Syndrome X

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> Herbs, Nutrients Supplement Syndrome X Care

>

> Diane

>

> Taken from Natural Foods Merchandiser February 2003

>

> With almost two-thirds of the U.S. population overweight-and

millions

> suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol -it's almost

> certain that on any given day, you'll talk with several people in

your

> store who have syndrome X.

>

> Syndrome what? If the term doesn't ring a bell, the symptoms

probably

> do-excess weight around the middle, high blood pressure, high blood

> triglycerides and high blood cholesterol levels. Just one of these

> conditions increases the risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

> But the more Syndrome X indicators people have, the more at risk

they

> are-not just for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but for disease

in

> general.

>

> Insulin resistance, the hallmark of type 2 diabetes, lies at the

core

> of Syndrome X. Insulin resistance and Syndrome X develop over time

> from a diet high in refined carbohydrates, such as sweets, breads

and

> flour- and sugar-based snack foods. These foods trigger a rapid

> increase in blood sugar levels, and in turn the body pumps out high

> amounts of blood-sugar-regulating insulin.

>

> Eventually, the body's cells become overwhelmed by so much insulin

and

> actually become resistant (or not very receptive) to it. This

hormone

> imbalance-insulin resistance- alters blood-fat ratios, raises blood

> pressure and increases fat storage, leading to the cluster of heart

> disease risk factors known as Syndrome X.

>

> The typical American diet, high in refined fats, primes the body for

> developing Syndrome X, and the longer these foods are eaten, the

> greater risk becomes.

>

> Middle-aged baby boomers are the most likely candidates to get

> Syndrome X, but teen-agers and children also can develop the

> condition. Type 2 diabetics almost always have several Syndrome X

> indicators, as do women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, a

> condition typically characterized by irregular mentrual cycles,

> ovarian cysts and excess facial hair.

>

> A diet rich in protein and unprocessed, low-carbohydrate, nutrient

> dense foods such as vegetables is the best line of defense against

> Syndrome X. But you as a retailer also have many supplements at your

> disposal that can help combat this condition, and lead your

customers

> on the road to better health.

>

> First, there are the antioxidants- alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E and

> vitamin C. All three neutralize cell-damaging free radicals, which

are

> at a higher-than normal levels in individuals with Syndrome X.

>

> Middle- aged baby boomers are the most likely candidates to get

> Syndrome X, but teen- agers and children can also develop the

> condition.

>

>

> Each antioxidant also offers unique benefits for improving faulty

> blood sugar function- a key strategy for improving Syndrome X. For

> example, alpha-lipoic acid, a vitamin-like substance that plays

> crucial roles in the burning of blood sugar for energy, also reduces

> insulin resistance, lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin

> sensitivity (Diabetes Care, 1999; Diabetes and Stoffwechsel, 1996).

>

> Natural vitamin E also has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity

> and lower blood sugar levels. Plus, it helps protect against heart

> disease, a common consequence of Syndrome X. Vitamin C lowers blood

> sugar and normalizes insulin's response to it (American Journal of

> Clinical Nutrition, 1994) and also improves some of the individual

> components of Syndrome X, such as high blood pressure and high

> cholesterol levels. Therefore, all three antioxidants work in

> different but synergistic ways to protect against Syndrome X.

>

> The mineral standout among these may be chromium in the form of

> chromium picolinate. Chromium is so effective at reversing

resistance

> that one 1997 study found that 1,000 mcg of chromium picolinate

daily

> reduced blood sugar and insulin levels in type 2 diabetics to near

> normal after four months- something that medications could not

achieve

> (Diabetes, 1997). In various other studies, chromium also has been

> found to help normalize the individual components of Syndrome X.

>

> And in daily dosages of 200 to 400 mcg, chromium helps those with

> reactive hypoglycemia (blood sugar highs followed by blood sugar

> lows). So, chromium acts as a blood sugar regulator. However, those

> who take sugar - lowering drugs should take note: Supplemental

> chromium works so well at improving insulin function that less

> medication is usually needed. Sometimes, medication can be

eliminated

> completely over time.

>

> This is a good thing- it indicates a reversal or lessening of

insulin

> resistance- but it also means that your customers should work with

> their doctors to carefully monitor their condition and avoid over

> medicating themselves.

>

> In addition to chromium, herbalists have a long tradition of using

> herbs including ginseng, fenugreek, bitter melon, and Gymnema

> sylvestre to help reduce the high blood sugar levels that can occur

> with Syndrome X. And research is slowly but surely confirming that

> these herbs do have blood-sugar-lowering properties. In one study

out

> of the University of Toronto, healthy subjects who were given

American

> ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), had a 26 percent to 38 percent

> reduction in blood sugar levels, while diabetics who took the herb

had

> a 20 percent reduction (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2000).

>

> Silymarin, or milk thistle extract, is another top herb for lowering

> blood sugar levels. In one study with 60 type 2 diabetics, those who

> took silymarin experienced a significant drop in their blood sugar

> levels, but did not experience bouts of low blood sugar. The

patients'

> fasting insulin levels decreased by an average of 40 percent-

> indicating a significant reduction in insulin resistance (Journal of

> Hepatology, 1997). Silymarin also improves liver function, which is

> noteworthy because the liver plays an important role in maintaining

> normal blood sugar levels.

>

> Fortunately, many supplements have been shown to be effective in

> treating the symptoms- and underlying cause- of Syndrome X. Although

> many of your customers may not realize they have Syndrome X, you can

> get a good indication of whether they do based on their weight and

> symptoms. Help those customers by educating them about Syndrome X

and

> blood sugar function and steering them toward the supplements that

> have proven therapeutic benefits for this increasingly common

> condition.

>

> Diane is a nutritionist and health journalist based in

> Tuscon, Ariz. Her books include Syndrome X ( Wiley & Sons, 2000)

> as well as User's Guide to Vitamin E (Basic Health Publications,

> 2000), User's Guide to Chromium (Basic Health Publications 2002) and

> Going Against the Grain (McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books, 2002). For

> more information, visit or .

>

>

> The Main Indicators of Syndrome X

>

>

> Abdominal obesity

>

>

> High Blood Pressure (blood pressure readings consistently higher

than

> 140/90)

>

>

> Unhealthy blood cholesterol readings (total cholesterol above 240

> mg/dL, or HDL cholesterol levels less than one -fourth of total

blood

> cholesterol levels)

>

>

> High blood triglyceride levels (blood triglyceride levels above 160

> mg/dL)

>

>

>

>

> Early Warning Signs

>

>

>

>

> Overweight, even slightly so, especially around the abdomen

>

>

> Frequent cravings for sweets, breads and other carbohydrates

>

>

> Tiredness or sleepiness after meals

>

>

> Frequent thirst and urination, or high blood sugar levels above

100mg.

>

>

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>

>

> Lifestyle and Nutritional Factors for the Metabolic (X, Y and Z...)

> Syndrome X

>

> By Holt, M.D., MRCP (UK), FRCP ©, FACP, FACG, FACN

>

>

> Defining Syndrome X (The Metabolic Syndrome): The US federal

> government has declared that the most important current public

health

> initiative is to combat the constellation of problems that exist

> within the umbrella terms " the metabolic syndrome " or " Syndrome X. "

> The cardinal components of Syndrome X include obesity, high blood

> cholesterol (abnormal blood lipids) and hypertension, linked by

> underlying resistance to the hormone insulin. Syndrome X has been

> described as a hidden epidemic and it may affect up to 70 million

> American citizens.

>

> Insulin resistance is a key issue in Syndrome X. While insulin is

well

> recognized as a control for blood glucose, it also has several

> far-reaching actions on body metabolism. As a consequence of insulin

> resistance within Syndrome X, more insulin is secreted by the

pancreas

> to overcome the resistance. Excessive amounts of circulating insulin

> lead to biochemical changes in the body where more fat is stored

> (obesity), and abnormalities of blood lipids occur. Despite

> established high levels of circulating insulin in established

Syndrome

> X, glucose intolerance exists, without overt signs of diabetes

> mellitus.

>

> Excessive insulin secretion in the presence of insulin exerts

several

> other adverse metabolic effects. These include retention of sodium

by

> the kidneys causing a rise in blood pressure, changes in the pattern

> and production of sex hormones in females and actions on cell

> proliferation that may contribute to the development of cancer. In

> addition, there is a change in eicosanoid production in the body.

> These changes produce a tendency to increase blood clotting and a

> propensity to inflammatory states. While this sequence of

biochemical

> events in the body has been linked to cardiovascular disease,

Syndrome

> X has emerged as important in the cause of infertility, endocrine

> disorders, irregular menstruation, liver disease, inflammatory

> disease, osteoporosis and cancer of the breast, womb or colon.

>

> Syndrome X in Perspective: The Concept of Syndrome XYZ...

>

>

> The understanding of Syndrome X is often clouded by confusion of the

> disorder with Type II diabetes mellitus (maturity-onset diabetes).

In

> simple terms, Syndrome X could be considered to be a " forerunner " to

> maturity onset diabetes, but not all individuals with Syndrome X

will

> develop Type II diabetes. The hallmark of Syndrome X is resistance

to

> insulin and high circulating levels of blood insulin, which are

> produced by the body to overcome the newfound resistance to the

> actions of the hormone insulin. In contrast, when diabetes mellitus

is

> established blood insulin levels are low or absent, whereas in

> Syndrome X blood insulin levels are often high.. When blood insulin

> levels are high in the presence of insulin resistance, signals are

> given to many body tissues to trigger the changes of body metabolism

> and or gain function that are described in Syndrome X.

>

> Many other under explored complex biochemical factors operate in the

> evolution of Syndrome X. Syndrome X is determined in part by genetic

> or hereditary tendencies, but the most important causes of Syndrome

X

> appear to be adverse lifestyle and, in particular, poor nutrition

and

> lack of physical exercise. Excessive refined carbohydrates in the

> diet, made worse by excessive dietary saturated fat intake,

excessive

> salt consumption, a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids and other

> nutritional co-factors contribute to the precipitation and evolution

> of the metabolic Syndrome X. Syndrome X appears to be part of our

> modern metabolic evolution that is fueled by the average Western

> lifestyle and diet.

>

> The four principle features of Syndrome X (obesity, hypertension,

> hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance) underlie

cardiovascular

> disease, which is the most common cause of death and disability in

> Western society. The term Syndrome X originally was coined by the

> eminent physician, Dr. Gerald Reaven in 1988, but over the past

> decade, his early concept of Syndrome X has been expanded to involve

> many other biochemical and clinical consequences of the underlying

> metabolic disorder. Science is faced with a " novel " unifying concept

> of the cause of much chronic degenerative disease, as it becomes

> recognized that the metabolic problems within Syndrome X cause many

> other diseases. These other diseases include endocrine disorders,

> acne, polycystic ovary syndrome, common liver disease (fatty liver,

> non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver

disease),

> and cancer. It is this new unifying disease concept that I have

called

> " Syndrome X, Y and Z... " . (Holt S, Combat Syndrome X,Y and Z...,

> Wellnesspublishing.com, 2002)

>

>

>

>

>

> Combat Syndrome X (

>

>

> Recognizing Syndrome X is more difficult than many individuals may

> suppose. Obesity, high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure are

> variably present in Syndrome X and underlying insulin resistance has

> few readily identifiable manifestations, especially in its early

> stages. A retrospective study of National Nutrition Survey Data

> (NHANES) between the years 1988 and 1994 resulted in the conclusion

> that, at that time, approximately 47 million adults in the United

> States had Syndrome X. These data were recorded by US federal

> government researchers in the Journal of the American Medical

> Association (JAMA), in January 2002. It is notable that these

> researchers stated, " ...it seems unlikely that management of the

> individual abnormalities of this syndrome provides better outcomes

> than a more integrated strategy " (JAMA, 3,297,p. 359, 2002). These

are

> powerful words that support the future of the food and dietary

> supplements industry in the combat against Syndrome X, at least

> indirectly.

>

> For many years, the dietary supplement industry has espoused its

vital

> role in the potential prevention and treatment of disease. Reading

> between the lines of recent federal government health care

> initiatives, it is suggested that lifestyle and nutrition are the

> primary components in the battle against Syndrome X. These days,

> " integrated strategies " in medicine almost always employ

complementary

> (or alternative) medicine, which in turn employs dietary supplements

> or functional foods. It appears that the " first line approach " for

the

> management of Syndrome X involves positive lifestyle and nutritional

> changes, not pharmaceutical interventions. This point of view is

> reinforced by public statements about the management of type II

> diabetes mellitus from the American Diabetic Association (ADA) ( ).

> The ADA describes lifestyle and nutritional change as " first-line

> options " for the management of maturity onset diabetes and it is

> stated that drug treatments form " back-up plans " . Never in the

history

> of the dietary supplement industry has such solid direction and

> support for the use of food and dietary supplements been given by

> conventional bodies of opinion for a key public initiative (syndrome

> X, Y and Z..), at least indirectly.

>

> The " Integrated Approach. "

>

>

> While government researchers hint at an integrated approach they

have

> done little t define just what they mean. Pharmaceutical research

and

> development programs are racing to define genomic targets to develop

> drugs to correct Syndrome X. These drug develop strategies are

> arguably on the right track, since the solution to a disease that is

> rooted in adverse lifestyle is not the prescription of a drug, but

it

> does involve change of lifestyle for the better. The US public

should

> not succumb readily to the concept of the " lifestyle drug " . Whilst

the

> pharmaceutical industry develops frentic interest in serving their

> perceived gargantuan health care need for drugs to treat Sydrome X,

> the dietary supplement industry appears to be sleeping or jsut

> awakening, at best! Let me explain.

>

> If one takes the cardinal components of Syndrome X (obesity,

> hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance) and

> examines the dietary supplement categories sold for this aggregate

of

> condition-specific purposes, then one is looking at the " lion's

share "

> of the sale of all dietary supplements (about 80%). It is known that

> Syndrome X is multifactorial and the dietary supplement industry is

> attempting to find " magic bullets, " somewhat like the

pharmaceutical

> and the popular dietary supplement may be equally misguided. The

> approach to Syndrome X must be multipronged and it must involve

> lifestyle change. There is no " technofix " for the metabolic Syndrome

X

> (or Syndrome X, Y and Z...).

>

> Versatile treatments must be designed to impact as many aspects as

> possible of the metabolic problems within Syndrome X and its

> consequences, if we are to tackle this problem in an efficient and

> effective manner. Table 1 identifies a " simplistic " lifestyle

program

> to combat Syndrome X.

>

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>

> A Lifestyle Program for Metabolic Syndrome X:

>

>

> Life style change, with specific avoidance of substance abuse,

> including smoking cessation, reduced salt, caffeine and simple sugar

> intake.

>

> Behavior modification. Change eating patterns and calorie amounts.

> Extinguish adverse lifestyle.

>

> Exercise should be matched to a level of aerobic fitness, and

medical

> or professional training advice recommended.

>

> Diet should be reduced in simple sugars, salt and saturated fat with

> controlled protein intake and more liberal use of healthy fats,

> e.g.:omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (EPA).

>

> Syndrome X Nutritional Factors include oat beta glucan,

phytonutrient

> antioxidants, alpha lipoic acid, chromium picolinate with biotin,

> vanadium, phaseolum (Phase 2), anti-homocysteine vitamins and the

use

> of low-glycemic index dietary substrates.

>

> Drug treatments are often " backup plans " , especially for type II

> diabetes.

>

>

>

> Conclusion.

>

>

> The dietary supplement industry and its customers require urgent

> education on the components of Syndrome X, Y and Z... Syndrome X is

> the ultimate form of society-induced bioterrorism, fueled by our

poor

> Western lifestyle and diet. Syndrome X emerges as the basis for the

> understanding of a unifying concept of several chronic diseases. I

> suggest that a more apt name for this series of metabolic disorders

> and medical consequences is " Syndrome X, Y and Z... " The dietary

> supplement industry has a great role to play in the combat against

the

> metabolic syndrome X, by providing nutraceuticals in combinations

that

> form part of a well planned " integrated " , medical approach to the

most

> threatening of all public health concerns facing Western society,

> namely the metabolic syndrome X, Y and Z. WF

>

> References on Request.

>

>

>

> Tables 1 and 2 below.

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> Table I: Components of lifestyle and " integrated " medical approach

to

> the metabolic Syndrome X

>

>

> Nutritional Factors for Syndrome X. I have reviewed in detail many

> herbal botanical and nutritional factors that can be used in the

> struggle against Syndrome X. (Holt S, Combat Syndrome XYZ...,

> Wellnesspublishing.com, Newark, NJ 2002). The most important dietary

> supplements can be used in an integrated approach to impact Syndrome

X

> are summarized in Table 2.

>

>

> Science and Syndrome X Nutritional Factors

>

>

>

>

>

> Components and

>

> Association of the

>

> Metabolic Syndrome X

> Functional Properties of

>

> Syndrome X Nuritional

>

> Factors and Lifestyle

>

> Insulin Resistance

>

>

>

>

>

> Abnormal Blood Lipids

>

> (cholesterol)

>

>

>

> Obesity

>

>

>

>

>

> Hypertention

>

>

>

> Oxidative Stress

>

>

>

> Homocysteine

> Patented oat beta glucan fractions of oat soluable fiber (US

> patent 6,060,519) may lower blood glucose levels after sugar intake.

> Chromium picolinate with Biotin may assist insulin Function

> (sensitiziation).

>

> Oat beta glucan may reduce (cholesterol) blood cholesterol

> levels (LDL and triglycerides) and may variably increase good

> cholesterol (HDL). Antioxidants and chromium effects on blood

> cholesterol.

>

> Oat beta glucan may make people feel full when taken prior to

> meals and it assists in calorie control. The starch-blocker

Phaseolum

> 2250 (Phase 2) may inhibit sugar absorption.

>

> Variable but small reductions in blood pressure result from

> weight control, and lifestyle change in the INTEGRATED PLAN!

>

> Antioxidants may be beneficial for health eg. bioflavonoids,

> ellagic acid, anthocycanidins and alpha lipoic acid.

>

> Vitamins B-6, B12 and folic acid may reduce blood homocysteine

> levels.

>

>

>

>

> Table 2:

>

>

> Principle dietary supplements or functional food components that are

> valuable in the management of Syndrome X. The components reviewed in

> this table can work in an " additive manner " (synergistic) and

provide

> a multi-pronged approach to the multifactorial components of

Syndrome

> X. These natural supplements work best when used in synergistic

> formulations.

>

> Dietary supplements that can be used in the combat against Syndrome

X

> have protean beneficial effects, especially when used in the

> combinations. Soluble fiber from oats (oat beta glucan) has potent

and

> versatile effects on Syndrome X by assisting in management of

obesity,

> lowering blood cholesterol, overcoming insulin resistance and,

> secondarily, reducing blood pressure. The progression of tissue

damage

> in Syndrome X (and diabetes mellitus) is linked to oxidative stress

> and many of the components of the proposed Syndrome X nutritional

> factors (Table 2) are potent antioxidants. Isolated nutrients or

> botanical extracts that help to regulate blood glucose have a

limited

> role in Syndrome X when used alone, e.g. corosolic acid, Gymnema

> sylvestre and Maitake-S fractions. Soy foods or soy supplements (in

an

> appropriate format) emerge with special advantages for dietary

> inclusion in individuals with Syndrome X, because they have a low

> glycemic index, lower blood cholesterol and are low in calories.

>

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