<SPAN class=postcolor>davin8r posted this at Avants forums. Please give me your thoughts on this. Here is the link for the full thread http://www.mindandmuscle.net/avantforum/index.php?act=ST&f=12&t=1031&s=405be93b8f73f2d83f5c31ab37e9bf0e</SPAN>
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American Ginseng enhances glucose disposal, Better than R-lipoic acid?
<SPAN class=postcolor>"I just posted this over at Elite Fitness, and thought I'd cut/paste it here as well in case anyone finds it helpful:
American Ginseng has demonstrated potent glucose-lowering properties in two published clinical studies, one published in the (relatively prestigious) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
1. Vuksan V et al. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1009-1013.
2. Vuksan V et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;753-758.
It does exactly what people are trying to do with R-lipoic acid, but at a significant cost savings. In the studies I mentioned, both non-diabetic and diabetic subjects took American Ginseng at various time points before or at the same time as a glucose challenge.
In the non-diabetic subjects (relevant to us), AG administered 40 minutes prior to the glucose challenge lowered the area under the glucose curve by 18% in one study and 15% in the other.
I wanted to point out these studies because of the high cost associated with lipoic acid, especially R-LA, and because of the fact that lipoic acid has not yet been clinically demonstrated to produce acute glucose-lowering effects in healthy humans when administered before or during a meal, although I suspect that this will be the case at high enough doses (and anecdotal evidence on this forum and elsewhere supports this).
BTW, American Ginseng also contains powerful lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants:
Kitts DD et al. Antioxidant properties of a North American ginseng extract. Mol Cell Biochem 2000;203:1-10.
Hope this helps!! </SPAN>
<SPAN class=postcolor>Supnut said this in response:</SPAN>
<SPAN class=postcolor>In this graph we clearly see that when taken with the glucose the herb has no effect and only when taken at least 40min before the test dose the herb have an effect. No greater effect seams to occur when taken in greater advance than 40 min however even at two hours the herb still remains effective.
The results show that the herb is effective at 1 gram when taken at least 40 min before a meal. This would suggest an practicle application to bodybuilding in which the herb would be supplemented before leaving for the gym or upon beggining one's workout with the asumption that the next meal would immediatly follow the workout.
The actuall mechanisms and active principles of the herb are unclear although it apears to have a wide array of effects in the body. I would specualte based on the the herbs ability to effect glucose uptake even when used two hours before the fact that its effects are not drrected through insulin, This would be further supported by the herb's lack of effect when taken with the meal. This asumption if correct would illiminate the concern that chronic dosing could lead to reduced glucose trasnport although this has certainly not been ruled out.
Cost wise the treatment would be very feasible. Penn Herb Co. sells the herb in 475mg x60 bottles for target=_blank>$12.50 which is very affordable for a month's supply. They also carry the product in a bulk powder for target=_blank>$110 which is about half the cost but still a considerable investment. A pound would be enough for about a year and a half.
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American Ginseng enhances glucose disposal, Better than R-lipoic acid?
<SPAN class=postcolor>"I just posted this over at Elite Fitness, and thought I'd cut/paste it here as well in case anyone finds it helpful:
American Ginseng has demonstrated potent glucose-lowering properties in two published clinical studies, one published in the (relatively prestigious) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
1. Vuksan V et al. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1009-1013.
2. Vuksan V et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;753-758.
It does exactly what people are trying to do with R-lipoic acid, but at a significant cost savings. In the studies I mentioned, both non-diabetic and diabetic subjects took American Ginseng at various time points before or at the same time as a glucose challenge.
In the non-diabetic subjects (relevant to us), AG administered 40 minutes prior to the glucose challenge lowered the area under the glucose curve by 18% in one study and 15% in the other.
I wanted to point out these studies because of the high cost associated with lipoic acid, especially R-LA, and because of the fact that lipoic acid has not yet been clinically demonstrated to produce acute glucose-lowering effects in healthy humans when administered before or during a meal, although I suspect that this will be the case at high enough doses (and anecdotal evidence on this forum and elsewhere supports this).
BTW, American Ginseng also contains powerful lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants:
Kitts DD et al. Antioxidant properties of a North American ginseng extract. Mol Cell Biochem 2000;203:1-10.
Hope this helps!! </SPAN>
<SPAN class=postcolor>Supnut said this in response:</SPAN>
<SPAN class=postcolor>In this graph we clearly see that when taken with the glucose the herb has no effect and only when taken at least 40min before the test dose the herb have an effect. No greater effect seams to occur when taken in greater advance than 40 min however even at two hours the herb still remains effective.
The results show that the herb is effective at 1 gram when taken at least 40 min before a meal. This would suggest an practicle application to bodybuilding in which the herb would be supplemented before leaving for the gym or upon beggining one's workout with the asumption that the next meal would immediatly follow the workout.
The actuall mechanisms and active principles of the herb are unclear although it apears to have a wide array of effects in the body. I would specualte based on the the herbs ability to effect glucose uptake even when used two hours before the fact that its effects are not drrected through insulin, This would be further supported by the herb's lack of effect when taken with the meal. This asumption if correct would illiminate the concern that chronic dosing could lead to reduced glucose trasnport although this has certainly not been ruled out.
Cost wise the treatment would be very feasible. Penn Herb Co. sells the herb in 475mg x60 bottles for target=_blank>$12.50 which is very affordable for a month's supply. They also carry the product in a bulk powder for target=_blank>$110 which is about half the cost but still a considerable investment. A pound would be enough for about a year and a half.
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