A human study published in Phytotherapy Research found participants using the Gymnema Sylvestre (GS) plant found benefits in blood glucose reductions reinforcing its benefits for Diabetes support.
7 females and 4 males with an average age of 50 years old, participated in this 60 day study. Participants weighed in at approximately 130 lbs and all 11 participants had recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or had previously received the standard drug treatment for Diabetes. All participants received 500 mg of GS twice daily taken before meals. There was no control group in this study. Blood samples of the participants were taken at the onset and at the end of the trial. Measurements of participants Blood Glucose, Insulin and C-Peptide levels were reviewed.
Significant improvements in Glycemic Control were seen in 10 of the 11 participants. Study findings showed an average reduction in Fasting Blood Glucose from 162 +\- 23 to 119 +\- 17 mg/dl. After a meal, Blood Glucose levels were reduced from 291 +\- 10 to 236 +/- 30 mg/dl.
An in vitro test run parallel to this study looked at the effects of Gymnema Sylvestre on the rate and pattern of insulin secretion using human islets. Islets contain several types of cells that make insulin (a hormone). Insulin aids the body’s use of glucose for energy as well as helps control blood glucose levels. Researchers supplemented the cells with 0.125 mg/ml of Gymnema Sylvestre which resulted in a 2 fold increase in insulin secretion. The secretion remained the same for the duration of the exposure to GS and reversed rapidly once it was withdrawn.
Gymnema Sylvestre is grown primarily in the Indian sub-continent and has been used in India for centuries as a traditional remedy for aiding optimal health. This study confirms previous findings that GS stimulates insulin secretion similar to pharmaceutical drugs like sulphonylureas which are currently being used to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
Further larger studies are needed.
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