General Lack of Correlations between Age and Signs of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects with Non-diabetic Fasting Glucose Values.

Background: Insulin resistance and advancing age are well-recognized risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Recent reports indicate that fasting glucose levels in non-diabetic patients correlate appropriately with the development of certain elements in metabolic syndrome, which suggest a cause-effect relationship with insulin resistance.

Objective: The present investigation assessed whether a significant association exists between chronological age and various elements of metabolic syndrome in this same group of subjects possessing non-diabetic fasting glucose levels.

Comparing effects of carbohydrate (CHO) blockers and trivalent chromium on CHO-induced insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure in rats.

Objective: In Sprague-Dawley rats (SD), we compared two categories of natural dietary supplements that influence carbohydrate (CHO) metabolism via different basic mechanisms to ameliorate insulin resistance (IR) and elevated blood pressure (BP) associated with heavy sugar/starch consumption. Two dietary supplements (bean extract and l-arabinose) are often referred to as carb blockers (CBs), because they slow the gastrointestinal absorption of CHO. Trivalent chromium (CR) falls into a group of so-called insulin sensitizers, because its major effect is to enhance peripheral insulin sensitivity.

Fraction SX of maitake mushroom favorably influences blood glucose levels and blood pressure in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

We assessed whether fraction SX derived from maitake mushroom could play a beneficial role in the treatment of a laboratory model of type-1 diabetes by decreasing circulating glucose levels and lowering blood pressure (BP). We injected 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally (i.p.

Niacin-bound chromium increases life span in Zucker Fatty Rats.

Avoiding insulin resistance (IR) associated with aging might lengthen life span based on previous studies using caloric-restricted animals. We assessed whether consuming niacin-bound chromium (NBC) alone or in a formula containing other so-called "insulin sensitizers" would overcome various manifestations of aging and extend life span in Zucker Fatty Rats (ZFR). We compared many metabolic parameters of ZFR fed NBC alone (n=12) or NBC in a unique formula (n=10) to a control group (n=10).

A combination of l-arabinose and chromium lowers circulating glucose and insulin levels after an acute oral sucrose challenge.

Background: A growing body of research suggests that elevated circulating levels of glucose and insulin accelerate risk factors for a wide range of disorders. Low-risk interventions that could suppress glucose without raising insulin levels could offer significant long-term health benefits.

Methods: To address this issue, we conducted two sequential studies, the first with two phases.

Changes in total body bone mineral density following a common bone health plan with two versions of a unique bone health supplement: a comparative effectiveness research study.

Background: The US Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health suggests America's bone-health is in jeopardy and issued a "call to action" to develop bone-health plans that: (1) improve nutrition, (2) increase health literacy and, (3) increase physical activity. This study is a response to this call to action.

Methods: After signing an informed consent, 158 adults agreed to follow an open-label bone-health plan for six months after taking a DXA test of bone density, a 43-chemistry blood test panel and a quality of life inventory (AlgaeCal 1).

High dose astaxanthin lowers blood pressure and increases insulin sensitivity in rats: are these effects interdependent?

The present investigation in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) was designed to examine effects of astaxanthin (Asta) at different doses on elevated blood pressure (BP) and glucose-insulin perturbations produced by heavy sucrose ingestion. We also examined effects of Asta on BP during restraint stress. SD were divided into six groups each containing eight rats.

Maitake mushroom extracts ameliorate progressive hypertension and other chronic metabolic perturbations in aging female rats.

Objective: We assessed the ability of two commercially-available fractions labeled SX and D derived from the edible maitake mushroom to overcome many age-associated metabolic perturbations such as progressive, age-related elevation of blood pressure, over activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), decreased insulin sensitivity, and inflammation in an in vivo laboratory model.

Design And Method: We divided forty mature, female Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) into five groups of eight. SD ingested regular rat chow containing added sucrose (20% w/w).

Influence of gel and powdered formulations of coenzyme Q10 on metabolic parameters in rats.

The healthful benefits of two commercially available formulations of coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10), one in gel and the other in a powdered form, on a variety of metabolic parameters in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) were compared to control. The principal metabolic parameters examined were systolic blood pressure (SBP), DNA fragmentation, and free radical formation in hepatic and renal tissues. Compared to control, the powdered formulation significantly decreased SBP in the normotensive SD, whereas both commercial formulations lowered hepatic and renal DNA fragmentation and free radical formation.

Comparing metabolic effects of six different commercial trivalent chromium compounds.

Recent reports provide cogent evidence that the average individual becomes chromium deficient with age. Unfortunately, chromium deficiency is strongly associated with many aspects of the Metabolic Syndrome, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Since replacement of chromium, per os, often ameliorates many deleterious manifestations associated with insulin resistance and diabetes, it is not surprising that many different, commercial trivalent chromium compounds are available on the market.

Blood pressure lowering effects of niacin-bound chromium(III) (NBC) in sucrose-fed rats: renin-angiotensin system.

Excessive intake of sugars significantly elevates systolic blood pressure (SBP) in susceptible rats. Although the exact pathological mechanisms behind sugar-induced hypertension are uncertain and may be multiple, disturbances in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) manifested by elevated circulating levels of angiotensin-2 may be involved. We attempted to confirm that the RAS was significantly involved in sugar-induced BP elevations and examined whether the ability of niacin-bound chromium (NBC) to ameliorate sugar-induced SBP elevations was due, at least in part, through effects on the RAS.

Enhanced insulin-hypoglycemic activity in rats consuming a specific glycoprotein extracted from maitake mushroom.

Aim: Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (ipGTT) and insulin challenge (ICT) tests were implemented to evaluate whether a specific glycoprotein extract of maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) known as SX-fraction enhances insulin sensitivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: SHR were divided randomly into a control group, a group receiving the antidiabetic drug, pioglitazone, in their diet, and three groups consuming three different concentrations of SX-Fraction derived from maitake mushroom in their food. The response of circulating glucose and insulin concentrations was examined at different time periods during an ipGTT.

A Dietary supplement containing standardized Phaseolus vulgaris extract influences body composition of overweight men and women.

Background: More than one billion human adults worldwide are overweight and, therefore, are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and a variety of other chronic perturbations. Many believe that use of natural dietary supplements could aid in the struggle against obesity. So-called "starch blockers" are listed among natural weight loss supplements.