Managing Metabolic Syndrome

Nutrients improve chances of staying healthy

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that can include obesity, abnormal blood fat levels, high blood pressure, and borderline high blood sugar and insulin levels, which together increase chances of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Doctors in this study described heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes as “cardiometabolic disorders” and said that recent studies have linked them to vitamin D deficiency. Researchers reviewed 28 vitamin D studies covering 99,475 participants and found that, compared to those with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D, those with the most vitamin D were 43 percent less likely to develop a cardiometabolic disorder. Chances were 33 percent lower for cardiovascular disease, 51 percent lower for metabolic syndrome, and 55 percent lower for type 2 diabetes. Doctors believe that correcting vitamin D deficiencies in adults may slow the epidemic of cardiometabolic disorders.

Researchers in another study said earlier research showed dairy foods reduced chances of obesity and hoped to find that whey protein-from dairy and rich in essential amino acids-could improve metabolic syndrome. Seventy overweight or obese people, aged 18 to 65, took 27 grams of whey protein, casein protein, or a glucose placebo, twice per day, up to 30 minutes before breakfast and the evening meal. Researchers asked participants to maintain their normal diet and physical activity, After 12 weeks, compared to placebo, those in the whey protein group had 22 percent lower blood levels of a fat known as triacyglycerol and fasting insulin levels 11 percent lower.

Reference: British Journal of Nutrition; 2010, Vol. 104, No. 5, 716-23
This article was also published in our newletter “Natural Insights for Well Being”, November 2010. Stop by Van’s Health Foods at 2148 First Street Livermore, CA or call us at 925-447-2976 to be added to our mailing list.

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Controlling Diabetes

Nutrients lowered chances of type 2 and complications in type 1 diabetes

Doctors in a type 2 diabetes study measured the diets of 38,094 men and women aged 20 to 70 and followed up for 10 years. Researchers found that those who consumed more vitamin K1 were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and for vitamin K2, each 10 mcg increase per day lowered chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 7 percent.

In another type 2 diabetes study, researchers measured antioxidant levels in the diets of 1,018 men and women, aged 38 to 52, some of whom did not have diabetes, some of whom were pre-diabetic with elevated fasting blood sugar levels, and some with type 2 diabetes. In all three groups, as antioxidants in the diet increased, average blood sugar levels decreased.

Differences in age, sex, or amount of physical activity did not change the results, although antioxidants did not change blood sugar levels in those who were obese. Doctors believe that antioxidants can lower the oxidative stress that promotes diabetes and may help pancreatic cells produce insulin.

In a type 1 diabetes study, doctors said a complication of the disorder is that, over time, chronic high blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, impairing kidney function. Researchers measured the diets of 1,436 people with type 1 diabetes and followed up for 6.5 years.

By the end of the study, scientists found that those who consumed the most omega-3 eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic (EPA and DHA) acids per day had better kidney function compared to those who consumed the least omega-3 fatty acids.

Reference: Diabetes Care; 2010, Vol. 33, No.8, 1699-705

Republished from Van’s Health Foods’ November 2010 Newsletter

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