If you have diabetes, you probably know that you have a very high risk of getting severe vascular disease. In particular, high blood sugar leads to more Age Related Glycation (AGE) products. You also suffer a loss of an important vascular protecting enzyme called prostacyclin by up to 70%. And you suffer from an increase in monocyte hexosamine-modified proteins, which contribute to tissue damage.
But two recent studies, one on rodents and one on humans, shows two key nutrients can reverse all this damage.
The two nutrients are alpha lipoic acid and benfotiamine, a superior sulfur-bearing and lipid-soluble form of thiamin (vitamin B1). The researchers in the rodent study found that these two nutrients improve these chemical markers of injury. But the human study was the most impressive.
In this study, benfotiamine together with ALA completely normalized the increase in AGE. It also reduced the monocyte hexosamine-modified proteins by 40%. And it normalized the 70% decrease they had in prostacyclin production.
I have used both these supplements for years in type-2 diabetes. No matter which form of diabetes you have, please consider 100 mg daily of benfotiamine and 300 mg daily of ALA. Both are widely available online, at health food stores, and in many drugstores.
Ref: Du, X., M. Brownlee, et al. Oral benfotiamine plus alpha-lipoic acid normalises complication-causing pathways in type-1 diabetes, Diabetologia, 2008 July 29; [Epub ahead of print].
Get This Test Now to Prevent Breast Cancer
Winter is beginning to wind down and spring is just around the corner. So I want to remind you that March is a great time to check your vitamin D level. That will show you what your levels are when they are probably at their lowest level. I am finding low levels on nearly everyone I check. And this can significantly increase your risk of cancer.
Stanford University research confirms again that sunlight lowers your risk of cancer. Specifically, this study of 4,000 women aged 35-79 found that those with the highest level of sun exposure have half the risk of getting advanced breast cancer compared to the lowest sun exposure. High sun exposure was defined as simply having sun darkened skin on your forehead.
Please do not think of sunlight as your enemy. Its an essential nutrient, though not a food. Expose yourself in moderation to get some color without redness or burning. And a supplement of vitamin D (5,000 IU daily) is a good idea for nearly everybody.
You can order 5,000 IU tablets of vitamin D3 (the best form) from Advanced Bionutritionals (800-728-2288).
Ref: American Journal of Epidemiology, October 12, 2007.