ADA: Ginseng Helps In Controlling
Blood Glucose
American and Korean red ginseng may help
to normalize blood glucose levels and improve
insulin secretion and sensitivity in patients
with type 2 diabetes.
Two studies were presented at the American Diabetes
Association 63rd Scientific Sessions.
In one study, people with type 2 diabetes who
consumed ginseng and Konjac mannan fiber (a highly
viscous fiber similar to pectin) had a notable
reduction in blood glucose levels, reported Alexandra
Jenkins, BSc, RD, a research associate at the
University of Toronto in Ontario.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-designed
study enrolled 30 well-controlled diabetes patients;
23 were receiving oral hypoglycemic agents, and
seven used lifestyle intervention alone. The participants,
who were kept on their standard diabetes regimen,
were randomly assigned to receive either 3 g of
ground-up North American–grown ginseng and
7 g of Konjac mannan fiber blend, or placebo,
daily for 12 weeks.
By the end of the study period, hemoglobin A1c
(HbA1c) levels had dropped from an average baseline
level of 7.0% to 6.5% in patients were taking
the ginseng preparation compared with 6.8% for
those who were taking placebo, Ms. Jenkins said.
"The drop is comparable to that seen with
other hypoglycemic agents, such as the alpha-glucosidase
inhibitors, when used as adjunct therapy,"
she said. The herbal preparation appeared to be
safe, with no adverse effects observed, she said.
The results suggest that standard pharmacological
therapies and ginseng are complementary in treating
diabetes, said Francine R. Kaufman, MD, outgoing
president of the American Diabetes Association.
"The Chinese, who use ginseng root to treat
a variety of ailments, have been in medicine for
5,000 years," she said. "Just as acupuncture
has been proven to have a role in Western medicine,
so too will ginseng. We need to think globally."
In the second study, Korean red ginseng improved
both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity
when compared with placebo, reported John L. Sievenpiper,
a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto.
The trial enrolled 19 well-controlled diabetic
patients, applying the same design used in the
American ginseng study.
Korean red ginseng was safe, with liver, kidney,
and hemostatic function and blood pressure not
adversely affected compared with placebo, the
study showed.
While HbA1c levels did not significantly change,
the ginseng preparation "was associated with
a dramatic 40% drop in both postprandial plasma
glucose and insulin levels," Mr. Sievenpiper
said. Also, ginseng treatment led to a significant
improvement in both hepatic insulin sensitivity
and whole-body insulin sensitivity compared with
placebo, he reported.
"The baseline HbA1c levels were already at
6.5%, so we couldn't push it down significantly,"
he said. "But in patients with slightly higher
levels, we might see an effect."
Dr. Kaufman, who is also head of the Center for
Diabetes at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles,
California, agreed. "There is no doubt that
natural products such as ginseng have a role in
modulating weight and insulin sensitivity,"
she said. But exactly "how adjunctive they
may or may not be" still needs to be determined,
she added.
Mr. Sievenpiper emphasized that "these are
preliminary, short-term studies that indicate
a need for more research. They are not a reason
to recommend ginseng to patients," he said.
And because of poor regulation, standardization,
and labeling in the herbal industry, there is
no way to know if one product will work as well
as another, Mr. Sievenpiper said.
He pointed out that in a recent survey physicians
estimated that three in four patients take complementary
medicines, including herbs
ADA 63rd Scientific Sessions: Poster 1676, presented
June 14, 2003; poster 587, presented June 15,
2003.
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As we visited the booths
at ADA looking for reactions from participants,
B-D’s new Latitude All In One Glucose Management
System For Pen Users seem to be getting a lot
of attention. The built in pen and needle storage
was a big hit as was the all in one package of
the meter and lancet device.
