Diabetes may be reduced by Fenugreek
Written By: By Steve Volpe, www.zooscape.com
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Published - Dec 5, 2011
Diabetes is fast becoming labeled a pandemic as well as a disease.
20.8 million people in the US have diabetes, with about one third of those people living with the disease undiagnosed. In the United States alone, there are roughly 60 million people who are classified as obese, and most of the health research is concluding that there is a definite correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes that goes beyond the old notion that, “Eating too much sugar makes you fat and gives you diabetes.” This link has been so clearly established, biologically, that the word “diabesity” is now frequently used to describe this dangerous health trend.
More and more, it is becoming crucial for people to educate themselves about the pros and cons of both natural and pharmaceutical treatments for health conditions. We live in an age where pharmaceutical companies bombard us with their predatory marketing practices on television, while the vast number of herbs and herbal combinations presented to us is equally staggering. It is becoming more difficult to make informed choices. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we take our health into our own hands, armed with reliable and solid information!
Fenugreek warrants a mention in the fight against diabetes. There are a number of significant studies to back up the use of fenugreek for diabetes, but first, just a very brief history lesson:
Fenugreek, a member of the legume family, is one of the oldest medicinal herbs and boasts the advantage of having much historical, cultural, and anecdotal support combined with a significant amount of modern-day research support. Fenugreek’s use as a medicinal plant dates back to the fifteenth century B.C., where it was administered for everything from respiratory problems to skin wounds and sores to kidney problems. (This ancient Eastern medicinal practice of administering an herb for a variety of ailments stands in stark contrast to the Western practice of today, where one medicine is typically manufactured to treat one disorder.)
Fenugreek's usage in herbal medicine was confined predominantly to Mediterranean regions, especially Greece, but also included India, Egypt, and the Middle East. It remains a food and spice commonly eaten in many parts of the world today.
Today, the interest in fenugreek as a medicinal herb is focused primarily on diabetes. Numerous animal studies and preliminary trials in humans have found that fenugreek can help normalize unhealthy blood glucose levels and serum cholesterol levels in diabetics.
As far as the research goes, there are several in-vitro and animal studies that confirm the glucose-stabilizing and cholesterol-lowering abilities of fenugreek, including a few human clinical trials. In one 2-month study, a group of diabetes patients at the Jaipur Diabetes and Research Centre in India were divided into two groups: one group received fenugreek (1 gram daily) while the other received a placebo. Results concluded that the fenugreek group had lower serum triglycerides and higher HDL.3 In another animal study on diabetic rats, fenugreek’s hypoglycemic (blood sugar-lowering) effect was shown to be 'slow but sustained, without any risk of developing severe hypoglycemia.4'
Fenugreek has a direct, stimulating effect on insulin production, thus improving glucose metabolism, while helping to reduce glucose resistance and uptake. Consequently, overall blood glucose levels are lowered. Many studies have demonstrated the ability of fenugreek to reduce post-meal glucose levels, while maintaining levels of blood insulin concentrations. This evidence points to improved insulin sensitivity.
It is also believed that fenugreek stimulates the pancreas to secrete more insulin through the action of an amino acid called 4-hydroxyisoleucine. Fenugreek also contains a high quantity of soluble and insoluble fiber as well as various proteins, bioflavonoids, steroidal saponins, and alkaloids. Insoluble fiber intake has been associated with a decreased risk in colon cancer as it is thought to help excrete bile from the body. Soluble fiber consumption is believed to slow down digestion and food absorption resulting in a slower rise in blood glucose levels. It has also been linked to decreased risk in cardiovascular disease and obesity.
In short, it appears that fenugreek consumption has been linked positively with benefits to conditions such as digestion, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, weight control, heart disease (athero- and arterio-sclerosis, in particular), cancer prevention (fiber content), and certainly diabetes (type I and type II). A number of animal and in-vitro studies, as well as double-blind trials have confirmed the anti-diabetic effects of fenugreek. So, it is worth considering for those who are seeking alternatives to prescription medications for the purpose of glycemic control, pancreatic support, and combating insulin resistance.
Fenugreek is extremely well-tolerated and generally regarded as very safe for human consumption.
Side effects of fenugreek supplementation are practically non-existent if the recommended dosage is not exceeded.
In terms of an ideal dosage or condition-specific dosage, there is no absolute list of recommendations that have been established to this point. The German Commission E recommends 6 grams per day. This is roughly two 500 mg capsules three times daily and seems to be a reasonable dosage to work up to, though most people will probably want to start with just two capsules a day as the herb is introduced into their system.
Third-Party Research References:
1. Gupta A, Gupta R, Lal B. 'Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo-controlled study.' J Assoc Physicians India. 49:1057-61, 2001.
2. Flammang AM, Cifone MA, Erexson GL, Stankowski Jr LF (2004). Genotoxicity testing of a fenugreek extract. Food and Chemical Toxicol 42:1769-1775.
3. J Med Food. 2004 Summer;7(2):153-6.
4. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2002 Oct;46(4):457-62.