Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) and Blood Glucose

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) is a herb that is thought to possess a number of beneficial health effects in humans and animals. Fenugreek contains an alkaloid trigonelline and an essential oil that is made up of a mixture of volatile and nonvolatile compounds. Whole extracts of fenugreek have been shown to have blood glucose lowering effects in animal models. For example, in one study researchers administered fenugreek extract to normal healthy rats as well as diabetic rats. The doses of the fenugreek extracts were 2 or 8 grams per kg of body weight, and the rats were supplemented with these extracts for 2 weeks. Compared to the control rats who received no fenugreek, the treatment rats experienced significant falls in resting levels of blood glucose with the effects becoming greater at higher doses and at the 2 week compared to 1 week time point. This suggests that fenugreek has significant blood glucose lowering effects in animals and supports the traditional role of fenugreek as an anti-diabetic agent. 

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RdB

Khosla, P., Gupta, D. D. and Nagpal, R. K. 1995. Effect of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) on blood glucose in normal and diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 39: 173-173

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Thermogenic Synergy

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Robert Barrington

A range of thermogenic agents have been investigated for their effects in humans. Of the agents tested, a large number of effective thermogenic agents from plants have been identified. However, often the size of the effects is small and should be taken in this context. One method to increase the effectiveness of the agents might be to combine them with a view to creating synergism between the different compounds. For example, naringin and and hesperidin may act synergistically with p-synephrine to enhance its thermogenic effects. The compound forskolin from Coleus forskohlii may also act synergistically with extracts of Salacia reticulata and Sesamum indicumt causing thermogenesis and weight loss. As well as in combinations, plant compounds may work synergistically with exercise, as both act to increase metabolic rate and increase fat oxidation. In this regard ephedrine from Ephedra sinica has been shown to provide greater fat loss compared to either exercise or ephedrine alone, and in addition, ephedrine may significantly improve the retention of muscle during low energy intakes, preventing significant losses of lean mass and maintaining metabolic rate during periods of dieting. 

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RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

Posted in Ephedrine, Forskolin, Thermic Effect of Activity (TEA), Thermic Effect of Food (TEF), Weight Loss | Comments Off on Thermogenic Synergy

Flavonoids as Thermogenic Agents

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Flavonoids are a subgroup of polyphenols that are present in plants as secondary metabolites. Flavonoids are bioavailable in humans and provide a number of health benefits including protection from cancer and cardiovascular disease. This protection likely stems from the ability of flavonoids to act as antioxidants in combination with their ability to regulate specific genes. Health benefits from flavonoids may also come from their ability to facilitate weight loss. One way this can be achieved is in their ability to improve the health of the liver. For example, citrus flavonoids including naringenin, hesperetin, nobiletin, and tangeretin may improve insulin sensitivity, reduce dyslipidaemia and improve hepatic steatosis through an ability to favourably regulate hepatic lipid metabolism. Their ability to downregulate inflammation may be pivotal in this activity, as aberrant lipid metabolism in the liver is associated with a significant inflammatory component. Naringenin in the aglycone form of the glycoside form naringin found in citrus fruit, and evidence supports a role for it in the regulation of gene expression. For example it may inhibit adipose differentiation and may alter gene expression of a number of genes associated with fatty acid oxidation including uncoupling protein 1. Flavan-3-ols from plants including tea and cocoa may also increase metabolic activity and are associated with fat loss. Tea flavan-3-ols form a group called the catechins, and these polyphenolic compounds have been shown to induce fat loss and lead to increased fat oxidation in animal models. Flavan-3-ols may also upregulate genes associated with thermogenesis including uncoupling proteins 1 and 3.  

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RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

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Isoflavones as Thermogenic Agents

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Isoflavones are a group of phytochemicals that are present in high amounts in legumes and their seeds. Soy, red clover and kudzu are plants that are high in isoflavones, usually in their glycated form. Isoflavones are often grouped with flavonoids, but chemically are distinct from this group. Isoflavones may have a low oestrogenic activity, but they may have other effects in humans and animals. The activity of isoflavones may depend on their metabolism in the gut, and in particular gut bacteria can alter their activity through metabolism of the parent compounds. Important dietary isoflavones include the glycosides genistin, daidzin, and glycitin which can be deglycosylated to form the aglycones genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, and this process may occur in the small intestine. Gut bacteria can metabolise daidzein to equol, and this may increase the oestrogenic activity of the compound. This process requires a specific gut microbiota, but only around a third of those living in Western nations have the desired gut bacteria to facilitate this conversion, and this may significantly modify the health of the individual, with high equol producers being protected from particular diseases. 

Isoflavones may enhance metabolic rate when consumed as part of a diet in animal models. For example, in mice, a diet enriched with kudzu flowers reduced adiposity and the development of a fatty liver when combined with a high fat diet. In rats, daidzein was able to reduce the severity of weight gain and fatty liver accumulation when fed in combination. Analysis of the effects of daidzein in rats showed that its use was associated with changes to the liver including changes to transcription factors and the lipogenic enzymes stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1. As stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1 enzyme is considered to be pivotal in the formation of obesity, this suggests that daidzein was able to favourably reduce the metabolic milieu that might facilitate increases in adiposity. Another study found that isoflavones from sea buckthorn was able to significantly reduce appetite, body weight increases and epididymal fat pad mass in mice. Serum and total cholesterol was also reduced in the mice and levels of proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), a transcription factor associated with adipose tissue breakdown, was also increased. Levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 were also increased, suggesting that fatty acid oxidation may have increased. 

Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself

RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

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Carotenoids as Thermogenic Agents

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Carotenoids are a group of lipid soluble antioxidants that are found in plants. In plants they allow the harvesting of light for photosynthesis under conditions of low light and protect the cells from oxidation under conditions of high light. Carotenoids are divided into two groups that include the saturated carotenes and the unsaturated xanthophylls. Common dietary carotenes include β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and γ-carotene whereas common dietary xanthophylls include lutein, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and fucoxanthin. Carotenes can generally be converted into vitamin A in humans, and both carotenes and xanthophylls are important cellular antioxidants. Evidence from animals suggests that β-carotene, α-carotene and lutein may be able to stimulate mitochondrial expression of uncoupling protein-1 in brown adipose tissue, a process that may increase thermogenesis. In brown seaweed, the xanthophyll fucoxanthin may also unregulate uncoupling protein-1 in brown and white adipose tissue and thus increase thermogenesis. Fucoxanthin may also inhibit the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase which may decrease adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage, may decrease body fat, decrease fasting glucose levels and decrease cellular levels of proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), thereby reducing the expression of adipogenic genes. 

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RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

Posted in Alpha Carotene, Astaxanthin, Beta Carotene, Carotenoids, Cryptoxanthin, Weight Loss, Xanthophylls, Zeaxanthin | Comments Off on Carotenoids as Thermogenic Agents

Chlorogenic Acid

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Chlorogenic acid is a phytochemical found in green coffee beans. Chlorogenic acid belongs to the hydroxycinnamate group of phytochemicals, which are aromatic acids or phenylpropanoids. Studies have shown that green coffee bean extracts are able to increase the metabolic rate of humans, suggesting they may have thermogenic effects. Green coffee bean extracts that have these effects are around 50 % chlorogenic acid. Such extract may also decrease blood lipid levels, and the mechanism for this may relate to their ability to improve insulin sensitivity. Therefore the overall effect of green coffee bean extracts is to cause weight loss effects. The mechanism of action of green coffee bean extracts and chlorogenic acid has been investigated. One suggestion is that hydroxycinnamates such as chlorogenic acid is able to inhibit the phosphodiesterase enzyme and this potentiate the effects of cAMP. This upregulates protein kinase A and results in increased metabolic activity in the cell. One of the effects of this metabolic upregulation could be an increase in the oxidation of fatty acids. The insulin sensitising effects may relate to the antioxidant effects of chlorogenic acid, something that have been shown to decrease insulin resistance in cells. 

Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself

RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

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Forskolin

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Coleus forskohlii is a plant that produces a root that contains a diterpene called forskolin. Forskolin is of interest nutritionally because it has metabolic effects in humans and animals that include activation of adenylate cyclase. Adenylate cyclase is important because it is an enzyme that can raise levels of cyclin AMP cAMP), which is a cellular secondary messenger that can activate a number of responses from cells when stimulated by the right ligands. However, forskolin only activates adrenergic receptor cAMP levels from the beta subclass. Because it is non-specific in this action, it has both cardiovascular and thermogenic effects. The ability to cause thermogenesis is supported by studies that show that forskolin can cause a decrease in body weight in humans. Importantly, it is able to do this without excess stimulation of the cardiovascular system. Forskolin may work in synergism with both Salacia reticulata and Sesamum indicum at reducing dietary fat absorption through reductions in the lipid digesting enzyme pancreatic lipase. 

Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself

RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

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Capsaicinoids

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Chili pepper (Capsicum Sp.) contains a group of compounds that are referred to as capsaicinoids. Amongst the capsaicinoids, capsaicin is considered to be the main active principle. Capsaicinoids have been studied and shown to possess thermogenic properties, which suggests they may have weight loss effects. One capsaicinoid, capsiate, is important in this respect because it is known to possess the thermogenic effects of other capsaicinoids, but it lacks the pungency that may make their use difficult for some. The thermogenic effects of capsaicinoids appear to be present with only a modest activation of cardiovascular effects, suggesting that they do not have a high affinity for the α-1, α-2, β-1, and β-2 adrenergic receptors. In this regard their pharmacology is similar to raspberry ketone and p-synephrine. However, capsaicin has been shown to cause the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal gland, which may then activate the alpha and beta adrenergic receptors. Capsaicinoids can also stimulate the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors which may increase fat catabolism in adipocytes. The activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptors may also cause the release of nitric oxide, which may cause vasodilation and increase blood flow to the periphery. 

Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself

RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

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p-Synephrine

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Synephrine is a group of chemicals that includes the compound p-synephrine which is found in the peel of the bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). p-Synephrine has a similar structure to ephedrine, adrenaline capsaicin (from chili peppers) and raspberry ketone (from Rubus Idaeus). However, p-synephrine does not possess the same pharmacological effects as ephedrine or adrenaline, and this relates to the fact that it is not able to activate the central nervous system and has slightly different receptor affinities. For example, ephedrine is able to bind to α-1, α-2, β-1, β-2 and β-3 adrenergic receptors, but p-synephrine only shows affinity for the β-3 receptor. This means that whilst no cardiovascular effects for p-synephrine are apparent, there is a thermogenic effect from the activation of the β-3 adrenergic receptor. This also means that p-synephrine is not a stimulant and it therefore loses some of the weight loss effects of ephedrine which include increased energy expenditure, increased activity levels and an appetite suppressant effect. p-Synephrine may also increase the cellular uptake of glucose to muscle cells and may stimulate glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. The thermogenic effects of p-synephrine appear to be enhanced by addition of naringin and hesperidin, two flavonoids present in citrus fruits.  

Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself

RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740

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Caffeine

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Caffeine is found in a number of foods, most notably tea and coffee. Caffeine is widely consumed and it is almost ubiquitous in the diet of the population of the world. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that is thought to inhibit the phosphodiesterase enzyme which can potentiate the activity of cellular cAMP. As cAMP is involved in the regulation of cell function, including potentiating the cellular effects of adrenaline, caffeine can have a significant stimulatory effect. Caffeine also targets the adenosine receptor by binding to adenosine A1 and adenosine A2a receptors. Inhibition of the adenosine A1 receptor activates adenylate cyclase, which causes the generation of cellular levels of cAMP and protein kinase A, and these mechanisms cause stimulation of the central nervous system. Caffeine causes an increase in energy metabolism and this can make it a useful weight loss substance. Caffeine can also affect muscle tissue, and part of this is a chronotropic effect, whilst part of this is an inotropic effect. The chronotropic and inotropic effects of caffeine make it a useful substance for improving athletic performance. Caffeine is also a diuretic and can cause vasodilation and relaxation of smooth muscle.

Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself

RdB

Stohs, S. J. and Badmaev, V. 2016. A review of natural stimulant and non‐stimulant thermogenic agents. Phytotherapy Research. 30(5): 732-740
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