title: Effects of bovine prostate powder on zinc, glucose, and insulin metabolism in old patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Since rabbit prostate extract strongly stimulated intestinal zinc absorption and improved the diabetic condition of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, we examined the effects of 200 mg bovine prostate powder supplemented with 20 mg zinc (Pro-Z) on the clinical manifestations of older male patients with type II diabetes. Twenty-two male patients who received Pro-Z capsules two to four times per day for 3 months showed reduced mean fasting blood glucose levels from 202 to 169 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1C-(HbA1C) concentrations from 12.2% to 9.5%, and mean values for the 3-hour area response above the fasting glucose concentration (TAFGC) from 141 to 102 mg glucose/dL/h. In eighteen patients who received placebo, mean values for fasting blood glucose decreased from 167 to 165 mg/dL and HbA1C from 10.4% to 10.2%, and for TAFGC increased from 121 to 126 mg glucose/dL/h. No detrimental changes occurred in the liver and kidney function of patients receiving either Pro-Z or placebo. However, blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein in patients receiving Pro-Z decreased slightly, whereas values in the placebo group tended to increase. The mean fasting plasma insulin decreased 15.5 to 13.8 microU/mL in subjects given Pro-Z, while the zinc concentration increased from 1.21 to 1.39 microg/mL. In contrast, the mean value for plasma insulin in the placebo group changed from 14.4 to 15.4 microU/mL (worsened), and for zinc, from 1.24 to 1.30 microg/ml. Interestingly, fasting urinary glucose concentrations in subjects given Pro-Z decreased from 1,249 to 378 mg/dL, whereas in those given placebo the values changed from 877 to 778 mg/dL. Since plasma zinc concentrations in both the placebo and the Pro-Z group were normal, these results suggest that biochemical constituents in the prostate including zinc may be involved in controlling glucose metabolism in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Research and Psychology Services, West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, CA 90073, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Naliboff
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phanumas
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D002417:Cattle; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008274:Magnesium / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011467:Prostate; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002118:Calcium; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D008274:Magnesium; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D015032:Zinc