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insulin

Effect of long-term changes in diet and exercise on plasma leptin – (02-08-01)

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Effect of long-term changes in diet and exercise on plasma leptin

Leptin is one of the newly discovered hormone that is related to weight control in the body. Adipose tissue produces most of the body’s leptin, and with high levels (as with insulin) it is believed that the body becomes resistant to the leptin, and it loses its ability to bring body weight down. This study shows that leptin levels are reduced by exercise. This is not a surprise, but adds further importance to the recommendation for exercise in any lifestyle improvement.

AJCN — Abstracts: Reseland et al. 73 (2): 240

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Acarbose, insulin in Type 2 diabetes w/ non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis – (02-02-01)

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Acarbose, insulin in Type 2 diabetes w/ non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis

This study examines the use of acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor in patients whose liver does not function well. The results were good for control blood sugar levels. Whole grains also have alpha-glucosidase inhibitors present in them, which are processed out during refinement. We don’t need to spend a money on a study comparing whole grains and glucose control–several studies already confirm the benefits of whole grains on glycemic control.

Synergy Abstract

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Glycemic and insulinemic responses to regular and fermented milk – (07-19-01)

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Glycemic and insulinemic responses to regular and fermented milk

Gee, yet another reason to avoid dairy? Do we really need another? The high allergenicity, presence of hormones and pesticides and antibiotics are not enough? Now we find that milk has a glycemic index close to that of white bread. When the milk is fermented, such as in yogurt, the glycemic index lowers dramatically. This would put milk into the category as refined sugars and should be avoided in anyone concerned about insulin resistance or diabetes.

AJCN — Abstracts: Östman et al. 74 (1): 96

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Insulin: Evidence for an Anti-inflammatory Effect? – (07-19-01)

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Insulin: Evidence for an Anti-inflammatory Effect?

Just when you think you know everything there is to know about the horrible effects of insulin we are reminded that nothing Mother Nature makes is inherently “good” or “bad”, but that balance is the key. This article points out that insulin has a potent anti-inflammatory effect.

JCEM — Abstracts: Dandona et al. 86 (7): 3257

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Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Mass – (01-18-01)

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Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Mass

Based on the evidence that CLA is a PPAR-gamma ligand, much like the fancy new diabetic drugs, its effect on body mass is no great surprise. By improving insulin sensitivity, we will prevent the damage occurring to the body from elevated insulin levels. The only problem I do have with CLA is its natural source–meat, dairy and eggs. Quite a confrontation of beliefs, huh?

J Nutr 2000;130:2943-2948 Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces body fat mass, according to a report in the December issue of the Journal of nutrition. CLA is a fatty acid found in dairy products, beef, poultry and eggs. Dr. Ola Gudmundsen, of Scandinavian Clinical research, Kjeller, Norway, and colleagues note that CLA has previously been shown to reduce body fat mass in animals. To assess the dose-response relationship of CLA with regard to body fat mass in humans, they conducted a randomized, double-blind study of 60 overweight or obese subjects (body mass index 25 to 35 kg/meters squared). The investigators report that the subjects received either placebo (9 g olive oil) or 1.7, 3.4, 5.1, or 6.8 g of CLA per day for 12 weeks. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure body composition at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. According to the report, 47 subjects completed the study. “Eight subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events; however, no differences among treatment groups were found regarding adverse events,” the team says. Further, they observed no significant differences among the groups in lean body mass, body mass index, blood safety variables, or blood lipids. “Repeated-measures analysis showed that a significantly higher reduction in body fat mass was found in the CLA groups compared with the placebo group,” the researchers say. Further, they add, “the reduction of body fat within the groups was significant for the 3.4 g and 6.8 g CLA groups.”

Advanced glycation end-products on PMN superoxide production – (12-17-01)

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Advanced glycation end-products on PMN superoxide production

To put this in English, abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood stream will irreversibly damage proteins, a process called glycosylation. PMNs are white blood cells that help fight off bacterial infections; they do this by ingesting the bacteria and destroying them with a compound called superoxide.

Thus, this study connects the link between diabetics and increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. I would widen the net to dysglycemic patients as well; these patients will also have elevated glucose and insulin levels.

Synergy : European Journal of Clinical Investigation 31 (12), 1064-1069

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Plasma Leptin and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease – (12-27-01)

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Plasma Leptin and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

I don’t plan this–it just happens to fall into my lap. Remember that leptin levels can increase with prolonged ingestion of fatty foods and with alterations in insulin sensitivity. Many of these factors begin to overlap and lifestyle changes to lower one will inevitably alter the other positively. Circulation — Abstracts: Wallace et al. 104 (25): 3052

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Many people are taking insulin-like growth factor-I w/o knowing it – (12-10-01)

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Many people are taking insulin-like growth factor-I w/o knowing it

This is one of those letters to the editor that makes me smile with further vindication for my anti-dairy recommendations. The author makes a nicely referenced point about the dangers of elevated IGF in humans (and especially children and patients with increased intestinal permeability) and how our current better-than-Mother-Nature approach using bovine growth hormone increases the levels and bioactivity of IGF in milk. Think of this next time you see that smiling face and milk mustache on a billboard.

wjm — Mercola and Mermer 175 (6): 378

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