A high blood cholesterol levels is also referred to as hypercholesterolemia, and is found in the blood circulation of humans. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is. Diet to lower triglycerides Questions, Problems or Comments? Below you can find comments & questions regarding “Diet to lower triglycerides”. Cinnamon Reduces Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Levels. The Best of Cinnamon. Cinnamon Reduces Blood. Sugar and Cholesterol Levels. Researchers suggest that all adults, not just. By Aaron W. Jensen, Ph. D. Although it has long been known that fruits, vegetables, and grains are excellent sources of the vitamins and minerals that are so essential to good health, we continue to learn about the importance of supplementing our diets (no matter how healthful they may be) with additional amounts of certain nutrients. Many such compounds are found in the fruits, vegetables, and grains that we eat routinely, but many more are found in herbs and spices that we may eat only occasionally, or not at all. Antioxidant properties are a strikingly common feature in phytochemicals; they therefore play an important role in inhibiting aging processes related to oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Some of these benefits are broad- based, but others are specific to one or a few physiological functions in the body. A good example is cinnamon, which may be of great value in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels as well. Anderson and his colleagues at the Human Nutrition Research Center of the U. S. Department of Agriculture screened extracts of a number of commonly consumed plants to see how well they could mimic the effects of insulin, a protein hormone that is responsible for regulating our blood sugar levels. From a selection of 4. It’s the MHCP in Cinnamon That Does It. Further research by Dr. Anderson’s group established that the active component in cinnamon responsible for its insulin- like activity is a water- soluble chemical compound called methylhydroxychalcone polymer, or MHCP. They found that MHCP was highly effective, providing essentially the same biological activity as insulin itself. It was effective not only in increasing the uptake of glucose (blood sugar) by cells, but also of stimulating the synthesis of glycogen, a polymeric form of glucose that is stored primarily in the liver and muscle tissues for use at times of peak energy demand, such as exercise. And MHCP turned out to be synergistic with insulin in these actions, providing a net effect greater than the sum of its parts. That’s a far cry from cells residing in a living, breathing—and perhaps diabetic—person. Would MHCP be as effective in a clinical trial with actual people? Anderson in Maryland. They recruited 6. The patients were randomized into two groups: one for placebo and one for treatment with cinnamon, in daily amounts of 1, 3, or 6 grams. The duration of treatment was 4. Consuming relatively large (multigram) amounts of whole cinnamon on a daily basis could pose a health risk for some people, especially those who are already taking coumarin by prescription for therapeutic purposes. Consuming an aqueous extract of cinnamon poses no such risk, however, because coumarin is lipid- soluble, not water- soluble, and thus remains behind when the water- soluble components are extracted from the bark. And MHCP’s availability as a nutritional supplement makes it convenient to obtain all the benefits without the potential liability of consuming too much cinnamon. That’s what the Pakistani- American study was designed to find out, so let’s see what the results were. The researchers measured the patients’ blood glucose and lipid levels (under fasting conditions) at the beginning of the study, and again at 2. By contrast, the placebo had no significant effect on either measure. The glucose levels were reduced by 1. Whereas the highest dose (6 g/day) produced the most rapid response, the lowest dose (1 g/day) produced the most sustained response, i. The two higher doses produced slightly lower sustained responses, and they were judged not to be statistically significant. What DASH Can Do for You. The DASH Diet can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which is good for your heart. In fact, DASH stands for Dietary.This is caused by a “short circuit” in the insulin signaling pathway, a cascade of highly specific chemical reactions that allow insulin to fulfill its role as the facilitator of glucose transport through the cell walls. Insulin is produced by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels; once it enters the blood, it signals the body’s cells to take up the excess glucose until normal levels are restored. If this system is impaired, the gates don’t respond adequately to the insulin signal, thus preventing the glucose from entering the cell. This condition, which is a common consequence of obesity, is called insulin resistance, and it’s both a harbinger and a symptom of diabetes. With insulin resistance, glucose levels in the blood remain high, a very dangerous condition in the long run. The pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin, but this works only for so long. Eventually, the pancreas becomes overburdened and starts making less insulin. Low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia is a disorder of blood sugar metabolism in which blood glucose or blood sugar levels are lower than the normal and healthy levels. That’s when things go from bad to worse. MHCP makes cells more responsive to insulin, i. Researchers in Japan found recently that when an aqueous extract of cinnamon (containing MHCP, of course) was given orally to laboratory rats, the insulin receptors on their skeletal muscle cells became more responsive. Enhanced insulin sensitivity means more glucose going into the cells, so the blood glucose levels fall, and biochemical order is restored. Watch Your Heart! Worldwide, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and diabetes is a major risk factor for it. That’s hardly surprising when you consider that obesity, the fast track to diabetes, is typically the result of overeating and underexercising, which are two of the main risk factors for heart disease. The vast majority of people who have cardiovascular disease, whether they’ve had a heart attack or not, have at least one of these risk factors. And diabetes, quite apart from having the dubious distinction of being one of them, takes a terrible toll on other bodily systems—and on life itself, which it makes both harder and shorter. You know, of course, about the lifestyle modifications that can help accomplish that goal. And as in virtually all aspects of healthcare, it pays to find out about nutritional supplements, such as MHCP from cinnamon, that can help. In that same Pakistani- American study, the researchers measured the patients’ lipid levels, with the following results: total cholesterol was reduced by 1. LDL- cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) was reduced by 7–2. HDL- cholesterol (“good cholesterol”) was unchanged; and triglycerides (fats) were reduced by 2. All three doses of cinnamon were effective in reducing the levels of total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, and triglycerides, and all three showed remarkably sustained activity at the 6. Thus, it appears that the 1- g/day dose is not only sufficient to achieve the optimal benefits of cinnamon, it may be more than sufficient. Further research is planned to determine whether even lower doses are also effective. Whereas it seems almost certain, from Dr. Anderson’s own prior research, that MHCP was responsible for the reductions in blood glucose levels in this study, there was no indication of what component of the cinnamon powder was responsible for the reductions in blood lipid levels—not even whether it was a water- soluble or a lipid- soluble component. It would be interesting to know. Because cinnamon would not contribute to caloric intake, those who have type 2 diabetes or those who have elevated glucose, triglyceride, LDL- cholesterol, or total cholesterol levels may benefit from the regular inclusion of cinnamon in their daily diet. In addition, cinnamon may be beneficial for the remainder of the population to prevent and control elevated glucose and blood lipid levels. Spice It Up! That’s a powerful endorsement for a common spice that is used the world over for its delightful flavor. Thanks to modern science, we have finally learned about some of the remarkable health benefits of this ancient substance, and the “secret ingredient”—MHCP—it has been harboring in its fragrant bosom for millennia. Although “methylhydroxychalcone polymer” may not roll trippingly off the tongue, it is a substance that probably belongs in every person’s larder of nutritional supplements. So spice up your life with a daily ration of MHCP. Your blood sugar will thank you for it. Insulin- like biological activity of culinary and medicinal plant aqueous extracts in vitro. J Agric Food Chem 2. Mar; 4. 8(3): 8. 49- 5. A hydroxychalcone derived from cinnamon functions as a mimetic for insulin in. T3- L1 adipocytes. J Am Coll Nutr 2. Aug; 2. 0(4): 3. 27- 3. Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2. 00. Dec; 2. 6(1. 2): 3. Cinnamon extract (traditional herb) potentiates in vivo insulin- regulated glucose utilization via enhancing insulin signaling. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2. Dr. Jensen is a cell biologist who has conducted research in England, Germany, and the United States. He has taught college courses in biology and nutrition and has written extensively on medical and scientific topics. Lose Weight, Lower Blood Sugar with Berberine . However, many people are not able to control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise alone and turn to prescriptions medications from their doctor. The most commonly used prescription drug for high blood sugar is metformin (Glucophage)Works as well as Metformin. A review of the 1. Remarkable as it seems that it acts in all these pathways, also seems to affect various other enzymes, molecules and genes related to blood sugar control. Normalized Blood Sugar Levels. These patients experienced fasting blood sugar levels lowered to normal levels, from 1. L (1. 3). Lowers Bad Cholesterol Levels. These same 1. 16 patients experienced A1c levels lowered by 1. Triglyceride decreased from 2. LDL cholesterol. These patients saw their body mass index (BMI) drop from 3. Improved insulin resistance and regulation of hunger hormones adiponectin and leptin were believed to be responsible for the positive results in this study. Other studies at the molecular level have shown Berberine changes the expression of PPARgamma. RNA genes to inhibit formation of adipocytes (fat cells) (1. With our heavy emphasis on corporate profits driven by man- made, patented medicines, we often are late in learning about natural products such as Berberine and Niagen, but rest assured you will be hearing about it more in the future. Berberine is now being studied extensively and has been proven to lower blood sugar as well as the most commonly prescribed prescription drug metformin (1, 2), aid in weight loss, improve heart health, and several other benefits (3)Here are just some of the things research is now proving Berberine is able to help with. Conclusion: Berberine has a long history of use for an amazing array of health issues that are now being “discovered” and used by western medicine. Berberine is the active ingredient in a several different plants that have been used in natural remedies for centuries, such as Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium), Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) (4). When ingested, it travels thru the blood to cells and binds to several different molecules to actually change their function (5). This is similar to how pharmaceutical drugs work. The different mechanisms of berberine are complicated, but one of the main functions is to activate the AMPK enzyme (6). Referred to as a “metabolic master switch” (6), AMPk is found in the cells of the brain, muscle, kidney, heart and liver. It helps regulate metabolism (7, 8). Berberine also affects other molecules in the cells, and is even thought to determine which genes in the cells are turned on or off (9). Conclusion: Berberine acts at the molecular level thru a variety of functions, such as activating AMPK enzyme, which regulates metabolism. Berberine has been shown to improve many of the factors that lead to heart disease. Berberine also lowers apolipoprotein B by 1. Conclusion: Berberine reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while raising the good HDL cholesterol, and may lower the risk of heart disease. Conclusion: Berberine is a strong anti- oxidant and anti- inflammatory, and may help fight depression, infections, heart disease and even cancer. Overall, berberine is very safe with the main side effects being indigestion, and possible cramping, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation and stomach pain (1. An average dosage used in many studies are 9. Berberine has a half- life of about 4 hours, so you do need to take it more than once a day. It is common to take 5. If you have a medical condition, you should speak to your doctor before taking berberine, especially if you are taking blood sugar lowering medications. Conclusion: Some people may experience mild side effects with Berberine. The normal recommended dosage is 5. Berberine is one of very few supplements that are as powerful as a prescription drug. It has numerous beneficial effects, most notably blood sugar control. It is also be useful for general health, fighing chronic disease, and anti- aging. If you need some help controlling your weight, blood sugar levels or want to improve your heart and overall health, Berberine may be right for you. New Study that need to be folded in to this article. Berberine protects against diet- induced obesity through regulating metabolic endotoxemia and gut hormone levels. Introduction. The human gut microbiota has recently been considered an important factor in modulating body health and might be closely associated with the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases . For energy metabolism, gut bacteria could, for instance, benefit host metabolic efficiency by producing short- chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through bacterial fermentation . We focused our research on the metabolite profile of the gut microbiota after exposure to the botanical drug berberine (Berberine, Fig. A), and moreover, the metabolite’s production regulation. SCFAs are small molecular weight compounds derived from the intestinal microbiota through fermentation of the fibrous diet and could be rapidly absorbed to enter the blood and organs . Chemically, there are 1–6 carbon atoms in SCFAs structures, which are presented in a straight or branched conformation . The beneficial bioactivity of SCFAs includes those on energy metabolism, anti- inflammation, and immune regulation . The major SCFAs are acetate, propionate and butyrate. Among these SCFAs, butyrate, which could be readily detected in feces and blood via gas chromatography (GC), is the primary energy source and has been widely documented with regard to human health (Fig. A & B) . Chemicals that interfere with the ATP production or NADH level in bacteria might in turn regulate the level of SCFAs in intestinal microbiota. We previously reported that Berberine (Fig. A) could safely lower blood lipid and glucose levels, and its therapeutic efficacy has been verified in clinics . The mechanism of Berberine is different from that of statins . Berberine administered orally enters the blood after a structural transformation by nitroreductases from bacteria in the gut . However, the bioavailability of Berberine is poor and a large portion of it (over 9. Recent studies have shown that Berberine might modulate the composition of the intestinal bacterial community . This mode of action—that is, working through the gut microbiota—appeared to be independent of the direct cellular mechanism of Berberine. We, therefore, speculated that regulating the production of bioactive metabolites in the gut microbiota might be a novel treatment strategy. Materials and Methods. Chemicals and reagents. Berberine, butyric acid, sodium butyrate, valeric acid, isovaleric acid, and acetone were obtained from the J& K Scientific Ltd. Propionate acid, sodium propionate, acetic acid, and isobutyric acid were from the Sigma- Aldrich Co. Tetrahydropalmatine (the internal standard) was purchased from the National Institute for Food and Drug Control (Beijing, China). The purity of the above standards was all over 9. HPLC. Other chemical reagents from the Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd. The ATP and NAD+/NADH assay kits were purchased from the Bio. Assay Systems (Hayward, CA, USA), and the rat AMP ELISA kit was obtained from the TSZ biological Trade Co., Ltd. Acetyl- Co. A and butyryl- Co. A were both purchased from the Beijing Solarbio Science & Technology Co., Ltd. Terramycin and erythromycin were from the J& K Scientific Ltd (Beijing, China). Animals. Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats (1. Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Beijing, China). The ob/ob mice (4. Beijing HFK Bioscience Co. Animals were housed in SPF- grade rooms and had free access to food and water, with a 1. AM to 8: 0. 0 PM) at ambient temperature (2. Instruments. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC- MS/MS 8. Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) was used for the analysis and quantification of Berberine and its metabolites in biological samples. LC separation was achieved using a Shim- pack XR- ODS II column (7. The mobile phase consisted of water- formic acid (1. L/min during the entire gradient cycle. Shimadzu LCMS solution (Version 5. For positive ESI analysis, the parameters were as follows: nebulizer gas, 3 L/min; drying gas, 1. L/min; interface, - 4. V; CID gas, 2. 30 k. Pa; DL temperature and heat block temperature were maintained at 2. The quantification was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring modes (MRM). The m/z transitions were 3. LC- MS/MS was also used for the analysis of acetyl- Co. A, acetoacetyl- Co. A, . The m/z transitions were 8. It was equipped with a flame ionization detector and an Alltech capillary column (AT- WAX, 3. The helium carrier flow was 3. Pa. The oven temperature was initially 8. The injector and detector temperatures were set at 2. Berberine- mediated butyrate production in intestinal bacteria of the SD rats. A series of butyrate working solutions were prepared at concentrations of 1, 2, 1. An aliquot of 1 . After mixing thoroughly, the cultures were pre- incubated under anaerobic conditions with a N2 atmosphere at 3. Berberine (1. 0 . The final concentrations of Berberine in the incubation system were 1. The cultures were incubated for 6, 1. At the same time, an equal amount of intestinal bacteria was inactivated through boiling. After termination of the reaction with acetonitrile (1 m. L), the incubation was mixed for 3. The supernatant (1. An aliquot of 1 . Butyrate production by Berberine in intestinal bacteria strains in vitro. Eight intestinal facultative anaerobes were incubated under anaerobic conditions with Berberine at a final concentration of 1. The sample processing procedures were identical to those previously mentioned. Butyrate was quantitatively analyzed using a GC- 2. Hamsters with a high- fat diet. A high- fat diet (HFD) was used to induce hyperlipidemia in hamsters in an SPF- grade room. The HFD was made of 1.
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