Discovery Hellth, speaking to diabetics, and not one word about

Coenzyme Q10, Pycnogenol, Swedish Bitters, Chromium and Vanadium, Lipoic Acid or other sundry items that coulda shoulda woulda possibly prevented the diabetes in the first place. There are DOZENS of these papers all saying the same thing. Best thing is, some of these supplements have "dual use" (can I say dual use?) such as Pycnogenol which has been proven as an effective therapeutic agent for diabetic retinopathy as well as chronic venous insufficiency. Lipoic acid has been proven to not only increase insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake but is a proven therapeutic agent against diabetic neuropathies. Why the MSM cannot/willnot speak to such truths is way beyond me.

1: J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1):159-75.Click here to read Links
Algorithm for complementary and alternative medicine practice and research in type 2 diabetes.

* Bradley R,
* Oberg EB,
* Calabrese C,
* Standish LJ.

Bastyr University, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA. rbradley@bastyr.edu

OBJECTIVE: To develop a model to direct the prescription of nutritional and botanical medicines in the treatment of type 2 diabetes for both clinical and research purposes. METHODS: Available literature on nutritional and botanical medicines was reviewed and categorized as follows: antioxidant/anti-inflammatory; insulin sensitizer; and beta-cell protectant/insulin secretagogue. Literature describing laboratory assessment for glycemic control, insulin resistance, and beta-cell reserve was also reviewed and a clinical decision tree was developed. RESULTS: Clinical algorithms were created to guide the use of nutritional and botanic medicines using validated laboratory measures of glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and beta-cell reserve.

Nutrient and botanic medicines with clinical trial research support include coenzyme Q10, carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, chromium, vanadium, omega-3 fatty acids, cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical algorithms can direct supplementation in clinical practice and provide research models for clinical investigation. Algorithms also provide a framework for integration of future evidence as it becomes available. Research funding to investigate potentially beneficial practices in complementary medicine is critically important for optimal patient care and safety.

PMID: 17309390

1: Hormones (Athens). 2006 Oct-Dec;5(4):251-8.Click here to read Links
Improvement of insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid.

* Kamenova P.

Department of Diabetology, University Hospital of Endocrinology, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria. kamenovap@abv.bg

BACKGROUND: Amelioration of insulin resistance could improve both glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to improve insulin action after parenteral administration. OBJECTIVE: the aim of the study was to assess the effect of oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid on insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

DESIGN: twelve patients (mean+/-sD; age 52.9+/-9.9 yrs; body mass index 33.9+/-7.4 kg/m(2)) were treated with oral alpha-lipoic acid, 600 mg twice daily over a period of 4 weeks. twelve subjects with normal glucose tolerance served as a control group in terms of insulin sensitivity (Is). Is was measured by a 2h manual hyperinsulinaemic (insulin infusion rate-40 mU/m(2 )body surface area/min) euglycaemic (blood glucose kept at 5 mmol/l) clamp technique and expressed as a glucose disposal rate (M) and insulin sensitivity index (IsI).

RESULTS: At the end of the treatment period, Is of diabetic patients was significantly increased: M from 3.202+/-1.898 to 5.951+/-2.705 mg/kg/min (mean+/-sD), p<0.01; and IsI from 4.706+/-2.666 to 7.673+/-3.559 mg/kg/min per mIU/l x 100 (mean+/-sD), p<0.05. the difference was not statistically significant between the Is of diabetic patients after alpha-lipoic acid therapy and control subjects. CONCLUSION: short-term oral alpha-lipoic acid treatment increases peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PMID: 17178700



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=15363656
Supplementation of Pycnogenol to conventional diabetes treatment lowers glucose levels and improves endothelial function.

The first cite you provided is from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Here's the problem that I have with "alternative medicine". The treatment described might be effective. Hell, it might be a miracle cure. But, it's being published in a journal that also covers subjects like homeopathy and chiropractic as if they were anything other than complete and total quackery. As long as they choose to self-associate with pseudoscientific disciplines like that, they will not, and SHOULD not be taken seriously. I think Discovery Health is making the right call here by ignoring them.

And yes, I know that your second cite was from an actual medical journal, which *is* interesting, but the credibility shadow cast over the research by it's publication in a pseudoscience "medical journal" is enough to make me incredibly skeptical about the whole thing.

addressing the oxidative stress associated with the progression of perhaps 60 of the most prevalant diseases of western society. If lipoic acid and pycnogenol were drugs, you would see them on the television 20 times a day.


1: Diabetes Care. 2006 Nov;29(11):2365-70.Click here to read Links
Oral treatment with alpha-lipoic acid improves symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy: the SYDNEY 2 trial.

* Ziegler D,
* Ametov A,
* Barinov A,
* Dyck PJ,
* Gurieva I,
* Low PA,
* Munzel U,
* Yakhno N,
* Raz I,
* Novosadova M,
* Maus J,
* Samigullin R.

FRCPE, Deutsche Diabetes-Klinik, Deutsches Diabetes-Zentrum, Leibniz-Institut an der Heinrich-Heine-Universitat, Auf'm Hennekamp 65, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany. dan.ziegler@ddz.uni-duesseldorf.de

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on positive sensory symptoms and neuropathic deficits in diabetic patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 181 diabetic patients in Russia and Israel received once-daily oral doses of 600 mg (n = 45) (ALA600), 1,200 mg (n = 47) (ALA1200), and 1,800 mg (ALA1800) of ALA (n = 46) or placebo (n = 43) for 5 weeks after a 1-week placebo run-in period. The primary outcome measure was the change from baseline of the Total Symptom Score (TSS), including stabbing pain, burning pain, paresthesia, and asleep numbness of the feet. Secondary end points included individual symptoms of TSS, Neuropathy Symptoms and Change (NSC) score, Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS), and patients' global assessment of efficacy. RESULTS: Mean TSS did not differ significantly at baseline among the treatment groups and on average decreased by 4.9 points (51%) in ALA600, 4.5 (48%) in ALA1200, and 4.7 (52%) in ALA1800 compared with 2.9 points (32%) in the placebo group (all P < 0.05 vs. placebo). The corresponding response rates (>/=50% reduction in TSS) were 62, 50, 56, and 26%, respectively. Significant improvements favoring all three ALA groups were also noted for stabbing and burning pain, the NSC score, and the patients' global assessment of efficacy. The NIS was numerically reduced. Safety analysis showed a dose-dependent increase in nausea, vomiting, and vertigo. CONCLUSIONS: Oral treatment with ALA for 5 weeks improved neuropathic symptoms and deficits in patients with DSP. An oral dose of 600 mg once daily appears to provide the optimum risk-to-benefit ratio.

PMID: 17065669

1: Phytother Res. 2001 May;15(3):219-23.Click here to read Links
Treatment of vascular retinopathies with Pycnogenol.

* Spadea L,
* Balestrazzi E.

Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Cattedra di Clinica Oculistica, Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, L'Aquila, Italy.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of Pycnogenol on the progression of diabetic retinopathy and other vascular retinal disorders. The study consisted of a double-blind phase in which 20 patients were recruited and randomly treated with placebo or Pycnogenol (50 mg x 3/day for 2 months) and an open phase in which another 20 patients were treated with Pycnogenol at the same dose schedule. In total, 40 patients with diabetes, atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases involving the retina were enrolled; 30 of them were treated with Pycnogenol and 10 with placebo. The results demonstrated a beneficial effect of Pycnogenol on the progression of retinopathy. Without any treatment (placebo) the retinopathy progressively worsened during the trial and the visual acuity significantly decreased; on the contrary, the Pycnogenol-treated patients showed no deterioration of retinal function and a significant recovery of visual acuity was also obtained. The fluorangiography showed an improvement of retinal vascularization and a reduced endothelial permeability and leakage in the Pycnogenol, but not in the placebo-treated, patients. The ophthalmoscopy and the electroretinogram (ERG) also confirmed the beneficial effects of Pycnogenol. The mechanism of action of Pycnogenol may be related to its free radical (FR) scavenging, anti-inflammatory and capillary protective activities. It has been suggested that Pycnogenol may bind to the blood vessel wall proteins and mucopolysaccharides and produce a capillary 'sealing' effect, leading to a reduced capillary permeability and oedema formation. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 11351356

My point was that the treatment *may* be legitimate, but the fact that the research was published in a journal of quackery makes it very hard to take seriously. It's a scientific kiss of death, and it taints all other research into it's efficacy.

then again, there are countries where these interventions are common practice, then again those countries aren't owned by the Pharmcos. The U.S. is the most drugged nation in the world, Europe spends less than half that we do on healthcare and have twice the "healthspan". Something is amiss, and it ain't the fact that these agents are used liberally in Europe.


http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/96legacy/releases.96/14316.html
Known for more than 30 years and once thought to be a vitamin, alpha-lipoic acid was recognized as an antioxidant a mere seven years ago, and only recently have scientists discovered how it works in the body.

New data from Packer's laboratory reported in this month's issue of Brain Research show that alpha-lipoic acid can significantly increase survival in rats that have suffered a stroke, if given before the stroke occurs. Though pretreatment with alpha-lipoic acid is impractical, the results prove the importance of this antioxidant in preventing cell and tissue damage, Packer says.

Studies several years ago showed a similar role for lipoic acid in preventing tissue damage and death after a heart attack.

All antioxidants -- the best known are vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and related carotenoids, and a family of chemicals called flavonoids -- work by disarming deadly free radicals before they wreak havoc on cells and tissue in the body. Essentially "toxic waste" generated by most normal processes in the body, from breathing to digestion, free radicals are thought to contribute to disease and aging.

I live in a town with a huge school of chiropractic (Life University), so I get to hear the salespitch from acolytes all the time. It's quackery - subluxations are made up BS pseudoscience. I'd like to remind you of the origins of chiropractic - "Doctor" Palmer supposedly cured a deaf janitor by cracking his neck. Anyone who knows the first thing about human anatomy knows that your neck (and the nerves and bones in it) has NOTHING to do with your hearing.

All I can say is "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof", and I haven't seen anything extraordinary from the chiropractic faith-healers (which is pretty much what chiropractic is) I've spoken to.