Diabetic Support

Complex to help regulate blood sugar levels
120 capsule, Code 1899B

$39.95

Formulated to Help Regulate Blood Sugar Levels.

Each 2-Piece Capsule Provides:
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 50 mg
Vitamin C--lowers blood glucose and CRP levels, inhibits glycation, prevents accumulation of sorbitol, and protects against free radicals
An exchange occurring between hormones and nutrients maintains health at the cellular level. For example, insulin (by facilitating the transport of vitamin C into cells) decreases capillary permeability and aids in wound healing. Diabetics are often deficient in intracellular vitamin C; this deficiency deprives a diabetic of the protection this important nutrient delivers (Sinclair 1994).
- Vitamin C, an antioxidant, protects against free-radical activity, which is notoriously aggressive in diabetic patients.
- Vitamin C makes blood glucose management easier. Vitamin C deficiencies increase HbA1c (an average measurement of blood glucose levels over the last several weeks) (Sargeant 2000).
- Vitamin C inhibits glycation, a destructive process that occurs when glucose reacts with a protein (Emekli 1996; Vincent 1999). The glycosylation of proteins in red blood cells, the lens of the eye, and nerve cells causes abnormal structure and function of cells and tissues. This untoward sequence contributes to many of the complications common to diabetes (Brownlee et al. 1984).
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is higher in individuals with clinical evidence of insulin resistance. It appears some of the increase in winter cardiovascular mortality may be related not only to a rise in fibrinogen, but also to an increase in other inflammatory markers, such as CRP. This cycle may be spurred as winter infections increase and vitamin C intake decreases because of less availability of fruits and vegetables (Khaw et al. 1997).
- Vitamin C might be able to influence cardiovascular and diabetic risks by modulating the inflammatory response to infection.
- Vitamin C reduces sorbitol accumulating within the cell and the risk of diabetic complications, including cataracts (Murray 1996).
Administering vitamin C in amounts of 1000-3000 mg daily (in divided doses) has been shown to significantly improve a diabetic's prognosis.
Food sources of vitamin C, enhancers, and antagonists
Fresh vegetables and fruits (particularly citrus) are excellent sources of vitamin C. Bioflavonoids are vitamin C enhancers. Antibiotics, antihistamines, steroid drugs, birth control pills, tobacco, stress, and aspirin are vitamin C antagonists.

Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl) 15 IU
Vitamin E--reduces C-reactive protein (CRP) and oxidative stress, enhances insulin sensitivity and glucose transport, and prevents complications arising from inflammation
Vitamin E's antioxidant properties and its ability to enhance insulin's responsiveness are but a few of the reasons the nutrient should be included in a diabetic protocol. This was clearly evidenced in a 4-month study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition with subjects receiving (approximately) 900 mg of vitamin E a day. The researchers assessed how well 15 Type II diabetics and 10 healthy controls tolerated glucose before and after vitamin E supplementation. In healthy subjects, glucose removal from the blood increased 17%. In diabetics, total glucose removal increased 47% and nonoxidative glucose metabolism increased 63%. The study established that pharmacologic doses of vitamin E in Type II diabetes improve insulin's action and reduce free-radical activity (Paolisso 1993b).
Vascular endothelial dysfunction (an early marker of atherosclerosis) has been demonstrated in Type II diabetes mellitus. It appears hyperglycemia is particularly destructive to endothelial cells because it increases oxidative stress and impairs the activity of nitric oxide, the endothelial derived relaxing factor (Giugliano et al. 1995). Oxidative injury may be increased in diabetes mellitus because of a weakened defense due to reduced endogenous antioxidants (vitamin E and reduced glutathione). With compromised nitric oxide activity, diabetic-cardiovascular complications (smooth muscle proliferation, platelet activation/aggregation, and leukocyte adherence to the endothelium) are compounded.
Some of the strongest recent evidence of a vitamin E-diabetes benefit comes from researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Scientists found that vitamin E (1200 IU daily) reduced the risk of heart failure in 75 diabetics by curtailing vascular inflammation in the heart. Left unchecked, inflammation can cause cardiac vessels to swell, promoting cardiovascular disease. Dr. Sridevi Devaraj, assistant professor of pathology and lead researcher, termed the end results of the study very encouraging (Devaraj 2001).
Last, elevated levels of CRP, an inflammatory marker, have recently been found to predict the development of Type II diabetes. A newer finding relating to the functions of vitamin E is that high dose vitamin E lowers CRP. Administering 1200 IU of alpha-tocopherol (daily for 3 months) lowered CRP levels by 30%. CRP levels remained reduced 2 months postsupplementation. By preventing vascular inflammation, many of the complications arising from diabetes are overcome (Devaraj et al. 2000). A suggested vitamin E dosage is 400-1200 IU of vitamin E per day along with at least 200 mg of gamma tocopherol.

Magnesium (oxide) 125 mg
Magnesium--lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin sensitivity, and calms the sympathetic nervous system
Although the relationship between magnesium and diabetes has been studied for decades, it is still poorly understood. However, what is known about diabetes and magnesium embodies a persuasive list encouraging supplementation:
- Low magnesium levels are common findings in noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients (Paolisso et al. 1989). In fact, diabetes is a frequent cause of secondary hypomagnesemia (lower blood levels of magnesium). Poorly controlled diabetics excrete more magnesium than do nondiabetics.
- Magnesium assists in the maintenance of functional beta cells (insulin factories) (Kowluru et al. 2001). Scientists believe that a magnesium deficiency interrupts insulin secretion and its activity. Magnesium, by enhancing the action of insulin, improves insulin's ability to transport glucose into the cell.
- Magnesium increases the number and sensitivity of insulin receptors (Waterfall 2000).
- An increase in red blood cell magnesium significantly and positively correlated with an increase in both insulin secretion and action. Correction of low erythrocyte magnesium concentrations may allow for improved glucose handling, particularly in elderly diabetic patients (Paolisso et al. 1992, 1993a).
- As magnesium levels plummet, the incidence of diabetic complications escalates. Of particular concern is the association between low magnesium levels and ischemic heart disease and retinopathy. It appears that magnesium may prevent and retard the development of vascular complications common to diabetic patients (Elamin et al. 1990).
- Magnesium not only plays a role in insulin resistance and hypertension, but also plays a role in the correction of carbohydrate intolerance (Murray 1996).
Magnesium is the mineral of choice to reduce hyperresponsiveness occurring in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This is important to the diabetic because when the SNS is alerted, blood glucose levels tend to be higher. The SNS is also associated with fostering greater levels of stress and anxiety, earning its reputation as the "flight or fight" division. Since diabetes is considered to be a disease promulgated by stress, supplementation that favors an inner calm is of significant advantage.
Serum magnesium levels are relatively insensitive assessments of magnesium status. Magnesium deficiency is far better detected by measuring mononuclear blood cell magnesium, as opposed to serum levels. A suggested magnesium dosage is 500 mg of elemental magnesium daily along with a diet favoring magnesium-rich foods, for example, whole grain cereals, nuts, legumes, and green vegetables. Since vitamin B6 is intricately involved in magnesium absorption, at least 30-50 mg of vitamin B6 should accompany magnesium supplementation.

Biotin 300 mcg
Biotin--aids in metabolism of macronutrients and glucose utilization and is beneficial in diabetic neuropathy
Biotin, a member of the vitamin B-complex family, assists in the metabolism of fats, proteins, and particularly carbohydrates. Enhanced metabolism is important to the diabetic, who often presents with allergies and food sensitivities, compounding absorption problems.
Biotin directly influences blood glucose levels by working synergistically with insulin to increase the activity of glucokinase, an enzyme responsible for the first step in glucose utilization (Murray 1996). Glucokinase is found concentrated in the liver, but the enzyme is usually very low in diabetic patients. If biotin supplementation is high enough (16,000 mcg/day), the activity of glucokinase is upgraded and a significant improvement in blood glucose control typically occurs (Coggeshall et al. 1985).
Although biotin supplementation plays a pivotal role in blood glucose control, a deficiency is rare. In fact, researchers have found that diabetics have higher levels of biotin (produced by bacteria in the intestines) than nondiabetics. Supplementing with high doses is apparently not correcting a deficiency but rather overcoming a defect in biotin metabolism.
Animal studies indicate that biotin reduces postprandial blood glucose levels and improves insulin's responsiveness (Zhang et al. 1997). Human studies reached similar conclusions, showing that 9 mg (9000 mcg) of biotin a day countered a glucose rise following meals (Maebashi et al. 1993). Diabetic neuropathy, a significant problem among diabetics, also responds well to high dose biotin supplementation (Koutsikos et al. 1990).
A suggested dosage is 8000-16,000 mcg/day for blood glucose management. Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning it does not accumulate in the body. Toxicity has not been reported, but pregnant and lactating women should avoid high doses.
Biotin food sources, enhancers, and antagonists.
Cooked egg yolk, most fish (especially sardines), liver, poultry, dairy products, beans, and brewer's yeast are good sources of biotin. Enhancers are vitamins B12, folic acid, and B5, along with vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, and high-quality protein. Antagonists to biotin are raw egg whites, sulfa drugs, antibiotics, alcohol, coffee, and the antiseizure medications carbamazepine and primidone.

Zinc (oxide) 7.5 mg
Zinc promotes wound healing, immune function, taste sensitivity, protein synthesis, and insulin production

Manganese (amino acid chelate) 1 mg
Manganese is an essential trace mineral involved in many key functions in the body.

Chromium (amino acid chelate) 200 mcg
Chromium--modulates blood glucose levels, fights insulin resistance, lowers HbA1c levels, aids weight loss, and inhibits glycation
Anecdotal but confirmed reports of brewer's yeast (a source of chromium) normalizing blood glucose levels hints of chromium's remarkable contribution to diabetic care. Researchers validated the anecdotal stories when the results of a study involving 78 Type II diabetics were published (Bahijiri et al. 2000). One-half of the enrollees received an inorganic chromium (200 mcg a day); the other half received brewer's yeast (supplying 23.3 mcg of chromium per day). Both groups realized a significant decrease in glucose in urine and fasting blood glucose levels as well as after a 2-hour, 75-gram glucose load. In fact, some trial participants were able to decrease antidiabetic drugs, and others no longer required insulin. Interestingly, a higher percentage responded positively to brewer's yeast, presumably because of better absorption; that is, the body retained more of the trace mineral.
The literature teems with similar reports regarding chromium's ability to modulate errant blood glucose levels. In fact, chromium is so important it is considered essential nearly every time you eat. Unfortunately, about 90% of adults are chromium deficient, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (The highest tissue levels of chromium are found in newborns, with the tissue levels dwindling over a lifetime.) The conundrum surrounding chromium is that as chromium becomes deficient, more insulin is required, and as insulin production becomes excessive, a chromium deficiency occurs. In addition, chromium levels are seriously depleted when eating a diet high in refined sugar and white flour products.
It was known by the 1950s that chromium was required by animals to control blood sugar, but it was not until the 1970s that chromium's essential role in humans was clearly proven. The following chance finding established chromium's validity in reducing diabetic symptoms: patients receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), a specially prepared feeding solution delivered through the patient's veins, developed high blood sugar in the absence of diabetes. Insulin therapy was begun but without satisfying results. It was determined that the TPN was deficient in amounts of chromium adequate to stave off diabetes-like symptoms. When 50 mcg of chromium were added to their IV feedings, the patients no longer required insulin and their blood glucose levels returned to normal (Mennen 1996).
Several mechanisms render chromium valuable in blood glucose management:
- Chromium is essential in glucose metabolism. Note: It is estimated only about 3% of ingested chromium is absorbed into body tissues. The mineral is stored primarily in the spleen, skin, kidneys, and testes (Whiting 1989).
- Chromium assists in overcoming insulin resistance (McCarty 2000).
- Chromium appears to be involved in the insulin-induced movement of glucose into cells, probably by encouraging the binding of insulin to the receptor site or participating in reactions that occur immediately after the binding process, called postreceptor events.
The results of a 4-month study, presented at the 57th Annual Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association Meeting in 1997, demonstrated that daily supplementation with 1000 mcg of chromium (supplied as chromium picolinate) significantly enhanced the action of insulin. The trial participants (29 overweight individuals with a family history of diabetes) completed the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial showing that chromium reduced insulin resistance by 40% over the placebo group. (The study was conducted by William Cefalu, M.D., director of the Diabetes Comprehensive Care and Research Program at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.)
High blood glucose damages proteins, a process called glycation. When blood sugar is high, glucose becomes attached to various proteins, including hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells). A protein with glucose attached is said to be glycosylated, and in the case of hemoglobin is measured as HbA1c. Glycation is responsible for many of the complications of diabetes, a process that chromium inhibits.
To assess the effects of chromium on glycosylated hemoglobin levels, 180 Type II diabetes patients were divided into three groups and supplemented daily with 200 mcg of chromium, 1000 mcg of chromium, or a placebo (Baker 1996). After 4 months, there was improvement in both chromium-treated groups. Glycosylated hemoglobin (a measurement of average blood glucose) over a 2- to 3-month period was (on an average) 6.6% in the high dose group, 7.5% in the low-dose group, and 8.5% in the placebo group. For a nondiabetic, HbA1c is normal at 4-6%; for a diabetic, the goal is to maintain HbA1c at less than 7%.
To fully understand the previous study, HbA1c (expressed in percentages) and the blood sugar equivalents (mg/dL) follow:
4.0% = an average of 60 mg/dL of glucose
5.0% = an average of 90 mg/dL of glucose
6.0% = an average of 120 mg/dL of glucose
6.6% = an average of 138 mg/dL of glucose
7.0% = an average of 150 mg/dL of glucose
7.5% = an average of 165 mg/dL of glucose
8.5% = an average of 195 mg/dL of glucose

The data presented show how the HbA1c blood test measures average glucose levels over an extended period of time. When interpreting HbA1c, keep in mind that the results differ depending upon the test method used. Some laboratories measure hemoglobin A1, which is different from A1c. Also, the results may reflect the averaging of a period of high glucose with a period of low glucose as opposed to the consistent readings required for diabetes control.
Unfortunately, chromium supplementation is not as popular as it should be. One of the major problems hindering chromium usage is the fact that deficiencies are not easily gauged. Supplementation, followed by the laboratory assessment of blood glucose levels, appears the best appraisal of chromium's worth.
A chromium dosage of 50-100 mcg daily is high enough to correct a deficiency but not sufficient to improve blood sugar control. Dr. Richard Anderson (a biochemist and nutritionist with the Department of Agriculture) recommends that persons with diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance take 400-600 mcg of chromium daily. (Some practitioners report superior results in treating diabetes with the polynicotinate form of chromium, citing greater absorptive powers as the biological advantage.) Because significant changes in insulin requirements can occur with chromium therapy, physician monitoring is advisable.

- Note: In the mid-1990s, chromium picolinate came under fire when it was linked with chromosome damage. Extensive toxicological testing proved that this indictment was invalid. Multiple trials have shown it is extremely difficult to harm laboratory animals with oral chromium supplementation. The public can be grateful for this because chromium is the chief nutritional barrier between healthy blood glucose levels and diabetes..
Chromium food sources, enhancers, and antagonists.
Brewer's yeast, whole grains, liver, cheese, meat, and potatoes are good sources of chromium. Enhancers are essential amino acids, selenium, and vitamin E. Hemochromatosis (excesses of iron) antagonizes chromium absorption.

Guggle 50 mg

Bitter Melon Extract 50 mg

Licorice Extract 50 mg
Helps to Stimulate the adrenal glands

Cinnamon (herb powder) 25 mg
American scientists have found that 1 teaspoon of cinnamon a day may help control blood sugar levels. The common spice appears to rekindle the ability of fat cells to respond to insulin and increase glucose removal (Hodge 2000).
The factor found in cinnamon that is responsible for the diabetes advantage is methylhydroxy chalcone polymer (MHCP) (Mercola 2000). Researchers found that MHCP stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in a fashion similar to insulin. Dr. Richard A. Anderson (lead scientist at the Beltsville, Maryland-based Human Nutrition Research Centers, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) said: "Patients could try adding 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to their food" (IBN 2000). It is possible that nothing positive will come from the addition, but it is also biologically conceivable the beneficial effects could prove dramatic.

Banaba (1% extract) 25 mg
Banaba (rich in corosolic acid) has been used as a folk medicine for a long time among diabetics in the Philippines. Extracts from banaba leaves have been reported to reduce diabetic symptoms in genetically diabetic mice, Type II. The anti-obesity effect of dietary banaba extract was examined using female diabetic mice with significant body weight gain. Mice were given a 5% extract from banaba leaves, and cellulose as a control for 3 months. Results showed that body weight gain and fat tissue weight were lowered significantly in the banaba diet group. The mice fed banaba extract showed a significant decrease of up to 65% of the control group level in total lipids in the liver. This decrease was due to a reduction in the accumulation of triglycerides. The results suggest that banaba extract has a beneficial effect on the obesity.

Gymnema Sylvestre (herb powder) 50 mg
Gymnema Sylvestre helps to block the absorption of sugar in the digestive tract.
Gymnema Sylvestre helps to lower blood sugar levels, primarily because it inhibits absorption of glucose. It has been shown that Gymnema Sylvestre can also regenerate insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, leading to an enhancement in the production of endogenous insulin, further controlling blood sugar.

Yarrow (herb powder) 10 mg
Like all diaphoretics, Yarrow promotes healing and circilation while increasing blood flow to the skin. Yarrow lowers blood pressure in the process.

Cayenne (herb powder) 10 mg
Helps to promote healing and circulation

Juniper Berries (herb powder) 15 IU
Juniper is high in natural insulin, and has the ability to restore the pancreas when no permanent damage has been done.

Huckleberry (herb powder) 25 mg
A natural stimulant to the pancreas. It helps to promote the production of insulin.

Vanadyl Sulfate 3 mg
European doctors often use vanadium salts as a natural treatment for diabetes. Vanadium mimics the effects of insulin in the body, thereby lowering serum glucose levels. This enables some diabetics to use less insulin, or stop taking insulin altogether. The form of vanadium used by most doctors to lower serum glucose levels is vanadyl sulfate which is well assimilated by the digestive system. Body builders have also found that vanadium has an anabolic effect by improving the muscle to fat ratio.

Alpha Lipoic Acid 30 mg
Alpha-Lipoic Acid--lowers blood glucose and insulin levels, reduces insulin resistance, and improves insulin sensitivity
Alpha-lipoic acid, a sulfur-containing compound, may prove to be the "kingpin" in the fight against Type II diabetes and its many complications. Lipoic acid comes with impressive credentials, including the ability to increase the burning of glucose (Challem et al. 2000; Hinderliter 2002). The mitochondria (the powerhouses of the cell) are one of the benefactors of enhanced glucose utilization. This occurs via the Krebs's cycle, a process that utilizes glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids to yield high energy. Lipoic acid intervenes at several points in the Krebs's cycle, warranting a continuous supply of energy to the cell. Free radicals are produced as a byproduct of the energy generated during the Krebs's cycle, but alpha-lipoic acid appears to quench abhorrent free radicals that are not contained during the reactions.
Greater efficiency in the Krebs's cycle results in increased amounts of glucose used for energy production. This is very important for the diabetic: if glucose is used purposely, lesser amounts appear in the bloodstream. Also, the more glucose that is burned, the less insulin your body will have to provide. Lipoic acid resulted in a 50% increase in insulin-stimulated glucose disposal and a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity compared to a nonsupplemented placebo group (Jacob 1995, 1996, 1997). Alpha-lipoic acid appears able to deliver glucose into cells in ways independent of insulin participation. Researchers found that when lipoic acid was injected into fasting nondiabetics or diabetic rats, a rapid reduction in blood glucose occurred without a corresponding effect upon circulating insulin levels (Khamaisi et al. 1999).
Interestingly, lipoic acid protects not only against the damage that causes diabetes, but also against the damage caused by the disease. For example, alpha-lipoic acid guards against blood glucose accumulating in the bloodstream and also protects against the proliferation of free radicals. Oxidative stress is characterized by the excessive generation of free radicals, which injures cells throughout the body. Alpha-lipoic acid helps prevent free radical-induced damage to tissues and organs.
Antioxidants have distinctive characteristics. For example, vitamin C protects only the watery portions of cells from free-radical attack; vitamin E protects fatty membranes. Alpha-lipoic acid possesses antioxidant feats considered extraordinary: the ability to neutralize free radicals occurring in both watery and fatty regions of cells.
Lipoic acid's reputation as the universal antioxidant is justly earned because it unselfishly extends itself to other antioxidants (vitamins C and E, as well as glutathione and CoQ10), regenerating them for continued service and greater efficiency. Acting through its antioxidant powers, lipoic acid appears helpful in reducing the risk of cataracts, as well as increasing blood flow to peripheral nerves (Packer 1994). It is, in fact, approved for the prevention and treatment of diabetic neuropathy in Germany.
Data indicate that lipoic acid is effective in the prevention of early diabetic glomerular injury, proving more effective than high doses of either vitamins A or C (Melhem et al. 2001). (Recall that the kidneys are at particular risk in diabetic patients.)
Glucose increases advanced glycated end products (AGEs). (AGEs are formed when glucose reacts with a protein, damaging the protein in cells, preventing normal function.) Alpha-lipoic acid reduces levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, a standard marker of glucose-damaged proteins (Jain et al. 1998). (To read more about glycation and glycation inhibitors, consult the areas in this section devoted to aminoguanidine, carnosine, chromium, and vitamin C.)
The body makes only small amounts of alpha-lipoic acid; in fact, just enough to avoid deficiency states. By and large, foods that contain mitochondria (such as red meats and organ meats) are regarded as good sources of lipoic acid. According to Lester Packer (head of Membrane Bioenergetics Group at the University of California-Berkeley), other sources are spinach, potatoes, brewer's yeast, and wheat germ. For most individuals, supplementation appears the most reliable approach to provide therapeutic levels of lipoic acid.
If taken with a full spectrum antioxidant, 250-500 mg a day appear adequate, but diabetics often require larger amounts. For the last 30 years, German practitioners have used 600-1800 mg per day to improve diabetic conditions. Side effects include rare reports of a skin rash, hypoglycemia, and, if chronically used, interference with the actions of biotin. (If the daily dose of alpha-lipoic acid exceeds 100 mg, co-supplement with biotin.) Individuals deficient in vitamins B1 (such as alcohol abusers) and vitamin B12 should emphasize the B vitamins when supplementing with lipoic acid. Because alpha-lipoic acid frequently changes insulin requirements, higher doses should be administered under the observation of a qualified physician.

Taurine 25 mg
Thought to have a regulating influence throughout the body.

L-Carnitine 25 mg
L-Carnitine--improves blood glucose and HbA1c levels, increases insulin sensitivity and glucose storage, and optimizes fat and carbohydrate metabolism; deficiencies appear allied to cardiomyopathy and diabetic neuropathy
Carnitine is a popular dietary supplement because it has been shown to produce many health benefits. The following list illustrates its multidirectional value in the treatment of diabetes:
- Carnitine improves insulin sensitivity, increases glucose storage, and optimizes carbohydrate metabolism (Crayhon 1999). A significant effect on whole body insulin-mediated glucose uptake was also observed in normal subjects (Mingrone et al. 1999).
- L-carnitine (200 mg daily), together with chromium (400-600 mcg daily) and moderate caloric restriction, typically results in impressive fat losses (Challem 2000).
- Carnitine appears to protect against diabetic neuropathy. One of the mechanisms of neuropathy is the accumulation of polyols (alcohol) in nerve cells. In animal studies, acetyl-L-carnitine increased nerve carnitine levels and decreased the accumulation of sorbitol (a polyol) in nerves. This finding suggests a close relationship between increased polyol activity and a carnitine deficiency in the development of diabetic neuropathy (Nakamura 1998). Note: Diabetic neuropathy is a noninflammatory process characterized by sensory and/or motor disturbances in the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms (in those even mildly hyperglycemic) can include pain and loss of reflexes in the legs.
- Carnitine deficiency is associated with cataract formation in diabetic patients. A significant loss of carnitine from the lens is observed in diabetic test animals, often foretelling the appearance of a cataract (Pessotto 1997). Because of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced kidney and liver function in diabetic patients, supplementation with L-carnitine appears warranted (Murray 1996).
- A carnitine deficiency is linked to cardiomyopathy, a condition common among diabetics. In animal studies (6 months after developing diabetes), the myocardial ultrastructure often reveals abnormal-appearing mitochondria, consistent with a carnitine deficiency (Malone 1999). Note: Cardiomyopathy is the partial replacement of heart tissue with a nonfunctional fibrous material that lacks the ability to move blood efficiently.
Many animal and human studies have used acetyl-L-carnitine (the better absorbed and more active form of carnitine) in diabetic trials. Robert Crayhon, a carnitine expert, suggests avoiding carnitine supplements after 3 p.m. to preserve a restful night's sleep. Because increased energy production, a hallmark of carnitine, fosters a greater generation of free radicals, carnitine should always be used with an antioxidant program. A suggested acetyl-L-carnitine dosage is 500-1000 mg twice daily.

Suggested Use:
As a dietary supplement, take 1, capsule 30 minutes before each meal

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease