Psyllium helps fight type 2 diabetes mellitus

FOODCONSUMER ^ | June 27, 2013 | David Liu

[neverdem]

A new study in Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre suggests that taking a dietary supplement called psyllium can help control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus even if they are taking antidiabetic medications and using a restricted diet.

Psyllium is a plant whose seeds are used commercially to produce mucilage which is is a thick, gluey material full of a polar glycoprotein and an exopolysaccharide.  Mucilage is found high in flaxseeds.

The double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial led by N. Mark and colleagues from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC shows that taking 3.4 grams of psyllium twice a day prior to breakfast and dinner for a short period of 4 weeks lowered HbA1c, which is a reliable biomarker to indicate the severity of type II diabetes mellitus.

For the study, 37 patients at a mean age of 62 years were assigned to take either 3.4 grams or 6.8 grams of psyllium or placebo twice a day prior to breakfast and dinner for up to 12 weeks.

It was found, both doses of psyllium significantly lowered fasting blood glucose, compared to placebo at treatment weeks 4, 8, and 12.   Psyllium at a dose of 6.8 g BID significantly lowered HbA1c at week 8, compared to placebo, and at week 12, both the 3.4 g dose and the 6.8 g dose of psyllium significantly lowered HbA1c, compared to placebo.

The researchers concluded psyllium improves glycemic control in patients with type II diabetes mellitus who were using a restricted diet and medication sulfonylurea.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects an estimated 26 million Americans.  This disease can be prevented by doing or not doing many things.   An Indian study has found that taking 8 grams of curcumin per day can help prevent the disease in people who suffer pre-diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus if left untreated can lead to the development of a variety of serious complications.  Recent studies show trans fat, red meat and fructose among other things can increase the risk of type II diabetes mellitus.  (reporting by David Liu, PHD)

[neverdem]

Psyllium improves glycemic control in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus

[neverdem]

Processed carbohydrates are addictive, brain study suggests

FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.

P.S. Let your doctor know first before you try psyllium. You don't want to learn what hypoglycemia feels like by surprise.

[Slump Tester]

Call any vegetable
And the chances are good
That the vegetable will respond to you-hoooo

Frank Zappa 1967

[Moorings]

Let your doctor know first before you try psyllium.

Good advice with any food supplement.

[bmwcyle]

ping

[TomGuy]

Psyllium is also used as a fiber supplement for the digestive tract.

[rmlew]

It’s the stuff in metamucil. I take it in a pill with Oat Bran and Apple Pectin. Keeps me regular, at least.

[Sarajevo]

The Elixir of Anal Health

Geez- what a non-story..............

[verga]

31.50 to purchase a copy of the article.

[Tunehead54]

"It was found, both doses of psyllium significantly lowered fasting blood glucose, compared to placebo at treatment weeks 4, 8, and 12. Psyllium at a dose of 6.8 g BID significantly lowered HbA1c at week 8, compared to placebo, and at week 12, both the 3.4 g dose and the 6.8 g dose of psyllium significantly lowered HbA1c, compared to placebo."

---

Does the publication define "significantly"?

My wife is Type II, does everything she can (diet and exercise) but she' still on Humalog insulin and metformin.

Any details would be appreciated.

[cloudmountain]

I wonder if the doctors push exercise as much as they push eating right.
Just wondering.

[Pining_4_TX]

Too much psyllium can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Think I will stick to real food.

[texas booster]

Mucilage is found high in flaxseeds.

I suspect that David Liu didn't literally mean what this sentence from the article states ...

[neverdem]

Does the publication define "significantly"?

The standard of what is a significant result in the medical literature is that you would expect that result only one time or less out of twenty times if the was obtained just by chance. P stands for probability. Here's an example. Look at the results section in the abstract, the summary at the start of the article.

Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors Among Overweight Premenopausal Women The A TO Z Weight Loss Study: A Randomized Trial

Results Weight loss was greater for women in the Atkins diet group compared with the other diet groups at 12 months, and mean 12-month weight loss was significantly different between the Atkins and Zone diets (P<.05). Mean 12-month weight loss was as follows: Atkins, −4.7 kg (95% confidence interval [CI], −6.3 to −3.1 kg), Zone, −1.6 kg (95% CI, −2.8 to −0.4 kg), LEARN, −2.6 kg (−3.8 to −1.3 kg), and Ornish, −2.2 kg (−3.6 to −0.8 kg). Weight loss was not statistically different among the Zone, LEARN, and Ornish groups. At 12 months, secondary outcomes for the Atkins group were comparable with or more favorable than the other diet groups.

[Sans-Culotte]

Thanks for the ping.

[csmusaret]

Here is a source. http://www.swansonvitamins.com/swanson-premium-psyllium-husks-610-mg-300-caps

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[Viking2002]

P.S. Let your doctor know first before you try psyllium. You don't want to learn what hypoglycemia feels like by surprise.

Amen. It caught me unawares early on in my course of Glucovance treatment. The symptoms were like experiencing a slow death. Almost indescribable. By all means, talk to your M.D. first.