Long-term intake of North American ginseng has no effect on 24-hour blood pressure and renal function.

Ginseng is consumed by 10% to 20% of adults in Asia and by up to 5% in Western countries. Despite observational evidence suggesting a link between its intake and the development of hypertension, there remains no long-term scrutiny for its effect on blood pressure (BP). We therefore undertook a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover trial in 52 hypertensive individuals to determine the effect of 12-week North American ginseng intake on 24-hour BP; we also measured serum cystatin C as a marker of renal function.

Herbal remedies in the management of diabetes: lessons learned from the study of ginseng.

The only example of an approved antidiabetic drug that was developed from a herbal source with a long history of use for diabetes is the biguanide Metformin from French lilac (Galega officinalis). Clinical data are beginning to emerge that support antidiabetic indications for several other herbs. This viewpoint discusses the state of the evidence for their clinical antidiabetic efficacy.

Decreasing, null and increasing effects of eight popular types of ginseng on acute postprandial glycemic indices in healthy humans: the role of ginsenosides.

Background: It is unclear whether other ginseng sources can replicate the glycemic-lowering efficacy observed previously with American ginseng and whether ginsenosides are mediators. We assessed the effect of eight popular ginseng types on postprandial plasma glucose (PG) and insulin (PI) indices, linking effects to ginsenoside profiles.

Methods: Using a double-blind, randomized, multiple-crossover design, 12 healthy participants (gender: 6M:6F, age: 34 +/- 3 y, BMI: 25.

Null and opposing effects of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on acute glycemia: results of two acute dose escalation studies.

Objective: We have repeatedly reported that a batch of American ginseng with a specific ginsenoside (glycosidal saponin) profile decreases acute postprandial glycemia. We investigated whether Asian ginseng is able to replicate this glycemia-lowering efficacy in two separate acute dose escalation studies.

Methods: Each study was conducted in a separate sample of 11 healthy subjects (gender: 8M:3F and 6M:5F, age: 29 +/- 2y and 27 +/- 3y, BMI: 28.

Fat versus carbohydrate in insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Purpose Of Review: This review assesses the relative effect of fat versus carbohydrate and the differences between fatty acids and types of carbohydrate on insulin resistance and associated risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Recent Findings: The debate continues over whether high-carbohydrate or high-fat diets have the more deleterious metabolic effects. Large randomized controlled trials have shown that a reduction of fat intake as part of a healthy lifestyle combined with weight reduction and exercise reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance: concepts, controversies, and the role of nutrition.

Insulin resistance is a prevalent condition, in which insulin loses its normal physiological action. Since people were first classified as insulin resistant over 60 years ago, one of the main discoveries has been that insulin resistance clusters with other risk factors such as obesity, elevated triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Although insulin resistance appears to manifest first in the periphery and then in the liver, other sites, such as the brain and the pancreatic &b.