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The effect of pine bark extract supplement on LDL and HDL levels in women with type 2 diabetes.

by Website Writer | بهمن 30, 1402 | Articles

The Effect of Supplementation with French Pine Bark Extract (Oligopin) on LDL and HDL Levels in Selected Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, occurring due to either insufficient insulin secretion or the body’s inability to use insulin. An important aspect of the epidemiology of this disease is the growing trend of cases in the coming years. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the global prevalence of diabetes will rise from 463 million people in 2019 to 578 million in 2030, with about 90% of these individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes. In Iran, the prevalence of this disease in individuals aged 20 to 79 years is approximately 10%.

Most Common Cause of Mortality in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: The leading cause of disability and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients is cardiovascular disease. Several risk factors contribute to cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients, with lipid disorders and hypertension being the primary risk factors. Timely identification and intervention can prevent the onset of chronic complications, including cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks.

In addition to dietary changes aimed at controlling risk factors such as blood lipoproteins, various pharmaceutical drugs have been discovered and are currently being used to control these complications. However, these drugs come with various side effects and high costs for both families and governments.

Effect of Herbal Supplements on Lipid Control: Given the long-term side effects of these medications, the use of herbal supplements can be a more effective method for controlling acute and chronic complications, reducing the need for lipid-lowering drugs in these patients. One such supplement is the French Pine Bark extract, a dietary supplement rich in procyanidins, sold under the brand name Oligopin.

What is Oligopin? Oligopin is a reddish-brown powder derived from the bark of the French Maritime Pine tree. Each Oligopin capsule contains 50 mg of French Pine Bark extract, with procyanidin being the active ingredient, which constitutes about 67 to 75% of the supplement as a strong antioxidant compound.

Research: According to the findings of this study, daily supplementation of 100 mg of Oligopin for six weeks in the selected women group resulted in significant changes in LDL levels in the supplement group compared to the placebo. However, there were no significant changes in HDL levels between the supplement and placebo groups. The positive effects of this supplement on blood lipoprotein control, especially LDL levels, seem to be due to its mechanism of reducing oxidative stress and free radicals in plasma, thereby improving lipid profile levels.

Study Trends: In a study conducted in 2010, supplementation with Oligopin in individuals with metabolic syndrome showed significant changes in HDL levels in the supplement group compared to the placebo group. Finally, it is important to note the limitations beyond the control of the current study, including the lack of reporting on changes in the types, amounts, and frequencies of medications used, the simultaneous use of any herbal supplements, vitamins, or minerals without prior report, dietary changes during the study period, and changes in activity levels, sleep patterns, or any potential lasting changes in personality or daily economic events, psychological traits, individual motivations, and work-related factors. These could have influenced social persistence and cooperation in the study.

Research Suggestions: Based on the study background, it is recommended that future studies examine the effects of Oligopin supplementation in type 2 diabetic patients who are not using lipid-lowering drugs, with a dosage of 200 mg per day, and conducted over short-term (2-3 weeks) and long-term (3-6 months) periods. Additionally, the effects of this supplement on systolic and diastolic blood pressure or other lipid profiles, such as cholesterol and triglycerides, should also be studied as primary variables. Further research can also be conducted to examine the effectiveness of simultaneous use of this supplement in men with type 2 diabetes.

Reference: The Effects of Supplement French Pine Bark Extract (Oligopin) on LDL and HDL in Selected Women with Type II Diabetes. October 2020. Journal of Diabetes Nursing 8(3).

Diabetes and glucose disorders in liver patients

by Website Writer | مرداد 22, 1402 | Articles

Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Liver Patients

Disruption in carbohydrate metabolism is quite common in patients with cirrhosis. Disturbances in glucose metabolism in cirrhotic patients have been frequently discussed in references and articles, particularly regarding fasting and food consumption.

Prevalence of Diabetes and Glucose Tolerance Disorders: The prevalence of diabetes and glucose intolerance in these patients varies widely. In fact, laboratory methods and diagnostic criteria for glucose metabolism disorders in various studies have not been uniform, and these criteria have been revised several times in recent decades. This article examines diabetes and glucose disorders in liver patients.

Liver Disease and Glucose Tolerance: Many studies examining the relationship between liver disease and glucose tolerance have noted that several potential factors influencing the onset of diabetes, which could be considered intervening factors, have not been addressed. In this study, we examine the prevalence of diabetes and glucose intolerance in patients with chronic liver disease using the latest diagnostic criteria. The independent relationship between chronic liver disease and diabetes, considering other potential risk factors for diabetes, is also explored. Additionally, this study investigates factors specifically related to the onset of diabetes in liver patients.

Onset of Diabetes: Before or After Liver Disease? Since both diabetes and chronic liver disease are often asymptomatic until advanced stages, it is generally difficult to determine whether:

Diabetes onset occurs before or after liver disease?

Researchers have gathered information showing that, in some patients, diabetes is diagnosed either simultaneously with or after cirrhosis.

Importance and Necessity of Screening: The prevalence of diabetes in cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis groups is significantly related to the severity of liver disease. This finding suggests that liver fibrosis, rather than necessarily cirrhosis, may initiate the process of glucose intolerance. It’s interesting to note that although the exact mechanism of glucose intolerance in cirrhosis is not yet fully understood, insulin resistance and reduced receptor sensitivity have been observed.

Insulin Resistance: Insulin resistance is observed in the early stages of chronic hepatitis. Another study examining chronic hepatitis patients with normal glucose tolerance showed a strong correlation between insulin resistance and the degree of fibrosis.

Chronic Hepatitis as an Independent Factor for Diabetes: All these findings confirm that chronic hepatitis is an independent factor for diabetes, and the development of diabetes in these patients is related to the severity of liver disease.

Diabetes and Liver Disease: This study did not find a relationship between diabetes and the cause of liver disease. Some studies have reported a correlation between Hepatitis C infection and higher rates of diabetes, but these findings are not yet definitive. A retrospective study involving 1,117 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis found a relatively strong relationship between diabetes and HCV infection. This study suggested that, independent of its role in chronic liver disease, HCV may play an important role in the onset of diabetes. However, there are also studies presenting findings contrary to this conclusion.

Development of Diabetes in Cirrhotic Patients: The prevalence of diabetes in cirrhosis patients caused by Hepatitis C was significantly higher than in those with cholestatic liver disease. However, there was no significant difference in the rate of diabetes in Hepatitis C cirrhosis patients compared to alcohol-related cirrhosis patients. This suggests that the development of diabetes in cirrhotic patients is closely related to the underlying cause of liver disease. A study did not find a correlation between the cause of liver disease and diabetes in either the cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis groups. However, future studies will likely provide more insights into the relationship between diabetes and the underlying liver disease.

BMI as an Independent Variable: In patients with chronic hepatitis, BMI was identified as an independent variable related to diabetes. Some studies have shown that obesity may be a potential risk factor for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis. However, our study found that high BMI may play a distinct role in the pathogenesis of diabetes in chronic hepatitis, independent of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, serum lipids, including plasma free fatty acids and glycerol concentrations, were found to be higher in diabetic cirrhotic patients.

Family History as a Factor in Diabetes: Family history of diabetes is a well-known risk factor. Our study showed that even when the variable of family history of diabetes was included in the regression model, the relationship between cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis with diabetes remained significant. Other studies have confirmed this result, suggesting that liver injury in chronic liver disease is an independent risk factor for diabetes, with family history only acting as a secondary factor.

Age as a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes: Age is a well-known risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, and it was expected that this would also be true for chronic liver disease patients. However, the relative risk of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis was found to be higher than that of age, indicating a stronger relationship between liver disease and diabetes.

Onset of Diabetes During Interferon Treatment: Some studies have previously reported the onset of diabetes during interferon treatment, but evidence is still lacking. In our study, interferon treatment did not significantly affect the prevalence of diabetes.

Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate a relatively high prevalence of diabetes in patients with chronic liver disease. Given that a significant number of these patients are unaware of their condition, regular screening is highly recommended. For advanced cases, shorter intervals for screening should be considered due to the higher risk of developing diabetes. Weight reduction in chronic hepatitis patients could potentially prevent the onset of diabetes, and doctors should advise these patients to engage in continuous weight reduction measures. Based on the findings of this study, further research should focus on identifying the pathophysiology of diabetes in chronic liver disease patients and the role of viral hepatitis and liver disease severity in the development of diabetes and possibly insulin resistance.

References:

Alavian S M, Hajarezadeh B, Nematizadeh F, Larijani B. DIABETES AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE. ijdld 2004; 3 (1): 57-70.

The Effect of Chromium on Blood Sugar Control in Type 2 Diabetes

by Website Writer | اسفند 6, 1401 | Articles

Determining the Effect of Chromium on Blood Sugar Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction

Chromium is an essential mineral necessary for the proper metabolism of glucose, fats, and overall blood sugar control. It plays a crucial role in insulin activity, making it an important element for managing diabetes.

Trivalent Chromium

Trivalent chromium is found in a biologically active complex called the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). This article explores the effect of chromium on blood sugar control in diabetic patients.

Chromium’s Role in Diabetes Management

Chromium is believed to:

Increase insulin sensitivity in cells
Improve the efficiency of glucose absorption by cells
Reduce the severity of diabetes-related symptoms

These properties help diabetic individuals maintain normal blood sugar levels and prevent hyperglycemia and its complications. However, chromium intake should be carefully monitored under medical supervision to avoid potential side effects.

Chromium and Blood Sugar Control

Chromium was first discovered in brewer’s yeast, and its deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance and poor blood sugar control. In normal conditions, chromium binds to a low-molecular-weight peptide, enhancing:

Insulin receptor enzyme activity
Blood sugar regulation
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels

Studies have shown that chromium, particularly chromium bound to niacin, can reduce insulin resistance and lower cholesterol levels.

Effects of Chromium Supplementation

Chromium picolinate supplementation has been found to improve insulin sensitivity by stimulating insulin receptors. Several studies, including those conducted in Iran, indicate that serum and hair chromium levels in diabetic patients are significantly lower than in healthy individuals.

Research Findings

Despite positive results, studies on chromium supplementation in both healthy individuals and diabetic patients have shown mixed outcomes. Some research suggests that chromium consumption, combined with increased physical activity, can:

Promote muscle mass growth
Enhance fat metabolism
Improve glucose and lipid metabolism

Conclusion

Chromium supplementation, particularly when combined with physical activity, may aid in:

Increasing muscle mass
Enhancing fat burning
Improving glucose and lipid metabolism

Chitosan supplements containing chromium, such as those from Pararin Pars, are formulated to support weight loss and blood sugar control in diabetic patients.

The relationship between blood sugar control and dry mouth.

by Website Writer | بهمن 23, 1401 | Articles

Diabetes is a syndrome caused by abnormal metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, leading to either a relative or complete lack of insulin in the body and poor blood sugar control, which results in elevated glucose levels in the blood. Another type occurs due to increased cellular resistance to insulin, while the next form occurs in pregnant women, causing abnormal glucose tolerance and weak blood sugar control. The prevalence of this disease has increased in developing countries due to various reasons such as:

Population growth
Age
Lack of physical activity
Unhealthy diet

These individuals are often middle-aged. Diabetes complications can affect various organs in the body, including the mouth. This article examines the relationship between blood sugar control and dry mouth.

Oral Lesions in Diabetic Patients Oral lesions that may appear due to diabetes include periodontitis and dry mouth. Poor blood sugar control in diabetes can lead to damage of the salivary glands, resulting in dry mouth, which in turn causes several complications, including:

Irritation of dry mucous membranes
Minor ulcers
Overgrowth of opportunistic microorganisms such as Candida
Increased glucose in gingival crevicular fluid
Higher incidence of dental cavities
Increased plaque accumulation

Dry mouth is an uncomfortable complication of diabetes that can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life. It is associated with poor blood sugar control and medications that can lead to reduced salivary gland activity. Autonomic neuropathies are also one of the complications of diabetes that affect saliva secretion by reducing it, as saliva flow is controlled by sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. Diabetes manifests many oral symptoms such as:

Burning mouth
Changes in wound healing
Dry mouth
Increased risk of infection
Candida infections
Bilateral enlargement of the salivary glands

Therefore, if a person has diabetes and poor blood sugar control, dry mouth may occur due to reduced salivary gland function, and it is advisable for the individual to consult a specialist in this regard.