A1C-YA

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a nutrient that is required for thecellular breakdown of carbohydrates and fatty acids. ALA scavenges free radicals in the body while aiding in the regeneration of the body’s antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione. Through its antioxidant boosting mechanisms, ALA helps maintain healthy blood vessel and circulatory health. Among its multifaceted roles, ALA has also been shown to support healthy blood sugar balance by activating a protein called adenosine mono-phosphate kinase (AMPK), a major regulator of cellular energy. ^[1] AMPK coordinates both long-term and short-term metabolic changes, leading to an improvement in energy production and a reduction of energy storage. AMPK activates cellular metabolism by improving insulin sensitivity, down-regulatinggenes involved in fat storage and activating genes involvedwith burning fat. A study using a dose of 600 mg/day of ALA over three months demonstrated that ALA helps support healthy lipid levels while improving oxidative stress (reducing free radical damage) by 38%.^[2] An additional study examining the effects of ALA on 74 subjects found that within the four week placebo-controlled trial, administration of 600 mg of ALA per day significantly enhanced glucose transport and utilization. ^[3]

Studies have demonstrated that cinnamon has a beneficial effect on maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, first by inhibiting the enzymes that cause insulin resistance, and second by increasing the insulin sensitivity. [4] This product contains Cinnulin® which is made using a patented process that extracts the water soluble components of cinnamon into a potent 20:1 extract (500 mg of Cinnulin® is equivalent to approximately 10g of whole cinnamon powder). Cinnulin® is standardized to contain doubly-linked polyphenol type A polymers, the bioactive component which has been shown to be effective in clinical trials.^[4] In a study examining the effects of Cinnulin®, 24 men and women were given 250 mg of Cinnulin®, or placebo, twice per day. Cinnulin® helped to maintain healthy blood sugar levels in 83% of subjects in the treatment group, compared to 33% in the placebo group.^5] Cinnulin® has also been shown to support healthy body composition by increasing lean body bass while reducing body fat. [4,5] An additional study examined the effects of 6 g of cinnamon on glucose levels in subjects consuming 50 g of carbohydrates (instant farina cereal). The researchers found that the addition of cinnamon to cereal helped to improve glucose response measurements during the 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes following the carbohydrate challenge.^[6]

Chromium is a critical element in the molecule called glucosetolerance factor (GTF), a complex shown to be crucial for theuptake of glucose into the cells. Studies using 1000 mcg/dayof chromium have demonstrated that chromium helps maintain healthy blood sugar balance, insulin sensitivity andblood lipids.^[7-9] In a study examining the effects of nutrients on blood sugar and lipid regulation, 43 patients were given 600 mcg of chromium along with 2 mg of biotin per day, or placebo. After four weeks, the combination of chromium andbiotin was found to have a significant effect on supportinghealthy blood sugar balance, while helping to maintain healthytriglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterollevels in the treatment group.^[10]

Biotin is a B vitamin that plays a major role in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates (multi-step process that breaks downfatty acids and carbohydrates to produce energy). Biotin playsnumerous roles in maintaining healthy blood sugar balancewhich includes stimulating glucose-induced insulin secretion, enhancing insulin sensitivity and accelerating glucose metabolism in the liver and pancreas.^[11] Biotin also activates glucokinase, an enzyme involved in glucose utilization.^[12] Additional research has found that biotin supplementation increases the number of insulin secreting beta cells in the pancreas.^[13]

An Aryurvedic herb used for thousands of years, gymnema has a long history of use for its blood sugar balancing properties. Gymnema contains compounds called gymnemic acids which help reduce the absorption of glucose in the intestines and delays the rapid release of glucose into the bloodstream. In one study, 400 mg daily of GS4 (an extract of gymnema leaves) consumed for 18-20 months helped maintain blood sugar metabolism.^[14] Gymnema has been found to block the taste of sweetness and has a stimulating effect on insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. In a study in which 400 mg of gymnema extract was given to 22 individuals over a period of 20 months, gymnema leaf extract was shown to help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.^[15]

Vanadyl Sulfate (VS) is the stable, inorganic form of vanadium, a mineral shown to mimic the action of insulin and plays a major role in promoting healthy glucose metabolism. In a three week study, VS given at 100 mg/day significantly improved insulin sensitivity.^[16] VS was also shown to decrease glucose production by about 20%. An additional study using 100 mg/day of VS for three weeks also demonstrated an improvement in insulin sensitivity while helping to maintain healthy glucose levels.^[17]

1. Lee, WJ, Song KH, Koh EH, Won JC, Kim HS, Park HS, Kim MS, Kim SW, Lee KU, Park JY. Alpha-lipoic acid increases insulin sensitivity by activating AMPK in skeletal muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 332: 885-891.
2. Ruderman NB, Saha AK, Kraegen EW. Minireview: malonyl CoA, AMP-activated protein kinase, and adiposity. Endocrinology 2003;144: 5166-5171.
3. Jacob S, Ruus P, Hermann R, et al. Oral administration of RAC-alpha-lipoic acid modulates insulin sensitivity in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled pilot trial. Free Radic Biol Med 1999; Aug 27(3-4):309-14.
4. Ziegenfuss TN, Hofheins JE, Mendel RW, Landis J, Anderson RA. The effects of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on body composition and features of metabolic syndrome in pre-diabetic men and women. J of Int Soc of Sports Nutr 2006; 3(2):4-53.
5. Ziengenfuss TN, Hofheins JE, Mendel RW. The effects of a proprietary aqueous cinnamon extract on glucose regulation, lipid profiles, and body composition in prediabetic men and women. Integrity Nutraceuticals. [No abstract available].
6. Magistrelli A, Chezem JC. Effect of ground cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose concentration in normal-weight and obese adults. J Acad Nutr Diet 2012; 112(11):1806-9.
7. Anderson RA et al. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes 1997; 46(11): 1786-91.
8. Morris BW et al. Chromium homeostasis in patients with type II (NIDDM) diabetes. J Trace Elem Med Biol 1999;13(1-2):57-61.
9. Ghosh D et al. Role of chromium supplementation in Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Nutr Biochem 2002 Nov; 13(11): 690-697.
10. Singer GM, Geohas J. The effect of chromium picolinate and biotin supplementation on glycemic control in poorly controlled patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized trial. Diabetes Technol Ther 2006; 8(6): 636-43.
11. Furukawa Y. Enhancement of glucose induced insulin secretion and modification of glucose metabolism by biotin. Nippon rinsho 1999;57(10):22619.
12. Pizzorno JE, Murray MT. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine (pp. 1337). St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone.
13. Lazo de la Vega-Monroy ML, Larrieta E, German MS, Baez- Saldana A, Fernandez-Mejia C. Effects of biotin supplementation in the diet on insulin secretion, islet gene expression, glucose homeostasis and beta-cell proportion. J Nutr Biochem 2013; 24(1):169-77.
14. Shanmugasundaram ER et al. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulindependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharmacol 1990; 30(3):281-94.
15. Baskaran K et al. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharmacol 1990; 30(3):295-300.
16. Cohen N et al. Oral vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest 1995; 95(6):2501- 9.
17. Halberstam M, Cohen N, Shlimovich P, Rossetti L, Shamoon H. Oral vanadyl sulfate improves insulin sensitivity in NIDDM but not in obese nondiabetic subjects. Diabetes 1996; 45(5):659-66.