Micronutrient therapy
| Metabolic syndrome - a disease of affluence |
| Metabolic syndrome is a combination of different symptoms and is considered to be the most important risk factor for coronary heart disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), metabolic syndrome occurs when carbohydrate metabolism disorder (diabetes mellitus, glucose intolerance or insulin resistance) is present and two of the following additional factors apply: hypertension, lipid metabolism disorder, obesity and/or albumin excretion in urine. Based on the definition, the primary objective of treatment is to correct the carbohydrate metabolism disorder. |
| Keep blood sugar level low |
| Selen and Chromium have proven insulin mimetic properties. Their activities include the stimulation of glucose uptake, the regulation of glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis. Also plant extracts show a positive influence on the blood sugar level in studies. Green tea shows for example beside strong antioxidative effects also antidiabetic effect, by influencing the glucose and lipid metabolism positively and increasing the glucose tolerance. Also Reberryextract, extracts of the Indian Climbing vine (Gymnema sylvestre), Bitter melon (Momordica Charantia) and Ginseng have antidiabetic and blood sugar lowering effects. If glucose tolerance is impaired, optimisation of the Vitamin-D level improves insulin sensitivity. Pancreatic islet cells require vitamin D for normal insulin secretion. A deficiency can be accompanied by restricted glucose tolerance, impaired insulin secretion and reduced insulin sensitivity. An increase in vitamin D serum values through supplementation leads to an improvement in insulin secretion of up to 34% in type 2 diabetics. |
| Lower blood pressure |
| Secondary plant compounds, such as the oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) of grapeseeds and pine bark extract pycnogenol®, increase NO synthesis and have additional antioxidant effects. The gaseous neurotransmitter NO (nitric oxide) has a key function in the regulation of vascular tone and is also known as “endothelium-derived-relaxing-factor“. It causes muscle relaxation at the receptors of the vascular musculature, resulting in vasodilatation. The amino acid L-arginine also improves blood circulation via NO-mediated endothelial functions, inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces lipid peroxidation. In addition, arginine seems to be able to influence elevated blood pressure via renal mechanisms. |
| Regulate fat metabolism: Increase HDL – Lower LDL |
| Niacin has long been used for intervention in hypercholesterolemia. Substitution with niacin effectively reduces plasma concentrations of VLDL and LDL, while HDL levels increase. Proanthocyanidins (OPC) also appear to have a direct effect on the lipid profile in hypercholesterolemia. In clinical trials, the LDL levels in patients with elevated levels could be significantly reduced by an intake of 100 mg grapeseedextract over 2 months. In addition, they increase the oxidation resistance of LDL cholesterol to free radicals. L-Carnitine is involved in the oxidative degradation of long-chain fatty acids and the resulting energy release. In diabetes mellitus, therapeutic doses of L-carnitine can compensate for the increased excretion, which contributes to a reduction in the often elevated blood lipid levels in diabetes. Carnitine prevents the accumulation of triglycerides in serum, which appear to play a role in the development of insulin resistance. L-carnitine can also significantly improve the regeneration of nerves and nerve sensations in diabetic neuropathic disorders. |
| Fighting obesity - reducing calorie intake and stimulating metabolism |
| A central factor for weight control is the energy balance. It is recruited from calories supplied and consumed – i.e. a positive energy balance leads to an increase in weight, a negative balance to a decrease. Protein shakes, with their low calorie content and high nutrient density, offer a complete meal as part of a calorie-reduced diet. Accompanying exercise units increase calorie consumption, counteract the reduction in basal metabolic rate and muscle loss and should therefore form an integral part of obesity therapy. Psyllium (psyllium husk) is a highly swelling fibre. It can accompany therapeutic measures for weight control by quickly counteracting resurgent hunger and appetite. Dietary fibre begins to swell in the stomach, which increases the volume of the porridge. The result is a long-lasting satiation effect, which delays the onset of a renewed feeling of hunger. The modulated release of insulin also leads to lower appetite and hunger signals at the metabolic level. The amino acids 5-Hydroxytryptophan, L-Tryptophan and L-Phenylalanine also reduce the feeling of hunger and L-Glutamin reduces the craving for carbohydrates. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains glycyrrhizic acid, which has regulating effects on the activity of 11β steroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). This plays a central role in the development of visceral fat as well as in metabolic syndrome. Green tea and coffeine contribute to increased thermogenesis and general metabolism stimulation. Green tea contains catechins (epigallocatechin gallate EGCG) which activate the metabolism by inhibiting the degradation of the stimulating noradrenaline. They increase energy consumption by stimulating thermogenesis and oxidation of fatty acids. Catechins also play an important role in maintaining body weight after reduction diets (anti-jojojo effect). EGCG, in particular, can inhibit the increased adipogenesis in tissue at the cellular level, which usually occurs after weight loss. |