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Slin-Sane
Physique athletes have long since realized the profound benefits of the anabolic hormone insulin, whether it be through maximizing endogenous timing and release or simply by injecting the exogenous compound. Insulin release is stimulated in the body simply by the ingestion of carbohydrates, certain amino acids, or the combination of both. However, many people have inherent dysfunction in the complex insulin signaling cascade, which can result in limited nutrient uptake by the muscle cells, excessive uptake by the fat cells, too much insulin released, or too little insulin released. Even those with proper nutrient signaling can still greatly benefit their quest for increased muscle gain and accelerated fat loss by optimizing the body’s nutrient storage capabilities.
Slin-Sane was designed to be just that nutrient storage optimization tool, by working to maximize uptake of glucose and amino acids at the muscle cell through multiple angles similar to and in conjunction with insulin, while delivering increased vascularity and muscle fullness.
Overview of ingredients and function
Lagerstroemia Speciosa
A small to medium sized tree grown throughout parts of southern Asia, the leaves of Lagerstroemia Speciosa (LS) yield a novel compound called Banaba. Commonly used in Phillipine folk medicine to treat symptoms of diabetes, this compound shows great promise for its multi-faceted beneficial interaction with glucose and insulin.
Initially, researchers thought banaba’s positive effects to be solely related to its content of corosolic acid, but studies have since shown there may be multiple other compounds in the leaf that contribute to its numerous benefits.
Multiple studies have shown LS to have the ability to increase translocation of the GLUT4 receptor at the muscle cell, therefore allowing increased nutrient uptake (1,9). This cellular receptor is the main gatekeeper for nutrient influx, and optimal expression can greatly enhance cellular storage capabilities, increasing muscle fullness.
A recent study out of Japan found a significant reduction in blood glucose response after feeding sugar to subjects pretreated with LS versus subjects who didn’t take the supplement (2). A similar study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice also showed a potent glucose lowering effect over control from ingestion of 75g of glucose after administration of LS (6). In addition to reduction in glucose response to food intake, LS has been shown in multiple studies to lower fasting glucose and insulin levels, a key marker in overall health and cell responsiveness to nutrient sensing (3,8,10,13).
Aside from Lagerstroemia’s basic glucose stabilizing effects, it touts numerous other capabilities related to health and longevity including elevating insulin sensitivity (8), lowering free fatty acids, blood pressure, CRP, and oxidative stress (7), suppression of adipocyte differentiation similar to AICAR (5), reducing triglycerides and A1C levels (8), and significantly lowering hepatic lipid content (11).
Looking at things purely from a body composition angle, LS can help promote the anabolic effects of insulin by mimicking the hormone and working through an independent mechanism of insulin itself (12), act anti-catabolically to prevent muscle breakdown (4), lower fasting glucose/insulin levels, and increase insulin sensitivity to aid in fat loss and muscle gain.
Lagerstroemia Review
* Enhances glucose uptake at muscle cell
* Reduces fat gain from a high fat diet
* Lowers blood glucose response to feeding
* Reduces fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, FFA’s, CRP and A1C
* Increases insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 translocation
* Increases adiponectin
* Enhances glucose uptake at muscle cell
* Reduces fat gain from a high fat diet
* Lowers blood glucose response to feeding
* Reduces fasting glucose, insulin, triglycerides, FFA’s, CRP and A1C
* Increases insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 translocation
* Increases adiponectin
Gymnema Sylvestre
Used as a natural treatment for diabetic symptoms in parts of India for thousands of years, this tropical herb has many promising attributes for the modern day physique enthusiast. Much of the research on this compound has focused on diabetic conditions, with some pretty incredible results.
Studies have shown Gymnema to reverse elevated cholesterol and triglycerides (15,17,26), decrease serum blood glucose in a fasted and fed state (16,20,22,24,26), and improve the time it takes to clear glucose from the bloodstream post-prandially (24). A long term study out of India looked at diabetics who had been given Gymnema daily for up to a year, and found that fasting glucose levels had dropped from an average of 232 mg/dL to a remarkable 152 mg/dL, with no change in the control group. The Gymnema group was able to halve their required insulin dosages over the course of the study, and they also showed a significant drop in A1C levels (22), which was later confirmed by a 2009 study in the journal Phytomedicine (26).
Gymnema has a profound effect on the insulin secreting cells of the pancreas, known as the beta cells located inside the islets of Langerhans. The herb has the unique ability to stimulate insulin release, even without the presence of carbs (18), and can actually regenerate the beta cells that often become damaged and dysfunctioning over time (22). One study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology even found Gymnema to double the number of beta and islet cells in diabetic rats (23).
Aside from the profound effects on pancreatic function, Gymnema also acts at nutrient destination cells by increasing permeability of cell walls, which assists in the process of nutrient uptake (18). Damaged cell walls become less permeable over time, due to excess insulin in the bloodstream and dietary deficiencies, among other things. Gymnema acts as sort of a cellular repair kit, restoring optimal function.
The addition of Gymnema alongside Lagerstroemia to Slin-Sane allows for a two-pronged attack for optimization of glucose and insulin. By increasing the enzymes responsible for glucose utilization (25), enhancing the action of endogenous insulin (22), stimulating insulin release and repairing beta cells, increasing cell permeability and repairing insulin induced damage to the liver, kidney and muscle cells (25), Gymnema will aid in driving nutrients into the muscles for a full, pumped feeling and increased performance.
Gymnema Review
* Stimulates insulin release and mimics insulin
* Increases nutrient uptake
* Increases cell permeability
* Reduces serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and A1C
* Elevates HDL levels
* Regenerates pancreatic cells
* Stimulates insulin release and mimics insulin
* Increases nutrient uptake
* Increases cell permeability
* Reduces serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and A1C
* Elevates HDL levels
* Regenerates pancreatic cells
L-Norvaline
An analogue of the branched chain amino acid L-Valine, this compound was chosen due to its vasodilating properties for an increase vascularity, muscle pump, and nutrient delivery.
L-Norvaline works by inhibiting the arginase enzyme, which is responsible for the breakdown of L-Arginine into L-Ornithine and urea (28-30). An animal study published in the American Journal of Heart and Circulatory Physiology found that L-Norvaline increased Nitric Oxide production by 55% (28).
L-Norvaline Review
* Increases Nitric Oxide production
* Causes vasodilation and muscle pump
Slin-Sane Overview
* Enhances vasodilation and muscle pumps
* Elevates nitric oxide
* Drives nutrients into cells
* Stimulates insulin release, mimics insulin and enhances insulin’s endogenous effect
* Reduces fasting glucose and insulin
* Reduces glucose response to meals
* Reduces fat gain and speeds up fat loss
* Regenerates pancreatic beta cells
* Supports healthy blood lipids
* Lowers liver lipid content (major factor in cardiovascular disease)
* Increases plasma adiponectin
