CARB CONTROL

- The Key to a Lean Physique -

Words by Ian Roothman, BSc (Biochem)(Phys), MCSD. Founder and Owner THE NUTRITION LAB Brand

www.mat-rx.com Ó 2004, Ian Roothman Enterprises. Printed by permission.

 

CARBOHYDRATES are converted into glucose that serves as the main source of energy for the various metabolic processes and organs, including the brain that utilizes glucose as its main source of energy. Unfortunately, carbohydrates within supplements (or in a diet), however minute in quantity, have always been associated with the accumulation (storage) of body fat. This may be true if you have them in excess and do not take the necessary precautions, or have a diet (supplement program) deficient in crucial components that helps your body metabolize it for energy. When you have a situation where you are deficient (or inadequate) of these blood sugar (glucose) regulating nutrients, your body will instead deposit the carbohydrates into fat cells as stored energy or it will contribute to the development of future metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes. [visit www.mat-rx.com – The Nutrition Lab for more info].

 

Glucose transport is the most important way that cells acquire energy. An increase of glucose transport through the cell membrane facilitates the lowering of blood sugar. Therefore, finding a safe activator of glucose transport is crucial to the lowering and control of blood sugar and Type II diabetes. Biochemists use certain cell cultures to measure and scientifically study the effect natural compounds (nutrients) have on glucose transport across cell membranes. In these studies two nutrients showed significant glucose transport-stimulating activity.

 

1. Alpha Lipoic Acid

There is now evidence that alpha lipoic acid not only has potent antioxidant action in virtually all the tissues of the body, but also is a co-factor for some of the key enzymes involved in generating energy from food and oxygen in mitochondria.

Alpha Lipoic Acid functions as a co-factor for energy production as lipomide and is also called lipoate when involved in energy metabolism.

Alpha Lipoic Acid was first isolated in the early 195Os, when it was tentatively classified as a vitamin because of its vitamin like properties, but was later found (unlike vitamins) to be synthesized in both animals and humans. The method by which alpha lipoic acid is synthesized within the body has not yet been fully characterized but it appears as if two of its precursors are octanoate and the sulphur containing amino acid cysteine.

Recent scientific research findings show that both alpha Lipoic Acid and its reduced form dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA), function as potent antioxidants within the body and that both these compounds may be effective in preventing and treating the complications of diabetes and perhaps even aging itself. Alpha Lipoic Acid showed significant glucose transport-stimulating activity.

The Antioxidant properties of Alpha Lipoic Acid

Biochemists have established that the following biochemical criteria must be considered when evaluating the antioxidant potential of a compound:

·         Metal chelating activity

·         Specificity of free radical quenching

·         Effects on gene expression

·         Interaction with other antioxidants

 

 

Research Biochemists have also presented other important criteria when considering the preventive and therapeutic applications of an antioxidant:

§                     Absorption and bioavailability

§                     Concentration in tissues, cells, and extra cellular fluids

§                     Locations of these compounds (in aqueous or membrane domains, or in both)

A substance need not excel in meeting all of the above criteria to be considered a good antioxidant. For example, Vitamin E acts only in the membrane or lipid domains, its dominant action is to quench lipid peroxyl, and it has little or no activity against radicals in the aqueous phase, yet it is considered one of the central antioxidants of the body. Epidemiological studies are confirming its role in the prevention of numerous oxidant related diseases, such as heart disease.

This has been found to also be true with regard to beta-carotene, which has a specialized role (the quenching of singlet oxygen radicals) in the body. The long awaited findings of a long term study of the role of beta carotene in the prevention of age related diseases will show that subjects who took high levels of beta carotene every other day for 5 years had 50% fewer coronary or vascular events than subjects not taking beta carotene, and that the subjects taking beta carotene developed only a small fraction of the cancers developed in the control group.

An 'ideal' antioxidant would fulfill all of the above criteria. Alpha lipoic acid approaches the ideal and it has been called the universal antioxidant. Alpha lipoic acid is readily absorbed from the diet. It is rapidly converted to DHLA in many tissues, as recent advances in assay technique have made evident. One or both of the components of the redox couple in both lipid and aqueous domains. Both DHLA and alpha lipoic acid have metal chelating activity. DHLA acts synergistically with other antioxidants, including that it is capable of regenerating other antioxidants from their radical or inactive forms. Finally, there is evidence that they may have effects on regulatory proteins and on genes involved in normal growth and metabolism.

There is considerable evidence for alpha lipoic acid to prevent and treat diabetes, both type I (juvenile diabetes) and type II (mature onset diabetes) and the complications of diabetes. Among the most serious complications of diabetes is nerve damage, especially in the eye (retinopathy) and heart attacks resulting from atherosclerosis. The two most popular mechanisms of action proposed as the causes of these consequences of diabetes are excessive free radical damage and glycosylation (or glycation), which involves glucose (blood sugar) induced modifications in proteins leading to molecular cross linking of these proteins in the lens of the eye, cell membranes, and in connective tissues such as collagen and elastin.

In most overweight and type II diabetic individuals insulin resistance is the main culprit. Most type II diabetics produce plenty of insulin, but are unable to make effective use of the insulin they produce. As a result, improvement in the utilization of insulin in skeletal muscle has been the basis of many studies seeking to find an effective therapy to reverse insulin resistance. Since skeletal muscle is the major repository for glucose following a meal, agents that enhance glucose utilization in skeletal muscle (through the action of insulin) are potentially useful in the long term treatment of type II diabetes, overweight individuals and for those that seek to keep their body fat levels in check. Alpha Lipoic Acid has been shown to meet all of these criteria.

 

2. Chromium

Chromium is a critically essential cofactor for glucose control. Chromium helps insulin shuttle blood sugar (glucose) into cells. In fact, without chromium, insulin cannot work properly. Unfortunately, most people are deficient in this critical nutrient. Some experts believe that the Americans ingest less than half the recommended daily amount of chromium. This may be partly due to the nation’s over-reliance on processed foods, which are generally rich in calories but poor in nutrients.

Another factor contributing to widespread chromium deficiency is food grown in soil containing a low content of minerals such as chromium. The 1992 Earth Summit report showed that North American soils have been depleted of 85% of their mineral content in the past 100 years, the highest rate of mineral depletion in the world. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the foods we consume are deficient in trace minerals such as chromium. Some scientists have postulated that rising rates of metabolic syndrome and diabetes in the US may result in part from declining levels of chromium in American soil and diets.

Recent scientific findings led by leading biochemists, suggest that chromium may provide metabolic support for individuals seeking to optimize their blood glucose levels and eventually improve their metabolic rate, reduce body fat storage and reduce their risk of developing metabolic syndrome (and diabetes).

 

Although chromium is easily obtained through diet and supplements, a significant number of adults are unknowingly deficient, and no test exists to make the diagnosis. The appearance of metabolic syndrome may be the first sign of chromium deficiency. In the body, chromium improves the sensitivity of insulin receptors, helping to promote optimal metabolism of sugars. In a double-blind study it was found that chromium supplementation may thus reduce the risk for glucose intolerance, prevent the progression of glucose intolerance to developing diabetes, improve glucose control in diabetics, and assist in managing elevated triglyceride levels. Thus chromium may help in reducing body fat accumulation due to poor carbohydrate metabolism.

A CARB CONTROL CONCLUSION

 

If we consider all the scientific findings available today, it is not hard to come to the conclusion that it is absolutely crucial to make sure that we have to keep our diets sufficient in these two nutrients. However, due to all the factors involved and the state of our environment, it is sometimes difficult to get these substances in sufficient amounts in our daily diets. Supplementation may be the answer here or we have to pay extra attention to our diets and make sure we consume organic food from reliable sources. It is also very important that when you indulge in supplementation, especially meal replacement and sports protein shakes, to make sure that the formulation contains adequate added amounts of these two nutrients, especially if it consists of a combination of protein and carbohydrates (as is often the case in protein meal replacements). If it does NOT have these nutrients added in sufficient amounts, it is not the ‘ideal’ formulation, and you should rather shop around and find one that does. They are available; you should just go out and find them [for more information visit www.mat-rx.com – The Nutrition Lab].

 

References

 

Scientific Research Summary 1999, www.mat-rx.com – The Nutrition Lab

 

ACS., 2000. First Human Studies Promising for Popular Nutritional Supplement.

 

Baker L., 1999. Bacteria from Gum Infections Associated with Diabetes, Chronic Lung Disease, UB Studies Find.

 

Adrie C., [Antiplatelet properties of nitrogen monoxide]

 

Anderson RA., 1997. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

 

AAP., 2002. Controlled Diabetics Have New Reason to Smile.

Adamo M., 1988. Effect of altered nutritional states on insulin receptors

 

Bahijiri SM., 2000. The effects of inorganic chromium and brewer's yeast supplementation on glucose tolerance, serum lipids and drug dosage in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

 

Baker B., 1996. Chromium supplements tied to glucose control.

 

Bland J., 1983. Medical Applications of Clinical Nutrition.

 

Bao W., 1996. Persistent elevation of plasma insulin levels is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in children and young adults. The Bogalusa Heart Study.

 

Biaggioni I., 2002. Caffeine: a cause of insulin resistance?

 

 

Barnard RJ., 1992. Role of diet and exercise in the management of hyperinsulinemia and associated atherosclerotic risk factors.