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Natural products used for diabetes
Karen Shapiro1, William C Gong
1College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, Calif 91766-1854, USA. kshapiro@westernu.edu
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (Washington, D.C. : 1996)
|April 3, 2002
Summary
Several natural products, like nopal and karela, can effectively lower blood glucose in people with diabetes. Pharmacists play a key role in guiding patients on the safe and appropriate use of these traditional remedies.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Natural products have a long history of use in traditional medicine for managing diabetes.
- Popularity of these remedies varies across different ethnic groups, with nopal favored by those of Mexican descent and karela by those from Asian countries.
- Key ingredients like soluble fiber contribute to the hypoglycemic effects of some natural products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy and safety of commonly used natural products for diabetes management.
- To identify specific natural products utilized in diabetes care and their mechanisms of action.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive MEDLINE search was conducted for English and Spanish articles published between 1960 and 2001.
- Search terms included specific natural products (Opuntia, karela, gymnema, ginseng, alpha-lipoic acid) and "diabetes."
Main Results:
- Commonly used natural products for diabetes include nopal, fenu-greek, karela, gymnema, ginseng, tronadora, chromium, and alpha-lipoic acid.
- Studies indicate that several of these agents possess mechanisms of action that contribute to blood glucose reduction.
- High soluble fiber content is a significant factor in the hypoglycemic effects of certain natural products.
Conclusions:
- Available evidence supports the use of several natural products for lowering blood glucose in diabetic patients.
- Understanding the traditional use and scientific evidence behind these products empowers pharmacists to provide effective patient counseling.
- Further research into the efficacy and safety of natural products in diabetes management is warranted.