially available silymarin or placebo.

 

I also think that phosphatidylcholine bound silymarin is a better choice

in patients with gallstones. In regards to artichoke extract, I think it

is a better choice as a general tonic to improve liver function and

detoxification. I also think artichoke extract is a better choice as a

digestive aid in patients with digestive disturbance such excessive

flatulence, bloating after eating, and constipation (or diarrhea).

 

Can artichoke extract really help improve digestion?

 

Absolutely. The evidence is provided by the results of a study

evaluating a standardized artichoke extract in 553 patients with various

digestive disorders.9 The average patient age was 54.7 years old in the

study. The average duration of use was 43.5 days. The most prominent

diagnoses were dyspeptic discomforts (gas, bloating, intestinal

cramping), functional biliary colic (gallbladder attacks), and severe

constipation. The associated digestive disturbances had been present on

average for 155 weeks prior to inclusion in the study - obviously these

symptoms were of a chronic nature. The standardized artichoke

preparation was typically taken at a dosage of one to two of the 320 mg

capsules three times daily.

 

The digestive disturbances regressed after six weeks of treatment on

average by 70.5%; the most pronounced regression was found for vomiting

(88.3%), nausea (82.4%), abdominal pain (76.2%), loss of appetite

(72.3%), constipation (71.0%), flatulence (68.2%), and fat intolerance

(58.8%). In 85% of patients the therapeutic efficacy of artichoke

extract was judged by the physicians as excellent or good, in 12% as

moderate and in 3% as insufficient or minimal.

 

In another study of patients suffering from abdominal pain, bloating,

constipation, lack of appetite, and nausea, artichoke extract produced

improvements in 65 to 72% of patients after one week and 80 to 92% after

6 weeks.

 

Can artichoke extract help with the irritable bowel syndrome?

 

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine

Characterized by some combination of: (1) abdominal pain, (2) altered

bowel function, constipation, or diarrhea, (3) hypersecretion of colonic

mucus, (4) dyspeptic symptoms (flatulence, nausea, anorexia), and (5)

varying degrees of anxiety or depression. IBS has been referred to in

the past as nervous indigestion, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, and

intestinal neurosis.

 

Artichoke extract can help with IBS, but I would recommend giving

enteric-coated peppermint oil a try first. Several double-blind studies

have shown enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules to be a very effective

treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome. Enteric coating involves

coating the capsule in a manner that will not allow the capsule to break

down until after it has passed through the stomach and into the small

intestine. Enteric coating is necessary, as menthol (the major

constituent of peppermint oil) and other volatile compounds in

peppermint oil would cause relaxation of the sphincter separating the

esophagus and the stomach. Without enteric coating, a significant amount

of heartburn that can be produced.

 

The most recent, and perhaps the best-designed, study with

enteric-coated peppermint oil involved 110 patients with symptoms of

IBS.10 The patients took one capsule of either enteric-coated peppermint

oil (0.2 ml) or a placebo three to four times daily, 15-30 minutes

before meals, for one month. The results on the major symptoms of IBS

are given below:

 

 

Parameter ECPO Placebo

Abdominal pain 79% 79%

Abdominal distension 83% 29%

Stool frequency 83% 33%

Borborygmi 73% 31%

Flatulence 79% 22.5%

 

 

These results are quite impressive, especially given the safety of

enteric-coated peppermint oil. Only two cases of side effects were

reported – one patient developed heartburn (because of chewing the

tablet) and one patient developed a transient skin rash.

 

Enteric-coated peppermint oil is thought to work by improving the

rhythmic contractions of the intestinal tract and relieving intestinal

spasm. An additional benefit of peppermint oil is its effectiveness

against Candida albicans. This action is important in the IBS as an

overgrowth of C. albicans may be an underlying factor, especially in

cases that do not respond to dietary advice and for those who consume

large amounts of sugar.

 

If you have IBS, I would recommend giving artichoke a try only if the

enteric-coated peppermint oil does not provide relief after a one-month

trial.

 

What about lowering cholesterol?

 

Artichoke extract exerts a dual effect on cholesterol metabolism. First

of all, it decreases the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver.11

Approximately 80-90% of the cholesterol in the blood is manufactured by

the liver and is not derived from the diet. The other way in which

artichoke extract effects cholesterol levels is by increasing the

conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.1,11 One of the functions of

cholesterol is to be the building block of bile acids. I think in many

people one of the reasons that their cholesterol levels are high is

because there is impaired conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. In

this scenario, I believe the low bile acid levels result in sending a

powerful signal to the liver to provide more cholesterol.

 

In the study evaluating artichoke extract in 553 patients with various

digestive disorders in addition to improving digestion, the artichoke

extract significantly lowered blood cholesterol levels.9 In spite of the

relatively short duration of therapy (6 weeks on average), the study

showed an 11.5% reduction in the average serum cholesterol from an

initial average of 264 mg/dl to 233 mg/dl. Serum trigylcerides were also

reduced from initially 214.97 mg/dl to 188.07 mg/dl, corresponding to a

decrease of 12.5%.

 

What is the proper dosage for artichoke extract?

 

The first thing you need to look for is to make sure that the extract

provides 13-18% caffeoylquinic acids calculated as chlorogenic acid. The

dosage for such a preparation is 160 to 320 mg three times daily with

meals.

 

Is artichoke extract safe?

 

Absolutely - it is a food-based extract. In a large safety study only

one out of one hundred subjects reported mild side effects (e.g.,

transient increase in flatulence). In other words, 99 out of 100

experienced absolutely no side effect.9

 

References:

 

Kraft K: Artichoke leaf extract – Recent findings reflecting effects on

lipid metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts. Phytomedicine

4:369-78, 1997.

Gebhardt R: Antioxidative and protective properties of extracts from

leaves of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) against

hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Toxicol Appl. Pharmacol. 144:279-286, 1997.

Gebhardt R: Hepatoprotection through artichoke extracts. Pharmazeutische

Zeitung 140:34-37, 1995.

Kirchoff R, et al.: Increase in choleresis by means of artichoke

extract. Phytomedicine 1:107-115, 1994.

Vailati A, et al.: Randomized open study of the dose-effect relationship

of a short course of IdB 1016 in patients with viral or alcoholic

hepatitis. Fitoterapia 44(3):219-28, 1993.

Mascarella S, et al.: Therapeutic and antilipoperoxidant effects of

silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex in chronic liver disease:

Preliminary results. Curr Ther Res 53(1):98-102, 1993.

Buzzelli G, et al.: A pilot study on the liver protective effect of

silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (IdB1016) in chronic active

hepatitis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 31:456-60, 1993.

Marena C and Lampertico: Preliminary clinical development of silipide: A

new complex of silybin in toxic liver disorders. Planta Medical

57(S2):A124-5, 1991.

Fintelmann V: Antidyspeptic and lipid-lowering effects of artichoke leaf

extract - Results of clinical studies into the efficacy and tolerance of

Hepar-SL® forte involving 553 patients. J Gen Med 2:3-19, 1996.

Liu JH, et al.: Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules in the treatment

of irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, randomized trial.

Gastroenterol 32:765-8, 1997.

Gebhardt R: Artichoke extract- - In-vitro proof of cholesterol

biosynthesis inhibition. Medwelt 46:348-350, 1995.

 

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JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

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AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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