Gene Mutation Puts Some Kids at Risk for Tobacco Addiction (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- People with certain commongenetic variations that affect their nicotine receptors seem to be athigher risk for becoming life-long nicotine addicts if they begin smokingbefore they turn 17, a new study says.

There have been at least four gymnema sylvestre hyperglycemia clinical trials, all of buy d calcium pantothenate showed positive results. By definition, clinical trials are those that recruit volunteers for experimental studies as opposed to animal trials or research using cell lines in test tubes. While there have only been a few published gymnema sylvestre insulin clinical trials, there is a large body of research supporting the use of the herb to reduce blood sugar levels. In addition to modern day research, there is a history of traditional usage in Ayurvedic and Asian medicine for the treatment of both insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetes.

It is likely that there would have been more gymnema sylvestre hyperglycemia clinical trials if funding were available. In a recent publication in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers from Bastyr University in Washington State called research funding critically important. Research is expensive and most funding is provided by pharmaceutical companies, but pharmaceutical companies have little interest in beneficial nutritional and botanical medicines, since they are naturally occurring and cannot be patented.

Many doctors are unaware of gymnema sylvestre insulin clinical trials. Alternative and complementary medicine is still controversial, even though the effectiveness of nutritional support and botanical supplements has been proven again and again. It takes years for mainstream medicine to accept the therapeutic properties of naturally occurring substances and some practitioners never suggest or even consider alternative or adjunctive therapies for their patients.

Take for example the research conducted by Linus Pauling, a two time Nobel Prize winner, concerning vitamin C and other nutritional supplements. At the age of 41, he was diagnosed with an untreatable and fatal kidney disease. Using a low protein, salt free diet and nutritional supplements, he was able to continue to work, published several books and lived a healthy and productive life. He died in 1994 at the age of 93 from an unrelated condition.

By going outside of mainstream medicine, by using alternative therapies, he was able to live more than 50 years longer than his doctors had said that he would. His theory was always that people can live longer, healthier lives by focusing on good nutrition. Not a popular theory and still controversial to a certain extent, but Doctors of Alternative and Complementary Medicine are becoming more popular.

Researchers are focusing more on alternative therapies for type II diabetes, because, according to researchers at the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, current pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes reduces the risk of complications, but is not able to achieve a long-lasting normalization of the metabolic disorder.

In gymnema sylvestre hyperglycemia clinical trials conducted in 1990, 27 patients with insulin dependent diabetes were given 400 mg per day of an extract from the leaves of the herb. The patients experienced a reduced need for insulin and fasting blood glucose levels were lowered. In their conclusion, the researchers suggested that the extract seemed to enhance the levels of natural insulin within the body, possibly by regenerating the beta cells that are inactive in insulin dependent diabetics.

In gymnema sylvestre insulin clinical trials conducted later in the same year, 22 patients with non-insulin dependent or type II diabetes were treated with 400mg of the extract daily for a period of 18-20 months. During that time, patients showed lower blood glucose levels and the need for conventional drug therapy was decreased.

In 2004, two studies were completed concerning the effectiveness of supplements containing a combination of gymnema sylvestre, calcium citrate and chromium for weight loss. One of the risk factors for type II diabetes is overweight or obesity. Diabetics who are able to maintain a healthy weight also see improvements in blood glucose levels and a reduction in the need for prescription drugs.

Over 150 obese people participated in these two studies and the results showed a 5-6% decrease in body weight and body mass index. Total cholesterol levels were also reduced, as were triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. There seemed to be an appetite suppressant effect of the combination mineral and gymnema sylvestre therapy and HDL (good) cholesterol levels were improved.

Over the years research has supported the use of many botanical extracts, dietary supplements and minerals for the control of blood glucose levels and weight maintenance. The recommended supplements include calcium, chromium, copper, magnesium, manganese, banaba, bitter melon, black cumin, green tea, alpha lipoic acid and gymnema sylvestre. We know of only one product that contains all of these. To learn more about gymnema sylvestre hyperglycemia clinical trials or research supporting the use of the other supplements mentioned here, please visit the Diabetes Type Two Info Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a health writer. Currently she is writing a series of articles about type II diabetes, a subject of personal interest. Read more at http://diabetes-type-two-info-guide.com .