Guest guest Posted December 5, 2003 Report Share Posted December 5, 2003 Feedback? Thanks, Vitalady, Inc. T www.vitalady.com > Herbs, Nutrients Supplement Syndrome X Care > > Diane > > Taken from Natural Foods Merchandiser February 2003 > > With almost two-thirds of the U.S. population overweight-and millions > suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol -it's almost > certain that on any given day, you'll talk with several people in your > store who have syndrome X. > > Syndrome what? If the term doesn't ring a bell, the symptoms probably > do-excess weight around the middle, high blood pressure, high blood > triglycerides and high blood cholesterol levels. Just one of these > conditions increases the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. > But the more Syndrome X indicators people have, the more at risk they > are-not just for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but for disease in > general. > > Insulin resistance, the hallmark of type 2 diabetes, lies at the core > of Syndrome X. Insulin resistance and Syndrome X develop over time > from a diet high in refined carbohydrates, such as sweets, breads and > flour- and sugar-based snack foods. These foods trigger a rapid > increase in blood sugar levels, and in turn the body pumps out high > amounts of blood-sugar-regulating insulin. > > Eventually, the body's cells become overwhelmed by so much insulin and > actually become resistant (or not very receptive) to it. This hormone > imbalance-insulin resistance- alters blood-fat ratios, raises blood > pressure and increases fat storage, leading to the cluster of heart > disease risk factors known as Syndrome X. > > The typical American diet, high in refined fats, primes the body for > developing Syndrome X, and the longer these foods are eaten, the > greater risk becomes. > > Middle-aged baby boomers are the most likely candidates to get > Syndrome X, but teen-agers and children also can develop the > condition. Type 2 diabetics almost always have several Syndrome X > indicators, as do women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a > condition typically characterized by irregular mentrual cycles, > ovarian cysts and excess facial hair. > > A diet rich in protein and unprocessed, low-carbohydrate, nutrient > dense foods such as vegetables is the best line of defense against > Syndrome X. But you as a retailer also have many supplements at your > disposal that can help combat this condition, and lead your customers > on the road to better health. > > First, there are the antioxidants- alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E and > vitamin C. All three neutralize cell-damaging free radicals, which are > at a higher-than normal levels in individuals with Syndrome X. > > Middle- aged baby boomers are the most likely candidates to get > Syndrome X, but teen- agers and children can also develop the > condition. > > > Each antioxidant also offers unique benefits for improving faulty > blood sugar function- a key strategy for improving Syndrome X. For > example, alpha-lipoic acid, a vitamin-like substance that plays > crucial roles in the burning of blood sugar for energy, also reduces > insulin resistance, lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin > sensitivity (Diabetes Care, 1999; Diabetes and Stoffwechsel, 1996). > > Natural vitamin E also has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity > and lower blood sugar levels. Plus, it helps protect against heart > disease, a common consequence of Syndrome X. Vitamin C lowers blood > sugar and normalizes insulin's response to it (American Journal of > Clinical Nutrition, 1994) and also improves some of the individual > components of Syndrome X, such as high blood pressure and high > cholesterol levels. Therefore, all three antioxidants work in > different but synergistic ways to protect against Syndrome X. > > The mineral standout among these may be chromium in the form of > chromium picolinate. Chromium is so effective at reversing resistance > that one 1997 study found that 1,000 mcg of chromium picolinate daily > reduced blood sugar and insulin levels in type 2 diabetics to near > normal after four months- something that medications could not achieve > (Diabetes, 1997). In various other studies, chromium also has been > found to help normalize the individual components of Syndrome X. > > And in daily dosages of 200 to 400 mcg, chromium helps those with > reactive hypoglycemia (blood sugar highs followed by blood sugar > lows). So, chromium acts as a blood sugar regulator. However, those > who take sugar - lowering drugs should take note: Supplemental > chromium works so well at improving insulin function that less > medication is usually needed. Sometimes, medication can be eliminated > completely over time. > > This is a good thing- it indicates a reversal or lessening of insulin > resistance- but it also means that your customers should work with > their doctors to carefully monitor their condition and avoid over > medicating themselves. > > In addition to chromium, herbalists have a long tradition of using > herbs including ginseng, fenugreek, bitter melon, and Gymnema > sylvestre to help reduce the high blood sugar levels that can occur > with Syndrome X. And research is slowly but surely confirming that > these herbs do have blood-sugar-lowering properties. In one study out > of the University of Toronto, healthy subjects who were given American > ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), had a 26 percent to 38 percent > reduction in blood sugar levels, while diabetics who took the herb had > a 20 percent reduction (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2000). > > Silymarin, or milk thistle extract, is another top herb for lowering > blood sugar levels. In one study with 60 type 2 diabetics, those who > took silymarin experienced a significant drop in their blood sugar > levels, but did not experience bouts of low blood sugar. The patients' > fasting insulin levels decreased by an average of 40 percent- > indicating a significant reduction in insulin resistance (Journal of > Hepatology, 1997). Silymarin also improves liver function, which is > noteworthy because the liver plays an important role in maintaining > normal blood sugar levels. > > Fortunately, many supplements have been shown to be effective in > treating the symptoms- and underlying cause- of Syndrome X. Although > many of your customers may not realize they have Syndrome X, you can > get a good indication of whether they do based on their weight and > symptoms. Help those customers by educating them about Syndrome X and > blood sugar function and steering them toward the supplements that > have proven therapeutic benefits for this increasingly common > condition. > > Diane is a nutritionist and health journalist based in > Tuscon, Ariz. Her books include Syndrome X ( Wiley & Sons, 2000) > as well as User's Guide to Vitamin E (Basic Health Publications, > 2000), User's Guide to Chromium (Basic Health Publications 2002) and > Going Against the Grain (McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books, 2002). For > more information, visit or . > > > The Main Indicators of Syndrome X > > > Abdominal obesity > > > High Blood Pressure (blood pressure readings consistently higher than > 140/90) > > > Unhealthy blood cholesterol readings (total cholesterol above 240 > mg/dL, or HDL cholesterol levels less than one -fourth of total blood > cholesterol levels) > > > High blood triglyceride levels (blood triglyceride levels above 160 > mg/dL) > > > > > Early Warning Signs > > > > > Overweight, even slightly so, especially around the abdomen > > > Frequent cravings for sweets, breads and other carbohydrates > > > Tiredness or sleepiness after meals > > > Frequent thirst and urination, or high blood sugar levels above 100mg. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lifestyle and Nutritional Factors for the Metabolic (X, Y and Z...) > Syndrome X > > By Holt, M.D., MRCP (UK), FRCP ©, FACP, FACG, FACN > > > Defining Syndrome X (The Metabolic Syndrome): The US federal > government has declared that the most important current public health > initiative is to combat the constellation of problems that exist > within the umbrella terms " the metabolic syndrome " or " Syndrome X. " > The cardinal components of Syndrome X include obesity, high blood > cholesterol (abnormal blood lipids) and hypertension, linked by > underlying resistance to the hormone insulin. Syndrome X has been > described as a hidden epidemic and it may affect up to 70 million > American citizens. > > Insulin resistance is a key issue in Syndrome X. While insulin is well > recognized as a control for blood glucose, it also has several > far-reaching actions on body metabolism. As a consequence of insulin > resistance within Syndrome X, more insulin is secreted by the pancreas > to overcome the resistance. Excessive amounts of circulating insulin > lead to biochemical changes in the body where more fat is stored > (obesity), and abnormalities of blood lipids occur. Despite > established high levels of circulating insulin in established Syndrome > X, glucose intolerance exists, without overt signs of diabetes > mellitus. > > Excessive insulin secretion in the presence of insulin exerts several > other adverse metabolic effects. These include retention of sodium by > the kidneys causing a rise in blood pressure, changes in the pattern > and production of sex hormones in females and actions on cell > proliferation that may contribute to the development of cancer. In > addition, there is a change in eicosanoid production in the body. > These changes produce a tendency to increase blood clotting and a > propensity to inflammatory states. While this sequence of biochemical > events in the body has been linked to cardiovascular disease, Syndrome > X has emerged as important in the cause of infertility, endocrine > disorders, irregular menstruation, liver disease, inflammatory > disease, osteoporosis and cancer of the breast, womb or colon. > > Syndrome X in Perspective: The Concept of Syndrome XYZ... > > > The understanding of Syndrome X is often clouded by confusion of the > disorder with Type II diabetes mellitus (maturity-onset diabetes). In > simple terms, Syndrome X could be considered to be a " forerunner " to > maturity onset diabetes, but not all individuals with Syndrome X will > develop Type II diabetes. The hallmark of Syndrome X is resistance to > insulin and high circulating levels of blood insulin, which are > produced by the body to overcome the newfound resistance to the > actions of the hormone insulin. In contrast, when diabetes mellitus is > established blood insulin levels are low or absent, whereas in > Syndrome X blood insulin levels are often high.. When blood insulin > levels are high in the presence of insulin resistance, signals are > given to many body tissues to trigger the changes of body metabolism > and or gain function that are described in Syndrome X. > > Many other under explored complex biochemical factors operate in the > evolution of Syndrome X. Syndrome X is determined in part by genetic > or hereditary tendencies, but the most important causes of Syndrome X > appear to be adverse lifestyle and, in particular, poor nutrition and > lack of physical exercise. Excessive refined carbohydrates in the > diet, made worse by excessive dietary saturated fat intake, excessive > salt consumption, a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids and other > nutritional co-factors contribute to the precipitation and evolution > of the metabolic Syndrome X. Syndrome X appears to be part of our > modern metabolic evolution that is fueled by the average Western > lifestyle and diet. > > The four principle features of Syndrome X (obesity, hypertension, > hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance) underlie cardiovascular > disease, which is the most common cause of death and disability in > Western society. The term Syndrome X originally was coined by the > eminent physician, Dr. Gerald Reaven in 1988, but over the past > decade, his early concept of Syndrome X has been expanded to involve > many other biochemical and clinical consequences of the underlying > metabolic disorder. Science is faced with a " novel " unifying concept > of the cause of much chronic degenerative disease, as it becomes > recognized that the metabolic problems within Syndrome X cause many > other diseases. These other diseases include endocrine disorders, > acne, polycystic ovary syndrome, common liver disease (fatty liver, > non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), > and cancer. It is this new unifying disease concept that I have called > " Syndrome X, Y and Z... " . (Holt S, Combat Syndrome X,Y and Z..., > Wellnesspublishing.com, 2002) > > > > > > Combat Syndrome X ( > > > Recognizing Syndrome X is more difficult than many individuals may > suppose. Obesity, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure are > variably present in Syndrome X and underlying insulin resistance has > few readily identifiable manifestations, especially in its early > stages. A retrospective study of National Nutrition Survey Data > (NHANES) between the years 1988 and 1994 resulted in the conclusion > that, at that time, approximately 47 million adults in the United > States had Syndrome X. These data were recorded by US federal > government researchers in the Journal of the American Medical > Association (JAMA), in January 2002. It is notable that these > researchers stated, " ...it seems unlikely that management of the > individual abnormalities of this syndrome provides better outcomes > than a more integrated strategy " (JAMA, 3,297,p. 359, 2002). These are > powerful words that support the future of the food and dietary > supplements industry in the combat against Syndrome X, at least > indirectly. > > For many years, the dietary supplement industry has espoused its vital > role in the potential prevention and treatment of disease. Reading > between the lines of recent federal government health care > initiatives, it is suggested that lifestyle and nutrition are the > primary components in the battle against Syndrome X. These days, > " integrated strategies " in medicine almost always employ complementary > (or alternative) medicine, which in turn employs dietary supplements > or functional foods. It appears that the " first line approach " for the > management of Syndrome X involves positive lifestyle and nutritional > changes, not pharmaceutical interventions. This point of view is > reinforced by public statements about the management of type II > diabetes mellitus from the American Diabetic Association (ADA) ( ). > The ADA describes lifestyle and nutritional change as " first-line > options " for the management of maturity onset diabetes and it is > stated that drug treatments form " back-up plans " . Never in the history > of the dietary supplement industry has such solid direction and > support for the use of food and dietary supplements been given by > conventional bodies of opinion for a key public initiative (syndrome > X, Y and Z..), at least indirectly. > > The " Integrated Approach. " > > > While government researchers hint at an integrated approach they have > done little t define just what they mean. Pharmaceutical research and > development programs are racing to define genomic targets to develop > drugs to correct Syndrome X. These drug develop strategies are > arguably on the right track, since the solution to a disease that is > rooted in adverse lifestyle is not the prescription of a drug, but it > does involve change of lifestyle for the better. The US public should > not succumb readily to the concept of the " lifestyle drug " . Whilst the > pharmaceutical industry develops frentic interest in serving their > perceived gargantuan health care need for drugs to treat Sydrome X, > the dietary supplement industry appears to be sleeping or jsut > awakening, at best! Let me explain. > > If one takes the cardinal components of Syndrome X (obesity, > hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance) and > examines the dietary supplement categories sold for this aggregate of > condition-specific purposes, then one is looking at the " lion's share " > of the sale of all dietary supplements (about 80%). It is known that > Syndrome X is multifactorial and the dietary supplement industry is > attempting to find " magic bullets, " somewhat like the pharmaceutical > and the popular dietary supplement may be equally misguided. The > approach to Syndrome X must be multipronged and it must involve > lifestyle change. There is no " technofix " for the metabolic Syndrome X > (or Syndrome X, Y and Z...). > > Versatile treatments must be designed to impact as many aspects as > possible of the metabolic problems within Syndrome X and its > consequences, if we are to tackle this problem in an efficient and > effective manner. Table 1 identifies a " simplistic " lifestyle program > to combat Syndrome X. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A Lifestyle Program for Metabolic Syndrome X: > > > Life style change, with specific avoidance of substance abuse, > including smoking cessation, reduced salt, caffeine and simple sugar > intake. > > Behavior modification. Change eating patterns and calorie amounts. > Extinguish adverse lifestyle. > > Exercise should be matched to a level of aerobic fitness, and medical > or professional training advice recommended. > > Diet should be reduced in simple sugars, salt and saturated fat with > controlled protein intake and more liberal use of healthy fats, > e.g.:omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (EPA). > > Syndrome X Nutritional Factors include oat beta glucan, phytonutrient > antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid, chromium picolinate with biotin, > vanadium, phaseolum (Phase 2), anti-homocysteine vitamins and the use > of low-glycemic index dietary substrates. > > Drug treatments are often " backup plans " , especially for type II > diabetes. > > > > Conclusion. > > > The dietary supplement industry and its customers require urgent > education on the components of Syndrome X, Y and Z... Syndrome X is > the ultimate form of society-induced bioterrorism, fueled by our poor > Western lifestyle and diet. Syndrome X emerges as the basis for the > understanding of a unifying concept of several chronic diseases. I > suggest that a more apt name for this series of metabolic disorders > and medical consequences is " Syndrome X, Y and Z... " The dietary > supplement industry has a great role to play in the combat against the > metabolic syndrome X, by providing nutraceuticals in combinations that > form part of a well planned " integrated " , medical approach to the most > threatening of all public health concerns facing Western society, > namely the metabolic syndrome X, Y and Z. WF > > References on Request. > > > > Tables 1 and 2 below. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Table I: Components of lifestyle and " integrated " medical approach to > the metabolic Syndrome X > > > Nutritional Factors for Syndrome X. I have reviewed in detail many > herbal botanical and nutritional factors that can be used in the > struggle against Syndrome X. (Holt S, Combat Syndrome XYZ..., > Wellnesspublishing.com, Newark, NJ 2002). The most important dietary > supplements can be used in an integrated approach to impact Syndrome X > are summarized in Table 2. > > > Science and Syndrome X Nutritional Factors > > > > > > Components and > > Association of the > > Metabolic Syndrome X > Functional Properties of > > Syndrome X Nuritional > > Factors and Lifestyle > > Insulin Resistance > > > > > > Abnormal Blood Lipids > > (cholesterol) > > > > Obesity > > > > > > Hypertention > > > > Oxidative Stress > > > > Homocysteine > Patented oat beta glucan fractions of oat soluable fiber (US > patent 6,060,519) may lower blood glucose levels after sugar intake. > Chromium picolinate with Biotin may assist insulin Function > (sensitiziation). > > Oat beta glucan may reduce (cholesterol) blood cholesterol > levels (LDL and triglycerides) and may variably increase good > cholesterol (HDL). Antioxidants and chromium effects on blood > cholesterol. > > Oat beta glucan may make people feel full when taken prior to > meals and it assists in calorie control. The starch-blocker Phaseolum > 2250 (Phase 2) may inhibit sugar absorption. > > Variable but small reductions in blood pressure result from > weight control, and lifestyle change in the INTEGRATED PLAN! > > Antioxidants may be beneficial for health eg. bioflavonoids, > ellagic acid, anthocycanidins and alpha lipoic acid. > > Vitamins B-6, B12 and folic acid may reduce blood homocysteine > levels. > > > > > Table 2: > > > Principle dietary supplements or functional food components that are > valuable in the management of Syndrome X. The components reviewed in > this table can work in an " additive manner " (synergistic) and provide > a multi-pronged approach to the multifactorial components of Syndrome > X. These natural supplements work best when used in synergistic > formulations. > > Dietary supplements that can be used in the combat against Syndrome X > have protean beneficial effects, especially when used in the > combinations. Soluble fiber from oats (oat beta glucan) has potent and > versatile effects on Syndrome X by assisting in management of obesity, > lowering blood cholesterol, overcoming insulin resistance and, > secondarily, reducing blood pressure. The progression of tissue damage > in Syndrome X (and diabetes mellitus) is linked to oxidative stress > and many of the components of the proposed Syndrome X nutritional > factors (Table 2) are potent antioxidants. Isolated nutrients or > botanical extracts that help to regulate blood glucose have a limited > role in Syndrome X when used alone, e.g. corosolic acid, Gymnema > sylvestre and Maitake-S fractions. Soy foods or soy supplements (in an > appropriate format) emerge with special advantages for dietary > inclusion in individuals with Syndrome X, because they have a low > glycemic index, lower blood cholesterol and are low in calories. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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