title: Natural supplements for improving insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.
abstract: Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic disorder characterized by resistance to the actions of insulin to stimulate skeletal muscle glucose disposal. In light of the staggering financial/human cost of type 2 diabetes, there is considerable need for safe and effective agents that can be used to prevent and/or adjunctively treat the disease. Available evidence suggests that a number of natural supplements, including cinnamon, biotin, fenugreek, ginseng, banaba, and alpha-lipoic acid, have the potential to reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes in the large at-risk population. The evidence also suggests that, when used adjunctively, these natural products are likely to help clinicians achieve optimal glycemic control, improve long-term prognosis, and/or minimize the need for insulin therapy in type 2 diabetics. More research, particularly well-designed, long-term human clinical trials, is certainly needed to accurately define the value and place of these supplements in diabetes prevention and management.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Levine College of Health Sciences, Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina 28174.
authors.forename: Samir A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kouzi
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Levine College of Health Sciences, Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina 28174.
authors.forename: Sendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Levine College of Health Sciences, Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina 28174.
authors.forename: Donald S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nuzum
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Levine College of Health Sciences, Wingate University, Wingate, North Carolina 28174.
authors.forename: Amie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dirks-Naylor
mesh_terms: D001710:Biotin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D031563:Lagerstroemia; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029910:Trigonella
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D001710:Biotin; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D005947:Glucose