Cardiovascular risk factors, diet and lifestyle among European, South Asian and Chinese adolescents in Canada.

Objective: The authors previously reported that adult South Asian immigrants to Canada have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to their European and Chinese counterparts. It is unknown whether these ethnic differences also exist among adolescents, and whether they are related to diet and lifestyle. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of CVD risk factors among apparently healthy adolescents in the three largest ethnic population groups in Canada (European, South Asian and Chinese).

The metabolic syndrome in healthy, multiethnic adolescents in Toronto, Ontario: the use of fasting blood glucose as a simple indicator.

Background: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide and prevention represents a major challenge. Usually identified in middle age, the MetS has pediatric roots and there are variable incidence rates between ethnic groups. Due to the difficulty of diagnosis, it remains largely undetected in adolescents.

Five batches representative of Ontario-grown American ginseng root produce comparable reductions of postprandial glycemia in healthy individuals.

Evidence indicates that the glycemia-lowering effect of American ginseng root may be batch dependent. We therefore evaluated the effect of 5 root batches, representative of Ontario-grown American ginseng, on postprandial glucose and insulin indices. Twelve healthy subjects (5 male, 7 female), mean +/- SE age 26.

Konjac-Mannan and American ginsing: emerging alternative therapies for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Despite significant achievements in treatment modalities and preventive measures, the prevalence of diabetes has risen exponentially in the last decade. Because of these limitations there is a continued need for new and more effective therapies. An increasing number of people are using dietary and herbal supplements, even though there is a general lack of evidence for their safety and efficacy.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) attenuates postprandial glycemia in a time-dependent but not dose-dependent manner in healthy individuals.

Background: We previously showed that 3 g American ginseng administered 40 min before an oral glucose challenge significantly reduces postprandial glycemia in subjects without diabetes. Whether this effect can be replicated with doses <3 g and administration times closer to the oral glucose challenge is unclear.

Objective: Our objective was to study the dosing and timing effects of American ginseng on postprandial glycemia.