Optimal DX Supplement Series: Blood Glucose Support

Optimal Takeaways

The regulation of blood glucose levels results from a dynamic interplay between pancreatic endocrine hormones, which include insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and amylin. Under normal circumstances, insulin promotes glucose uptake at key storage and consumption sites, such as adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, thus lowering circulating blood glucose levels (Lee 2022).

A person is considered insulin-resistant when higher insulin levels are needed to achieve its glucose-lowering effect. Researchers don’t fully understand what causes insulin resistance, but excess visceral fat and lack of physical activity are major contributing factors (NIDDK 2024).

Insulin resistance is a pivotal component in the pathogenesis of many metabolic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is one such disease, which manifests as a constellation of interconnected physiological, biochemical, clinical, and metabolic factors that directly increase the risk of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality (Kaur 2014, Lee 2022).

Supportive Supplements

Berberine

900 to 2,000 mg a day, divided into three to four doses (Examine.com)

• In patients with metabolic syndrome, berberine treatment for one month resulted in levels of fasting blood glucose, 2-h postprandial blood glucose, and insulin resistance index that were significantly lower than those in the control group (Cao 2019).
• In cultured human liver cells, berberine increased insulin receptor messenger RNA and protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner (Kong 2009).
• In patients with type 2 diabetes, 1 g/d of berberine for two months enhanced insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues through protein kinase C–dependent insulin receptor up-regulation and significantly lowered fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, and insulin levels (Zhang 2010).
• A meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials involving 1068 participants determined that berberine is efficacious for treating hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes (Dong 2012).

Cinnamon

1 to 1.5 g/d (Wang 2007, Hajimonfarednejad 2018)

• In women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 333 mg of cinnamon extract three times daily for eight weeks caused significant reductions in insulin resistance according to fasting and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance tests (Wang 2007).
• 5 g/day of cinnamon in three divided doses for 12 weeks significantly reduced fasting insulin and insulin resistance in women with PCOS (Hajimonfarednejad 2018).
• Cinnamon extract prevented insulin resistance in high-fructose diet-fed rats (Quin 2004).

Curcumin

1000 TO 1500 mg/d (Examine.com 2024)

• In a systematic review and meta-analysis, it was determined that curcumin supplementation significantly improved fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure levels in patients with metabolic syndrome (Azhdari 2019).
• 80 mg/day of nano-curcumin for 12 weeks significantly reduced triglycerides in patients with metabolic syndrome (Bateni 2021).
• Daily administration of 1500 mg curcumin for 10 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes caused significant changes in mean weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and fasting blood sugar (Hodaei 2019).

Chromium & Magnesium

Chromium: 160 to 1000 mcg/d, depending upon form

Magnesium: 200 to 300 mg/d

• Combined supplementation of 160 mcg/d of chromium plus 200 mg/d of magnesium for 10 weeks significantly improved fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance indices in insulin-resistant patients. It was more effective than either alone (Dou 2016).
• 300 mg/day of magnesium sulfate for six months significantly improved fasting blood sugar, insulin, and Homeostasis Model Assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (Norouzi 2022).
• In type 2 diabetics, fasting glucose, HbA1c, and insulin resistance were significantly decreased by six months of supplementation with chromium yeast (1000 mcg/d) and chromium yeast (1000 mcg) + C (1000 mg) + E (800 IU). These decreases were not observed in the placebo group (Lai 2008).

References

Azhdari, Maryam, Majid Karandish, and Anahita Mansoori. "Metabolic benefits of curcumin supplementation in patients with metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials." Phytotherapy research 33.5 (2019): 1289-1301.

Bateni, Zohre, et al. "The effects of nano‐curcumin supplementation on glycemic control, blood pressure, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in patients with the metabolic syndrome: A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial." Phytotherapy Research 35.7 (2021): 3945-3953.

Berberine. Examine.com. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://examine.com/supplements/berberine/

Curcumin. Examine.com. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://examine.com/supplements/curcumin/

Cao, Changfu, and Meiqing Su. “Effects of berberine on glucose-lipid metabolism, inflammatory factors and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome.” Experimental and therapeutic medicine vol. 17,4 (2019): 3009-3014. doi:10.3892/etm.2019.7295

Dong, Hui, et al. "Berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systemic review and meta‐analysis." Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012.1 (2012): 591654.

Dou, Mei, et al. "Combined chromium and magnesium decreases insulin resistance more effectively than either alone." Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition 25.4 (2016): 747-753.

Hajimonfarednejad, Mahdie, et al. "Insulin resistance improvement by cinnamon powder in polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized double‐blind placebo controlled clinical trial." Phytotherapy Research 32.2 (2018): 276-283.

Hodaei, Homa, et al. "The effect of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric indices, insulin resistance and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial." Diabetology & metabolic syndrome 11 (2019): 1-8.

Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Institutes of Health. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

Kaur, Jaspinder. "[Retracted] A Comprehensive Review on Metabolic Syndrome." Cardiology research and practice 2014.1 (2014): 943162.

Kong, Wei-Jia, et al. "Berberine reduces insulin resistance through protein kinase C–dependent up-regulation of insulin receptor expression." Metabolism 58.1 (2009): 109-119.

Lai MH. Antioxidant effects and insulin resistance improvement of chromium combined with vitamin C and e supplementation for type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2008;43(3):191-198. doi:10.3164/jcbn.2008064

Lee, Shin-Hae, Shi-Young Park, and Cheol Soo Choi. "Insulin resistance: from mechanisms to therapeutic strategies." Diabetes & metabolism journal 46.1 (2022): 15-37.

Norouzi, Mohsen et al. “Magnesium supplementation and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.” European journal of translational myology vol. 32,3 10622. 5 Jul. 2022, doi:10.4081/ejtm.2022.10622

Qin, B., et al. "Cinnamon extract prevents the insulin resistance induced by a high-fructose diet." Hormone and metabolic research 36.02 (2004): 119-125.

Wang, Jeff G., et al. "The effect of cinnamon extract on insulin resistance parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study." Fertility and sterility 88.1 (2007): 240-243.

Zhang, Hao, et al. "Berberine lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients through increasing insulin receptor expression." Metabolism 59.2 (2010): 285-292.