American Diabetes Association Guide to Herbs and Nutritional Supplements. Laura Shane-McWhorter

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СКАЧАТЬ with diabetes. Total symptom scores declined significantly by 51 percent, 48 percent, and 52 percent, respectively, in the alpha-lipoic acid treatment groups versus 32 percent in the placebo group.

      • Yet another study examined the results of a number of studies of alpha-lipoic acid in people with diabetic nerve disease. The study found that 53 percent of patients on alpha-lipoic acid versus 37 percent on a placebo had improved scores in their symptoms.

      • The NATHAN I (Neurological Assessment of Thioctic Acid in Neuropathy) trial is an ongoing, long-term, multi-center trial in North America and Europe that is assessing the role of alpha-lipoic acid given orally for the prevention and treatment of diabetic neuropathy. A follow-up study called NATHAN II is currently investigating alpha-lipoic acid for relief of painful neuropathy symptoms, but as of this printing, the results have not yet been published.

      SIDE EFFECTS AND DRUG INTERACTIONS

      To date, no serious side effects from alpha-lipoic acid have been reported, even though it has been used intravenously and in long-term trials. However, you may experience allergic reactions if you take alpha-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid may cause nausea and vomiting, as well as vertigo.

      Anecdotal information indicates that alpha-lipoic acid may affect the thyroid, so ask your doctor whether you should have your thyroid levels tested. Studies in animals have shown that high doses of alpha-lipoic acid can be harmful when a thiamine deficiency is present. Ask your doctor about this side effect, particularly if you regularly drink large quantities of alcohol and may thus be thiamine-deficient. Your doctor may recommend that you take thiamine supplements; but ask your doctor first. Some anecdotal reports indicate that alpha-lipoic acid or other antioxidants may decrease the beneficial effects of chemotherapy, so also discuss this side effect with your doctor.

      Monitor your blood glucose closely when taking alpha- lipoic acid and diabetes medications such as sulfonylureas. Low blood glucose can occur. In addition, you should not take alpha-lipoic acid and antacids at the same time because your body may not absorb the alpha-lipoic acid properly. Instead, space these medications a few hours apart.

      OTHER NAMES • Queen’s Crape Myrtle • Queen’s Flower • Pride of India •

BANABA

       Lagerstroemia speciosa

      Banaba is a type of crape myrtle that grows in the Philippines, India, Malaysia, and Australia. This tropical, flowering tree has bright pink to purple blooms that give way to nut-like fruits. Its leathery leaves turn red-orange in the fall. As part of folk medicine in the Philippines, banaba leaves are used to make a tea to treat diabetes.

      USES

      Recently, banaba has become popular in the United States as treatment for type 2 diabetes. Its leaves are used to make an oral form of the supplement, found as a single ingredient or as one of several ingredients in dietary supplements. Banaba’s active ingredients are thought to stimulate cells to take up glucose and work similarly to insulin.

      However, banaba’s effect on blood glucose has not been confirmed in large, rigorous, long-term studies. Its effect on A1C, a measure of average blood glucose over 3 months, has never been reported. No information on its long-term use in people is available.

      Banaba is used in multi-ingredient products for weight loss, though it has never been studied for this purpose in humans. Its potential for weight loss is based on studies in animals.

      Banaba leaves are also used as a diuretic and purgative (used to empty the bowels) supplement. Its roots are used to treat upset stomach.

      DOSE

      In studies, scientists have used banaba in doses of 16–48 mg daily. The most effective dose in one small study was a daily 48-mg soft-gel capsule containing 1% corsolic acid.

      STUDIES

      One very small One very small study indicates that banaba may be helpful in lowering blood glucose in those with type 2 diabetes. However, the authors only reported percentage lowering of blood glucose and did not report the actual values.

      • The study examined 10 patients with type 2 diabetes who took three different doses of banaba (16, 32, or 48 mg) in soft-or hard-gel capsules for 15 days. The patients stopped taking their regular diabetes medications 45 days before the study. At the end of the study, the patients taking the 32-and 48-mg soft gels showed an 11% and 30% decrease, respectively, in their basal blood glucose values. In addition, patients taking the 48-mg dose had a significant decrease of 20% in their basal blood glucose.

      SIDE EFFECTS AND DRUG INTERACTIONS

      No adverse effects or drug interactions with banaba have been reported. However, a person should be cautious about low blood glucose when taking banaba with diabetes medications or other dietary supplements that may lower blood glucose. As with any supplement, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re planning to take or are taking banaba.

      OTHER NAMES • Vitamin Bl • Allithiamines •

BENFOTIAMINE

      For many decades, neurological disorders such as diabetes and alcohol-related nerve damage have been treated with vitamin B1. However, vitamin B1, which is also called thiamine, is not absorbed by the body very well, and high levels are needed for successful treatment. Benfotiamine, a fat-soluble form of the vitamin, provides much higher levels of thiamine in the blood and tissues and thus may be more effective.

      These vitamins are also called allithiamines because they are found in the Allium vegetable family, which includes garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks. Other foods that may contain thiamine include whole-grain cereals and breads, peas, beans, and nuts, as well as potatoes and certain meats (pork and liver). Consuming large quantities of raw freshwater fish and shellfish may decrease your level of thiamine.

      USES

      Benfotiamine may relieve the effects of certain diabetes-related complications such as neuropathy (nerve damage), retinopathy (eye disease), and nephropathy (kidney disease). It may correct thiamine deficiencies in these conditions, even in people with end-stage renal (kidney) disease on dialysis.

      Benfotiamine enhances the activity of an important enzyme involved in glucose metabolism called transketolase. By enhancing this activity, it prevents glucose from being metabolized in a way that can cause damage. It may also diminish or even correct cell damage by normalizing cell division rates and decreasing apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

      DOSE

      The dose studied in diabetes-related neuropathy is 300–450 mg daily, administered in divided doses. For example, 100 or 150 mg benfotiamine three times a day. The dose used for alcohol-related neuropathy is higher.

      STUDIES

      Most studies of benfotiamine have been done in people with diabetes and neuropathy.

      • In a well-designed pilot study (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled), researchers studied 40 patients with neuropathy. Twenty patients received 100 mg of benfotiamine four times a day, and 20 patients received a placebo (dummy pill). After 3 weeks, neuropathy symptoms improved in the benfotiamine-treated group, although vibration-sensation scores did not improve.

      • In another study, a preparation СКАЧАТЬ