Chiroin for Insulin Resistance and PCOS FAQs
What is Chiroin?
Chiroin is a proprietary extract produced from the juice of carob pods. The principle constituent, D-Chiro Inositol (DCI) is a messenger, directing insulin function. DCI is found to be low in hyperglycemic patients. There have been over thirty published studies. In double-blind studies, women with PCOS who received DCI experienced the following statistically significant benefits when compared with a control group: lowered free and total testosterone, lowered blood pressure, increased insulin sensitivity and a corresponding improvement in glucose disposal, and increased frequency of ovulation.
How does Chiroin work?
Chiroin helps to stimulate insulin function of managing blood glucose and lipids to normal levels. It increases glucose and lipid disposal in the body, overcoming insulin resistance. It is found to increase ovulation in women suffering from PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
What do studies suggest?
There have been over thirty published studies. In a forty-four patient study with obese women diagnosed with PCOS, twenty-two women ovulated as compared with six out of twenty-two who received the placebo. The conclusion of the study was that D-Chiro Inositol increases the action of insulin in patients with PCOS, thereby improving ovulatory function, and decreasing serum androgen concentration, blood pressure and plasma triglyceride concentrations.1 In twenty lean women with PCOS, 600mg of DCI administered for six to eight weeks was found to reduce circulating insulin, decrease serum androgens, and reduce blood pressure and elevated triglycerides associated with metabolic syndrome.2
Is Chiroin good for men? The monograph refers to an ability to increase ovulation in woman: does this mean it has a hormonal component? In other words, is it good for men as well?
Yes, Chiroin can be used by both men and women. The formula has a regulatory role. It lowers testosterone only in patients with elevated testosterone. It is useful for treating men with insulin resistance without reducing androgens. It is also good for men with metabolic syndrome and high triglycerides.
How do you determine dosage of Chiroin?
1-2 capsules a day is the dosage for lean women, 2-4 capsules a day for heavy set/obese women.
When should Chiroin be taken?
It should be taken with meals.
Does Chiroin help fertility? Is it given prior to ovulation or throughout her entire cycle?
Chiroin should be taken every day. Chiroin increases the frequency of ovulation, reduces androgens, and reverses PCOS, thus promoting fertility.
How do you understand the Chinese Medicine properties of this preparation?
My personal observation based upon energetics and the qualities of the herb extract are that it is a unique spleen tonic.
I frequently suggest inositol for clients with anxiety. For myself, I found that even a small amount (1/2g) of inositol knocks me out. Does DCI (Chiroin) work the same way?
Chiroin typically will not cause sleepiness in most patients. If anything, Chiroin seems energizing. Keep in mind DCI is not the same as inositol. It has different effects and works uniquely in the body.
Is Chiroin safe to use long-term? How long should a person use it?
Chiroin should be taken for at least three months in order to make the cells more sensitive to insulin. It is safe to use long-term.
References
- 1. Nestler J.E., et al. Ovulatory and metabolic effects of D-chiro-inositol in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med.1999; 340: 1314-1320.
Diabetes: East Meets West
By Andrew Gaeddert
Extra weight is particularly dangerous for East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans) since they have an increased susceptibility to Type 2 Diabetes. For example, a 5 ‘9” Japanese man who weighs 156 pounds and who may never develop the sort of belly that is a warning sign for the disease, is twice as likely as a white man that size to become diabetic1. Metabolic syndrome, (Syndrome X), is seen in nearly one third of all adults in the US and includes insulin resistance (the ability to cope with sugars and other dietary carbohydrates), weight gain, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. It is known that eating large amounts of sweets, pastas, breads, and drinking sodas can raise LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels. Elevated insulin due to poor food choices causes obesity and high blood pressure. Losing weight, adopting a diet that is rich in plant foods and lean protein, exercising and reducing or eliminating junk food is essential. One of the best researched herbs to improve glucose sensitivity is American Ginseng (xi yang shen).
Exercise not only helps increase metabolism and reduces the risk of diabetes, it is also important for maintaining bone density and reducing fracture risk. Bones that are thin and weak are susceptible to fractures. If you or your patients have had a fracture because of weak bones, your risk of having another fracture is two to twenty times greater than someone who has never had a fracture.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (www.nof.org), bone thinning is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures per year. Hip fractures can be especially devastating as nearly one in four hip fracture patients aged fifty or older die in the year following their fracture, and one fourth of those who were ambulatory before their hip fracture require long term care afterward. Additional measures that reduce fracture risk include taking adequate calcium, vitamin D and using BioStrong™ containing a mineral proven to increase bone density and reducing fractures, and OsteoHerbal™ an empirical formula designed by one of the world’s most experienced herbalists, Fung Fung, supports kidney function, and over time may improve balance, according to TCM.
Immune response is also improved by moderate exercise. Regular moderate exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of upper respiratory infection. However, overtraining can, in the short term, increase the risk of developing infections. Moderate exercise reduces susceptibility to cancer. My new book, Healing Immune Disorders, contains diet, lifestyle tips, and in-depth monographs that discuss the latest scientific research on individual herbs. It also discusses a number of formulas I have created such as Astra 8™, comprised of astragalus root (huang qi), ganoderma reishi fruiting body (ling zhi), codonopsis root (dang shen), licorice root (gan cao), ligustrum fruit (nu zhen zi), eleuthero root (ci wu jia), schisandra fruit (wu wei zi), oryza sprout (gu ya), as well as traditional formulas such as Jade Screen Formula (Astra C™) which help to prevent infection and maintain proper immune response.
Notes
- 1. Santora, M. East Meets West, Adding Pounds and Peril. The New York Times. January 12, 2006:5.
Insulin Resistance
By Andrew Gaeddert
Coffee, one of the most consumed beverages in the world, is believed to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a disease characterized by the mechanisms regulating blood glucose concentration dysfunction, which results in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is characterized by abnormal and prolonged hyperglycemia. Several previous epidemiologic studies have shown that individuals with an average to high daily consumption of coffee reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Other works have demonstrated that coffee consumption improved glucose tolerance, which led to a protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, various clinical studies have demonstrated that caffeine is not the active substance leading to the decrease in risk of type 2 diabetes observed in those who consume large amounts of coffee. While caffeine is not the active substance protecting against blood sugar problems, the various authors of epidemiological studies suggest or agree that the chlorogenic acids do play a highly influential role. Health Concerns’ partners have conducted numerous studies to demonstrate that Greenexcellent™, a natural water-soluble extract of decaffeinated green coffee beans, reduces blood glucose concentrations after a meal, significantly reduces the body mass index (BMI), has fat-burning effects and increases lean mass after sixty days of treatment.