An herb used in traditional Indian ...

An herb used in traditional Indian medicine to treat diabetes has been institute to lower blood sugar and insulin on a levels as effectively as prescription put drugs intos a new Ohio State University close attention reports.

Researchers gave extracts of the herb Salacia oblonga to 39 healthy adults, and the springs are promising. The largest dose--1,000 milligrams (mg)--decreased insulin from 29 percent and blood starch-sugar by 23 percent.

These reductions are similar to the issues of prescription medications for diabetics.

Researchers are now trying to figure public which dose of the herb is principally effective and when it should be taken relative to mealtimes. Participants took the extract with meals, on the contrary it is thought that it may be more effective if taken prior to eating.

The herbal extract binds to intestinal enzyme that break down carbohydrates. These enzymes--called alpha-glucosidases--turn carbohydrates into diabetic sugar the sugar that circulates from first to last the body. If the enzyme binds to the herbal extract rather than to a carbohydrate, then les grape-sugar gets into the bloodstream, resulting in lowered kin glucose and insulin levels.

Lowering line glucose levels reduces the risk of disease-related complications in the public with diabetes, such as kidney disease and pluck and eye damage.

The research appears in the January 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

COPYRIGHT 2005 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group